Fever Charm & Emily’s Army Rocked It Last Friday Night @ the Uptown Night Club in Oakland
You can see the passion in their eyes and just feel it in your heart. The way both bands connect with their audience is pure magic.
Together, Fever Charm and Emily’s Army shared the billing at Friday nights concert.
Emily’s Army & Fever Charm, local Piedmont kids, now young adults, making their mark.
Talented, passionate and truly good kids.
When I arrived at the Uptown Night Club in Oakland last Friday night with my son, Chase, and a car load of his freshman friends, it was apparent to me that this was going to be an evening to remember. It reminded me of my high school years, even more so as the evening progressed.
Fever Charm kicked off their set with multiple drummers to bring the audience into the fold. The kids in the audience started jumping up and down and from side to side. Very different than how we used to dance. I’ve learned it’s called a “Mosh Pit.” I find it a bit difficult to dance while being hit from the left and the right. (Hold on tight to your drink!) Many of the younger Emily’s Army fans hadn’t heard Fever Charm play before. By the look of the dance floor, everyone enjoyed what they were hearing. I’ve been playing the CD non-stop in my car since last Friday night! I even woke Chase up on Saturday morning, at 8 AM, for football practice with Fever Charm’s “YOUTH” bellowing throughout the house.
“Good Times, Come and Go but I’m Alive, I’m Still Here…” (Lyrics from Youth)
Meet the Band
Fever Charm: Ari Berl – Vocals and Guitar
Theo Quayle, Lead Guitar
Yianni Anastos-Prastacos, Bass
Kendrick Brown, Drums
Support Fever Charm by following them on Facebook, Twitter and on Tour.
www.facebook.com/fevercharmband.com
Fever Charm Pictured Above
It was a big night for Emily’s Army, as one of their band member’s, Max Becker, a recent Piedmont High School Graduate who will be heading off to Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo this Fall.
Friday marked the kick-off for their hectic summer tour. Local fans, long-time friends and family, young and old, all took to the dance floor to rock, roll and mosh. I just loved witnessing both the kids and adults in action. As a newcomer to the scene it was easy to see that Emily’s Army certainly has quite a following.
Images Below from Left to Right – Front to Back
Emily’s Army: Travis, Cole, Max and Drummer, Joey
Excited Fans Pictured Below
Emily’s Army:
Max Becker, Vocals and Guitar
Cole Becker, Vocals and Guitar
Travis Neumann, Guitar
Joey Armstrong, Drums
Emily’s Army departs on their journey, June 23rd — I wish them all the best!
Perhaps a summer field trip is in order!
Tour Dates l Locations: Go to www.emilysarmyband.com/tour
Follow them on Facebook and Twitter: www.twitter.com/emilysarmy
History Continues to Repeat Itself
At the end of the evening Chase made his way back to me where I was catching up with old friends. I started to introduce him to my high school friend, Bert Inch, but he said, “mom, I know him.” The two had been dancing in the Mosh Pit. You can see from the photo, the two really were enjoying the music and danced up a storm!
Pictured: Piedmont Locals – Bert Inch and Chase Betta
I must sound like a broken record to my children and their friends as I chant the same words… “I can’t believe how big you are, how you’ve grown up.” .… “You were just in pre-school and now you are up on stage!” “You’re just so grown up!!” “How did that happen?” “Where did the time go?”
It’s incredible, really quite incomprehensible to me.
Emily’s Army band members, Cole and Max Becker, attended Piedmont Play School with my children. I can still see the kids riding around the playground on those shiny steel tricycles, Cole and Chase being silly and Max and my daughter, Bianca, enjoying circle time with Miss Marilyn and Miss Marcia.
You know what I am going to say….
It seems like just yesterday.
Cole Becker and Chase Betta, Piedmont PlaySchool
Darth Vader and Batman, Pictured Above
Pictured Below:
Bianca Betta and Max Becker
(Classmate & Friend, Georgie Fullerton seen in the Red T-Shirt on the Left)
Bianca Betta, Miss Marcia and Max Becker
Just as my children ‘hang out’ with their friends, as I used to in the 80’s with high school friends Bert & Jane Inch (though not married at the time), my children are listening, dancing and hanging out with their high school friends, too. Certain things do repeat! Friday night reminded me so much of one of my high school nights, it took me back.
Who knows what will repeat next… There is always so much to discover!
Away they Go! Congratulations!
Max Becker: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Georgie Fullerton: Stanford University
Bianca Betta: CU Boulder, Sophomore
Chase Betta: PHS Sophomore
Cole Becker: PHS Junior
PPS (Piedmont PlaySchool) Grads!
Where will they go next? XOXO!
Learning about other cultures fascinates me. I am naturally drawn to Caribbean and Mediterranean cultures… the passion, food and music. So, when the co-owner of Pica Pica Maize Kitchen invited me to experience Venezuelan Christmas traditions, I said, “of course!”
First, I went to a Hallaca cooking class at Williams-Sonoma, Union Square. From my perspective, the Hallaca is a lot like the Spanish tamale. I can see why families would take days to make them… very involved. Adriana Lopez, chef and co-owner, and her crew from Pica Pica made it easy. We rolled the maize, stacked the mixture, and wrapped and tied them in the leaves.
Then I was invited to the Oxbow Public Market in Napa for “Parranda 2011.” (photo above). I experienced more great food from Pica Pica, and tasted unique wines from South America by Taste Vino ( 
Another lesson: Parranda is a musical form from the coastal area of 
I have to admit that after trying the various items on the menu, one of my TOPS is the Yucca fries (you can order them plain or with garlic). They alone are worth making the drive; whether to Pica Pica Maize Kitchen in San Francisco on Valencia Street or at Oxbow Napa.
Next on my list, Flamenco dance lessons with Adriana… There is always more to discover!
