Willi Phoenix Tribute Machine

Back in 2015, a group of notable Columbus musicians got together to pay tribute to Columbus legend Willie Phoenix. Featuring Sam Brown (Drums), Colin Gawel (Vocals, Guitar), Andy Harrison (Guitar, Vocals), and Matt Reber (Bass), the group recorded a pair of covers and posted them to Bandcamp.

In The Record Store: Watershed Reflections

Hannah Herner at In The Record Store talked with Colin Gawel of Watershed about the band and their busy summer back in 2017, here's an excerpt:

“The first time that we played on the main stage Comfest is a big memory and playing it again this year will be a good memory,” Gawel says. 

Watershed was founded in 1987 and has not broken up since then, with varying periods of activity.  In its tenure, the band toured with Insane Clown Posse, The Smithereens, and Gawel’s favorite, Cheap Trick. 

“It’s rare but if you get to open up for bands that you’re just really a fan of is the best because you get to play and watch one of your favorite bands play every night,” he says. “It’s like a dream.” 

Gawel says the band toured consistently for 15 years, only taking the last 10 or so to focus on other projects. He opened Colin’s Coffee and bassist and vocalist Joe Oestreich decided to dedicate time to writing a memoir on the band, which would become the nationally-acclaimed “Hitless Wonder: A Life in Minor League Rock and Roll.”

Pencil Storm: My Thirty Favorite Watershed Songs

Colin Gawel from Watershed runs Pencil Storm, an outlet for longer form writing about music, sports, politics, etc. Tom Linzel contributed his list of "My Thirty Favorite Watershed Songs" back in December 2016, here's what he said:

Last summer a guy named Nick Jezierny, in a clever twist on Colin Gawel's ranking of every Cheap Trick song, ranked every Watershed song recorded.  He included live albums and even some bonus tracks.  This was great reading, especially the notes from the band &  Ricki C. and links to videos. It inspired me to make my own list.  I have known these guys since grade school, before they picked up their instruments and decided to form a band.  I have no idea how many times I have seen them play live, but I am sure it is more than a hundred shows.  Now, I'm not going to rank every song.  "What??" you say. "What a rip off!" Really, who wants to write or read about songs that are just ok? Are we going to argue about the 40th vs 41st best football teams? Ain't nobody got time for that! So here are my top 30 songs - the ones I would put on a mix tape (CD) for someone who has never heard the band.  

Know Yer Band: Watershed

Band: Watershed

Members
Vocals/Guitar - Colin Gawel
Vocals/Bass - Joe Oestreich
Drums - Herb Schupp / Dave Masica
Additional Guitar/Vocals - Dave Borror/Joe Peppercorn/Rick Kisinger

Releases
1990 - Rise 7" single (Bravo Records)
1991 - How Do You Feel? 7" single (B Minus Records)
1992 - The Carpet Cliff album (Palas Records)
1993 - Twister 7" single (Not On Label)
1994 - Three Chords And A Cloud Of Dust - Live album (Epic)
1995 - Twister album (Epic)
1997 - Star Vehicle album (Thunder Creek Records)
1997 - Split Single w/Hoarse (Idol records)
1998 - Still Love Christmas EP (B Minus Records)
2002 - The More It Hurts, The More It Works album (Carney Records)
2005 - The Fifth Of July album (Idol Records)
2007 - Three Chords And A Cloud Of Dust II album (Idol Records)
2012 - Brick & Mortar album (B Minus/Curry House Records)