Band Element of Surprise, Ventura County CA

Do you <3 classic rock? Strange pairings of music, such as Richie Valens & the Ramones meet Deep Purple? You may appreciate us. We're the band Element of Surprise! We may get thru the song-or it may go horribly AWRY. You pays yer money & you takes yer chance! We play a very eclectic mix of classic & alt rock...if you live in the SoCal area & listen to either KLOS or KRTH-101, you've heard most of our songs. We're a 6-piece consisting of Pat on vocals & percussion, James on lead guitar, Hector on bass, Rob on drums, newest member Danny on acoustic and electric guitars, and your humble scribe Rita on rhythm guitar/keyboard/harmonica and vocals. We've been together for 5 years (longer than some marriages!) and have had some memorable gigs. I started this blog to keep a list of them--and to chronicle our RISE-TO POWER! Well, not really--all of us have a day job, and we're all over 45 (except for Danny, who is young and impressionable!) so this is more of a hobby. But we all have an abiding love for music, and we have healthy self-images, and some of us are major hams, so here we are. Walking down the street. We get the funniest looks. From everyone we meet. Hey hey--no, stop, that's plagiarism. Anyways, I don't expect anyone (other than MY FRIENDS & FAMILY) to ever read this, but if you do and you have an interest in an elderly garage band on the first level of getting started gigging, welcome and well-met. If YOU have an interest in starting a band and are curious about equipment, etc-let us know. Maybe we can help you avoid a TON of trouble.
Well, cheers, and see you "on the cover of the 'Rolling Stone,'"
Rita aka MrsMMars :-)



Set lists for various shows (with notes about who does what)

Setlist for 3-13-10 Simi Vly Moose Lodge St Patrick's Day Dinner Dance:
Big Me/Runaway Train

Ballad of John and Yoko
29 Palms
Back on the chain gang
Long cool woman
Bidi bidi bom bom
Can't get enough
Black magic woman
Cinnamon girl
Evil ways
Don't worry baby
Smoke on the water
Smooth operator
Seminole wind
Wicked game
I got the music in me
Listen to the Music
I should have known better
I Can See Clearly Now
Just like Heaven
You Won't See Me
Angel baby-oh Donna
No matter what
Talking in your sleep
Streets of Bakersfield
Hey Ya
Sabor A Mi
Pink Cadillac
Hey Baby Que Paso
Come on lets go-Blitzkrieg Bop
In my house
Twist and shout
Suavecito
Heaven
What I Like About You
Soy De San Luis
Volver volver
Play that funky music
I Saw Her Standing There
Guacamole
Hippy Hippy Shake/Daytripper
Boogie Oogie Oogie/Get Down Tonight
Love Shack
La Bamba
Setlist for 2-21-10 Tri-Valley Girls' Softball League Opening Ceremonies Day @ Ventura College:
29 Palms (I sing)
Seminole Wind (I sing)
Long Cool Woman (I sing)
No Matter What (Pat sings)
Can't Get Enough (Pat sings)
Black Magic Woman (I play lead guitar, Pat sings)
Cinnamon Girl (I sing the Neil Young part, Pat sings harmony)
Smoke On The Water (I sing)
Don't Worry Baby (Pat sings)
Smooth Operator (Pat sings)
Angel Baby/Oh Donna (Pat sings)
Wicked Game (I sing)
Back on the Chain Gang (Pat sings)
Evil Ways (Pat sings, Rob & I sing backup, I play keyboard)
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