Last Call’s New Lead Guitarist Adds Texas Spirit to Sound
When Last Call, a popular country band from Santa Barbara, hits the stage of the Camarillo Community Center on Saturday night, it will be with new lead guitar player Dan Herrera.
The result is even tighter musicianship for the dancer-friendly group that has attracted fans for its strong harmony vocals and fresh interpretation of current top-40 and traditional country songs.
Herrera, who has a degree in music, stepped in when Bill Kirkland moved to Nashville. And he brings an intuitive ability to mimic a range of guitar stylists from Marty Robbins to Wes Montgomery. But Herrera said his personal favorites are western swing king Bob Wills and the similar musical tradition of Asleep at the Wheel. So Last Call plans to incorporate that infectiously spirited music of the Texas dance halls into its set list.
Although Herrera makes his debut this weekend with Last Call, he played lead guitar at the Ban-Dar in Ventura four nights a week for four years. And during the 19 years since he arrived in Santa Barbara as part of the Patty Kistner Band, he has played with local legend Vernon Snow and Kerri Wilson.
The vocal nucleus of Last Call is Susan Thomson (rhythm guitar), Frank Batts and April Eaton. The rhythm section features John Richards (bass) and Michael Taylor (drums). And Chuck Ford plays pedal steel guitar.
“I like the harmony vocals that they do. It’s their real strong point,” said Herrera. “And I like playing behind them. It’s fun.”
Since Last Call formed nearly three years ago, its high-profile credits include headlining at Santa Barbara’s fiesta days and K-HAY country radio’s Fourth of July Picnic. The band will perform April 2-3 at the Galleon Room in Goleta, where it plays in rotation.
DETAILS
Last Call plays for a country dance at the Camarillo Community Center, 1605 E. Burnley St., from 8-11 p.m. Saturday with a dance lesson at 7 p.m. $5 adults, $2.50 youth. 482-1996.
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Michael J. Smith and Craig Newton, who share lead vocal and guitar duties for the Rhythm Rangers, take their act to the Ventura Harbor Village’s waterside fountain from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday as part of a country music trio. You’ll find them at 1559 Spinnaker Drive in Ventura, 644-0169.
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Up the Coast: Harvest, featuring Heather Caplinger’s power vocals, brings energetic, rock-tinged country music to the Galleon Room tonight and Saturday at 9 p.m.
At 9 p.m. Thursday, the Mike Shelton Trio will perform country favorites for couples-oriented dancing. The Galleon Room is at 5925 Calle Real in Goleta. For more details, call 967-0128.
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Robyn Loewenthal can be reached by e-mail at drrkl@juno.com.