Tag Archives: Save Ferris

House Party at The Pantle Palace, Fullerton 6/8/13

You know it's not your average house party when a full size tour bus comes down the residential street. I had the pleasure of partying with the members Starpool at Tbone Willy's home. The night was filled with excitement and a special surprise that no one saw coming.  Japan's Oreskaband was set to perform in the living room (hence the tour bus). Oreskaband is an all girl ska band from Japan, here to play a couple dates in Socal. Also on the line up was Orange County locals, The Stupid Flanders. The living room was emptied of its furniture and ready for what could be the most epic house party I've ever been to.
    The house was full of people, very excited to see what the big secret was. Socializing outside with people around a fire, I see a little person. I had to assume that she had something to do with this surprise. After a few drinks and a couple cigarettes, it's time to find out what we've all come to see. The some of members of Starpool, were in a band back in the 90's called Save Ferris, and they were all standing in the living room with their instruments and the little person right there next to them.  This wasn't a Starpool set though, it was a Save Ferris set…
    I never thought I would have the chance to hear Save Ferris songs live ever, even though Monique Powell is doing a show as Save Ferris at the OC Fair this year. I could not pay money to see someone who didn't bother to ask her band mates if they wanted to perform as Save Ferris. Instead she spoke for them, saying they couldn't join due to their commitment to Starpool. Which I find rude and extremely disrespectful to the band and to their fans.  So, it was safe to say I was thrilled when they started up with, The World is New.
    The living room was packed, and everyone was singing along with the little person as she belted out the songs we've been dying to hear. Playing favorites such as, Spam and Super Spy, it was truly unreal. The one song I have always loved was Under 21 because I have always been the baby, and not allowed to go to the shows that were 21+, and to hear it live and in Tbone's living room was a dream come true. Dancing of course, I look behind me to see the girls in Oreskaband also rocking out to the jams. They closed out with Come On Eileen, their famous cover originally by Dexy's Midnight Runners. Bringing up the horn section and the lead singer from Oreskaband to help. To be honest I didn't want it to end, and really hope that they do this again sometime.
    Next up was Oreskaband! The six piece band with a full horn section was ready to roar. In black and white matching attire they were really cute. They are a very technical band and fun to watch live, they have a lot of energy, they get the crowd involved, and have the best stage presence. Almost every song had a solo for each horn and every time it was perfect. They did a few english covers that were awesome! They were Tequila, Monkey Man, and then they did Ricky Martin's Livin' La Vida Loca (Which is now my favorite version of that song.). They closed their set with a song that they wrote with Brian Mashburn of Starpool called What A Wonderful World that had a crowd sing along of "oh yeah yeah's".
    Hands down the best house party I have ever had the privilidge to go to. It was wild to say the least. Full of amazing people, phenomenal music, and a priceless story.     

 

Fake Ferris

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             Its been over ten years since the OC ska band Save Ferris has gotten together to play a show. This April, Monique Powell scheduled a show at the Fairgrounds with The English Beat. What everyone didn't know was that it wasn't really going to be a real Save Ferris show because Mo never even bothered to invite the original memebers of the band. It was news to the rest of the band that she was even doing this but since social media spreads news like wildfire word got around quickly. Though if they were asked they would of been interested in a proper reunion show for the fans. The boys released a statement on Facebook letting their fans know that this wasn't going to be a reunion show and that it was solely going to be Mo with a bunch of people that had nothing to do with the original members.
"…We feel it is important that fans of the band Save Ferris know that this is NOT a reunion show and the show will NOT include any original or former Band member other than Monique Powell. We have not authorized Monique Powell to perform under the name Save Ferris and the original and former Band members regret any confusion to our fans that may be caused as a result of any misleading statements or marketing materials disseminated by Ms. Powell or any other parties connected to this concert engagement. From what we can infer by the marketing and advertising materials we have seen thus far, this engagement is simply a Monique Powell performance of Save Ferris material accompanied by various musicians, who are unknown to the Band…"
    Monique was unable to comment on the confusion she has caused, then released a statement on Facebook saying that the rest of the members were too busy with their new band (Starpool) and couldn't join her. Well, if you ask me it's pretty difficult to join someone in something you weren't invited to.
"…Just to clear up any misinformation that may be out there — while I had hoped this could be a reunion of sorts with all, or some, of my former SF band members, unfortunately that isn't the way it looks to be turning out. Some of my former band mates are currently in a band of their own which they are fully committed to and which I completely respect. While I am certainly disappointed that they won't be joining me, I wish them all the best always…"
    Being a fan of Save Ferris and Starpool it's a major disappointment for me to think that someone could be so selfish. How unfair is it to us  the fans, that she was going to try and trick us  into supporting solely her,  on top of that how could she do that to her former band mates? Bill Uech, Eric Zamora, Brian Mashburn, Brian "Tbone Willy" Williams, Evan Kilbourne, and Oliver Zavala are all awesome guys and frankly don't deserve the disrespect, or the lies. I was also very bummed because as much as I love Save Ferris' music there was no way I was going to pay to see something that wasn't what it was suppose to be. Which ment I would never get to hear my favorite songs preformed live, or did it?  
    I was invited to a house party that Tbone Willy was throwing with Oreskaband playing in his living room. Let's just say my 90's childhood dream was fulfilled, way more than I could of ever asked for.