Clearlake Oaks >> When Camille Villavicencio stepped up on stage for an open mic night three years ago, she never expected to leave The Office, a Ukiah bar, as the lead female vocalist of a band — especially considering it was her very first open mic experience. Ever. But Villavicencio’s performance struck rhythm guitarist Brad Hunt, who was accompanying singers that night. Hunt was already part of a casual duo with a singer named Erick Fackrell and after hearing Villavicencio’s chops, had the idea to get the two vocalists together.
“I was just very impressed with how she carried herself, I thought her voice sounded awesome, I thought she had an infectious personality and I saw the crowd’s reaction to her and I thought I was going to pair these two up and do something different,” Hunt explained.
He approached Villavicencio, as well as the open mic organizer Jim Switzer, about forming a band. Hunt also booked bands for The Office, so he knew of some musicians who might want in on the group. “I had seen who could play and who couldn’t so I just kind of approached a few different people who I thought might be interested in a new project,” he said.
Within a month, Double Standryd was born.
The group performs at Cache Creek Vineyards near Clearlake Oaks this evening.
Villavicencio wasn’t nervous at all about standing front and center of a band, despite her lack of experience. Instead, she jumped at the opportunity. She’d always wanted to pursue singing, but never had the time while raising children. But the timing was right. Her kids were grown and she could finally focus on music. She enthusiastically agreed to become Double Standyrd’s female vocalist.
Villavicencio wasn’t the only new kid on the musical block; Hunt had also never been in a band before Double Standyrd. It wasn’t for any reason like stage fright or shyness, he simply just was never inspired enough to start his own group. That is until Fackrell and Villavicencio came around. “It’s hard to find one really good vocalist, let alone two, and they were both open to it,” Hunt said.
While Hunt and Villavicencio may have been newbies, one of their band mates was not. The current drummer, Scott Wise, is a veteran who spent years playing in the Navy band. Double Standyrd always makes a point to thank the Navy during each of their shows.
Today the Double Standyrd line-up includes Villavicencio on lead vocals, Switzer on lead guitar, Hunt on rhythm guitar, Frank VanVranken Jr. on bass guitar and Wise on drums and percussion. At Cache Creek Vineyards they’ll be joined by guitarist and vocalist Johnny Young of the Johnny Young Band.
While they might be listed as a blues and southern rock band, their music is a little more difficult to describe than that. “We pretty much cross many genres, that’s kind of what’s unique about us,” Villavicencio explained. “We have male and female lead vocals. We’re able to do a lot of different stuff.”
Hunt explained that three years ago when they first got together they intended to be a southern rock blues band, but things evolved from there. Now, they’re very much blues-based, but they haven’t hesitated to branch out. They draw influence from a number of artists, both new and old. Rock band Alabama Shakes provides plenty of inspiration while Double Standyrd looks to the Rolling Stones and, not surprisingly, Lynyrd Skynyrd. They’re not a Skynyrd tribute group, but the southern hard-rockers did serve as the model behind their band name.
They cover, yes, southern rock and blues, but also rock and roll and alternative. They play classics like Sweet Home Chicago and Tulsa Time as well as hard rock such as AC/DC. Two of Villavicencio’s favorites are both Albama Shakes tunes: Hold On and Always All Right.
But mostly, whether they’re playing blues, rock or country, they just want to see a full dance floor. “Our inspiration is getting people out there dancing,” Hutt said.
If there’s one thing they don’t like to play, it’s a song at the number one spot on the charts. “We try to play songs that everybody knows that other bands aren’t playing. I pick a lot of number two hits,” Hunt said. “We try to stay away from the traditional songs that everyone else plays, so it’s not something that they hear every day.”
Whatever music they do tackle, they bring plenty of their own groove. They call it “Double Standyrd-izing” a song.
And while they’re a cover band now, they don’t plan to stay that way for long. Hunt said this winter they’re going to take a break from performing to sit down to craft some of their own music.
Double Standyrd’s danceable music keeps the audience on their feet throughout their shows. Three years down the road, and that kind of a reaction still gives Villavicencio a rush. It probably always will. “To be able to bring happiness to somebody by doing what you love is a huge gift,” she said. “It’s an amazing feeling, it really is, seeing people have a good time.”
Double Standyrd goes on at 6 p.m. tonight, at Cache Creek Vineyards in Clearlake Oaks. Tickets are available at $15 for the concert or $30 for the concert plus dinner prepared by Fresh and Bangin’.
For tickets, call the tasting room at 998-1200 or go online to http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2014280.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
