thedrifter
03-09-07, 04:20 PM
Promoter brings 'Soundz' of appreciation to base
By Linda McIntosh
TODAY'S LOCAL NEWS
March 9, 2007
Loretta Palacios was bitten by the showbiz bug when she was 18, and the itch never went away.
Palacios was a teenager when she met Kurt Russell in Hollywood on the set of “Elvis,” the 1979 TV show. She was at the front of the concert crowd screaming Elvis' name.
It wasn't a big part, but it gave her a taste of show business.
She was too shy at the time to do much more, she said. Her Hollywood days were spent mainly as an extra in movies, such as “The Doors” by Oliver Stone and “The Main Event” with Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal.
The experiences stoked her dream to produce shows. And now she's getting her chance.
Palacios, a 46-year-old San Marcos resident who has spent 25 years working in the computer field, is launching the Soundz of Freedom Rock Fest with previews on Friday and March 23 to welcome home Camp Pendleton troops. The previews will feature bands from San Diego County, including Foil, Tempernoi, Etched in Red, Wither and American Hitmen.
The bands are putting on the free shows to express appreciation to the military.
“We want to say thanks in the best way we know how,” said Chad Gutterud, bass player for Tempernoi. “The military is underappreciated and pushed to the back burner. It's tough to go through boot camp and go to Iraq.”
The four-piece melodic metal band is releasing its second album, “The Concept,” to raise money to take the Soundz of Freedom Rock Fest to military bases across the country.
The rock festival is slated to hit the Del Mar Beach stage at Camp Pendleton on May 18.
The bands are playing the preview shows for free.
“We want to let them know we want to do something for them,” said Patrick McLaughlin, aka Sir Patrick Mack, lead vocalist for Foil, which plays regularly at the House of Blues in San Diego and won a Los Angeles Music Award last year.
McLaughlin is a Navy veteran.
“Sometimes there's no time to get off base and you're shut off from the world,” he said. “We want to play a show so they can stay on base and enjoy the music scene.”
Palacios got the idea for the music fest after she talked with a Marine who had a friend who died in Iraq. In her off hours, Palacios manages several bands through her company, Loretta Represents.
Palacios works as a civilian for the Navy, supporting its computer network. She was helping the Marine fix his computer when she found out his comrade had died.
“I told him we wanted to thank him for everything, and he said he didn't know people cared that much,” Palacios said. “It was pretty sad.”
Palacios organized three shows last year at Camp Pendleton and wanted to come back and do something bigger.
“I've got to do something and make people's lives change a little,” she said.
“We want to express in music our appreciation to the men and women in the military who risk their lives every day for our freedom and dreams,” Palacios said.
People who know Palacios figure she's the one to bring a large festival to life.
“From the first time I talked to her, I felt she was sincere about wanting to entertain Marines,” said Sgt. Gary Pucci, branch manager of food and hospitality at Camp Pendleton.
Palacios is lining up bands to do four shows this year at Camp Pendleton and has signed 10 bands so far for the Soundz of Freedom Rock Fest preview and concert tour. She's looking for more bands to join.
“Loretta's got a good cause,” said Bryan Reeves of Batt Sound in Oceanside, who is volunteering to run the sound system for the festival. “The guys over in Iraq don't get to party too much. We want to give them a good time.”
Jason Kirk, lead guitarist for Etched in Red, figured there was no better reason to do a concert than to celebrate the homecoming of Marines.
“These people have been overseas doing the job we can barely wrap our minds around to protect our freedom, and we can give them a night of entertainment,” Kirk said.
Linda McIntosh: (760) 752-6756; linda.mcintosh@tlnews.net
What: Soundz of Freedom Rock Fest preview
When: 7 p.m. Friday and March 23
Where: Double Deuces, Area 22, Camp Pendleton
Cost: Free
Information: Learn more about the show, become a sponsor or volunteer your band to perform for the military: (760) 294-5048 or lorettarepresents@cox.net
Ellie
By Linda McIntosh
TODAY'S LOCAL NEWS
March 9, 2007
Loretta Palacios was bitten by the showbiz bug when she was 18, and the itch never went away.
