Their Web site, www.FBIband.com, features the long fictitious history of this Italian family band. Although the majority of the Clarendon Grill crowd had most likely not read this story prior to the December 1 performance, the band’s costumes, gestures and witty interludes provided a taste of this unique fictitious history.
In an unexpected twist, a Domino’s pizza was delivered to the stage during one of the songs, a stunt emblematic of the band’s spontaneous style. At one point, Don Angelo, dressed in an electric blue pin-striped suit, leapt from the stage into the crowd in an “escape” attempt but was soon apprehended by pursuing Agent 10-99. According to the band members, improvisation is a key element to their act and many of their songs and interludes are unrehearsed. The crowd responded well to these on-the-fly musical interludes by singing along and shouting out names of their favorite songs as requests.
Of course, gimmicks are worth little without a foundation of musicianship, and on this count the FBI emphatically delivered. Jason Quattro's (Rocko) impressive lead guitar erupted through the band's more upbeat songs and radiated a soulful elegance on the slower tunes. Lead singer Willem Dicke (Agent WD-40) combined a commanding stage presence and passionate showmanship with an Austin Powers alter ego and a dead-on Mick Jagger impersonation. Keyboardist Jeff Quattro (Italian Ice) took control during the second set of songs by skillfully jumping between tunes and surprising the crowd with pop-culture improvisation. (Who knew Sugar Ray’s “Fly” could mix so well with a rap of the Beverly Hillbillies’ theme song?)
While the FBI took two well-deserved breaks, they challenged the audience’s stamina by introducing a guest band, Warehouse, who played a variety of modern rock hits such as Fuel’s “Shimmer”, Alien Ant Farm’s “Smooth Criminal” and Live’s “I Alone”. Warehouse made its debut at the Clarendon Grill in late August, alongside the FBI, and found the venue to be an appropriate fit. “People recognize our songs, so it gives them something familiar to dance to when they’re out at a bar,” said lead vocalist Gabe Badillo. Warehouse’s performance was clean and well-rehearsed, providing a nice contrast to FBI’s spontaneity. Together, both bands created a synergy of music that kept the crowd on their feet until well past midnight.
Both bands perform frequently at area bars and pubs, setting the stage for an upbeat evening. Often playing separately, each band showcases its own musical flair by playing well-known tunes. The Clarendon Grill show was particularly entertaining and amusing as the FBI covered a wide array of popular songs, while uncovering the new talent of Warehouse. For more information about the FBI and Warehouse, www.FBIband.com visit and www.warehouseband.com.