East Ash Street has it easy
Published Jan. 23, 2007
The road to the Wakarusa Music Festival was made shorter for the East Ash Street Band Saturday night. Listed as "the chance to transform your dreams into reality" on The Blue Note's Web site, the Waka Winter Classic gave one lucky band from Columbia the chance to play at the June Festival in Kansas.
As it snowed outside, fans of many ages gathered at The Blue Note to support their favorite local bands. The winner would get a chance to play at the highly popular Midwest festival.
"We set it up less as a battle of the bands and more as a regional talent show," Wakarusa Music Festival Coordinator David Barrett said. "The local music scene elects representatives of Columbia to show a national audience that this is going on now in Columbia."
Local bands applied on the Web site, and Barrett and the other coordinators chose several bands to participate in talent showcases in 19 different cities.
"We try to draw on as many acts as possible," Barrett said. "We pride ourselves in fostering local and regional talent as well as a Midwest community."
The six bands chosen to perform Saturday were the Hilary Scott Band, Soulshine, East Ash Street Band, Rutherford, Soulstace and Mississippi Flapjack. East Ash Street Band claimed the prizes, including an invitation to play at Wakarusa, as well as having its music showcased on the Web site.
At wakawinterclassic.com, the fans vote among all the regional winners for the band that will play on the Revival stage at Wakarusa.
"There is not a certain Wakarusa sound," said freshman Kristin Holmquist, who attended Wakarusa last year. "It varies from really eclectic, to jam band, to basic rock and roll. After going last year, I was definitely convinced to be a patron knowing one more band there helps reaffirm my decision to return."
Members of The East Ash Street Band met when they all lived on the same street — East Ash Street — and began to jam together. Lead singer Todd Wait, guitarist Mike Jones, drummer Mike Kyd and bassist Matt Dethrow's musical interests are varied and include Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead and Muddy Waters. The band's taste in music is reflected in their bluesy, psychedelic jam rock.
"We try to stick to the guideline of the people we admire," Wait said. "We honor and respect the music we really love. It is a continuation and celebration what has been around for a long time."
The energy on the stage freed the crowd gathering by it to dance or at the very least sway to the music. The band brought its lucky "Slow Guys" (yellow plastic children) on stage in addition to "Joey the Monkey" to compose their "trifecta of inspiration."
"It's quite incredible," Wait said. "It brings some subtle smiles to our faces. We really enjoy it because a couple of months ago we were talking about Wakarusa. It was fun to learn that we won and get to connect with more people that ordinarily we wouldn't see."
The subtle smiles will turn to wide grins in June. The East Ash Street Band has many plans before then. Aside from recording, the band will play host to Heady Fridays at Shattered every Friday starting Feb. 2. Until then, it will keep rocking out with its trifecta.