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Big night for old music with John Wood Combo
Two homegrown musical groups perhaps most synonymous with the local music scene over the past 40 years or more will be taking center stage Friday night at local venues.
Not only is the Average House Band returning for its eighth annual reunion show this coming Friday and Saturday, Aug. 7-8 at the Inn at DePauw but The John Wood Combo will getting toes a-tapping Friday night at the Greencastle VFW as well.
The John Wood Combo will play 6-8 p.m. at the VFW post on South Jackson Street, while the Average House Band show is set to begin at 9 p.m. at the Inn at DePauw.
"So we'll be kind of a warm-up group for Average House Band," Wood said noting the combo's VFW performance is free and open to the public.
Those who would like to eat dinner, however, can do so at the VFW for $7 a person as the Ladies Auxiliary will be serving country-style barbecue ribs, scalloped potatoes, green beans, slaw, roll and dessert from 5-7 pm.
"People can make both shows," Wood noted, adding "it'll be big night in Greencastle for old music."
The 87-year-old Wood still fronts the local combo as the sole surviving member of a group synonymous with his name for more than six decades whether the venue was the VFW, American Legion, Elks Club or Moose Lodge.
The John Wood Combo used to even play between movies at the Old Voncastle Theatre and at DePauw University parties.
Although the group now only plays once or twice a month, Wood still mans the keyboard. But instead of his longtime partners in crime -- Tom Hardwick, Tim Grimes and Fred Wilbur, all of whom have passed away in recent years -- he is now accompanied by Carol Hamm on bass and Donnie Hopkins on drums.
"We don't play in the wintertime, I'm too old for that," Wood laughs, noting that he started performing at age 25.
At the VFW Friday night, the core group will be joined by special guests Greencastle native Robin Hopkins on banjo, Kathleen Miller on vocals and Bill James on clarinet.
Jimmy "Figgy" Hardwick is also due to be on hand, singing, performing some magic and sharing his brand of comedy during the evening.
Looking back, Wood says the combo has played virtually every big event in Putnam County over the last 60 years at one time or another, although he and the gang did pause long enough to put out a John Wood Combo CD about 10 years ago.
"Our music used to be real popular," Wood said, "then The Beatles came along and Elvis Presley, and that changed it all.
"Our music is old, and it's still old," the veteran musician assured. "All we play is old music. That's what they want from us."