ROOMFUL OF BLUES

ROOMFUL OF BLUES

The FALLOUT SHELTER Debut of the Legendary Blues Masters

The Fallout Shelter - 61 Endicott Street, Norwood, MA, 02062

It's taken a good while to get The Fallout Shelter on the radar of the seminal blues masters, Roomful Of Blues but it was bound to happen eventually. This is an honor and a privilege to host a band of this stature and we couldn't be more proud. For the last 50 Years Roomful of Blues has become legendary in the Blues World. Roomful has toured the world and recorded over 25 albums. With five Grammy nominations and a slew of music awards and accolades Roomful has become a recognized leader in their genre.

“In a class by itself . . ..” —Down Beat “. . . irresistible on the dance floor. —Mademoiselle

“If you are afflicted with podomotophobia—the fear of tapping your feet—stay clear of this band.” —People

“[They are] the baddest big blues band in the land.” —Boston Herald

“Roomful of Blues blows ’em out of the door . . . the hottest, most solid and wonderfully entertaining band of its type around.”
—San Francisco Examiner

“Roomful of Blues gave an object lesson in how to tackle modern blues with traditional swing and verve.” —The Times, London

“They were f**king great!” —Drew Carey (after Roomful of Blues played a season-ending wrap party for his TV series)


DD Bastos _ Vocals

D.D. Bastos is no stranger to the stage. She began singing in church at the age of 5 years old. Music has always been her passion. D.D. earned second chair in the All-Eastern Honors Ensemble representing Massachusetts which garnered her a scholarship.
After college D.D. began performing with local bands throughout NE which led to the inception of her band DD & The Road Kings. Her work put her closely associated with the fraternity that is; Roomful of Blues, Sugar Ray and the Bluetones, The Broadcasters and the dozens of splinter groups who have branched off -- shaping many other New England Blues bands. Certainly, when three of them show up on D.D. and the Road Kings' album Lover Bird, which was well received by critics and fans alike, there is a common thread that can be traced back to the '60s Blues revival. D.D. is also a Choral Director in the public school system with 20+ years as a private music teacher. Her love of singing is what fuels her soulful and powerful performances.

Chris Vachon - Guitar

Chris is a true multi-talent. His prowess as a guitar slinger is well- documented, and his strengths as a producer and songwriter grow from album to album. He produced the band’s eight most recent albums—There Goes the Neighborhood (1998), Watch You When You Go (2001), Live at Wolf Trap (2002) the Grammy nominated That’s Right! (2003), and Standing Room Only (2004), Raisin’ A Ruckus (2008), Hook, Line & Sinker (2011) 45 Live (2013) and In A Roomful of Blues (2000) after co-producing all of Roomful’s other albums recorded in the ’90s. Chris’ songs—such as “Turn It On! Turn It Up!,” “Running Out of Time,” “She’ll Be So Fine,” “Blue, Blue World,” “Dynamite”,“Keep on Rockin'' and Phone Zombies—have become firm favorites in AAA and blues radio formats, bringing many new fans into the Roomful fold.

John Turner - Upright Bass

A veteran of the New England jazz scene, bassist John Turner has performed and recorded with just about everybody–specifically the Either/Orchestra, Charlie Kohlhase, Scott Hamilton, Roswell Rudd, Lee Konitz, the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, members of Ornette Coleman’s band, and , Magic Dick-Jay Geils and Blues Time to name a few. John’s rock solid bottom is the essential element of the swing groove which Roomful is renowned for.

Rusty Scott - Piano and B3

Rusty Scott has been a fixture on the Boston jazz and blues scene for a number of years now. He began playing piano at the age of eight. His jazz studies began with Burlington jazz musician, Bruce Sklar, while attending the University of Vermont. In 1989 he attended Berklee College of Music. Rusty also plays Hammond B3 organ and in addition to being a member of Roomful of Blues he currently heads up the Rusty Scott Organ Group, playing major venues throughout Boston and New England. Rusty’s solid rhythm, driving piano solos, and howlin’ organ riffs are a first-class addition to the Roomful tradition.

Mike Coffey - Drums

From Newport Rhode Island Mike Coffey spent 20 years performing with the US Navy band. Upon retirement he performed with local blues artist Chris Stoval Brown and other well known blues artist in the Boston area. As part of a weekly Jazz series he has performed with Mike Renzi and Grey Sargent both members of Tony Bennett’s band and other renown jazz artist. He also performs with 50s doo wop group”The Diamonds” when they perform in New England. He studied with renown drum instructors Alan Dawson and Gary Chaffee. Known for his versatility and ability to enhance any group he performs with he been a welcome member of Roomful of Blues.

Rich Lataille - Tenor and Alto Sax

Rich joined Roomful in 1970 and was there at the beginning of what has become the most legendary horn section in contemporary blues. It was Rich’s interest in the swinging bands of the ’30s and ’40s that led Roomful to forge the distinctive sound that has become the band’s trademark. A man who can play both sides of the fence, lyrically tender or blisteringly hot, Rich has a big, warm tone that is always jam-packed with feeling. His melodic inventiveness reflects the depth and breadth of his wide-ranging influences. Rich worked with various local and high-school bands before beginning his long-term relationship with Roomful.

Alek Razdan - Barritone and Tenor

Hailing from Rockport, MA, Alek Razdan is truly a lifelong fan of Roomful of Blues, exposed to the band’s LPs from his parents’ record collection since before he could walk. Idolizing the tone, energy, and conviction of saxophone greats such as Illinois Jacquet, Big Jay McNeely, Arnett Cobb, Red Prysock, and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Alek is a perfect fit as the newest member of Roomful’s legendary horn section. Since he began performing at the age of 8, Alek has shared the stage with and/or benefited from the mentorship of Mark Earley, Sax “Gordon” Beadle, Bobby Hebb, Barrence Whitfield, Whoopi Goldberg, Willie “Loco” Alexander, and many others. When not performing with Roomful, Alek can also be found playing in the air-tight horn section of The American Symphony of Soul, a 9-piece Boston-based funk band, and The A-Train Orchestra, his own blues and jazz group based out of Boston’s North Shore.

Carl Gerhard - Trumpet

Carl “Geerz” Gerhard is a Basking Ridge, New Jersey native. He finished a 30-yr career in the U.S. Navy Band, first as a performer, and ultimately, as Director and Conductor. He has led Navy Bands in the United States, Europe and the Far East, performed in over 20 countries, and has also conducted both the Tokyo Symphony and Boston Pops orchestras multiple times. As a trumpeter, he has toured and recorded extensively with the iconic rock band Phish as an original member of The Giant Country Horns. Laying down his roots now in New England, Carl’s pure melodic style, infectious energy, and love of the blues can be heard every time Roomful of Blues takes the stage!

The Fallout Shelter is an all ages performance venue welcoming worldwide, world class music in an intimate setting. Our studio audience attends to watch the creation and production of the music television series The Extended Play Sessions. The Fallout Shelter events are immersive experiences for both audience and performers alike...a live music experience like no other. We are fully ADA compliant and have wheelchair access. We have a wide selection of beer and wine for your adult beverage pleasures and each show comes with a free commemorative event poster. Our doors open at 6PM. Seating is General Admission. We recommend you arrive at the time the doors open.

Upcoming Events (1)

The Fallout Shelter - 61 Endicott Street, Norwood, MA, 02062