PREVIEW: Roomful of Blues AT caffe Lena
04/18 @ Caffe Lena
Photo by Sonja Lemoi
“We’re just looking to bring the party anywhere we go…”
There aren’t many highly sought-after acts that have survived countless lineup changes throughout the years and are still performing at a high level. One of those bands will be making their return to Caffe Lena with a new lineup on April 18 for two shows. That band is, of course, Roomful of Blues. In anticipation of the show, I had the chance to chat with longtime band leader and guitarist, Chris Vachon.
Founded in 1967, Roomful of Blues has transcended time itself, rotating a cast of musicians from its humble beginnings. While the longest standing member, Rich Lataille, joined in 1970 as one of the first horn players, Vachon is the second longest tenured member, having joined the band in 1990. While he had to learn to become an ensemble player on guitar, he would eventually become the band leader in ’95, as he tells me
“My role has evolved over the past 30 years. From guitarist, to bandleader, to also producer of our albums.”
Most recently, he produced the band's latest album titled, Steppin’ Out! this past October. While this is their 20th album, it made history as the first to feature a female vocalist, D.D. Bastos. Bastos was a natural pick when the band was looking to go in a different direction.
“I’d played with D.D. in a side project I was in and thought, you know, we’d never had a female vocalist before. I knew she’d be a really good fit as we looked to change things up,” he continues, "She's a professional vocal teacher, so she really knows what she’s doing.”
Part of that shake up also included welcoming in a new bass player and keyboardist. It points to the band being bigger than any one member, as Vachon says. “The band has a life of its own, we won’t go away.” In fact, The band will be celebrating 60 years as a group next year. Vachon eluded to some plans:
“The latest album was mostly obscure old covers because we had to pivot on short notice, so when we get back into the studio, we’ll be focusing on original music.”
In the meantime, Roomful of Blues will be playing Caffe Lena’s listening room environment. A room that typically doesn’t see many eight-piece bands with drums and horns, but that’s what makes these performances so special. While Vachon acknowledged the challenges, such as not being able to move much and needing to be conscious of volume, the band has it down to a science at this point.
“We’re just looking to bring the party anywhere we go, and Caffe Lena is no different. Although we’ve been jokingly told that if Lena was alive, there’s no way we’d be allowed in that place.”
For tickets and more information, visit Caffe Lena’s website here.