The paint chipped farther from the theater ceiling when Keller and The WMDs rocked the redwoods in Eureka, CA. The show started with a quickness that nobody had expected; there were still people outside thinking they would have to wait an hour after doors opened before any music started. After the band tuned up their instruments around 8:30, they meandered down to the stage.
Keller Williams started the show, traditionally, by playing his guitar as he walked up from back stage, but this time, he followed after Steve Droll, Jeff Sipes, and Keith Mosely. The crowd filed in like a flock of sheep shortly after the first song started. I hadn’t seen these guys since the North West String Summit outside of Portland, OR, and in that short time they showed me their ability to substantially develop their stage communication making the intricate changes in each song seamless.
We danced our asses off like it was 1999. Keller & The WMDS chose the set list from all over the musical spectrum; from Keller’s originals from early tours like “Freeker By The Speaker”, “Kidney In A Cooler”, and “Blazebago” to Keith Mosely’s song, “Sirens,” from his work with The String Cheese Incident. Somewhere in there I was sure that I was listening to “No Sugar Tonight” by The Guess Who, and “Brown Eyed Women” by The Grateful Dead, too. There were dozens of songs over the next two hours that I can’t possibly remember, but doesn’t that just mean that we had a really awesome time?
After the third song, I didn’t need my camera any more, so I danced all the way till the end of the first set. During set break I was outside for some fresh air, and noticed on the door to the white tour bus they drive from show to show it simply said… “LIVE SNAKE ON BOARD”. If any one knows more about this snake, feel free to email me at jonmarxphotography@gmail.com. So I stood there and wondered to myself how all these guys ended up getting together and deciding to start a new band. All I have to say, is that watching each of them perform together after seeing them in their different bands in the past was absolutely exciting. I’d like think that’s how it would have been if Jerry Garcia decided to start a band with David Grisman, Paul McCartney, and The Band’s drummer, Levon Helm. It’s safe to say, that more of this type of musical meshing would be warmly welcomed by any fan of music the world over. So with that said, I suggest Keller and The WMDs to all walks of life. Not just the common hippie love child, oh no. This goes out to the nail biting jazz lover, oldies rocker, and traditional bluegrass/folk enthusiast in all of us.
After the second set started, we realized the band was getting more in tune with our vibes, and they went deeper into a trance-like state where all of their eyes would close. After a closer look around my spot, I saw lots of closed eyes truly enjoying what they were hearing and doing. The band went through songs with Droll’s shredding guitar solos, Mosely’s steady bass, Sipes innovative and solid drumming, and Keller’s genius abilities to lead the song to it’s best end with his virtuoso guitar style. We all pounded on any sturdy surface we could find to bring them back for their amazing two song encore. The vibe we were left with was seriously exciting, happy, and new. Most of the crowd walked and talked down the street to the after show with a positive, steady hum echoing off of the foggy streets of Eureka. Don’t be a skeptic, this music will change your life. It changed mine.
