Lo Faber and Aaron Maxwell w/ Jon Bevo, Dan Pifer and special guest Jason Crosby @ Joe’s Pub, February 25

Joe’s Pub isn’t exactly like the ramshackle bars and clubs where God Street Wine cut its teeth two decades ago in New York City. Guitarist Lo Faber, who was performing with three of his four GSW band mates at the high-end venue, alluded to the difference after the Borderline opener by mentioning how weird it was to have food served to the tables in front him as he was performing the tune. “They didn’t have food service at the 712 Club,” Faber said before the quartet launched into Thirsty.

[All photos by Vernon Webb]

Over the course of the hour-plus set, Faber, Aaron Maxwell, Jon Bevo and Dan Pifer offered a mix of God Street classics and rarities in front of a crowd filled with family and friends. For most of the show, Maxwell and Faber performed on acoustic guitars as they have for the handful of shows the duo played over the past few months. What made this show different was the addition of Pifer and Bevo.

While the presence, skill and chemistry that GSW drummer Tom Osander brings to the group can never be replaced, those in attendance weren’t focusing on what was missing. Instead, the Winos lapped up the rare opportunity to see the songs they love in such a plush setting.

READ ON for more on last night’s show…

A dream came true for the author and other Winos around the country, when God Street Wine came back for four shows last summer followed by two sets aboard Jam Cruise 9. While the group’s fans held out hope that GSW would continue to perform the occasional show, an announcement from the band posted on godstreetwine.com crushes that dream.

Here’s the complete announcement…

The past twenty months have been an amazing journey for God Street Wine. In the spring of 2009, the tragic and untimely passing of a dear friend brought us together for the first time in eight years. Then in the summer of 2010, we had the chance to do four amazing shows in our home city of New York, raise a lot of money for a very worthy cause, and reunite with a fan base whose lasting support was absolutely breathtaking. Finally, this January, we got on a ship to Mexico and back, for Jam Cruise 9: simultaneously a family reunion, a music fan’s dream, and two great sets with guest appearances from some of our longtime idols.

Unfortunately, our families, careers, and geographic locations won’t allow us to keep doing GSW on the regular or even semi-regular basis that our fans might want. But as we return to a status of indefinite hiatus, we would like to express to the many people who have made this unexpected, prolonged reunion such an unforgettable experience, how thoroughly grateful we are for your generous support. There are too many who deserve individual thanks to start listing them here, but please rest assured that we treasure working with you, love performing for you, and are honored to know you. And for the fan base–really a family–that waited nine years for a GSW reunion, we stand humbly in awe of your faithfulness, your enthusiasm, and your energy undiminished after all these years.

Until next we meet, please continue to support honest, creative live music wherever you can find it.

Peace – Lo, Aaron, Dan, Jon, and Tomo – February 2011

Look, six God Street Wine shows over the past 12 months were six more shows than we ever dreamed of when we started the God Street Wednesdays column, so we’re thankful for what we got out of the short-lived reunion. The gigs gave Winos the chance to reconnect and brought the band’s music to the attention of many who may not have heard of GSW if not for the reunion. Also, guitarists Lo Faber and Aaron Maxwell continue to perform and will even play with Dan Pifer and Jon Bevo at Joe’s Pub on February 25th, so the reunion is still paying dividends.

We wish the best to the band and thank them for an incredible ride.

Following up on today’s God Street Wednesdays column comes the announcement that keyboardist Jon Bevo and bassist Dan Pifer have been added to the lineup for GSW guitarists Aaron Maxwell and Lo Faber’s acoustic show at Joe’s Pub in New York City on February 25th.

If you recall from today’s post, Lo and Aaron used to perform acoustic shows as Dos Heteros. We mentioned the addition of Bevo at last weekend’s Mexicali Live gig was the birth of Tres Heteros. Therefore, we’ll get the long-awaited debut of Cuatro Heteros on the 25th. Tickets to catch 4/5ths of God Street Wine in action are currently available for $15.

Back in 1988, soon-to-be God Street Wine guitarists Lo Faber and Aaron Maxwell gigged on Cape Cod under the name Dos Heteros. The pair worked plenty of jazz-oriented material into their sets as they honed the skills and communication that would pay dividends the next decade. Lo and Aaron have revived Dos Heteros in what has now turned into regular gigs with the last one taking place at Mexicali Live this past Saturday evening.

