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| VOLUME 7 | ISSUE 5
A Publication of Local Umbrella Media
Sofar Sounds Concerts / It’s A Secret Adding a bit of mystery and excitement into the live music experience, Sofar Sounds promotes concerts that are equal parts performance and event. Originating in London circa 2009, Sofar (an acronym for Songs From A Room) Sounds now operates in over 400 cities, including San Diego since 2015, growing in popularity exponentially ever since. Fans can sign up for the stand-alone events in their own neighborhoods, with the exact location of the show revealed via e-mail the day before. It might be a commercial space or a residence. Artists remain a secret until show time, with a general set up of three performers playing short sets and audiences ranging from 50 – 100 in size. Tori Roze recently performed a Sofar Sounds show with her band, The Hot Mess. “These shows are something I’ve kept my eye on ever since they started creating and curating shows a few years back,” she said. “I personally adore an intimate show more than any that could fill an arena. While Sofar has been on my radar for quite some time; it was only recently that I reached out to their team. Based purely off of our submission, they chose us to perform at one of their super cool shows! You know the saying, it’s all about perfect timing.” The bands performance turned out to be outdoors at the Modern Times Brewery in Point Loma. “There were about 75 people in attendance and each set was 25 mins long, which is the perfect amount of time to give new listeners a sampling of your very best original music.” In addition to Tori Roze & The Hot Mess, Carmela and Youngtones also performed.
Roze was pleased with the experience. “It was absolutely wonderful from start to finish,” she said. “Communication was on point, the sound was perfecto, the venue was decked out in its finest Sofar garb, the concert was outside - which is much needed in these pandemic times- the beer was delicious, the audience was extremely attentive, and it felt really nice to be musically appreciated before even walking through the door.” She considers a Sofar Sounds gig to be a rite of passage “because everyone whom I musically respect has done one of these amazing sound offerings at one time or another within the lifetime of their career.” Roze would love to be a part of more Sofar Sounds events. “If they will have us,” she said good naturedly. “It’s not often that you just get to show up and be creative without having to worry about major logistics, so I can appreciate
everything they are doing for artists both wellknown and unknown across the globe.” She considers the fact that artists aren’t named until showtime to be a plus. “It was a major relief to not feel pressured into having to promote anything because these are generally curated shows with a built-in audience of music lovers who don’t care who is playing,” Roze said. “And that’s the goal…to have folks trusting your taste so they know they are guaranteed a good time no matter what. I wish more venues and bookers would operate under this thought process and show model - it truly changes the game for everyone involved.” Roze also enjoys the wide ranging bills diversity. “I really dig the fact that these shows are a melting pot of varying musical styles and acts from different cities. Our show alone was representing for soulful vocal deliveries and San Diego + Mission Viejo, CA as well as Austin, TX.” For more information: www.sofarsounds.com
Artist Spotlight / Lou Lollio A musician and actor based in Encinitas, Lou Lollio performs Christian Contemporary music, recently releasing his latest album, Praise and Worship Volume 5. “Being locked down with covid restrictions and getting covid myself encouraged me to release this new album at this time,” he said. “I thought that having this music available would help people who have been locked in for such a long time.” The album’s first single / video is “It’s Because of You.” Lollio has appeared on such programs as ABC-TV’s General Hospital and performed with groups such as the Buffalo Springfield Revisited, in a long career as an entertainer. As an artist he has been inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan, Michael W. Smith, Chris Tomlin and Phil Wickham “both as songwriters and musicians,” he said. His earliest musical inspiration is much closer to home. “My mother Dorothy was a member of the Acord Family Singers out of West Virginia,” he said. “She was a gospel singer and a guitarist, as well as a mandolin and piano player. She taught me the guitar at a young age although I didn’t really play it until my teen years.” Plans are to promote the new album through a bit of road work. “I currently have a group called the Jesus Worship Band,” Lollio said. In addition to Lollio (vocals, guitar, mandolin, piano), the current lineup is Bob Mansueto (lead guitar), Curtiss Matovich (piano, strings) and Dennis Compos (guitar, percussion). “We’ve been touring for three years now. Most of (that) has been with covid hanging over our heads, but we still continued doing live outdoor concerts throughout the three years. Now I have tours in planning for Nashville, NY, NJ, Pennsylvania.” He’ll be fitting those shows into an already LOCAL NEWS | LocalUmbrellaNews.com
busy schedule. “I have been leading Worship for a group called LifePlus Ministries at North Coast Calvary Chapel in Carlsbad for 10 years,” he said. “I have also been leading Worship for a group called Band of Brothers at the same Church for many years.” For his part, Lollio is simply happy to be making music. “I love writing songs, then recording them and then I get to perform them live. So all of these things make being a musician a blast,” he said. Indeed, work on a sixth album is already under way. The music business can be difficult at the best of times, but Lollio doesn’t worry about that. “Since I have the Joy of Lord Jesus, I don’t have to worry about how tough the music biz is,” he said. “I get to sing, perform and Worship the Lord all at the same time. What an honor and blessing for me.” www.loulolliomusic.com /LocalUmbrellaMedia
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