The New Salem WitchHunters
Dave Atkins - Vocals (lead)
Tom Fallon - Guitar (lead)
Sam Petrello - Drums
Jim Wilson - Keyboards
Jeff Herwick - Bass
Dave Swanson - Drums
Larry Lewis - Bass
"If your gonna drink and drive...drink that Jaegermister" There was a time when Dave Atkins drank. Beer. Not that that was necessarily a good or bad thing - just a fact.
I loved the Witch Hunters and when I moved down to Columbus in '86, a guy I knew here and I brought them and D.O.S. to Stache's a coupla times. Both occasions kind of blend, so I'll just pretend it was one long night.
Now, Staches used to have this long bar and a short wall/counter that ran parallel with it so that people could sit and drink and watch the band. Ledges and Dave were meant for each other. The Witch Hunters were fantastic and, as he is one to do, Dave left the stage during an instrumental break and prowled around, mic chord snaking behind. Vocals started up again and Dave was singing from the top of the bar, walking about 4 feet above the ground. As he approached the end of the bar nearest the stage... WHACK...the ceiling fan slammed into his forehead like a propeller. Of course Dave just got back on stage and continued singing - blood trickling down his face.
An after show party was happening at my friend's house, so Dave bought what was probably two postal workers' days pay worth of beer and we headed out. (Ironically, the next time I tried to convince the club owner to bring 'em down again he said "We never really sell much beer when they play here.") Approaching the house, somehow, Dave noticed an opossum, dead, "with some green stuff comin' outta its ass". Dave naturally invited the critter into the party, where it had an honored place on a chair.
I lived south of downtown and a bunch of people were staying the night. Directions were given and everyone arrived except for Dave, who was driving by himself. It got later and later, and people finally found enough floorspace to crash. Still no Atkins. About 7:00 or 8:00 am and there's a knock on the door. Dave comes in and tells us that he somehow ended up in Alton, OH where the only thing there was "a cow patch and a strip joint." For years, I could never find Alton on a map and I'm still a little unsure of its existence.