PRINTEpic rockers call it quits, for now
Witch’s Hat prepares to ride into the sunset
Melissa Huffer
The band recording tracks at a studio in Columbia.
August 7, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
The Witch’s Hat saga is coming to a close. The self-proclaimed epic rockers, who have been mainstays of Columbia’s indie rock scene for four years, are breaking up. Their huge guitars, groovy drums and fantasy lyrics about dragon slayers, aliens and Dungeons & Dragons will fade into the past when the members go their separate ways later this month.
Two of its four members, Dwayne Welty and Greg Linde, are leaving Missouri to switch professions. Guitarist Welty is looking to exchange tools — a guitar for a spatula — as he moves to Los Angeles to try out for Hell’s Kitchen, a reality show that pits chefs against one another. Linde, the lead singer and songwriter, is exiting the Show-Me State, too, but with a simpler plan — to work on his brother’s ranch in Wyoming.
The exodus leaves bassist and keyboardist Stephen Doerhoff and drummer Dan Clark without their musical counterparts, but the two have future ideas as well. Doerhoff, who sells office supplies for his uncle’s company, says he might return to school. Clark says he’s focusing the majority of his attention on his upcoming wedding, and he might join another band in the future.
Thus, the final chapter is set to unfold Friday at Mojo’s as the rockers prepare to tell their story one last time.
But wait — like in many magical tales, there might be a happy ending. Doerhoff says the breakup might not be permanent. “We’re just going to play it by ear,” he says. “There may be shows in the future, but we’re working this event like the last — forever or at least for a long time.”
Still, a breakup is a breakup, and fans are bummed. The band’s admirers booed when they heard about the separation at a June 26 concert at Mojo’s.
Mark Schaffer, known as rapper Schaffer the Darklord, is one distressed fan. He’s from New York City and claims to be the band’s No. 1 fan because he identifies with their unusual style. He first met Witch’s Hat at a concert in Columbia where the two acts performed together because of a promoter’s recommendation. “(Schaffer) raps about geeky things, like cloning and future stuff,” Doerhoff says.
Although the band’s live performances will end, fans can still get their Witch’s Hat fix through its new album, Spain. The seven-track concept album will be released at the final concert. “The songs all run together, and they all tell a story together,” Clark says. “It takes place in medieval Spain. It’s very epic — battles, swords, deception, seduction, murder, stuff like that.”
And if Spain sounds anything like the group’s previous work, it’ll be a mix of punk and pop melodies covered with medieval storytelling. Greg’s lyrics seem intentionally silly but are narrated with a bold conviction convincing enough to hold your attention when he yells about bloody wars and vampires. The rhythm section compliments him by creating a backbone funky enough to get people moving.
But Clark says he’s not sure if the group will ever release all of their tunes. “There are four or five songs that we play live that haven’t been put on an album yet,” he says. The band recorded some of them last week in Columbia because they won’t be playing together after their final show. “We might throw them online later for free or something,” Clark says.
So be on the lookout for these unconventional rockers. They might still be telling their larger-than-life stories on the biggest battlefield of all — the Internet.
It’s all about the lyrics. Mixing stories about dragons, vampires and war battles, epic rock blends sci-fi or historical fiction with traditional rock compositions. Clark says Witch’s Hat didn’t want to create music about typical themes, such as love or politics. Instead, the band members let their interest in video games, dragons, vampires and other magical tales shape their compositions.
But epic rock doesn’t have to be rock ’n’ roll. Columbia band Rutherford is considered epic rock because of its lyrics, but the band mixes folk, funk and jazz, which shows the genre is still defining itself.
There aren’t many shows in Columbia, but Epic Rock Radio is a place for fans to get their fix. The online channel says the genre is similar to metal, which is far from Witch’s Hat’s version.
Check them out at epicrockradio.com and come up with your own interpretation.
Event Info
What: Witch’s Hat
When: Fri., 8:30 p.m.
Where: Mojo’s
Cost: $5
Call: 449-1313
Guitarist Dwayne Welty warms up to play some unreleased tunes, which might be released after ...
