The Sunset Beach Community Center will be party central on Saturday as the neighborhood celebrates its eighth rock fest featuring the sounds of Led Zepland, the local tribute band that has headlined each of the annual fundraising events.
Founded by local resident Barbara D’Angelo, the event benefits the Sunset Beach Community Association and its efforts to improve the center’s facilities and the adjacent Nobles Family Community Building, which was the home of the now defunct local volunteer fire department.
Now titled “The Electric Magic Eighth Annual Classic Rock Beachfest,” the event will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Community Center at 12th Street and North Pacific Avenue in Sunset Beach. The concert draws many regular visitors to listen to the now nostalgic sounds of the classic super British rock group Led Zepplin (known for the song “Stairway to Heaven”). As performed by the cover band featuring Sunset Beach resident Shawn Kelly, whom fans say seems to channel the spirit and voice of the original band’s lead singer Robert Plant, the concert is a trip back in time for longtime fans and a view into the past for new, younger fans of the music.
D’Angelo has added a new twist to show this year with addition to the bill of Kissed Alive, an award-winning tribute band covering the music and the look of the rock band Kiss. Headed by Rocco Fonzarelli, who performs the role of Kiss’ Gene Simmons in the band, Kissed Alive will open for Led Zepland at the show.
Fonzarelli, who said he often gets remarks about his last name being the same as the character from the old Happy Days TV show, said he is excited about doing the show in Sunset Beach this year.
“Our guitar player is from Huntington Beach,” he said. “We will be playing in Big Bear the following weekend and this will help us not just warm up, but get pumped up to put on some really great shows.”
Kissed Alive has garnered a lot of attention for its detailed replication of Kiss’ live performances.
“We actually had a filmmaker who found us and did a short film about Kiss’ song ‘Beth,’” Fonzarelli said. “Peter Criss, the actual real drummer for Kiss, saw the film and tweeted about it. He said it was funny but that the song didn’t really happen the way it was portrayed in the film.”
Another brush with fame for Kissed Alive was when they met Stan Lee, the American comic book writer, editor, publisher, and media producer.
“He signed our Kiss comic book from the 1970s,” Fonzarelli said.
Fonzarelli said while the band’s career could someday be a full time gig, the members of the band all have day jobs. He works for the Miss USA and the Miss Universe pageants.
In addition to his performing as Simmons there is Jason Lee, who performs the role of Peter Criss, the drummer. When not performing he works in a print shop. The band also includes Vinny Jay, who performs as Paul Stanley and Randy Roe, who performs as Kiss’ Ace Frehley. The last two band mates are salesmen in their day jobs. D’Angelo said they are looking forward to presenting Kissed Alive as part of the concert.
“They are completely in costume, makeup and all this will add more of an electrified feeling to the show,” she said. “That is why we added the words ‘the Electric Magic’ to the event’s name.”
The concert will feature beer and wine sales as well as a La Rubia restaurant booth serving tacos, burritos and quesadillas throughout the event.
Admission to the The Electric Magic Eighth Annual Classic Rock Beachfest is $15 pre-sale and $20 at the door. For more information, or to purchase tickets, call (562) 260-7131.
