Going out with a bang, Sha-Boom dusted off an inventory of
toe-tapping, finger-snapping ditties and riled an already fanatical
crowd into a frenzy.
Also with this story, a video of photo gallery.
For more videos, photos and stories, scroll to the bottom of this story.
Going out with a bang, Sha-Boom dusted off an inventory of toe-tapping, finger-snapping ditties and riled an already fanatical crowd into a frenzy.
A ragtag gang of young and old, punks and preppies, sweaty and sunburned gathered to celebrate 25 years of rock ‘n’ roll at Sha-Boom’s last stand.
T-shirts swung in the air like propellers as teens shed their outer layers in the sweltering heat. Droplets of water sparkled in the sun as dancers flung water bottles in the air. Girls clad in skimpy sun dresses belted out the lyrics to “Teenager in Love” and gyrated alongside men with sunburned backs. A front-row fan in a garlic clove hat pumped his fists in the air.
A woman in black spiderweb tights grinded with her dancing partner, her jaw jutting out in pure ecstasy, or maybe it was exhaustion. Her persistent partner, dressed for the heat in yellow swim trunks, refused to let her take a breather, reeling her in every time she strayed. Even when the police sternly reprimanded them and confiscated their spray bottle, they weren’t fazed in the least.
After 25 Garlic Festivals, Sha-Boom has stolen a lot of hearts and fell in love along the way.
“There’s a lot of people we fell in love with,” said lead vocalist John Dotson. “We thought last year was our last year but it got real emotional.”
Mainly comprised of retired schoolteachers, the rock ‘n’ roll revue’s last performance was planned for the 29th Garlic Festival. They decided to reunite for a final encore performance last weekend, before calling it quits.
A staple of the festival, Sha-Boom will leave behind many heartbroken fans.
“Sha-Boom has a huge following,” said Garlic Princess Jessica Brewka, who responded with an emphatic “Yeah!” when asked if they were her favorite part of the festival.
“Sha-Boom is the heart of the Garlic Festival,” said Andre Pagan, 28, who came to the festival for three things: the peppersteaks, the scampi and the band. “Sha-Boom rocks. They really bring the community together – young and old, friends and family.”
Pagan, who had been practicing the hand jive for months in preparation for the big day, grew up looking forward to the annual performance.
“Don’t know, don’t care,” he said decisively when asked if he knew the whereabouts of the band’s other performances.
“They’re our band,” he said, describing feelings of anger and emptiness with the idea of Sha-Boom’s departure.
Putting aside their sadness, enthusiastic fans like Pagan rocked out one last time with the band they had grown up with.
Robert Lucente, 24, leaped from bleacher to bleacher during the band’s Saturday performance, enticing wallflowers to join him on the dance floor. Sweating profusely, he convinced the meek and the shy to cut loose in public.
“You gotta love this,” he yelled over the blaring saxophone.
While most fans were on their feet, a weary youngster slept through the entire performance. Councilman Perry Woodward cradled his sleeping 2-year-old daughter in the stands. The little girl didn’t even stir despite the pounding music.
“She’s been partying since 10 a.m.,” he explained.
It’s the party atmosphere that convinced the seven musicians to gather for a last hurrah.
“It was a real pleasant surprise,” said keyboardist Dale DeBruin.
The band, which all started in an effort to raise money for the football program at Independence High School in San Jose, was invited by Don Christopher to perform at the 1983 Garlic Festival, and stepped out of the limelight to the cheers of fans who had seen them perform since day one.
“We still haven’t figured out why these people love us,” said lead vocalist Dee Quinet. “They treat you like you’re really somebody.”
“They loved every minute of it,” he said, “and so did we.”
