Rarely does a situation occur in my travels around Hampton Roads where the opening act catches your ear and makes you wonder why in the hell these guys are opening?  In December, I had the pleasure of attending a show for the Influence where I was blown away by their little known opening act, Woodwork.  The band was a breath of fresh air after all the musical monotony I had been subjected to throughout the month.  Kim (my awesome photographer) and I made eye contact, and I knew were thinking the same thing...these guys are pretty damn good.  With the Influence having more of a progressive rock origin the last thing I was expecting was a jam band to open for them and actually be decent.  Within the first few chords, the crowd that was obviously geared to rock the night away was suddenly swept into the trance of a true jam session.

Naming their band after an Elon field party where girls were using the woods as the restroom (hence "wood work"), these guys began making a name for themselves around the Southside throughout the next few months.  With their casual style and a fun, easy-going stage presence, these guys easily appeal to both a male and female fan base, making them highly marketable to the college crowds as well as the laid back Virginia Beach summer crowds.

The vast range of musical influences can be heard throughout their upbeat originals, and their musical talents shine through their modified covers of classics.  They refuse to sell out, which is easier said than down in a tourist town, but instead allow the music to speak for itself and their talents.  With so many crowds wanting to hear Sublime covers or even a jam band version of "Redemption Song," it becomes very hard to sell an original to a crowd that may only be there one night and possibly come back next year.  Woodwork has gotten around this obstacle by hitting their base - colleges.  They are, in my opinion, the epitome of a kick-ass house party band, and with so many venues closing throughout Virginia Beach and Norfolk, it seems that the college crowd may be the folks that supply the environment for a budding band.

I have seen Woodwork on several occasions and have been impressed time after time.  They are jovial guys determined to have a good time whether there are two fans or two hundred, and you can see it every time they play.  If you ever have a chance to see these guys make sure you take it - I guarantee it'll be a good time.

MySpace.com/WoodWorkVA

Woodwork on YouTube

By Author and Staff Coordinator: Mallory Douglas

Mallory loves to cover the Jam Band, Rock, Ska and even Bluegrass genres for the Seven Cities as she leads Hampton Roads Team33!

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