Band Practice Lifts Spirits Of NW OKC Neighbors During Pandemic

An Oklahoma City band recently got back together, but to practice social distancing, band members have moved outside.

One would expect noise complaints, but the response is far from what the band expected.

The Greatwolf Band practices near Northwest 150th Street and North May Avenue. They formed over two decades ago and now, because of COVID-19, are getting quite the exposure.

Normally the band practices at member Keith Steltings’ home inside the dayroom.

“Well let’s say we're past the age of 40,” said Steltings. “So were in that high risk group and we try really hard to observe the CDC guidelines.”

So to do that, practice has moved to Steltings’ driveway.

“We all miss it more than anything else, we were missing it,” said Steltings. “The weather was nice and we thought well, let’s give it a try so we set up out here and it worked pretty good.”

The band is about three weeks in to outdoor practice.

What they never expected was an audience, both near and far. Including those who prefer to social distance themselves.

“I was supposed to go home this evening and cook dinner and I told my husband I’m not going to come I’m staying here and enjoying this,” said Christine Thomas, who’s mother lives nearby. “Seeing just everyone getting together, it is just nice. It's really nice.”

“We're looking for reasons to get out of the house,” said Adrian Townsend, a neighbor nearby. “We can't really go anywhere or do anything, watching somebody play music in their yard is really fun.”

The band says each week crowds get bigger. Anyone is welcome.

“It's a good feeling, when people say we like to hear your band.” said Steltings. “It makes us feel good.”

The band is at the intersection of Blue Quail Pass and Sugar Load Drive every Tuesday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

They say once they feel safe, they'd like to go back inside to the air conditioning.