Wino Wednesday: Dave Sherman’s Five Favorite Spirit Caravan Tracks
He’s one of doom’s most indomitable and inimitable personalities, and as the frontman of Earthride, Dave Sherman (generally just say “Sherm” and anyone who’s met him will know immediately who you’re talking about), has become a living embodiment of the Maryland doom scene. Recently, he’s also been making a splash live with the outfit Weed is Weed, which reunites him with his former Spirit Caravan bandmate, Gary Isom.
Spirit Caravan only released two full-lengths in their time, 1999’s Jug Fulla Sun and 2001’s Elusive Truth, but the trio that began as Shine left a legacy and influence behind that has endured in the Maryland scene and well beyond. Though the band’s three members — Scott “Wino” Weinrich on vocals/guitar, Sherman on bass and Isom on drums — have each moved on to other projects (in addition to playing guitar in Weed is Weed, Isom also drummed in Pentagram for a stretch and has been in numerous other regional doom acts), their career has remained in part defined by what they did together as Spirit Caravan. Naturally that lessens as time goes on, but it remains true nonetheless.
Those new to the band who’d take on listening would do well to check out the 2CD 2003 MeteorCity compilation, The Last Embrace, which collects both full-lengths as well as previously unreleased material and stuff from 7″s and compilations. Sherman, who aside from being The Riff Made Flesh also happens to be a great dude, was kind enough to pick out his five favorite Spirit Caravan tracks for a very special Wino Wednesday this week.
Some are live, some are studio versions, but here’s a clip for each of Sherm‘s picks, along with a few words of explanation from the man himself. Right on:
Dave Sherman’s Spirit Caravan Picks:
1. “Powertime.” The first song I co-wrote with Wino.
2. “Sea Legs.” I love this song because Wino sings about… Gary and I. A well-done iguana and a real heavy gnome.
3. “Dreamwheel.” It’s so positive of a song – the dream keeps on rollin’!
4. “Lost Sun Dance.” The band’s first song we learned.
5. “Kill Ugly Naked.” I know it is an Obsessed cover, but not many people heard it until Spirit Caravan put it on Jug Fulla Sun!!!
I remember seeing Dave Sherman in the Obsessed documentary talking about how he was a huge Obsessed fan and finally got to meet the legendary Wino…”heaviest motherfucker I ever met”…. haha. That’s the most spot-on description you could muster up for Wino. To reiterate on what many have said, there NEEDS to be a Spirit Caravan reunion tour, if nothing else(or a full-fledged Obsessed Tour!). I can’t imagine hearing Dead Love/Jug Fulla Sun live, probably one of my favorite songs ever. I missed them back in ’01 when they came around near my hometown. Why did I have to be 11 years old? I swear I was born too late!
Far out! Spirit Caravan is probably my favorite Wino band. The songs, the lyrics, the sound, the whole concept. Fantastic. Lost Sun Dance is like an anthem for me. Cheers!
Dove Tongued Aggressor is up there pretty high the Spirit Caravan best songs list…but to me the Obsessed is the best Wino band I’ve heard,can’t wait for the new album to drop. Peace out & long live Maryland Doom ???