Headlining CV Weekly’s 80’s Night @ Schmidy’s Tavern, Palm Desert, Friday, May 30th @ 9 Pm
by Lisa Morgan
For the second time in a row, Synth-Pop 80’s cover band, Long Duk Dong was voted Coachella Valley’s Best Cover Band, and after their performance at the Coachella Valley Music Awards, there was no doubt in anybody’s mind as to why. Long Duk Dong encompasses everything you ever loved about the dancing 80’s music scene, both in sound and personality. Their high energy, animated performances are unequalled as they master the arrangements and sounds that transport you to a more carefree time and place.
Fronting this electric group of incredibly talented and tech savvy musicians are Chelsea Sugarbritches and Nicco Ysiano. Chelsea’s petite frame contains a voice as big if not bigger than the hit makers of the hay day she represents. That voice, also nominated as one of the top five female singing voices in the valley, effortlessly projects with eerie similarity, songs performed by 80’s icons such as Dale Bozzio from the band Missing Persons, Martha Davis of The Motels, Debbie Harry from Blondie, and more. You would only suspect this vivacious personality just might be in a rock band when she’s off stage due to her lavender locks. Otherwise, you’re likely to see Chelsea as a very devoted, supportive, in-love with her family, mother and wife. But come show time, you may find her singing from bar tops or hitching a ride upon the shoulders of her singing partner Nicco. She will make you fall in love with her fearless, high-voltage voice and performance.
Nicco shares the spotlight effortlessly, with a strong, steady, versatile voice and provides Chelsea with perfect background vocals when required. Towering over his co-host, Nicco is the guy you want to party with. Intimidating in stature, you quickly figure out that he’s an easy going, loveable, teddy bear who’s there to make sure the party gets started and keeps on going. But, unlike Chelsea, who has been involved in and excelled at one form or another of musical/creative art since childhood, Nicco had no musical background prior to joining the band that initially started as a Muse Tribute band. “I saw an ad on Craig’s List for a vocalist. I thought to myself, ‘I sing these songs all the time when I’m driving.'” He dialed the number on the ad and current Long Duk Dong keyboardist and tech hero, Jeff Mazer, answered the phone. “He didn’t ask me any questions. He just said to come on over,” says Ysiano. Mazer would later share, “I just thought I wasn’t all that good of a musician at the time, so if anyone was willing to play with me, that was cool.” Jeff played bass for that band. Not much transpired with that first project and the two moved on to other things. Later, Nicco got the call to come sing for an 80’s retro-band. They didn’t even have a set list worked out when word got to Kristen, Nicco’s boss at the Date Shed, that Nicco had a band. Kristen insisted that they open for a band she had booked. And with that deadline crunch to be show ready, Long Duk Dong was born, on a stage that most musicians covet and have to earn their way to play. But earn it they did, obviously, as the band has been consistantly booked ever since.
On drums is Craig Brown, very likely the working-est drummer in the desert. Craig has played with jazz band, Penny University, Dali’s Llama, The Hick-Ups and many others over the years. Bass player, Joe Willis, who also steps up to provide additional stellar vocals for the group, works out a tight rhythm section that is essential for these cover tunes to be delivered successfully, mirroring the well-known productions. Jeff Mazer (keyboards) and Chris Koenig (keyboards and keytar) also play their parts to perfection. The challenge that all these musicians who play behind their talented front-man and front-woman face, is that the ears of their audience have been trained for decades to these songs they know and love. Any variance is likely to be noticed and not appreciated. So, while on the surface, this is a band of fun-loving bunch of party makers, they are very much a tightly tuned, well-rehearsed group of technicians. What they do, below the surface, is frankly, amazing.
That being said, you definitely do not want to miss out on the opportunity to enjoy this band live and loud at our CV Weekly 80’s Night at Schmidy’s Tavern, Friday, May 30. The party starts at 9, and prizes will be awarded to those wearing the best in 80’s retro wear. This is sure to be one of the hottest (in a good way) nights of entertainment in the valley. I suggest you get there as early as possible as reservations are already pouring in. You can follow Long Duk Dong on their website: longdukdong80s.com or on FB @ LongDukDong80s. Schmidy’s Tavern is located on the corner of Hwy 111 and Fred Waring in Palm Desert, next to the Men’s Warehouse. We hope to see you there!
