If we met recently it may have been while I was playing with the more-or-less Irish traditional band Oxter/Mahone. That group (including Bruce Zeeuw, Lauran Bittinger, Janet Shelby, Rob Mulligan and Jim Spalink) is now in retirement but it's members still get along fine and can be spotted at each others gigs. Bruce and I have gone "back" to playing with...
The Folk Bros - the opposite of retirement is revival, and due to interest generated on "the internets," a move is afoot to "Bring Back the REAL Folk Bros!"
Yes, friends and fans The Folk Bros band are back and busy recording NEW and updated tracks (some of which sound pretty upbeat and current)! A musical history of the band - "Field Recordings" - will likely be made available as a companion CD / download album at the same time.) Though no release date has been set, the ball is in motion. Yes, two of those Bros were members of OM too...
Before The Folk Bros, Oxter/Mahone and Dublin Station I formed Pillar of Fire (version I of which was named The Pillar of Fire Society) a band that spanned the late 80's early 90's. The band played 85% original songs that straddled what we now call "80's music" with glimpses of the "Americana" styles present in today's rock & country music. As we uncover usable recordings from Pillar of Fire, look for them to appear on OctoberDay.com
There were a few other short lived bands, some of the punky and power pop persuasion (Roscoe & the Faves, Petite Academy - which became Nice Lawn - The Rubbles, The Nofstras of Rhythm, The Ill-Tempered Lieutenants, etc.). Way, way back it's possible you saw Checkered Moon (Lauran and my first duo band) or the original Grand Valley State folk-rock-Americana quartet Blacky Jane.
And yes, for a while I bummed about the great Midwest barefoot and solo, playing coffeehouses, restaurants and bars, sleeping under the stars and in the back seat of cars. Think I'll go have a jar and be glad I'm where I are.