Diego's Umbrella w/ Retro Transit Authority

Diego's Umbrella: As San Francisco’s ambassadors of gypsy rock, Diego’s Umbrella captures California’s cultural multiplicity with enthusiasm, humor and decadence. These urban, gringo mariachis have performed more than 800 live shows, cloaked in elaborate homemade outfits. This band’s unforgettable performance has visually and aurally captivated diverse audiences around the globe. Influenced heavily by flamenco, klezmer, and Latin percussion, Diego’s Umbrella has introduced the world to a new kind of popular music, with sounds reminiscent to that of Gogol Bordello, Flogging Molly and The Clash. Shortly after migrating to Northern California from rural Wisconsin, Vaughn Lindstrom (acoustic guitar, vocals, lead songwriter) teamed up with California native Tyson Maulhardt (electric guitar, vocals) to create a musical ensemble they dubbed, Diego’s Umbrella. The namesake: their friend’s arm tattoo. Diego’s Umbrella debuted in 2001 with its first album, Songs for the Farmers. With the addition of Kevin Blair (bass), Jason Kleinberg (violin, vocals, accordion), Jake Wood (drums, percussion) and Ben Leon (lead vocals, electric guitar, percussion), Diego’s Umbrella has been packing venues throughout the Western U.S. and Europe with its heavy-hitting live shows and filling airwaves in the U.S. and Europe with lively tunes. The band released Kung Fu Palace in 2006 and Viva la Juerga in 2007. Within a few months Juerga ranked #129 on the CMJ Top 200 Chart. This spring Diego’s Umbrella will release the much-anticipated record, Double Panther. Several DU songs were also featured in the X-Dance-award-winning documentary Sofia, the Quiksilver/Roxy surf DVD Shimmer, as well as CBS’ Elimination Station. Diego’s Umbrella also performs three songs in the Lionsgate comedy Still Waiting (2009). “With guitars straight out of a Tarantino movie, the group seamlessly blends mariachi, gypsy, flamenco and ska into one beer-soaked fiesta, with song topics varying from heartache to revolution.” -NewsReview.com Instrumentation Vaughn Lindstrom: acoustic guitar, vocals, trombone Kevin Blair: upright/electric bass, vocals Jason Kleinberg: violin, accordion, vocals Tyson Maulhardt: guitar, vocals Ben Leon: vocals, guitar, percussion Jake Wood: drums Discography Double Panther 2009 Viva La Juerga, 2007 Kung Fu Palace, 2006 The Last Stand of Festive Jim & The Story of Effingham, 2004 You Guys Laughing at Me, 2003 Songs For The Famers, 2001

Retro Transit Authority: Retro Transit Authority is back on the scene with a fresh lineup that includes Greg Cahill (guitar), Brad Rhodus (drums), Warren Kaye (bass) and original member Jeff Champlin (guitar & vocals). Established in 2002, this is the fourth incarnation of RTA and while the members have changed, the same youthful energy and creative vibes remain to create a sound that is funkier, friendlier and more addic...tive than ever. Perhaps RTA's most appealing aspect is the fact that its sound cannot be defined by a specific genre. Although the band fits best in the jam scene, calling RTA a standard "jam band" would be selling them short. The band has no issues playing hours on end, but still maintains a dedication to serving up the perfect song and groovin' till your heart's content.