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| Dear Tina, We know there have been reports of "oil" but lets continue to show our support for not only our beaches but also one of the best races around that supports such a good cause. The Gary McAdams Scholarship Fund. |
| June 12th, 2010 |  The Gary McAdams Scholarship 5K
Just about 1 week away and we are ready to race. The course is set, the shirts are awesome, and the band... well look below to get some details on who we have lined up for you! If you are not already registered, click the registration link to get to our event page. You can register through Active.com, mail in a form or register Friday night at the Sandshaker.
Registration
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Bring on the Band!!!! |  Mass Kunfuzion
What's this MASS KUNFUZION all about? It's a question frequently asked by many but answered by only a few. MASS KUNFUZION can be classified as a "who" and not a "what" for it is made up of a bunch of "who's" rather than a bunch of "what's." KUNFUZED? GREAT!!! That's what we were shooting for. Welcome to the MASS KUNFUZION Experience. Let's try this approach . . . MASS KUNFUZION is a group of musicians playing parts of, or improvising off of, a musical arrangement. To put it in basic terms, they are a band! Sure, we could have said that from the start but what fun would that have been? The bottom line...... they are a Great Band and will start playing at 8:30 race morning for your listening and dancing pleasure! |
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Recent article published in the Pensacola News Journal Weekender, 3/26/2010
MASS KUNFUZION gets organized for Fetival on the Green
by Maegan Outzen
With eight people in a band, sometimes things can get a little confusing. When to start, when to stop, which song is next on the list — these are just some of the things Mass Kunfuzion deals with every week at practice or onstage. But at the end of the day, the group is like one big family.
"If you ever came to one of our shows you'd understand," vocalist Angela Baroco said. "It's hard to get all those people doing the same thing at the same time."
"We are like a second family to each other because we are together so much," rhythm guitarist and vocalist Brian LeBlanc added. "And we have the personality conflict sometimes, and then other times, it's like a big hug fest."
Angela Baroco, LeBlanc, Steve Hernandez (drums), Dave Clark (bass), Tom Baroco (keyboard), Mike Vogel (guitar and vocals), Mark Whibbs (percussion) and Dave Gagnon (sound engineer) make up the eight-piece band.
After a successful 2009, Mass Kunfuzion has an even bigger year planned for 2010. Next up is the University of West Florida's Festival on the Green, where the band will be playing at 1 p.m. Saturday near the University Commons on campus.
Afterwards, the band will be jetting over to St. Anne's Catholic Church in Gulf Breeze for the Founder's Day Dinner Dance at 6:30 p.m.
Shows planned for the summer include the All Krewe Ball for Fiesta of Five Flags in June; the July 4th Downtown Celebration, the Summer Serenade Series and the Cattle Baron's Ball in July; and Bands on the Beach in August.
"One of the things we talked about when we were first getting started was 'what do we want to be, who do we want to be, what direction do we want to go?'" Angela Baroco said. "We kind of said 'we don't want to be a club band.' (People) call us in for special events or if someone's doing some party or something and they want us to be there, but we're not a late-night band. We are family-oriented. We want people out dancing and having fun."
Mass Kunfuzion played four shows at The Fish House last summer and had such a blast that they hope to be able to play some more shows this summer. But as for a regular club gig, it's just too difficult for everyone to get time off their daily work schedules to commit. Festivals, private events, weddings and charity functions are more along the lines of the Mass Kunfuzion schedule.
"(These kinds of shows) allow us to play all types of music and we can play a little something for everybody, because you got older people there, you got young people there," Hernandez said. "So our music ranges to cover all those different age groups. If we do a gig that's country-oriented, like the Cattle Baron's Ball, we tend to play a little bit more country-western music."
Mass Kunfuzion plays music from every end of the spectrum, and with a female lead vocalist they can even cover songs from Kelly Clarkson, Miley Cyrus, Carrie Underwood, Norah Jones and many more.
"(Angela) adds such a dimension," LeBlanc said. "We go from one extreme to the next but we do try to set our set list according to the type of crowd that's going to be there, because we want to play the type of music they're going to tap their foot to, sing along with, something they know. "Everybody in the band sings and they all sing backup vocals. That's another one of our strengths. We have great harmonies."
The band has been together for five years, and since the members keep a busy schedule, it has been difficult finding the time to put together some original material. Some of the members have written music, so the band has discussed making a Mass Kunfuzion version of some of those songs.
"We're very fortunate in the band to have several people who are composers, who write music, who write lyrics, who do those kinds of things," Angela Baroco said. "We also have a lot of people in the group who will listen to a song and play from hearing. They can play by ear. And you don't have that when you're doing original music. So you really have to write it all out, have the different parts, tell people what it's supposed to sound like without hearing a recording of it. So it takes a little bit longer to really start from scratch and do some originals."
For more information about Mass Kunfuzion, visit www.masskunfuzion.com.
Recently published in the Independent News
Local Groups Have Got You Covered
by Bradley "Beej" Davis Jr.
Cover Bands a Staple of the Local Live Music Scene
They get you on your feet at weddings. They are an integral part of outdoor festivals such as Bands on the Beach and Evenings in Olde Seville Square. They add that special touch to local fundraising events. They are cover bands.
