Led to my seat by a masked man who introduced himself as
”
Ish,
”
I ventured into an alternative realm last Friday night at Old
City Hall in downtown Gilroy. Candlelight filled the room, and the
stage was draped with flowing red, black, and white netting. As I
settled in for the music, the Phantom of the Opera walked by on his
way to the sound board, and young women dressed in long formal
gowns and wearing feathered masquerade ball masks talked softly
with their friends.
Led to my seat by a masked man who introduced himself as “Ish,” I ventured into an alternative realm last Friday night at Old City Hall in downtown Gilroy. Candlelight filled the room, and the stage was draped with flowing red, black, and white netting. As I settled in for the music, the Phantom of the Opera walked by on his way to the sound board, and young women dressed in long formal gowns and wearing feathered masquerade ball masks talked softly with their friends.
It was definitely not what I was expecting when I accepted an invitation to an alternative rock concert upstairs at the Lizarran Tapas Restaurant. Five Minutes to Freedom was the featured act. They went all out to create a magical ambiance which helped capture the audience’s imagination in a way not often experienced at a local rock concert.
The core of Five Minutes to Freedom consists of three friends who grew up together in Gilroy – Tomas Carrillo on lead guitar and vocals, brother Daniel Carrillo on bass and vocals, and Kevin Pfeffer on lead vocals and guitar. They started as a garage band and eventually earned the opportunity to tour the U.S.
Having lost their drummer after their last big tour, the band auditioned drummers for a year before finally finding a talented Scotts Valley native by the name of Scott Richard, who rounded out the group’s high energy sound with killer cadence last week.
The staff of local recording Studio 222 collaborated for several months along with Five Minutes to Freedom and the two opening bands, Samuel James Ray and Impulsive Passions, to fulfill their vision for the concert, which sold out quickly. I was lucky to get a seat.
These lifelong Gilroyans write their own songs and perform all original material. It is no easy feat to continuously find venues for performing in a town the size of Gilroy, but they are creative when it comes to finding places to express their musical talent. Whether it be the Gilroy Garlic Festival, the Gaslighter Theater, the Firehouse Bar & Grill, or the Oakwood Lounge on Monterey Street, the band distinguishes itself with its graciousness in sharing the limelight. They often collaborate with other local talent and always invite other musicians up on stage.
It was great to see a local woman, Adriel Berger, in the opening band Impulsive Passions on guitar Friday night. She really brought the house down with her smoky Joplinesque vocals and rocking acoustic rhythm. During “The Best Is Yet to Come,” the entire audience spontaneously clapped along for the entire song, including Berger’s parents, whom she thanked from the stage. Which brings me to another really positive thing about FMF and their fellow collaborators – they all have great parental support for their artistic endeavors.
While some may associate the alternative rock scene with negative influences, these young people run a first-rate production with an emphasis on gratitude for all those who contribute. They epitomize Gilroy’s finest, always polite and considerate of others, always giving a helping hand along the way. They create a positive atmosphere with an upbeat vibe that brings the audience along with them for the experience.
Local keyboardist Andoni Bundros sat in with the band briefly Friday night, as did other local musicians on trumpet and drums. The audience erupted in applause when Cole Salles and B Nobil came onstage and traded off on a rousing rap during “Fall Down, Get Back Up.” The audience joined in and sang lyrics, “The sky’s the limit and we shall rise from the ashes.” Salles also designed the inside liner artwork for their latest demo CD, which includes five other local bands and was recorded at Studio 222 in March.
Out of necessity, the band often plays venues in southern California, San Francisco, San Jose and Los Gatos, but they’d much rather be playing in Gilroy, and they do all they can to promote a vibrant local music scene.
“It’s so hard for us,” lead singer Kevin Pfeffer said after the show. “We love this area – we never want to live in L.A. This is a great spot. So many people travel through here. There is so much potential, and we are passionate about bringing quality music here.”
Quality is the watch word for the members of this young band. They rehearse five days a week, and play for local benefits whenever possible. They will be performing as part of the upcoming Relay for Life fundraiser for fighting cancer as well as the May 15 Skate Park Jam, which the City of Gilroy sponsors. When not rehearsing, they are handling the business end of things – planning their next show, booking gigs, and finishing the last stages of recording for their next CD called, “Temporary Madness,” which is due out this summer.
Hear Five Minutes to Freedom at myspace.com/fmf. Find links to other local bands from Friday night’s concert at myspace.com/studio222.
