It was the summer of 2005. I was hanging out with my best friend Dustin at his house as we did almost every day that summer. I do not remember how it came about, but we were on his computer and he told me to take a quick listen to a band called Sherwood. He pulled up the first song from their first (and at the time, only) full length, Sing, But Keep Going. It opened with a sustained organ swells into lush, sunny, California india pop for the rest of the album. I knew right then and there this was going to be one of my favorite bands.
I don't even think I listened to all of two tracks before I had to leave and I went straight to Best Buy and bought the album on my way to my siblings swim meet. I remember telling my sister that this was going to be the soundtrack to our summer. Little did I know, Sherwood would be so much more than that. They were the soundtrack of my life for the next 6 years.
Through the rest of that summer, I listened to those songs more than any album I owned. I can still close my eyes and remember very specific moments when I was listening to a song and going through a certain emotions.
My first Sherwood concert was in February of 2006 at The Mad Hatter in Covington, KY with Jordan and Tyler Elam. I still regard it as probably the best club level show I have ever attended. They played almost every song off Sing, But Keep Going, and hit every harmony I had heard on the album. I was floored. After the show I bought a poster that I have all of them sign for a girl that I liked at the time. After they played, Jordan, Tyler, and I went on a walk with Dan, the guitarist and background vocalist, through the streets of Covington. I don't remember specifically what we talked about, I just remember thinking how down to earth and normal he was.Later on, at a show over a year later, I talked with Dan and mentioned that, and he totally remembered. I have seen them 6 times and even had the privilege of opening a show for them.
On the last day of last month, Sherwood decided to call it quits. I was at my apartment at the time and immediately made a playlist of every Sherwood song I owned and listened through non stop. It was amazing going through and remembering specific moments in my life when I had been listening to their songs. It was/is hard to describe the feeling I have regarding their breakup. While I know that all good things must come to an end eventually, I never thought it would happen this soon. I am sad but at the same time so happy and thankful for all the amazing songs they have written and shared through the years. They will remain my overall favorite band of all time, and will take some amazing work to change this.
I wish all the guys, Nate, Dan, Mikey, Joe, and David the best of luck and will hold on to the hope that one day, like so many bands eventually do, they will reconvene for a show or another album.
Cheers - A Sherwood Fanboy
