By Erin Goss | SDUN Reporter

Reunions can be hit or miss. With family reunions there’s always the chance that one can become trapped in a corner talking to a second cousin whose Facebook friend request you’ve been ignoring—for a reason. However,
with Convoy’s reunion show, one can get caught losing time at the bar listening to solid tunes and reminiscing with old friends. Take your pick.

It’s been nearly 10 years since the popular rock band Convoy has graced San Diego’s stages with its Americana swagger. Since that time, the members of Convoy have successfully pursued other musical endeavors, started families, and—dare we say—matured. Most of the band members moved on to form the popular, but now defunct, local band, Louis XIV. But the connection between the musicians is as timeless as the songs they first wrote together and can be evidenced by a recent interview with band members Brian Karscig (who now fronts The Nervous Wreckords), Robbie Dodds and South Park resident, Mark Maigaard.

Convoy’s reunion journey began over a few cocktails with Karscig and Maigaard taking a trip down memory lane.

“We were at The Riviera Supper Club getting hammered,” Karscig recalled.

“And Convoy came on the jukebox,” Maigaard finished.

From there, the rest was history. Dodds, the band’s guitarist, said that with one simple e-mail request, all the members were on board.

“I remember seeing the round of e-mails and one-by-one everyone saying, ‘Yeah, I’m in,’” Dodds said.

The plan was tossed around for months until finally their busy schedules coincided and they confirmed
availability to play two dates Jan. 14 and Jan. 15 at The Casbah, during the venue’s anniversary month series. The decision to play the reunion show at The Casbah was an easy one, the members enthused.

“Tim (Mays, Casbah’s owner) was the first person in town to give Convoy a show,” Maigaard said speaking about The Casbah’s owner.

Lead singer Jason Hill described the popular local venue as “a gem.”

“I’ve been lucky enough to play some of the best clubs all around the world and The Casbah is truly in the top five. Without Tim, The Casbah would probably be a Mexican restaurant. And I might be a waiter there,” he said.

For those who remember the band’s infamous Casbah shows, one knows to expect a fairly wild night.

“We had a pretty rowdy fan base,” Karscig said. “We did two nights at The Casbah at the height of Convoy and it sold out real quick. Before there were those net cages above the smoking patio; it was just those apartments
up there. I remember Tim freaking out because fans would give the people that lived in those apartments money, climb out the windows and drop down into The Casbah.”

In addition to attracting fanatic intruders, Convoy shows were notorious for packing a club. They remember, though not so fondly, shots of Sambuca often being passed around in commemoration of the band’s 2001 album “Black Licorice.” While inarguably raucous, Convoy’s fan base is equally loyal, and bound to make the band’s upcoming reunion a success.

Not only are locals attending the show, but the band reveals its had calls from old fans and friends who have moved away and are returning to San Diego simply to witness the show. However, this comes as no surprise as many of Convoy’s fans ended up becoming friends with the musicians. Consequently, they are just as linked to the music by memories as the band members themselves.

Hill said rehearsing again reminds him of his days as a young musician and the thrill of creating music on a shoestring budget.

“It was a tremendous period of being relatively broke and very creative. Heartbreaking at times, but so much music, so much depth and discovery for us,” he said.

As musicians and music fans alike know, music can act as a portal to exploration and reminiscences.
If a few drinks and a song on the jukebox can take you back in time, imagine what a live show and a packed house can do?

For tickets and information, visit casbahmusic.com.