Some birthdays are
more important than others. One really big milestone is turning 40. In 1900,
the average life expectancy of a male was 46, so 40 was ancient. But of course
today, it’s almost 80 for men. But still 40 is a big deal. I survived it by
diving deep into Phish’s Fall Tour ’97, because that funk will cure what ails
you. But for Jake “The Snake” Herman, he wanted a raging show. And he got that
when the Winter House Band threw down like only they know how. And 2013? Chinese Year of the Snake.
Jake has been on
the scene as long as I have. He graduated from Hanover in 1991 and our paths
finally crossed in 1996. The best way I can describe him is a raconteur. He
once had dinner with Allen Parsons of the Allen Parsons Project and the
producer of Dark Side of the Moon. He asked Allen what it was like to work with
the Floyd. His response, “What do you think it was like?” I don’t know, that’s
why I asked. What a dick.
We did shows and
whatnot together but he stepped up big time by becoming Devolver’s sound guy in
the summer of 2000. They all had just quit college to focus on the band but
didn’t have a permanent sound guy. They used whoever was around or themselves
to work the soundboard, which wasn’t the most ideal situation. But with minimal
knowledge, Jake stepped in. Jake got the
gig after we went to an after party. We came right from a Widespread Panic show
at Merriweather and he had a really deep and long conversation with Kyle. The
rest is history.
So Jake and
Scotty B (Hanover’s Superman) decided to rent the banquet hall at the
McSherrystown Moose and have the Winter House Band do their thing
Set 1
Cold, Rain, & Snow, Jack Straw, Loser, Railroad Blues,
Cassidy, Breakdown, Brown Eyed Women, Tomorrow Is Forever, Deal
Set 2
Bertha, Here Comes Sunshine, Ramble On Rose, Shakedown St,
Eyes of the World>Drumz>Ship of Fools, Sugaree
Cold Rain and Jack
Straw were a great one two punch to open a show with. I missed all of Loser and
Railroad Blues because of the horrible bartending that wasn’t happening. People
wait in line less at the DMV. Breakdown by Tom Petty was a nice hold over from
the Frank Miller’s Beard catalog. And like any good GD set, Deal was a great
way to end it. Travis has been coming along nicely on adding harmonies. They're not Miller, Laurence & Nash yet but they're getting there.
The magic really
happened in the second set. The HC
Sunshine just blew the roof off of the place. There were 2 distinct jams after
the first 2 verses. The second jam was as good as ANYTHING I’ve seen Andy do,
and I’ve seen a lot. He attacked it while Sean wove his bass lines around and
in between. It sounded like a Cream outtake but just kicked ass and took names.
Wow. Wish someone had taped it but that’s why you come out to the shows people.
So the WHB’s next
show is on June 29th at Wirt Park; and Jake’s next epic party? Whenever
the hell he wants it.
Dave Kemp
BA American Studies
PhD Rock and Roll
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