Weary Beside The Well first formed in the spring of 2003.
Everyone in the band shared the same church.  Ismael asked Steven if he played guitar and when he said "yes" Ismael told him he was looking to start a band.  A couple weeks later they got together at drummer Joshua's house and began to cover songs from throughout the alternative rock cannon.  Joshua's future brother-in-law Julio was on bass at that point.  He would be the first of many bassists before Steven's brother Andrew would be the permanent low end.  Throughout the spring and into the summer, Ismael, Joshua and Steven would get together.  Sometimes whoever was around at the time would play bass as Julio found it difficult to find time to practice.  The band began to write their own songs and they longed to take their music outside of the garage.  Instead of bringing the band to the people, the band brought the people to the garage.
WBTW's first show was at their practice space in July 2003.  Andrew had just joined the band a couple weeks prior, but he was able to learn all of the songs in time for the show.  It was a good first show for the band.  Ismael broke a guitar string during the first song, but he tuned back up and completed the set like nothing happened.  3/4 of the WBTW had never been in a band that played out before, so the band was hungry for more opportunities to play live.  They quickly booked a couple of shows that fall.  The first was at The Portage Park Center For The Arts (RIP).  The arts center was housed in a former church which made a great setting to see the band.  The next show was at the close quarters of the Sun Cafe (RIP).  The cafe was decorated for Halloween, so there were spider webs hanging from the light fixtures just above the band.  Sadly, there are no known pictures of this show.
The band hibernated for the next couple of months and into the new year, practicing and preparing for a big show that January at the Celebrate Jesus Coffeehouse (RIP).  The band brought more people to the venue then they had ever seen. The band headlined the show and made great friends that night.  Soon after, the band decided to record some demos to give to venues to get more shows.  A friend of the band recommended that his brother record them.  So the band hauled their gear to an empty apartment in Avondale and recorded four songs in two days for $200.  Energized by hearing themselves on tape, the band brought a store of energy to their next show at the Upper Room Cafe at the end of February.  A couple of people at the show were having an open mike at their venue later that night so WBTW headed there afterward and played another set late that night.
Tragedy struck the next month after a show at the Freewill Cafe (RIP).  The band played a decent set and was paid, but they had a hard time hearing each other on stage and the night didn't meet all of their expectations. After some joking that got out of hand, Ismael considered ending the band.  After some sincere apologies and talking, the band prepared for a busy summer.
The band played 3 nights in a row that May.  The third night was to a crowd of hundreds of people at the Evanston Vineyard.  The band was even personally introduced by the venue owner.  The show went so well, people were flicking their Bics!  Some coins were thrown at the band, but they just pocketed them.  The next month the band played Souled Out (now Nite Light) in Berwyn.  The crowd was full of new people and the band fed off the energy of a big show with lots of bands.  It was also Steven's turn to break a string.  In July the band traveled to Judson University in Elgin to play the Karitos Arts festival.  While the band didn't win anything there, they almost entered a deal to record with Rex Carroll from White Cross.  Later that month they played a benefit show at a neighborhood VFW hall with many friends and friend’s bands.
The Fall of 2004 brought the band back to the Celebrate Jesus Coffeehouse, the Sun Cafe and the Vineyard.  They also did a short set at a Halloween party complete with Andrew jumping off the stage and Steven climbing on the amps.
WBTW had written new material and they wanted to record it themselves.  So they pooled together some funds and bought some recording gear.  The band was never to record again as a full unit though.  From taking time to learn how to use the recording equipment to playing more shows and then new jobs, the band was just too busy.  That November the band rocked hard at 602 North (RIP) complete with fog machines and light show.
The winter of 2005 found the band busy in their personal lives until they played late that February.  This show was a great chance to show the team from e2-music that they should work with the band.  e2-music was a new network that hoped to connect bands, venues and fans.  They released a compilation of local bands later that summer.  WBTW contributed a reworking of an older track, “Stop Remembering”, which was recorded by Ismael and Joshua.  That song can now be found on Russian mp3 websites.
After new jobs disconnected the band for nearly 6 months, Ismael wanted the band to rock again.  This time the band went on as a 3 piece since Steven decided to focus on finishing college.  They had at least one second guitarist fill in for a while, but the band dissolved that winter as Joshua got married and Ismael planned his marriage as well.
A couple years later, Steven received an unexpected phone call from Ismael with word of bringing the band back together.  Shows were already in the works.  After a couple practices, the band felt ready again.  They returned to the stage with big, goofy grins, happy to be back together.  The band played at some new venues and returned to the Portage Park Center For The Arts as well.  They shared the stage with friends that started bands while they were on hiatus.
WBTW drifted into obscurity after that.  All of them continue to love music and the people they met while together.
They still have buttons with the band's name for their remaining fans.