So this Friday night, the Grabers threw an engagement party for their son Sam and his fiancee Shani down in good ‘ole Gaithersburg.
A fun time was had by all, but I have to admit to a moment of petty theft. For on the refrigerator I noticed a picture that I knew absolutely HAD to be posted to barnson.org. A quick scan later, and voila!
In all their 80s high-school glory, we have Wayward Sun version 1.0:
Matt Barnson, Sam Graber, Ben Schuman, and Kevin Graham.
You can click on the picture to see a higher res version.
With apologies to Marilyn and her refrigerator
Weed
Babies
Diggin’ the leather coats. Wow….time flies. They look like babies in this picture.
Wow!!
Congrats Sam..
BTW: Wouldn’t this technically be Wayward Sun 2.0, as I believe Jon was the original Bassist and Ben joined a litle later? (All before my time.. this was the version i remember)
These 4 guys will always be Wayward Sun to me, with apologies to those who knew them in their College days. If it weren’t for the two tapes I wouldn’t be making music today. Although I’ve enjoyed the recordings of the live shows and No Further Questions, the next version was a different band with a more “Jam Session” sensibility that was different from the sheer sentimentality that the “Right Of Way” WS had. Not better or worse.. just different.
Seriously, though.. I’ve been hankering for a while to get a new WS song.. It would be easy, and we know where Kevin is now… (If he doesn’t or Can’t do drums, use computer drums and let him contribute some vocals or write a verse..)
It woudl take a week to pound it out, really.. Let The verses bee the good old Sam and Ben riffing back and forth , let Matt sing a bridge, let Kevin sing another one, and of course the big rousing Chorus… Choose a theme and let everyone write the section they’re going to sing..
Matt could produce it, Sam, Ben, and/or Kevin could either contribute the Drum/Bass/Piano tracks from their home computers, or if they don’t do that stuff, I could let them use my little basement studio to contribute playing, or if here’s little time, just singing.
Guys, I’ve been friends in varying capacity with all of you for over a decade. I’ve known Sam longest, Matt best, Ben least (but he was cool to me anyhow, and I do pretty well now thanks to this site), and Kevin I went to school with longest.. but I was also a friend to the band as an entity in High School. So, c’mon, how bout it..
new WS, please.
2nd In Line
You’d have to wait in line…I do believe Sam’s mom has first dibs on any Wayward Sun reunion appearances/recording/merchandise, etc. And I really wouldn’t want to be the one to try to get between her and what she wants.
If Wayward Sub were to record another album, here would be the track titles:
Semper Fi (Kevin) Lost My Religion (Matt) Shani (Sam) Left vs Right (All) Pythons and Perls (Matt) Joey (Ben) Full Circle (All, if Matt and/or Sam come back to MD) Leaving the Apple (Ben) Hevenu Shalom Alachaim (For Big Jim Slade) (Insert Kevin’s Wife’s Name Here) (Kevin)
My $.02 Weed
I’ve got it!
Shani – Words and Music by Sam Graber (with apologies to Matt Barnson)
Shani can you tell me why your heart whispers in my mind? Shani can you tell me how your eyes speak to me even now? Shani can you tell me where I can go, your loss to bear? Shani can you tell me when I’ll see you again…?
(hey, it fits)
— Ben Schuman Mad, Mad Tenor
My Current Project
Justin, WS happened a long time ago…
These days most of my original works are performed by a group in Minneapolis called Rare Medium. You can download all the tunes from the latest CD release by heading to http://www.rare-medium.com and going through the Tunes link to the CD Baby site. The entire collection is available for download for free.
Boxed Set..
BNL has a song where they sing “And every time I want to do something new, all they want is 1973”
I understand the desire not to go backwards.. and by no means should there be a new WS album, but a song would be cool.. Like when the beatles did “Free as a Bird”
I just love the idea of collaboration with all sorts of people.. I’d love to do a song with either you and/or Ben one day. (Already worked with Matt on like 6 now). Its just cool that we’re all musicians and we all get together like this online. Would be cool to have a musical representation.. like a digital “Traveling Wilburys”.
Matter of fact, I’m thinking of doing an album with another friend of mine and we’re just trying to work out the possibilities of 2 very different creative styles.
Anyhoo, hey, as a friend, sorry if my idea made you uncomfortable..
I’m heading over now to check out the new stuff.
JT
Collaborating
Justin, no worries amigo! No uncomfortableness was created at all.
Collaborating in musical ventures would be great, although I certainly wouldn’t classify anything as WS reincarnated. I’m up for getting together on some tunesmithing.
Absolutely
It would be great fun to get together and jam with the old gang, but it would definitely be something different. I’ve missed the rush of playing with a band, and I’m thinking of trying to start a new one when my schedule subsides a bit. Just about half our lives have passed since Wayward Sun began, and I don’t want to fall into the trap of thinking, “That was the best time of my life.”
— Ben Schuman Mad, Mad Tenor
Time flies
Man, I have a hard time believing we were ever that young. Or that we ever thought that acid-washed jeans were cool.
I’m guessing that this pic is probably the fall of 1990. Sam is wearing the silk-screened Wayward Sun World Tour t-shirt that he and I made at camp that summer. And I don’t have braces, which I got removed in September of ’90. So I think that would make Kevin and me 14 years old, Sam 15, and Matt 16. Wow.
I took some great pictures at the party the other night, which I will post in the next day or so. Weed & Sammy, great to see you guys again!
— Ben Schuman Mad, Mad Tenor
We Were That Young?
Folks, it’s Tim again. Happy post-Thanksgiving, pre-Hanukkah doldrums to you. This picture gave me the willies since Matt and Sam and I are about the same age, which means I too once looked that young. It also reminds me of some very loud lunchtime jam sessions in the choir room. Anyway, hope you are all well. Email anytime to timclarkejr@gmail.com. Take care. Tim