For The Herald Bulletin
ELWOOD — Once known as The Invincibles, some members of the relatively new musical group Quincy’s Brass will jump on stage tonight to create a reunion of sorts.
The Invincibles were a 1970s group from Elwood that became a popular band traveling around the country for nearly a decade. When they disbanded, some members took regular day jobs.
Others kept playing and formed the core of the 15-month-old Quincy’s Brass that is playing today at 8 p.m. at the Elwood Elks Lodge,1700 S. Anderson St.
How will audience members tell the difference between an Invincible and a member of Quincy’s Brass?
“That’s easy,” said Jeff Poe, 51, a horn player who has been in both groups.
“The Invincibles will just have a lot more gray hair, gray and thinner for most of us. But the music still sounds the same. The music still sounds good,” Poe said.
Both bands play horn-driven music, as might be heard with Chicago, Blood, Sweat and Tears or Glenn Miller. Songs include “Your Cheatin’ Heart” and “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” The emphasis was on Big Band music that drew couples to the dance floor.
Tonight, some Invincibles will reunite with their old friends.
“A lot of these guys are still around the area but I haven’t seen some for 20 years,” said John Moser, 51. He played with The Invincibles while a sophomore and junior at Elwood High School.
Others will be there but, like Moser, won’t pick up an instrument. Moser, who started with his family’s Moser Jewelers after graduation, played bass guitar with The Invincibles.
The band initially formed from Elwood students, led then by the now-deceased high school band director, Frank Parente. Parente left his high school job to lead The Invincibles.
“I was in high school and the high school band director said I’ll lead it but you’ve got to play music that will get us jobs, from proms to Masonic clubs and all that kind of thing,” Moser said.
The band later got an agent and traveled the country though Moser stayed in Elwood for school.
Along with Poe, Moser, and Parente, The Invincibles included Chris Loepke, guitar; Brad Smith, drums; Chris Briggs, sax; Kent Stafford, sax; Joe Clouser, sax; Randy Moore, trombone, and Harold Slate on drums.
Quincy’s Brass is named for the town of Quincy, Ind., whose name was changed to Elwood in 1869.
Besides Poe on horns, the lineup for Quincy’s Brass is Lynn McCord, lead vocals; John Newell, guitar; Steve Reynolds, bass; Harold “Rocky” Slate, drums; Kevin Garner, trumpet; Jeff McDaniels, keyboards, and Brad Laub on sax.
If you go
Quincy’s Brass in performance
When: 8-11 p.m., tonight
Where: Elks Lodge, S. Anderson St., Elwood
Cover: $5
