Wooster with Midnight Lamp and The Guitars

Wooster : “One of Santa Cruz’ liveliest local acts, Wooster has become a crowd favorite in a relatively short period of time. The band kicks on a winning amalgam of blues, soul and reggae anchored by grooves played by crack players who know their way around some elastic funk. The band’s secret weapon is vocalist Caroline Kuspa, whose singing chops and emotive power are undeniable. With the band gearing up for the impending release of its eagerly awaited full-length The Heights of Things, expect to hear a lot about Wooster in the months and years to come.” – Paul Davis (Mule Train, Santa Cruz Weekly)

Midnight Lamp: Midnight Lamp is a Southern California band formed in early 2002. The band developed through the collaboration between father and son, Fred and Jason Flentye in Redondo Beach, California. The young Flentye, inspired by his father’s influences, grew up embellishing rich guitar leads with fat, blues-based rhythm. Fred Flentye, a veteran blues-guitarist, toured with the Shirelles and Drifters in the early seventies and became a staple on the Southern California Blues Scene. The deep Rhythm was the platform from which the band was built. Jason collaborated with Drummer and fellow fraternity brother Jeff Blackman at CSU Long Beach where they became immersed in the LB dub-style music scene. The duo began fusing their interests for blues, rock, and reggae into raw, intensifying, compositions. Fred brought in long-time friend and bassist, Eddie DeLugo (formerly from Curtis Spirit) to help grease the rhythm section. Midnight Lamp released their first tracks in 2004 on “Whatch You Know About The Scoop” which included a collection of edgy originals. An acoustic follow up to the Scoop entitled “Better Days Ahead” was released early 2007. “Charlie’s Cooling Down” was released in the fall of 2007. The name stems from Fred’s love for Jimi Hendrix (specifically borrowed from track titled ‘The Burning of The Midnight Lamp’). The band continued to evolve towards a gritty, soulful R&B;, with the addition of vocalist Joyce Isles in late 2004. Sister to the O’Jays, Bill Isles, Joyce’s addition as lead/backup vocalist provided a platform for a deeper sound which included arrangements by Aretha and Stevie Wonder. In 2005, the band added Steve Arnold a Berkley School of Music Grad, defining their current sound with colors of a gritty Jazz saxophone melded with a deep pocket. The band continues to support multiple charitable causes including the National Lymphoma Organization, The National Association of Cancer Survivors, the March of Dimes, and the National Association for the prevention of Autism. Influences Include: The Meters, Jimi Hendrix, Kenny Burrell, Aretha Franklin, G-Love, Jack Johnson, Sublime