Pre-Yukonian Period
The Highwater Marksmen were formed on New Years Day 2003, when Max Paley and David Barnhill got together to do a little picking. Although the current lineup and even the name of the Highwater Marksmen was still several years off, The sound created on that day still remains at the core of the band's vision. Over the next couple of years Max and Dave continued to play informally in living rooms, back yards and street corners. Historical details are unclear as to when their first gig was, but it is rumored that it occurred sometime during the fall of 2004. The duo enlisted the inordinately talented Oswald P. Backus III to play bass, the newly formed trio performed under the moniker "The Hot Licks Cool Tricks String Band". Shortly afterwards Dairy Queen threatened legal action and the original name was dropped, thank god. , in the spring of 2005, a stroke of serendipity allowed a chance meeting that propelled the band into its next phase
Yukonian Period
It was on the 1600 block of Rhode Island that chance led J.J. Hanson, known to many as Yukon JimiJon, to have a porch-pickin' session with Max and Dave. After they finished playing John Hartford's Steam-Powered Aeroplane the boys knew they had stumbled on something special. The addition of J.J.'s banjo simultaneously added the down-home tradition and punk-rock attitude that truly rounded out the group's sound. Anxious to test out their new chops the trio enlisted the help of Barrett Hamilton to play bass and began to play gigs. These first gigs were rocky to say the least. They included a few dates at the Gaslight Tavern and several Wednesday nights at Vermont St. BBQ.
New Highs and Lows
In the fall of 2006 The Marksmen expanded their sound with the addition of Kendra Noll's beautiful harmony singing. This new vocal strength was debuted at the inaugural Brewgrass festival, held in Lawrence's south park. It was beautiful day, but there was a fierce wind coming off the Kaw that created havoc with our condenser mic. Though all in all it was a success and the experience motivated the band. At this time, Barrett was still playing bass, but it was an electric bass guitar, and the band yearned for the percussive slap of a Bull Fiddle. They soon found that sound in Bethel graduate, Andy Gingrich. The Band was introduced to Andy through fellow picker James Rose, eponymous member of J.R. and the Juniors, then they got together to play. From the first notes of "Little Maggie" the band was enamored with Andy's timing and tastefulness, and all involved that night left with thoughts of possibilities
