In these heavy days, there doesn’t seem to be enough “good times” rock and roll. If it’s not screaming vocals and bleeding guitars breeding bad vibes, it’s philosophically challenging lyrics and political agendas putting weight and sometimes even a burden on music.
Bremerton’s Rocky Point All Stars take a step back from that ledge and up to the bar with their Southern rock influenced elixir of bluegrass, blues, rock, punk and jazz.
With an immense variety, they are the type of band which, by their own admission, can be their own opening act. They’ll be employing that ability Saturday night at Winterland in Bremerton for An Evening with the Rocky Point All Stars.
”We’re one of those bands that can play three- or four-hour long sets. We hit it around 9 (p.m.) and end it around 1 a.m.,” said lead singer and guitarist KW Miller. “You strum them in, blues them in, hit them up with a lot of different stuff then by the end of the night, we’re slap rockin’ it.”
Saturday’s RPA installment will take the stage around 9 p.m. at Winterland.
And though it follows an evolution, a Rocky Point show seems to transcend structure. At a recent Thursday night gig at McCloud’s Saloon — “where the All-Stars play every Thursday” — RPA transformed from a full-on country rock band, down to a two-man jazz/blues solo ensemble, even further down slimmer to a lone acoustic crooner and back into a bold four-piece at forte.
And that was just in their first set.
Later on that night (after Presidents of the United States of America front man Chris Ballew’s side project The Feelings Hijacker played) RPA came back out with a batch of new songs off of their upcoming album “Another True Story” which was recorded by MXPX frontman Mike Herrera at The Clubhouse in Bremerton. It will be coming out later this spring, drummer Harley Trotland said and will be available at RPA shows — check www.myspace.com/rockypointallstars for upcoming opportunities to see them live.
“It’s music for common people,” Parker said.
“Songs about life,” bassist Marshall Trotland added. “We’re a band that plays bars all the time, and that lifestyle has contributed to the songs that we play.”
Whiskey, beer and years of experienced mixed with formal jazz training and bluegrass roots under the influence of Southern rock solids like the Allman Brothers Band and Government Mule make up RPA in short.
The fusion began in March 2004 and has since been playing the Sound. From Tacoma to Port Townsend RPA travels, frequenting many spots in Bremerton including McCloud’s and Winterland, as well as Brewski’s and The Hi-Lo Café to name a few. Those experiences are then relayed through RPA’s speakers and stage as Miller sings about a musician’s daily grind.
“It’s not so bad, you know, it’s not always a downer … but it’s real life, it’s true stories,” he said. “If nothing else, we’re good times music.”