Stringband plays old-time music for appreciative crowd at Oregon Trader

By Heather Crabtree

The Entertainer

ALBANY - Totapatoeto is an adjective used to describe the music of Wild Hog in the Woods, a mid-valley stringband, but you won't find the word in Webster's dictionary.

"To tap a toe to. It's a joke," explained John Donoghue, a member of the quartet. "It takes something out of it when you have to explain the jokes."

Although the five-word blend is fictitious, it describes the sound of Wild Hog in the Woods perfectly.

From 7 to 10 p.m. Thursdays, except for the third Thursday of the month, this lively group carries the old-time acoustic jam at Oregon Trader Brewing Company, 140 Hill St. S.E., Albany.

The sound radiating throughout the brewery reminds the listener of something that could be found in Appalachia at the early part of the 20th Century. Cloggers, hammered dulcimers, violins and banjos all join in with the versatile Hog players.

Players change throughout the evening, and because of that change, the sound moves through the 1920s, '30s and '40s into modern day. It can include everything from old-time, swing, jazz and ragtime to the sounds of Janis Joplin and the Beatles.

"We have people who come from all over the state and have something going on in the area," Donoghue said. "Over the time we've been (at Oregon Trader), we've built up kind of a following both with musicians who play and regulars. A lot of these songs are our standard stuff. When we start doing those, people start to sing, and it's fun."

The Hog sessions are 100 percent acoustic, meaning no microphones or amplifier.

"I remember pubs in Ireland, and it's kind of loud in there," Donoghue said. "Music sessions are without amplifier, etc., unlike a lot of taverns and bars in the United States. It is loud with people talking to each other. What's neat about (Oregon Trader) is it isn't overbearing, and people can sit and yak with each other."

The group's arsenal of instruments regularly includes Herschel Olmsted on a five-string banjo; Ted Tom on guitar, dobro or tenor banjo; John Simonds on bass; and Donoghue on mandolin.

"Ted, since he owns the music store, has just an army of instrument," Donoghue said. "It's great to see all these fantastic instruments. Most of us will drag in two, three or four different instruments throughout the night."

The current foursome of Wild Hog in the Woods has been playing together between six and seven years.

The group was originally started by Olmsted. Donoghue joined after a couple of guys left. The cycle of people leaving and joining continued until the current four came together. The quartet have known each other for a number of years.

Olmsted teaches and is a counselor at an elementary school in Turner. He has played and recorded with a number of old-time groups, including Luckiamute String Band and The Sunny Valley Boys. He and Donoghue have been playing together for more than 30 years. They met while they were in their 20s, Donoghue said.

Donoghue not only plays the mandolin, but the tenor guitar, cello and the chromatic harmonica when in the mood. He works for Northwest Mycological in Corvallis in the mushroom industry and does consulting all over the world for mushroom farms.

The pair met Tom through his music store in Corvallis, The Fingerboard Extension, which boasts a ton of vintage string instruments. He has been in the music scene since childhood.

Simonds, of Philomath, is also a longtime friend of his bandmates. He works as a engineer and often travels on business.

Wild Hog in the Woods has been jamming its way through the valley at a variety of events outside its normal gig at Oregon Trader. The band played everything from da Vinci Days and other festivals to private parties and weddings, to fund-raisers for Philomath Montessori School, homeless shelters and the Oregon Garden.

"It's a pretty fun thing," Donoghue said. "We've done a bunch of stuff like this. ... We like to support that kind of thing when we can."

If you Jam

WHO: Wild Hog in the Woods

WHEN: 7 to 10 p.m. Thursdays, except for third Thursday.

WHERE: Oregon Trader Brewing Company, 140 Hill St., Albany.

WHAT: Old-time acoustic jam