Lo, Aaron, Bevo and Jason – Epilog

Lo and Aaron presented a nice mix of originals and covers for the occasion. The set started with the guitarists working through five songs as a duo including Goodnight Gretchen, Run To You and a fun take on Fats Waller’s Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter.  Next, the pair welcomed GSW keyboardist Jon Bevo to join them for a sequence we’ll call Tres Heteros (thanks Lynn). Aaron, Lo and Bevo covered Brooklyn by Steely Dan, B.B. King’s Sneakin’ Around and delivered a tender rendition of Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits plus GSW classic Driving West and the rarely played Bevo original Wall off GSW’s self-titled effort. Former GSW utility player Jason Crosby came out for conclusion of the set, namely a gorgeous Epilog, Dear Prudence and Mile By Mile -> Nightingale. Next up for Dos Heteros is a late-night set at Red Square in Albany that just so happens to start around the time Trey Anastasio’s show ends at the nearby Palace Theater.

We’ve got one other note for this week’s column. While transcribing my interview with God Street Wine from Jam Cruise has been an extremely slow process, 16-year-old journalist Tyler Curtis didn’t have that problem. Curtis spoke with Lo and Aaron at Mexicali Live on Saturday and posted his interview the next day on The Shakedown Blog. Lo and Aaron talked about the circumstances that led to last year’s reunion, the role of the GSW fan community, Jam Cruise highlights and more. Check it out.

Hey Jude was the B-Side to the 1968 single Revolution by The Beatles. This single was the Beatles first release on the Apple label. Originally titled Hey Jules, the song was written by Paul McCartney in reference to John Lennon’s son Julian. One of my favorite online Beatles resources is Alan W. Pollack’s site, click here to read all the musical (and other) information you would ever want to know about Hey Jude.

The Contestants:

Leading off this week we’ve got The Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Soul Stew Revival courtesy of a great recording from That Tent at Bonnaroo. Source: 6-15-2008

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Video from the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise January 2009:

READ ON for more nine more covers of Hey Jude…

For the first time in nearly a year, there are not any scheduled God Street Wine performances on the calendar. Alas, Lo and Aaron continue to book gigs as an acoustic duo. Next up for the GSW guitarists is an opening set at Brooklyn Bowl on January 19th supporting former God Street Wine multi-instrumentalist Jason Crosby and Friends. Also on the agenda for Faber and Maxwell is a show with American Babies, Crosby and James Maddock on January 29th at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ. Tickets are currently available for both shows.

[Photo by Michael Weiss (Nice Shirt, Tomo!)]

If you missed my reviews of God Street Wine’s guest-laden performances on Jam Cruise 9, be sure to check out A Letter to 16-Year-Old ScottyB about the Pool Deck show and Day Four, Pt. 1, which includes my thoughts on the theater set. Plenty of videos have emerged on YouTube from each of the sets and we can look forward to watching the pro-shot footage filmed by the iClips crew in the future.

Here’s some of the best clips we’ve come across…

God Street Wine w/ Anders Osborne – Goodnight Gretchen

READ ON for more GSW videos from Jam Cruise 9…

Thanks to our pal JRapp, we can premiere a number of fantastic clips from throughout Jam Cruise 9, which finished yesterday upon the MSC Poesia’s return to Fort Lauderdale. We start with Living Colour front man Corey Glover, who was on the boat with Galactic, singing Glamour Boys with ALO…

ALO w/ Corey Glover – Glamour Boys

Next, we’ve got a short clip of a George Porter Jr.-led version of Sneakin’ Sally from the Jam Room which featured Pete Levin, Ian Neville, Raymond Weber and Tony Hall on bass…

Jam Room – Sneakin’ Sally

READ ON for more videos from Jam Cruise 9 including Bobby w/ GSW, Brock’s LCD Soundsystem cover, Lotus on the Pool Deck, JHa joined by Butler and Berg on Dawes’ When My Time Comes and much more…

Greetings from just off the coast of Cuba, my friends. We’ve awoke to another gorgeous day of weather on the high seas as we motor back to Fort Lauderdale. Everyone seems surprisingly alert for Day Five of this marathon adventure and we’ve got an intense day and night ahead that leads into the dreaded disembarkation calls over the PA at 7AM tomorrow morning.

I think we’re at the point in the trip, where I can officially declare Jam Cruise 9 better than last year’s event on a musical level. While the “mindblown” factor of my first trip can never be duplicated, the artists on JC9 have all put together amazing sit-ins and action packed sets. No one wants to be “that band” or “that guy” who plays a bad show. Trust me, word spreads fast on this boat.

