By Musicians tend to get a lot of things thrown at them whether its beer bottles, underwear, or flowers; however, local artists Fathers & Suns found success by having their Long Beach crowd throw wooden nickels at them.
For those who were not able to attend, the 2013 Buskerfest featured a considerable number of bands who fought for a prize worth $2,000. A busker is a musician who performs on the street for money. The festival gives the audience the chance to vote for their favorite band by tipping with wooden nickels provided.
In the case of Fathers & Suns, the crowd was encouraged to throw their nickels on stage to ensure that they had the chance to vote. The fun-loving crowd chucked their change and gave the band six pounds of wooden coins and a win at the festival.
Fathers & Suns began in 2011 with the combination of Arturo Bandini (guitar and vocals), Jesus Lara (guitar and vocals), Luis Renteria (drums and percussion), and Jay Penev (bass and vocals). It has been said that they have the sound and feel of Dr. Dog or The Beatles, but their eclectic musical range offers something for those interested in ska, folk, punk, and everything in between.
This past Saturday the band played the Long Beach Beer and Wine Festival where, with other local bands, they dazzled beer and wine enthusiasts. The crowd spun and swayed to the sweet rhythms of “We Once Were, But Watch Us Now” and “The End is The Beginning.” As the festival came to a close, the band bid farewell with the always festive “La Bamba” and the promise of a new record and many future shows.
The band has been a faithful local favorite over the years, releasing their first album independently with eco-friendly CD packaging. Justin Hecktus, co-founder of Buskerfest said that most of the festival winners have gone on to big tours, but for now the band has remained in local spots such as the Prospector and Fingerprints.
If the Long Beach Beer and Wine Festival is any example of how the group commands a show, the harmony that is created on stage draws in the audience as a sweet unifying force that refuses to quit. Like a warm summer’s night, this band carries an air of nostalgia on their soulful guitar riffs. In a city as large and varied as Long Beach, this group speaks a language that will win anyone’s heart.
