The sound is rhythmic yet smooth and immediately prompts dancers to slide across the room to the dance floor. Then Soulamente’s lead singer grabs the microphone and belts out a jazzy song with a voice that comes from a deep dark somewhere hidden in the singer’s petite frame. It’s unexpected and totally irresistible, but that’s what audiences have come to love about Soulamente.
The band has delivered solid dance tunes with a funky rhythm backdrop for six years on the Central Coast. They feature old school, R&B, funk, Motown, top 40 dance hits, and Latin soul from the ’70s through the ’90s. Fans love the band’s ability to revive that “No way!” sense of disbelief when they hear an old favorite and their skill at adding a new twist to current hits.
Recently, however, the band has gone through some changes. The addition of several new members and the loss of some longstanding ones caused some confusion with fans, said Angel Rivera, founder and keyboardist of Soulamente.
“There were rumors that we broke up, but that just isn’t true,” he said.
In fact, Rivera said the band is musically tighter, meaning they’ve got technical accuracy nailed. That accuracy has allowed the band to broaden its musical selection and gave them the ability to expand and improvise. With a hardcore fan base—and having gone through band member change-ups before—the band wasn’t afraid of what the audience would think.
“If anything, it brings spice and novelty to see new faces and gain new fans,” Rivera said.
Soulamente has been made up of core members Rivera, Mark Murray on drums, Mike Coderre on bass, and recent member Jineanne Columnas leading vocals. Now Soulamente has added Justin Claveria (who has performed with Kenny Loggins and Steely Dan) on sax, Victor Vega from The Bomb Band on vocals and percussion, and Dave Skinner on guitar.
To keep things fresh, Soulamente also hosts guest “stars” like Hunter Green of Soul City Survivors or Bethany Anderson from Tops in Blue/USO lending vocals, and Mychal Lomas (who’s played with Mary Wilson of the Supremes) on bass, Jim Stromberg on drums, and Ron McCarley on sax.
“It’s a big world out there, and Soulamente has always dedicated itself to what’s up and coming, keeping it live, fresh, and out of this world,” Rivera said.
Giving audiences a reprieve and the chance to let loose is a large part of what Soulamente is all about. Rivera said the band members, most with full-time jobs themselves, realize the importance of being able to break away from the mundane and monotony of a long, hard workweek and enjoy good friends and good music. Soulamente does its best to give them that.
“Due to the recession, people are under a lot of stress, and they need to get their boogie on so they can tackle their 9 to 5,” Rivera said.
Rivera said the biggest challenge for the band has been finding places that can accommodate their large fan base. Soulamente draws a crowd, and with one of the most suitable venues locally not offering live music anymore, options are fewer. Soulamente still plays at venues like Shaw’s, the Wicked Shamrock in Lompoc, and Alisal Cellars in Solvang, as well as private events and corporate parties.
Rivera doesn’t sweat it too much. He believes in the music Soulamente is providing its fans. His philosophy, and the band’s, is that change happens.
“To quote the French Writer Francois de la Rochefoucauld, ‘The only constant thing in life is change,’” he said. “And that summarizes our exact sentiments.”
Arts Editor Shelly Cone has soul. Contact her at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Feb 11-18, 2010.