PAXINOS - As his fingers worked the keyboard, Dan Orlando and his Band of Hopefuls entertained a packed Masser's Banquet Hall with a jazzy-pop feel.
For Orlando and his four-member back up band, it was a whirlwind weekend. The band left their home base in Cincinnati on Wednesday, played shows in Philadelphia Friday, lower Manhattan Saturday, and then hit our area Sunday - a bit of a homecoming for Orlando.
"My mom, Maureen Kane, was originally from Centralia." Orlando said. "I remember her telling me stories about this area and how people would socialize and get together. Those stories have certainly rubbed off on me. Now I tell stories through my music."
When asked to describe The Band of Hopefuls' sound, Orlando called it "piano-centric pop-rock with an established variety."
"There are no two tunes that sound alike with us," Orlando said.
But the bandleader said that its okay for them and their fans enjoy it.
"When we play shows in Philly or New York, the people love to talk about the groove of the song and the rhythm," Orlando said. "When we come here, everyone talked about the songs and the lyrics, painting the picture and telling a story."
For Orlando, this hometown journey is a great opportunity for his family.
"My uncle Tommy Ryan, is one of the best promoters and managers you could have, getting everything ready for this show. And for my family who are still in the area, its an opportunity to see us perform without having to travel," the keyboardist said.
At the start of the show, Orlando, musician Bernardo Lopez, drummer Zach Stehura, bassist Nathaniel Andrew and guitarist Benjamin Thomas kept the toes tapping on the 200 attendees present, generating applause following a wicked bass solo from Andrew on the song "East London Shuffle,"
A few tears were shed as Orlando sang a tender tribute to his mom in the self-penned "Mother's Child."
"If any song is going to break through for them, that's the one its going to be," promoter Tom Ryan said.
For The Band of Hopefuls, the shows will continue as they await the release of their first CD on Circulus Records.
"We are working on the distribution now, and hope to lave it out in the late fall of this year," Orlando said. "Right now, we are just playing shows and working on the songs and chemistry to keep busy and be ready when we go out around the country to support the record.
Especially if that tour brings them back to the area.
"We've gotten a lot of great feedback from this area and love playing here," he said. "It's always a great time."
Performing to warm up the crowd was Bryel Frasch, the winner of the 2011 Schuylkill County Junior Idol competition. Frasch entertained the crowd with such hits as Miranda Lambert's "The House that Built Me," Selena Gomez's "Who Says?" and the Alexandra Burke version of the Leonard Cohen song, "Hallelujah."
The concert was also taped by Mount Carmel Area High School's WKMC-TV 13 and will be shown at a future date.
Show organizers thanked everyone who attended the show, all of the patrons in the program and its sponsors, James Kelley Funeral Home, the Black Diamond Sports Network, The Bernie Romanoski Sports Hall of Fame and B&L Chevrolet and Buick, all of Shamokin; Integrated Medicine in Schuylkill County; Brian G. Persing Masonry, Coal Township; Mattu Asphalt Inc., Ashland and Alexander Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac, Sunbury.