A native of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Missouri, Eric Bernsee has enjoyed residing in Greencastle for more than 25 years. Years of consuming McDonald's iced teas, Dairy Castle flurries and Marvin's GCBs have helped make him the man he is today.

Average House Band to share old memories and play their songs again

Posted Wednesday, August 6, 2014, at 5:27 PM

Suffice it to say, there is nothing average about the annual Greencastle return of the Average House Band.

When the boys are back in town this Friday and Saturday (9 p.m., Inn at DePauw, $10 at the door), it will be hard to tell who's having more fun -- members of the band or those who flock to enjoy their return to their roots each August.

There probably isn't another event all year in which performers and spectators are synonymous of musical mind and spirit. So simply simpatico. So in synch (and not 'N Sync).

Whether it's the big, wide grins or the joyful body language or the music itself, you can just tell that Steve Michael, Danny Martin, Sandy Williams, Bill Hamm, Rod Kersey and Fred Badalli et al love to play, and their audience loves to hear them play.

Sure, the guys are all a little older, a little grayer or a little balder, but that can't prevent them from making us all believe it's the late 1970s again and we're all rocking to the AHB beat at the Old Topper.

That was where I first heard them play after a softball game at Robe-Ann Park one night when I still had two fully functional knees and two relatively intact shoulders.

I remember thinking I had never been a big Eagles fan until then, but listening to the Average House Band do Eagles' tunes like "Take It Easy" and "Desperado" and others helped turn me into one.

But over the years it's been more fun to join in their return, reminisce and be part of the Average House Band's own Rick Nelson "Garden Party," if you will.

You know, "a chance to share old memories and play our songs again."

The fun awaits ...