Friends and fans of beloved local musician Jeff Wood were shocked when the superfit thirtysomething drummer was rushed to the hospital this summer for emergency brain surgery to remove a tumor.
Wood has pounded the skins on the local scene for more than a decade with bands, including Joe Popp, above in a classic "Let's all shave our heads!" band shot that features Popp, bassist Martin Rice and Wood. Wood also sat behind the kit for Forgotten Apostles, Monday Mornings, Barely Pink, Smashmouth and, most recently, Nutrajet.
Wood needs help with steep medical bills. His musician pals - and who doesn't love the guy? - have been lending a hand with several benefit gigs; the mightiest is this weekend's Jeff Woodstock at the State Theatre.
It's an awesome bill that features some of the area's most stellar talent, including Popp - who trekked down from the Big Apple to help out his buddy - Barely Pink, Unrequited Loves, Car Bomb Driver, Cocktail Honeys, Pagan Saints, Sparky's Nightmare, R50, Lovercraft and Crippled Masters.
Raffles and prizes will also be part of the evening.
Jeff Woodstock kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday at the State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Admission is $6, with every penny going toward Wood's medical bills.
