Jon is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, bandleader, and graphic artist originally from Southern Maryland, and has been playing in and around the Baltimore area since 1998. The first project was called Swamp Dog, which was a Jam Rock trio in Towson. Band members included Mikey Barnstein (drums), and Mike Petrella (bass/vocals). They played for about 3 years, and had a pretty solid following that got them up to NYC a few times. Mike Petrella's cousin, Marco Benevento used to sit in with us back when he was still a Jazz Farmer.
After Swamp Dog disbanded, he started a band called Juicebox with Lawrence Lanahan (guitar/vox), Dan Kutcher (bass), Matt Kutcher (drums), Mikey Barnstein (percussion), and Kevin McGovern (vocals and perc.)
This band was heavily influenced by the jazz/dance/underground sounds of bands like Lake Trout, and Big in Japan. Around the summer of 2003, Jon started playing acoustic shows with his good friend Eddie Feinstein. They eventually formed Feinwood, which is a Jamgrass quartet with Jon on lead guitar and vocals, Eddie on rhythm and vocals, Dave Frieman (Smooth Kentucky) on bass, and Kevin Corbin on banjo. This band still plays shows in and around Baltimore, and has made a name for themselves playing marathon sets that inclule old timey bluegrass, original tunes, acoustic space funk jams, and classic rock favorites by bands like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Flaming Lips, Pavement, Grateful Dead, and Phish as well as many others. Needless to say, these shows are a good time.
Rounding out the list of projects are Jon's most current endeavours, Major Dude and Psycho Killers. Major Dude started as a Steely Dan cover band, but quickly (like, before the first show) became and original Rock trio that's heavy on the jams, with Paul Weinberg (The Bridge, Weekapaug Orchestra) on drums, and Dan Kutcher on bass. Psycho Killers are a Talking Head's tribute band that has quickly gained a large following, and have nearly sold out their first 3 shows. This band is Jon Wood on guitar and vocals, Blake Mobley (Basshound, Damn Right) on Keys/vox, Ryan Porter (The Bridge, Weekapaug Orchestra) on bass/vox, Paul Weinberg on drums, Mikey Barnstein on percussion, and Bridget McCallion on vocals. Psycho Killers are probably the most abitious project Jon has been a part of. The dead-on renditions of classic Talking Heads tunes mixed with intense, danceable jams, and amazing lights by James Curran is most definitely something to behold.
Jon is also an artist, and creates most of the bands' fliers and posters. He likes snowboarding, cooking, and going to concerts with you folks. If you see him around, say hi.