The H.C. Oakes Band is performing as the Tom Petty tribute band Petty Rewind / Photos by Petty Rewind

Feb. 10. By Dave Yochum. The H.C. Oakes Band, one of the top groups in the region, has tuned in to the tribute band trend. Petty Rewind is playing five times as many gigs as H.C. Oakes Band.

“Our goal is for you to walk away from one of our shows thinking you just witnessed a Tom Petty concert,” says Oakes, a Cornelius resident.

Band members stay in character throughout the show until Oakes introduces them at the end of the show.

“It’s a tall order and we love it,” Oakes says.

Tribute bands are a tribute to economics. People are less inclined to pay to go listen to original music of bands they don’t know, and prices are sky-high. On the venue side, some operators view tribute bands as a safe bet to fill the house.

In fact, Petty Rewind plays the Cain Center for the Arts May 9.

Oakes was an executive at Altria (formerly Philip Morris) started playing music in 2014 with Antiquity neighbor Nick Elhini.

The H.C. Oakes Band developed a regional following–with plenty of airplay on WSGE—playing original tunes and covers. The demand for covers was unmistakable.

“A tribute concert is not merely a tribute but a testament to the enduring power of music and its ability to transcend time. By paying homage through immersive live performances, fans can experience the magic again and keep the spirit of beloved musicians alive,” Oakes says.

Members of Petty Rewind, in addition to Oakes and Elhini, include Paul Marshburn, Mike Robertson and Tommy Keys. The same five are in The H.C. Oakes Band plus Amy Ehrlich. They haul everyone and everything around in a huge Ford Transit van.

Petty, who died at age 66 in 2017, was one of Oakes’ idols, musically speaking.

“I believe he is one of the more prolific songwriters of our generation. And everyone loves Tom Petty,” says Oakes, who is in his late 60s.

H.C., for Henry Calvin, promotes and books the band. Nationwide there are easily over a dozen Petty tribute bands, with many of them concentrated in the south.

“Luckily for us, we are the only one in the Charlotte area,” Oakes says.

Website: www.pettyrewind.com