Music, food, dancing to fill Apple Valley Civic Center Park Thursday
From Staff Reports
Concert goers can expect more than just music this week when the Big Fat Steve Band takes the stage at Thursday night’s Sunset Concert Series. The Apple Valley-based band also brings a lot of laughs sure to entertain the whole family.
The band, which classifies itself as a swing, rockabilly, jump blues and oldies group, is a five-man ensemble that hails from right here in Apple Valley. Lead guitarist Steve Orsinelli has traveled and multitasked his way to success.
As humans, he says, we should push ourselves to jump into things we are passionate about.
“I was born an artist,” Orsinelli told the Daily Press last year. “That’s probably why I was not very good in school. (Teachers) didn’t know what to do with me.”
Orsinelli is also a film teacher at the Lewis Center for Education. It’s not uncommon for Orsinelli to invite his musically inclined students to join the band on stage to sing or play an instrument.
Originally from Garden Grove, Orsinelli has been in the High Desert for about 25 years. He grew up a surfer during the ’60s and ’70s, which he called a great time to be in Orange County.
While doing production, directing and acting work in Hollywood, Orsinelli played in a country rock band called The Nightriders, playing clubs, Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm and a tour around Canada.
A fan of ’50s music and rockabilly, he mixed those elements into his own music, but became turned off with the new changes he saw in country venues.
“Instead of enjoying a live band, (clubs) just wanted people to do line dancing,” Orsinelli said. “The band became secondary. I felt like I wasn’t an artist anymore, I felt like a live jukebox.”
So he returned to the music he loved.
While some members were lost, steel guitar player Dino Martini and stand up bass player, Greg Landers, embraced the change and followed Orsinelli.
The remains became known as The Big Fat Steve Band.
The name is directly connected to Orsinelli’s eating habits. Due to his hectic schedule, Orsinelli had become a major consumer of fast food. He wanted to take away the power in people’s negative remarks.
“I’m Italian, so I love to eat,” Orsinelli said. “Someone would call me fat or say something derogatory, so I thought Big Fat Steve Band would work out great.”
What were once insults have become more like compliments.
“People liked the name because it was funny,” said Orsinelli. “And then people would come up to me and say, ‘I love your band but you’re not fat enough to be the Big Fat Steve Band.’ ”
Orsinelli continues to fulfill himself by just doing what he loves and not worrying about the money or popularity. If you love it, then the money will come is a message he passes on to his students.
“I’m rich in the fact that everything I work at, I love and adore,” Orsinelli said.
The 7th Annual Sunset Concert Series, presented by Heritage Victor Valley Medical Group, will continue featuring live music in the amphitheater at Civic Center Park every Thursday through Aug. 14. This week’s concert is also supported by featured weekly host Armstrong-Fairway Insurance.
The concerts feature an array of food choices, a beer garden, and a sampling of farmer’s market vendors. The park has inclined lawn seating, so concert goers should bring blankets or portable chairs. No pets are allowed within the concert seating area and smoking is not permitted in any town park.
The entertainment line-up for the rest of the summer includes:
• July 31 — Phoenix Rising (Classic Rock)
• Aug. 7 — Latin Express (Latin/Top 40)
• Aug. 14 — Lady & The Tramps (Variety)
Civic Center Park is adjacent to Apple Valley Town Hall and across from Super Target in the Apple Valley Commons shopping center. Parking and admission are free. The Town is grateful to all of the sponsors who have made this year’s concert series possible. For more information about events or sponsorships please visit www.AppleValleyEvents.org or call 760-240-7000, ext. 7072.
Go to www.bigfatsteveband.com to find original music from the Big Fat Steve Band.