Palacios was a teenager when she met Kurt Russell in Hollywood on the set of “Elvis,” the 1979 TV show. She was at the front of the concert crowd screaming Elvis' name.
It wasn't a big part, but it gave her a taste of show business.
She was too shy at the time to do much more, she said. Her Hollywood days were spent mainly as an extra in movies, such as “The Doors” by Oliver Stone and “The Main Event” with Barbra Streisand and Ryan O'Neal.
The experiences stoked her dream to produce shows. And now she's getting her chance.
Palacios, a 46-year-old San Marcos resident who has spent 25 years working in the computer field, is launching the Soundz of Freedom Rock Fest with previews on Friday and March 23 to welcome home Camp Pendleton troops. The previews will feature bands from San Diego County, including Foil, Tempernoi, Etched in Red, Wither and American Hitmen.
The bands are putting on the free shows to express appreciation to the military.
“We want to say thanks in the best way we know how,” said Chad Gutterud, bass player for Tempernoi. “The military is underappreciated and pushed to the back burner. It's tough to go through boot camp and go to Iraq.”
The four-piece melodic metal band is releasing its second album, “The Concept,” to raise money to take the Soundz of Freedom Rock Fest to military bases across the country.
The rock festival is slated to hit the Del Mar Beach stage at Camp Pendleton on May 18.
The bands are playing the preview shows for free.
“We want to let them know we want to do something for them,” said Patrick McLaughlin, aka Sir Patrick Mack, lead vocalist for Foil, which plays regularly at the House of Blues in San Diego and won a Los Angeles Music Award last year.
McLaughlin is a Navy veteran.
“Sometimes there's no time to get off base and you're shut off from the world,” he said. “We want to play a show so they can stay on base and enjoy the music scene.”
Palacios got the idea for the music fest after she talked with a Marine who had a friend who died in Iraq. In her off hours, Palacios manages several bands through her company, Loretta Represents.
Palacios works as a civilian for the Navy, supporting its computer network. She was helping the Marine fix his computer when she found out his comrade had died.
“I told him we wanted to thank him for everything, and he said he didn't know people cared that much,” Palacios said. “It was pretty sad.”
Palacios organized three shows last year at Camp Pendleton and wanted to come back and do something bigger.
“I've got to do something and make people's lives change a little,” she said.
“We want to express in music our appreciation to the men and women in the military who risk their lives every day for our freedom and dreams,” Palacios said.
People who know Palacios figure she's the one to bring a large festival to life.
“From the first time I talked to her, I felt she was sincere about wanting to entertain Marines,” said Sgt. Gary Pucci, branch manager of food and hospitality at Camp Pendleton.
Palacios is lining up bands to do four shows this year at Camp Pendleton and has signed 10 bands so far for the Soundz of Freedom Rock Fest preview and concert tour. She's looking for more bands to join.
“Loretta's got a good cause,” said Bryan Reeves of Batt Sound in Oceanside, who is volunteering to run the sound system for the festival. “The guys over in Iraq don't get to party too much. We want to give them a good time.”
Jason Kirk, lead guitarist for Etched in Red, figured there was no better reason to do a concert than to celebrate the homecoming of Marines.
“These people have been overseas doing the job we can barely wrap our minds around to protect our freedom, and we can give them a night of entertainment,” Kirk said.
Linda McIntosh: (760) 752-6756; linda.mcintosh@tlnews.net
What: Soundz of Freedom Rock Fest preview
When: 7 p.m. Friday and March 23
Where: Double Deuces, Area 22, Camp Pendleton
Cost: Free
Information: Learn more about the show, become a sponsor or volunteer your band to perform for the military: (760) 294-5048 or lorettarepresents@cox.net
Ellie