Fleetwood Mask Headlines CV Fundraiser
The loving didn’t stop when the lights went down at Castro Valley Center for the Arts this past Saturday as a band of local musicians transformed themselves into the members of Fleetwood Mac and thrilled the crowd with a rock and roll experience for a great cause.
Fleetwood Mask is a tribute band founded by East Bay natives (San Leandro, Hayward, Dublin) that embodies the sights and sounds of the 1970s phenomenon of Fleetwood Mac. The group performed as the first act of a two-week fundraiser by the Castro Valley Arts Foundation to upgrade the theater’s sound system. Audiences were served up hit after hit from the magnum opus of albums “Rumors,” the self-titled “Fleetwood Mac,” and “Mirage” as well as solo contributions such as “Edge of Seventeen,” and deep dives like “Oh Well.”
“We were so excited to have Fleetwood Mask headline our fundraiser,” said CV Arts Foundation co-founder and director Terry Liebowitz. “They perfectly play the songs that our audiences grew up with and they get the crowd dancing in the aisles.”
Mask’s five-piece classic lineup is anchored by Don Oberempt (Mick Fleetwood) on drums, Paul Jones (John McVie) on bass guitar, Barbara Martin (Christine McVie) on keyboards, Claudette Rodrigues (Stevie Nicks) on vocals, and Christopher Zerbe (Lindsey Buckingham) on lead guitar. The group not only matches the vocals and harmonies of the originals but also plays musical equipment and wears outfits that match the ones used by the original band.
Founded in 2012, the group met Mick Fleetwood in Maui several years ago. The legendary drummer was so impressed with their work and attention to detail that he endorsed Fleetwood Mask.
“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a passion,” Oberempt says. “It’s about paying tribute to the original artists. When we play, we are the characters, which helps the audience feel like they are watching a real performance instead of just playing the part.”
Recreating those elements can incorporate hours of reviewing audio tracks, videos of live performances, and deep research. Jones’ base guitar is one of two specifically designed for John McVie. Zerbe uses the same amplifier tubes and guitar strings on his custom guitars that Buckingham uses. Martin and Rodrigues are both vocal virtuosos whose ranges are just as comfortable singing the high notes of “Over My Head” and sultry depths of “Dreams” as well as belting out the crowd favorites like “Don’t Stop” and “Go Your Own Way.”
“This is what we do because we love the music of Fleetwood Mac,” Oberempt says. “Each one of us knows that this is not our music, but we play it note for note. It’s an honor to recreate how they act on stage… how they play.”
As for matching the behind-the-scenes relationships between bandmates, thankfully, Fleetwood Mask does not share the same tumultuous history as their famous Mac counterparts, albeit there are palatable tensions during some of the duets.
Another element of the show is the fan base. The band has repeat audiences that have seen the show as many as 40 times at various venues including Yoshi’s in Oakland and local wineries and distilleries. Even younger generations are getting into the act, Oberempt notes because their parents may already be huge Fleetwood Mac fans or were introduced to their classic songs in a movie soundtrack like “The Guardians of the Galaxy” movie which prominently used “The Chain.”
“It’s fantastic when you have folks coming back year after year,” Oberempt says. “When we see that we are facilitating happiness with our audience, it’s a great feeling.”
Fleetwood Mask next performs at the McConnell Estates Winery in Elk Grove and a few other Northern California gigs before touring fairs and festivals in Oregon, Minnesota, and Florida later this year.
Foundation Fundraiser For a Sound Cause
Fleetwood Mask’s performance this past Saturday is one of two major fundraisers hosted by the Castro Valley Arts Foundation (CVAF) to help purchase a new sound system this year.
The Center for the Arts (CFA) is a partnership between the CVAF and the Castro Valley Unified School District, which owns and operates the Center. The Foundation also sponsors music and theater-based scholarships for graduating seniors from Castro Valley High School.
Every year, the Foundation donates $50,000 that is used exclusively for operational expenses. The new digitally advanced sound system is estimated to cost $170,000 of which CVAF is looking to contribute half.
“We’re replacing the original sound system from when we opened the Center for the Arts back in 2006,” said CV Arts Foundation co-founder and director Terry Liebowitz. “We are always grateful for the support this community brings to the Center and we’ll use this new system to improve our performances here.”
Liebowitz and CVAF co-founder Erma Smith helped lead a massive multi-million-dollar effort to fund, design, and construct the state-of-the-art theater. The current 18-member board of directors has continued to showcase regional talent. Previous performances include tribute bands spotlighting the BeeGees, Neil Diamond, The Grateful Dead, and The Beatles.
CVAF’s second fundraiser this month will be for a comedy showcase starring 2020 World Series of Comedy winner Paul Conyers along with the comedy stylings of Pete Munoz, Mean Dave, and Jeanne Marin. The July 16 event kicks off with a BBQ meal provided by local food trucks.