Remembering Jared (A summarized history of Shaft)

So it goes. "Hindsight is 20/20". That saying has never rang as true with me as it has these past couple of days. I lost a true life mate and friend in Jared Hobaugh this past week and my heart is forever broken by his passing.

I met Jared when I was 15 years old. His brother, Jason attended a birthday party where my band was performing. It was a party celebrating Andy Gilstrap's 14th birthday at his parent's house. Our band at the time consisted of myself, Andy Gilstrap and Josh Gaunt. A few days later Jason introduced us to his older brother, Jared and we all got together to jam on a Sunday afternoon. Little did I know it would begin the one of the most interesting and fulfilling journeys of my life thus far.

A few months after that party, Jared joined our band, Shaft, permanently. Once he hopped in he took the lead and transformed us from a rag tag group of kids playing Pearl Jam covers to a full blown gigging, local band. We wrote original songs, recorded a rough "album" (how many people still own that tape!?), and started playing gigs around town at local bars. He put it all together. At the time we could barely be considered post-pubescent. You should have seen the looks on the bar owners' and patrons' faces when we walked through the door of whatever show Jared had booked! I had just turned 16 when our band really kicked off. What an experience! You can imagine, while all of my peers were going to parties and high school sporting events, we were in Old Town jamming out until 2AM. Many occasions on school nights. How could we have ever convinced a bar owner to book a bunch of kids in his or her establishment? If you have ever had a conversation with Jared Hobaugh, you know....

Over the following years we played hundreds of shows at bars, frat parties, house parties, festivals, high school events, you name it we would play it. We wrote scores of original songs and covered classic rock and popular crowd favorites. In the late nineties we were one of the most popular bands in Wichita, playing to packed houses almost every show. We did this all before I turned 19 years old.

In 1999 we recorded an EP and then decided to take some time off from the group. After 3 years of playing almost 3 nights a week, we were burnt out. Jason and I moved to Lawrence, Andy to Manhattan and Jared stayed behind and started a sound company. After a year we found ourselves reunited. We picked up right where we left off, recording two full length albums in 2 years. This time we were determined to take ourselves to the next level and Jared was at the wheel driving us forward. We bought a used RV which he and some friends re-furbished, building 4 bunk beds in the back so that those of us not driving (I never drove) could get some sleep (I only slept if Jason wasn't at the wheel). Backed by two solid albums, we played shows all over this great country between 2002-2004: Cincinnati, Terra Haute, Pittsburg, Dallas, OKC, Tulsa, KC, Lawrence, St. Joseph, Fayetteville, Lincoln, Amarillo, Manhattan, Las Vegas, Sturgis, and Los Angeles. Once, we even took off for an open ended tour of the west coast. The idea being that we'd keep afloat by booking shows while we were out. The problem was that on the west coast they book months in advance. Our finances dried up pretty quick and we scooted back home in less than a month.

That is an ultra summarized version of our bands' history. It would take months of blogging to detail all of the great stories and experiences that we had during our time as a band. I might consider chronicling them in the future....

Shaft disbanded in 2004. We were at our peak, the best we had ever been. But, at that point I guess it seemed time for all of us to collectively move on. We worked our asses off for years to try to make something of what we had as a group. Jared worked especially hard during those years. It was something that I never fully granted him credit for. So it goes.

"Hindsight is 20/20". Watching old videos posted on youtube and listening to all of our old recordings brings back so many great memories. Some bitter but most all of them sweet. Ever since we disbanded I've been searching for the musical equivalent of what we had in Shaft. The four of us, Jared, Jason, Andy and myself, shared something utterly unique and beautiful when we played music together. The sum of our parts was truly greater than what we possessed as individuals. I realize that now, tragically, too late.

We all had our own separate lives, sets of friends and acquaintances outside of Shaft. None of us were ever "best friends" save the two brothers. Even that bond was a rocky one at times. We all had our disagreements within the group and in years ahead we would stubbornly hold on to what in retrospect turned out to be trivial, petty grudges. So it goes.

I experienced so much life with and because of Jared Hobaugh. He took the initiative to try to make all of us in to something great. He was willing to sacrifice a lot to do so. At this moment I hold nothing in my heart but love, respect and a deep gratitude for him. He was a completely unique spirit and the world is a lesser place in his absence.

I recently spoke with Jared on the phone after not having any contact with him for a number of years. He talked about his life off of the grid piloting his plane in Alaska and I spoke of my new adventures in fatherhood. He sounded happy. Content. We discussed playing a Shaft gig over Christmas. December 26th to be precise. I had already booked the date at a local bar. We ended the conversation with mutual excitement of our prospective reunion. In the days following our conversation, my thoughts were occupied about our initial meeting, our rehearsals, the show, and even brand new Shaft songs yet to be birthed. In my mind there was still a future for Shaft. I should have made that phone call a long time ago. Too late now. So it goes.....

We all move forward in life focusing on the good times and positive experiences we all had with Jared. He will be sorely missed. So long my brother in music/life.........

Your friend,

Jace Wilbert