By Kathy Chouteau
If there’s one thing you can always count on, even during a pandemic, it’s that the music never stops.
The Hot Rod Jukebox band is living proof of this statement, as its music will once again ring out onto the streets of the Richmond Annex when it plays a free pop-up gig Fri., June 26 at 6:30 p.m. According to bandleader Joe Aguilar, the band will perform for about an hour at Huntington Park at Carlson Blvd. & Huntington Ave. in Richmond.
Neighbors in that area of the Annex have been gathering to safely socialize and play music on Fridays—and knowing that the lead guitarist lives in their neighborhood—they invited the band to come play for them. After one successful appearance in the Annex, Hot Rod Jukebox—which has been together since 2009 and plays energetic 1950s/1960s rock & roll, R&B, surf and rockabilly tunes—decided to retun this Friday night, per Aguilar.
“We wanted to give back to the community and share some fun music,” Aguilar said of the band’s Annex gigs. “It’s something people really need right now.”
Aguilar was working on the band’s Friday night playlist when he spoke with The Standard. The band will play songs like La Bamba (sung in Spanish), Burning Love by Elvis and California Sun—popularly known as the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk theme song.
Fans are encouraged “to bring your cocktail-makings and lawn chairs and be ready to dance in the streets,” said Aguilar. Naturally, they’re also encouraged to wear masks and practice social distancing.
According to Aguilar, people ranging from “ten to 80 years old” enjoy the band’s wide repertoire of music.
Currently, Hot Rod Jukebox is finalizing plans to play in Marina Bay soon and is also looking for other neighborhoods in Richmond where they can perform more free gigs, given that four-out-of-six band members live in the city.
Want Hot Rod Jukebox to play in your neighborhood? Contact the band at [email protected] to submit your suggestion. To book them for a future gig, call 510-504-4087. Learn more about the band here.
