yoannasanchez

 ”I said I know it’s only rock ‘n roll but I like it” (The Rolling Stones)

When I first started these columns, the idea was to follow the steps of the Elvis Presley’s tribute band, VIVA THE KING. Surprisingly, I have found myself not merely writing about them, but also putting out there new local bands on the spot, which are too honoring with their groups other great rock ‘n rollers  such as The Beatles (as in my last entry), The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, The Monkees and many others and for your envy, I enjoyed them all in the same day, on the same stage: The First 60′s Rock Festival. The first long concert I ever attended; my feet, back and every bendable part of my body is aching nuts and so I asked myself, should I be naughty and leave you out of all the goody details of the new hot bands or should I be a nice girl and give you a scoop of what you missed? I’ll play both.

No rain stopped the first band to go on stage. Dressed in red coats and dreamy faces, Daydream Believers sang honoring the fresh tunes of The Monkees. I’m not a huge fan of them, but as of today I can’t seem to get out of my head one of their iconic songs, Daydream Believer (In fact I’m singing it right now making up the what I think the lyrics are. Aren’t we all songwriters from time to time?). The sun showed up a little and it was Riders on the Storm turn on stage. I’ll be honest; since they are The Doors tribute band, I expected a Jim Morrison look alike with his band, but instead it was more of “we only tribute his music kind of band”, but didn’t disappoint at all. The singer sang pretty awesomely psychedelicly (just invented this word form) Morrison’s like and my favorite performed song was Break on through (to the other side). They rocked so much the audience at the end asked for an encore, but there were still bands to come.

As the sunset arrived, it was EXP, Jimi Hendrix tribute band, turn to perform. Again, I expected a Jimi Hendrix look alike dude, but instead a virtuous three men group appeared and sincerely, no need for a Jimi’s double ’cause they nailed the feeling and vibe of this famous guitarrist. My favorite song (maybe because it was the only one I knew) was Foxy Lady. The night came and on stage appeared Voodoo Lounge, The Rolling Stones tribute band, on their first performance ever. As nervous as I knew they were, they rocked on the fans with a complete show that included the clothing, attitude, energizing musicians and Mick Jagger’s moves firing up the crowd and establishing themselves as the new hottest tribute band to be seen.

Now, it was the King’s turn to perform and even though he’s more of the 50′s, you can’t have a rock ‘n roll tribute concert without the one who started it all. VIVA THE KING proved once again that they are all about living the Elvis Presley experience. Dressed in look alike prisoners’s clothing (portrayed in the Jailhouse Rock video) the crowd stood up, for the first time on the day, and danced to the King of rock ‘n roll tunes. Luis Enrique, the puertorican Elvis, portrayed the voice and moves shaking and spicing up the audience until it bursted on hysterical screams and applauses. Suspicious Minds is always my favorite Elvis’s tune performed by the band. An encore was asked, but it was still one more band to go.

What could it be the end of an awesome day? The Fab Four came to stage played by the tribute band, The Jukebox. The audience moved forward to be closer to the four talented musicians who portrait so awesomely The Beatles. This resumes my feelings when they performed: I didn’t want to kiss them or hold their hand. If it’s funny, try to understand. There’s really nothing else I rather do, ’cause I’m just happy to dance with them.

It was sweaty, dripping, sticky, energizing and adventurous thrill that lasted seven hours or so;  it was good old rock and roll and at the end there is only one last thing to say… Cheer up, Sleepy Jean. Oh, what can it mean to a daydream believer and a homecoming queen… Can’t seem to get it out of my head!

E. Bitch

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