When I first looked at the schedule, I thought yesterday might be my least favorite of the five days. Yet, Friday turned out to crush. We were docked in Costa Maya, Mexico from 8AM to 3PM and I’d love to tell you all about it, but I took that opportunity to sleep. Zs are at a premium with “once-in-a-lifetime” collaborations likely to bust out at any time. I heard great stories of those who either went to the beach, took part in the Positive Legacy excursion, visited the Mayan Ruins or made their own adventure.

Jam Cruise is all about making your own adventure. Each attendee has a completely different experience and trading tales the next day is part of the fun. My day started with Rock Star Karoake featuring ALO. This California band is near the top of the list of acts who left a big impression on me. Not only are their originals funky and boogie-fueled without being trite, but they can also handle cover tunes with the best of ‘em.

READ ON on for more of Part 1 of Day 4 of Jam Cruise.

To: Scott Bernstein
Date: June 22, 1994

Dear 16-year-old version of myself,

While I [the current, 33-year-old edition of Scott Bernstein] should probably warn you about the mistakes you will make over the next 17 years, I’d rather focus on the positive – ’cause there’s plenty of it. More specifically, I want to tell you what went down yesterday and blow your mind.

First, some bad news: God Street Wine broke up in 1999. That’s right – enjoy the next few years while you have this band because they won’t be around forever. Now, the good news: after 11 years apart GSW will get back together for six shows and you’ll get to see them all. Not only that, but you got to see Lo, Aaron, Bevo, Tomo and Dan on a huge cruise ship with 10 of your friends and other music fans from around the country.

Remember that dream you had the other night, where God Street jammed out with Bob Weir? I knew you woke up and said that would never happen, but it did! Bob Weir, of the Grateful MFing Dead sat in with the boys for four songs at a small theater on this Jam Cruise thing I was telling you about. Sometimes dreams do come true, you just might have to wait 17 years.

Speaking of dreams coming true, I should probably mention that you’re a music writer aboard Jam Cruise 9 to cover the action and that you spent 45 minutes interviewing the whole band about how they got back together. You were in all your glory as the sun went down over the Caribbean behind GSW during your chat. There was a three-minute break in the action when y’all saw a few dolphins swimming besides the ship. Tough life, I know.

READ ON for more of this unique version of a GSW review…

While the first day of Jam Cruise was fun and featured some terrific music, Day Two took things to a whole new level. No matter where you looked, artists were jamming with each other in configurations that you’d never expect. The day was relentless as the MSC Poesia was motoring down to Roatan, Honduras.

Chicago’s Cornmeal kicked things off on the Pool Deck just before noon to a surprisingly large crowd. Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee provided the first sit-in of the day by joining Cornmeal for a segment that included a cover of Elton John’s Bennie and the Jets that the ensemble nailed on every level. There was even a tease of Terrapin thrown in for good measure.

[Photo by Dave Vann]

If anyone read my Jam Cruise Journals from last year, you’ll probably recall how much I enjoyed Brock Butler’s performances. Brock was all over the place yesterday starting with a solo set on the smaller Solar Stage which featured a dream setlist that started with a cover of LCD Soundsystem’s All My Friends followed by the PGroove classic It Starts Where It Ends and Tom Petty’s Wildflowers. Under sunny skies and in 80 degree weather, Butler also treated cruisers to a Phosphorescent cover and his own The Weather and the Wait as well as Paul Simon’s Diamonds on the Soles of Shoes. The PGroove front man even showed off his freestyle skills during DMX’s Crime Stories.

READ ON for much more from day two of Jam Cruise

Taper Scott Bernstein continues to release new installments of his BARN series, which features wonderful uncirculated recordings from his collection. BARN release #67 hits right in this column’s wheelhouse.

God Street Wine unveiled a number of new songs towards the end of the Summer of ’93 including Mile by Mile, Into The Sea, Run To You, Ballroom, Bring Back The News and Miss Leonardo. Many of these tunes were performed by the band at Irving Plaza on August 26, 1993. Scott’s recording of this show gives us a taste of how these compositions sounded when first dropped on a hometown crowd. Clearly the boys had spent plenty of time working up the new songs as they seem well-rehearsed and aren’t all that different from the versions that followed over the next few years. Head over to the Live Music Archive to stream or download a crispy recording of a smoking GSW show.

