Joe Oestreich

The spankin’ new Watershed single, “American Muscle” b/w “Sticky Bomb,” is now posted here and at the spankin’ new Watershed website. Dig the lyrics and credits at bandcamp.

Is “American Muscle” a sympathetic portrayal of an unfairly maligned international banker (read: job creator) or a critique of capitalistic bravado and Friedmanite Economics? That probably depends on whether or not you own stock in LVMH.

The song and its b-side, “Sticky Bomb,” were recorded in Columbus this summer with Mike Landolt (Maroon 5, O.A.R.) producing, and they, along with a batch of other tunes from the sessions, will be featured on a new, full-length (as yet untitled) album that will be released in June 2012.

The Louisville Review has just published my play, “Los Camioneros” (“The Truckers”). It’s the story of three immigrant smugglers in Galveston, TX, told from the point of view of the smugglers themselves. Click HERE to go to the journal’s homepage, where you’ll find a link to a PDF of the excellent new issue.

Don’t call it a comeback, kids, but November is shaping up to be a big month for the mighty Watersheds.

First, in early November, the band will release a new single, “American Muscle,” about which, more later.

Second, on Wednesday, November 23, the day before Thanksgiving, Watershed will perform at the 2nd Annual Andyman-a-Thon Benefit Concert, at the LC Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio. Nick Tolford and Company, Lydia Loveless, and The Phantods will join Watershed on the bill. Get your tickets now.

Also, to coincide with this year’s Andyman-a-Thon, a film is being released of last year’s historic show. This One’s For Andy will make its world premier at Studio 35 in Columbus on 11/11/11.

Here’s the trailer:

Watch this space for more Watershed news in the coming weeks.

The frustrating thing about being a fan of a band is that it’s so damn hard to express how much you love the songs you love by that band. Transcendent. Sublime. Totally fucking kick ass. Pick your adjectives and adverbs. They don’t come close to getting the job done.

Whenever I hear Marah’s “Demon of White Sadness” or Springsteen’s “Racing in the Streets” or “The Ballad of the Opening Band” by Slim Dunlap or The Gaslight Anthem’s “She Loves You” or “Always Love” by Nada Surf or “Try It Again” by The Hives or “Falling” by Ben Kweller,  I want to karate chop the coffee table in half, partly because I love these songs so much, it makes me want to break stuff. And partly because I know that I’ll never, ever be able to fully communicate how much I love these songs without sounding like a creepy stalker idiot.

That said, I’ll try anyway. This ain’t much, but it’s the best I got.

Hey Marah, Hey Bruce, Hey Slim, Hey Gaslight Anthem dudes, Hey Nada Surf, Hey Hives, Hey Ben: Listen up. Whatever it is that you hope people will hear when they hear your songs?

I hear it.

I hundred percent hear it.

Here’s a link to “Towing and Recovery,” a short story of mine that was just published in storySouth. It features Mike Dulaney, a car-towing, crime fighting superhero!

I’ve received some sweet news in the last couple weeks, the kind of news you’re always hoping to find when you open the ol’ In Box.

One: The mensches at storySouth (True guardians of the New South, I say. Kinda like the Carolina Light Infantry, but with laptops instead of muskets) have accepted my short story, “Towing and Recovery.” It’s about a working class guy who’s struggling with the responsibilities of adulthood and fatherhood. Look for the story to run mid-September.

Two: The long-running literary journal, The Louisville Review, will be publishing my play, “Los Camioneros,” in their fall issue. The play is about immigrant smugglers, and it’s based on true events. And since it’s coming out in The Louisville Review, my recommendation is that you enjoy it with bourbon. I’m thinking Basel Hayden’s.

Remember, kids: Readin’s good for you.

Next week I head back to Columbus, where my mates in Watershed and I will continue work on a new record. The plan is to release the album early next year, to coincide with the publication of my memoir, Hitless Wonder.

How does it feel to be back with the guys, writing songs, trying to get ‘em down on tape as best we can? It feels like I’m one lucky bastard. Lucky that I get to play in a band this good. Lucky that we have fans who still give a shit. I don’t know about you, but I, for one, can’t wait to hear what the new Watershed record sounds like. It’s been a long dang time.

Speaking of luck and all that happy-crappy, here’s the quickie video we did for “Lucky Day,” a song that kinda got lost in the shuffle last go-around.