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What better place to end a Sold Out three show run of Calif. than at San Luis Obispo’s SLO Brew? There is no better place as the packed crowd who cheered on Santa Cruz’s The Exendables reinforced why the band considers SLO a home away from home for them. “We love this town and SLO Brew” guitarist Raul Bianchi told us before his band’s explosive set. “I think this was one of the first shows outside of Santa Cruz that we ever sold out” Bianchi added. This night was no exception as the Sold Out venue seemed to stretch beyond its capacity and resonate with deafening cheers that one could swear they could hear way up to Santa Cruz.

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Photos and Review: Nick Lucero www.NickLuceroPhotography.com

Please Visit: www.TheExpendables.net

www.SloBrewingCo.com

Very Special Thanks: Stephanie Morgan  

 

The Expendables enjoyed a laid-back lifestyle growing up in Santa Cruz, CA; surfing, skating, partying, and playing music were commonplace. Since 1997, The Expendables have staked their claim in the California surf/rock genre by headlining venues from coast to coast. Blending Reggae, Punk Rock, and 80s style dueling guitar solos, The Expendables have made heads turn and floors shake for years. Pick up the Band’s latest CD “Prove It” HERE  

The band consists of four longtime friends: Geoff Weers (Guitar and Vocals), Adam Patterson (Drums and Vocals), Raul Bianchi (Lead Guitar) and Ryan DeMars (Bass).

 

Interview with Raul Bianchi and Adam Patterson

CentralCoastRocks.com: Welcome back to San Luis Obispo

Raul Bianchi: This is like a home away from home for us. We love this town and SLO Brew. Korie and Todd the owners always take care of us so we love coming back here, it’s always a great show.

Adam Patterson: Very fun, we’ve been playing here for almost 10 years now.

CentralCoastRocks.com: You guys are from Santa Cruz and come through our area quite a bit. Tell us about your connection to the Central Coast

Raul Bianchi: We were all born and raised in Santa Cruz so for us coming down here, a lot of kids come to College down here to S.L.O. so for us, I think this was one of the first shows outside of Santa Cruz that we ever sold out. We almost had like a built in draw because fans of ours would go to College here. So for us it was easy. We’d come down here and play house parties and then moved up to playing venues.

 

CentralCoastRocks.com: You are touring behind your latest CD “Prove It” released last year. Describe the music on it for the few people who don’t have it yet

Adam Patterson: It was produced by Paul Leary and El Hefe from NOFX. It’s my favorite album so far, I like the way it sounds.

Raul Bianchi: It definitely is our most mature album. The songwriting is the strongest, I think we’re a lot better musicians now than when we started out and I think that kinda shows on the album. It’s definitely the best sounding album we’ve done.

CentralCoastRocks.com: Are you currently working on or writing new music?

Raul Bianchi: Right now we’re working on an acoustic album of our older music that we’re completely recording ourselves in our home studio and where house in Santa Cruz. We are writing new material but we’re going to take care of the acoustic album first and then get into the studio for the electric album sometime next year.

 

CentralCoastRocks.com: You guys are no strangers to touring and playing live. What shows in 2011 stand out for you personally?

Raul Bianchi: We got to play at The Gorge in Washington. That and Red Rocks in Colorado are two of the most beautiful venues in the entire country, so that was pretty amazing. There were a lot of great shows but those stick out in my mind, very memorable.

 

CentralCoastRocks.com: What musicians influenced you growing up?

Raul Bianchi: Definitely bands like The Police, Bob Marley, Pantera. Guitar players like Vinnie Moore and Jeff Loomis, Slash and tons more.

Adam Patterson: The Police are definitely a big influence on our music. Eek A Mouse, Steel Pulse, bands like that.

 

CentralCoastRocks.com: Any advice for young musicians and bands starting out?

Adam Patterson: Stay in School (Laughs,) so you have something to fall back on

Raul Bianchi: If you want to make money don’t be a musician, but if you don’t give a shit about that then by all means, give it a try. Definitely get with a core group of friends that you want to stick with and play music together. I think the hardest thing for bands is to keep the same lineup. We’ve been together for a long time, we don’t have a rotating lineup of musicians. If you can get a good group of friends that you somewhat get along with and maybe not fight too much, stay together and keep plugging away and eventually you’ll find a window.

 

CentralCoastRocks.com: What are your plans for the rest of 2011 and early part of 2012?

Raul Bianchi: We’re doing a couple home shows Dec. 9th and 10th at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz. We’re playing New Years Eve with Slightly Stoopid in Orlando at Hard Rock Live. Other than that we’re gonna take a well deserved rest to finish up our acoustic album and then head out on the road probably in early February.

 

CentralCoastRocks.com: Final words for your fans?

Adam Patterson: Thanks for coming out and supporting us all the years. They’ve been coming out for a long time here supporting us and we really appreciate it.

Raul Bianchi: Please wear condoms so that I don’t have to.

 

Please Visit: www.TheExpendables.net

www.SloBrewingCo.com

Very Special Thanks: Stephanie Morgan  

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