In other God Street news, guitarists Lo Faber and Aaron Maxwell stopped by the Relix offices on December 3rd and performed a few tunes for staffers. You can watch a video of the duo tackling Driving West at Relix.com.

God Street Wine guitarists Lo Faber and Aaron Maxwell have been keeping busy over the last few months by performing together on acoustics around the NYC region. The pair have one last show currently on the docket, which takes place at Sullivan Hall in New York on Friday night.

[Photo by Michael Weiss]

Lo and Aaron will be opening for George Porter Jr. & Runnin’ Pardners. Tickets are still available through TicketWeb. Faber and Maxwell should take the stage around 9PM. For a taste of what you can expect, check out this clip of Mile By Mile and Nightingale from last month’s show in Teaneck, NJ shot by Michael Weiss using Lo’s camera and audio recorded by Eric Budke…

Longtime GSW devotee Lynn Kestenbaum has directed and produced a 15-minute documentary about God Street Wine’s reunion shows in New York City this past July featuring interviews with nearly all of the band for our friends at State of Mind. Take a peek at this fantastic flick…

God Street Wine Brung Back

In other God Street Wine news, guitarists Lo Faber and Aaron Maxwell performed an acoustic set last Friday at Mexicali Live! in Teaneck, NJ. READ ON for the setlist, audio and video from the performance…

God Street Wine guitarists Lo Faber and Aaron Maxwell are set to perform at Mexicali Live! in Teaneck, NJ on Friday night. The pair throughly rocked Sullivan Hall a few weeks back with their acoustic set and we’d bet they’ll be even better after a few more weeks of practice. Tickets are cheap as hell and still available for Friday night’s show.

Lo and Aaron were recently the subject of a Jambands.com feature in which the pair discussed their history as an acoustic duo, GSW’s upcoming appearance on Jam Cruise and last July’s reunion shows. Maxwell discussed how he felt he had “nothing to lose” at those performances…

The Gramercy and Irving Plaza reunion shows must have been gemstones in your crown of achievements. How was it to be back onstage as a band?

Aaron: I felt more present at those shows than I did in the whole 11 years of GSW. There was nothing to lose. I felt like I could focus on the music—completely enjoyable from the beginning to the end.

Glad to see he enjoyed it as much as the Winos did.

Last Friday night, God Street Wine guitarists Lo Faber and Aaron Maxwell took part in a gala concert at Sullivan Hall in NYC to celebrate longtime fan Alexandra Rosenstein’s birthday. Not only did the pair play a lengthy acoustic set chock full of GSW classics, but Faber also sat in with NYC soul/rock band Leroy Justice on blistering renditions of Dreams by the Allmans and You Can’t Always Get What You Want by the Rolling Stones.

[Photo by Michael Weiss]

Most of the God Street tunes Lo and Aaron performed worked perfectly in stripped down arrangements with Thirsty, Borderline, Nightingale and Mile By Mile sticking out as highlights. Goodnight Gretchen was a bit of a clunker with both musicians starting different verses at the beginning of the tune. A great move by the pair was changing the key and style of When She Go for an acoustic rendition. While the tune still retained some of its reggae-tinged bite, the new arrangement was more country flavored and added new life to the song.

One surprise in an evening full of them came in the form of a couple of Wizard of Oz covers – If I Only Had a Brain and Somewhere Over The Rainbow – with Faber explaining that his daughter was a huge fan of the film leading him to play these songs for her. Another surprise was RatDog’s Kenny Brooks adding sax to a bluesy cover of Jesse Mae Robinson’s Sneakin’ Around. For the finale of their set, Lo and Aaron were joined by Jaik Miller and Leroy Justice for a fun, singalong version of Hey Jude by The Beatles.

Lo and Aaron – Wendy

Lo and Aaron’s participation was just part of what made Friday’s concert so special. Guitarist Jaik Miller put passion and verve into his songs during a brief set and Leroy Justice mixed guests and covers with their sublime originals during a headlining set. moe.’s Al Schnier lent his talents to Don’t Do It, while Schnier and Brooks both sat in on a funked up cover of Miss You.  Look for soundboard recordings from this show to surface soon. Faber and Maxwell next perform at Mexicali Live in Teaneck, NJ on November 5.

• Lo and Aaron Videos: Hey Jude w/ Jaik Miller & Leroy Justice, Rehearsal, Waiting For The Tide, Borderline,