Offending all over town

Suzie Harrison

The five of them assembled in the dark at an undisclosed location. By

day, these four Laguna residents and one wannabe might not seem to

have a lot in common.

They are a software marketing consultant, an Orange County

Superior Court judge, a construction consultant, an owner of a

graphic design business and the owner of a marketing agency. They fit

into the 35- to 45-year-old age group, are married, have families and

disposable incomes.

But their common denominator is music. The Blues Offenders --

Santi Pierini, Pete Fowler, Russell Pierce, Geoff Glass and Dan

Shapero -- gathered Tuesday night at their home studio to practice

for an upcoming gig.

The band started with vocalist Fowler and keyboardist Shapero in

the summer of 2001. Pierce joined in Dec. 2002 and Glass and Pierini

made their debut with the band in June. They started out as the Blues

O’Fenders because they all played Fender guitars and their style

incorporates the roots of blues and rock -- their biggest influences

are from the ‘60s and ‘70s when each started out. But the name had to

undergo a bit of semantic surgery because some people took offense to

the spelling, so it changed to its current assemblage of letters and

the complaints have disappeared.

During practice and in between songs, wit, jokes and banter filled

the studio, as perpetual smiles where glued on their faces. They seem

to be in it for the fun, with the added benefit of producing good

music.

“The greatest part about it is that the people that come listen to

us might not have heard these songs in a long time, but they’re

dancing like they are in high school,” Shapero said. “All of the PTA

moms are hooting and hollering.”

They play a variety of cover songs and have a playlist of about 75

songs -- from the Allman Brothers, Jimmy Buffett to the Grateful

Dead, Tom Petty, Cream and David Bowie. Although they are quick to

point out that they definitely stylize all the songs they play,

adding a bit of the Blues Offenders’ flavor.

“We’re trying to get the surgeon general to announce that seeing

the Blues Offenders play is great for your health,” Fowler said.

Their core fan base consists of about 100 people. Often they are

parents who’s kids are on opposing teams and are the ones yelling

obnoxiously. Soccer moms are tight with the band and they call them

“yummie mummies,” they’re even thinking about making T-shirts for

them.

The band has been involved in playing at a number of fund-raisers

and events. Saturday it will play a benefit for the Laguna Beach

chapter of the Surfrider Foundation.

“We play for nonprofits and don’t charge,” Shapero said. “We like

helping because we have the ways and means to help out.”

They said that the toughest part was hauling the equipment around

for gigs.

“Geoff came in a couple of practices ago and he looked like he had

wrestled with a mountain lion,” Fowler said.

Pierini said that he was rolling down the hill with the bass

speaker.

They own top-of-the-line-equipment, wishing they could have been

able to own the same earlier in life.

“One time Russell’s electric drums broke and had to be duct taped

together,” Pierini said. “Thank God we had the construction guy in

the band.”

Pierce said he likes using electronic drums because they come with

different sounds that one can personalize with 600 to 700 kits from

bongos and reggae and more.

Pierini writes a lot of his own songs, but they don’t use them.

“It’s a lot easier to do when you know the songs and have heard

them for so long,” Shapero said.

It came in handy when Glass had been in Europe for a while sans

practice. He took the red-eye back for their second gig and during

rehearsal was able to play in his sleep.

“I was so tired, I sat on the chair and oozed down,” Glass said.

“I slid down from the chair on my back to the floor and realized I

had fallen asleep.”

The Blues Offenders will be playing from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday at

the Woman’s Club at 286 St. Ann’s Drive for the at the “El Dia de los

Muertos” fund-raiser for the Surfrider Foundation. In the spirit of

the theme they’ll be wearing masks, sombreros and ponchos. The event

will also include, food, beverages, dancing, drinks, a raffle and

prizes.

You must be 21 or older to attend. Tickets are $30 at the door or

$25 with reservations. For information, call (949) 631-6273 or e-mail rwsurf@aol.com. To book the band for a future engagement call (949)

275-2041 or go to www.bluesoffenders.com.