"We've found out over time, people hire us to play music they're familiar with," said lead vocalist Billy Harrell of Reunion Band. Harrell said his group, like many local cover bands, has some original tunes. But at the end of the day, or at the end of the dance floor, guests of private parties as well as music fans at local venues enjoy songs that they can dance to and sing along with.
Other acts have found a way to slip their originals into their unique set of covers. "We perform some original music during our live performances, but we also put our spin on some classic blues-based tunes. We just returned from Memphis, Tenn. where we performed all original material," adds Reddog of the collective Reddog and Friends.
There is also a group of talented solo acts who can be found at local venues making a contribution to the cover genre.
"I won't try to define myself from other musicians/bands in the area, but I will give my modus operandi: I only play songs I like, and they're rarely left unchanged," claims regular Fish House performer Lucas Crutchfield. "In my head, I need to validate playing someone else's songs by shaping it to fit me, to give myself some creative license and subsequently, a creative outlet. Like a pair of hand-me-down jeans: once they're given to you, you make them yours."
Some groups are more apt to perform more unfamiliar covers to keep their sets fresh and stand out from other cover groups. However, it's still all about the crowd's response and participation.
"We pick cover tunes you don't usually hear bands play, but that are extremely well known and loved," says Bill Dossey of Lektric Mullet. "We love what we do and it shows, and the crowd loves to see that. (There is) lots of energy."
The following is a random, non-comprehensive sampling of some notable local cover bands:
Reunion Band
Members: Billy Harrell, Charlyne Kilpatrick, David White, Larry Northup, Ed Nickinson, Ross Orenstein, Ken Wallace
What they play: Set list predominantly features rock oldies and R&B hits from the 60s
Where you can see them: Private parties, weddings, reunions, local fundraisers, Bands on the Beach, Evenings in Olde Seville (slated for the Thursday prior to the Fourth of July weekend)
For more information: facebook.com/reunionband
MoJiles
Members: John Kott, Michael Jenks, Justin Smegelksi, Sims Chadwick
What they play: Blues, rock, reggae, country, funk, bluegrass, pop, the old classics, and even a little hip-hop
Where you can see them: From Gulf Shores, Ala. to Ft. Walton Beach, Fla. Catch them at Bamboo Willies March 12 and 13.
For more information: Facebook, YouTube, myspace.com/mojiles
Lektric Mullet
Members: Billy Dossey, David Glencoe, Ricky Lee Phelps, Randy Whitaker
What they play: Remakes of many of the ultra classic rock songs from the late 60s and early 70s. The band carefully handpicks the songs that they know all ages will remember, yet songs that are rarely heard performed by a live band.
Where you can see them: Regular appearances include Paddy O'Leary's Irish Pub, Sandshaker, Bamboo Willies, Hub Stacey's, Flounders and the soon-to-be-open Grand Marlin on Pensacola Beach.
For more information: lektricmullet.com
Timberhawk
Members: Aubrey Nichols, Josh Barnhill, Jordan Richards
What they play: Southern rock
Where you can see them: The Islander Bar, The Ready Room
For more information: Facebook, myspace.com/timberhawkmusic
Caught on Camera
Members: Gabriel Steeves, Rick Wallace, Steve "Bishop" Maples, Christian McArthur
What they play: Ranges from 50's rock to modern R&B with a heavy emphasis on the "party rock" genre
Where you can see them: Seville Quarter, Bamboo Willies, Grand Central in Mobile, Ala.
For more information: Facebook, myspace.com/caughtoncamera, caughtoncameraband.com
Lucas Crutchfield
Members: Lucas Crutchfield
What he plays: Acoustic, James Morrison, Jeff Buckley, Pearl Jam, Scissor Sisters
Where you can see him: Sunday through Thursday, 6-10 p.m. at The Fish House Deck.
For more information: myspace.com/lucascrutchfield1
The Modern Eldorados
Members: Gretsch Lyles, Monte Tredway, Bruce Nystrom, Jason Bagwell
What they play: A Modern Eldorados show will send you back to the days of honky-tonk, hardwood floors and crooning jukeboxes.
Where you can see them: Seville Quarter, local fundraising events, Bands on the Beach, The Pub in Fairhope, Ala.
For more information: Facebook, myspace.com/themoderneldorados
Reddog and Friends
Members: Reddog, John Fountain, Travis "T.J." Jackson
What they play: Southern style rock and blues.
Where you can see them: Playing once every week or two at Hopjacks, Paradise Bar & Grill, Pirates Cove in Josephine, Ala. and Blues Tavern in Mobile, Ala.
For more information: Facebook, myspace.com/reddogblues, safereturn.home.mindspring.com
Mass Kunfuzion
Members: Dave Gagnon, Mark Whibbs, Steve Hernandez, Tom Baroco, Dave Clark, Mike Vogel, Angela Baroco, Brian LeBlanc
What they play: Classic covers from The Beach Boys to Van Morrison
Where you can see them: Bands on the Beach, Festival on the Green at UWF, local fundraising events (American Cancer Society Cattle Barons' Ball July 30), weddings, private parties
For more information: Facebook, masskunfuzion.com