Valley Star

Issue date: 10/12/05 Section: Valley Life

Media Credit: Maria Low THAT´S HOT - The 2005 Fall Concert Series opened late September with a performance by DW3 featuring Ronnie Gutierrez. Eric Mondragon on keyboard and vocals, Billy Mondragon on percussion and vocals, David Mondelongo on vocals, Bryant Siono on bass and Tony Goss on guitar. The band is treating audiences to performances in the music building, Room 112 through Dec. 12. DW3´s performances are being offered free to anyone interested their Latin R&B and Old School stylings.

Last Thursday, Oct. 6, Valley College alumni Ronnie Gutierrez and his band DW3 performed an hour's worth of percussive feel-good Latin salsa to an audience of students, teachers and community members in a packed Music Room 112.

The first song featured a battery of rhythm that resembles the mechanic workings of a locomotive going by at 90 miles per hour. Congas, bongos, timbales and a drum kit slapped and beat the groove under the thick bass line of this eight-piece ensemble.

The music had an upbeat dance groove accented by cowbells. The keyboards and bass laid down a strong foundation under the enticing choruses that had audience members dancing from the waist up in their chairs. The ones who stood even had a small shake in their hips.

The songs varied from straight salsa to a smooth, bouncy, funk-R&B. They played a radio-friendly slow tune with tight three-piece vocal harmonies that chanted, "Don't let no-body get you down." The set also included two crowd-pleasing Santana covers, "Oye Como Va" and "Corazon Espinado." The band put their own twists on the covers, adding drum solos that left bongo player Brian Roth's fingers blood-red from all the hard-hitting.

This free show was the second event for fall 2005 Concert Series. Performances are held Thursdays at 11:30a.m. in the Music Recital Hall or Music Room 112. Events will include the Valley Jazz Band, Valley Choir and Chamber Singers. They will also feature piano, wind and string recitals from various music faculty members.

The show ended with Gutierrez soloing on the timbales working the audience to cheers and whistles when he paradiddled on the timbales while twirling both sticks in his hand in a spaghetti western fashion.

For information pick up a fall 2005 Concert Series event schedule in the music building or call (818) 947-2346.

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