Having been invited to accompany the band for this road trip, I quickly whipped together my travel bag and hopped into the van that ace guitarist Christo Buffam was driving.
High tech equipment in hand, we were on the road to Boston.
Along the way, we acknowledged a personal fave town of mine.
Listen and watch - to the song that defines what the summer of 2011 is all about:
"Summer Fling" knows just where to put the "doo doo doo's." We all wanna have one, but it can be more if you want it too. The tone is dark and deep, with waves of Jas and Lu's voices cascading all over you. It's all anchored so solidly by Honey's tom tom thump. Christo's guitar atmospherics and melody lines over Jasno's wall-of-buzz complete the picture.
One of the festival locations was a club called "Precinct" (which not so coincidentally was below the police precinct there). There was another festival going on as well - complete with a huge mechanical dragon.
Its not something you expected to see!
People were allowed to sit on it and move its jaws via hand held wires.
Over at PA's lounge - the two Vandelles "diva's" showed up.
Charming, pretty, photogenic, talented - have I left anything out?
Oh, yeah - they are smart too.
And fun. They are fun to be around.
Notice in the lower left hand corner of this photo - drummer Honey Valentine brings her own cooling fan to shows. That one there is affectionately named "Fan Drescher"
Bassist/ super background vocalist Lulu Lapin revs it up, while Honey checks the tuning of her maraca and frontman Jasno Suarez gets show ready.
Road warrior and all around great guy (and super talented guitarist)
Christo Buffam riffs away!
The projections presented throughout the festival were visually stimulating and fully enhanced what the bands were doing.
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This one created a "Terminator" like effect on Jas
The audience were totally receptive to what The Vandelles were bringing. Jas & Christo's twin-guitar attack is impressive, and the crowd lapped it up.
Lulu and Jas sing so wonderfully together. Its too bad the vocal mics were not at their best for this particular show.
Lulu captured at an essential moment.
Projected effects make for many interesting photos
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Christo rocked - with or without shades
Honey V - hair a flyin'
Lu, Jas & Honey know what summer themes are all about.
Vic Firth sticks bring the ruckus
Christo takes his turn as featured vocalist
And the band plays on
How they sounded at this particular show:
Its a sound I crave.
Its a sound I crave.
Christo and his shadow vie for attention
Honey V - substance with style
Christo's pedal effects
More shadowplay
Color and light
Post-performance - we share a laugh
The girls and Crom - its a must do
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Since it was a music festival - other bands of note who's sets I caught.
Endless Wave
Ghost Box Orchestra
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Hi Tiger
Gospel Gossip
and the band that put on the whole event:
and the band that put on the whole event:
28 Degrees Taurus
Reuniting with the band was bassist/vocalist and songwriter Ana Karina DaCosta
Reuniting with the band was bassist/vocalist and songwriter Ana Karina DaCosta
Not only is Ana a talented musician, but she is a lovely person who's hospitality made the trip that much sweeter.
Ana let myself and a myriad of other band members crash at her house that night.
She has the cutest cat named Tigger
The view from my appointed couch
Tigger kept us all entertained
Furnishings as only a rocker would do.
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