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Bars might provide early hints of economic recovery
Carl Orth/SUNCOAST
Lead vocalist Steve Santo often is smiling broadly on stage as he sings a repertoire "from Sinatra to Santana." The Karl Reef is featuring the Steve Santo Band on Wednesday nights.
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Published: November 11, 2009
For a long while, the recession had owners of bars and lounges singing the blues.
But now, with an economic recovery in sight, Joseph Karl is singing a different tune.
The owner of The Karl Reef in downtown New Port Richey is testing the waters by adding live entertainment Wednesday nights for the first time in years.
The Steve Santo Band, a fixture in the area for some 18 years, is performing Wednesdays at the popular watering hole at Main Street and Grand Boulevard at least through the end of the year, and perhaps beyond.
"We're bringing it back," Karl said about the midweek concerts, a rarity in the area. There really hasn't been any Wednesday entertainment for a couple of years, he observed. The Reef had experimented with a disc jockey spinning tunes Wednesdays, but that faded as well.
When Karl decided to try to spur midweek sales, he instantly thought about hiring the "best oldies group in Pasco and Pinellas," the Steve Santo Band with Richie Gidaro. Russ Boyer completes the trio. "They sound great."
They will perform 8:30 - 11:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Karl said, followed by dance music until 2 a.m. Aiming for ages 25 to 65, Karl tailors specials on beers and other drinks. He thinks wine and martini specials will appeal to women customers.
On stage, Santo beams a big smile between songs.
The lead singer pours his soul into tunes ranging from Sinatra to Santana.
Santo is glad to fill a midweek void in entertainment venues with the Reef gig. The band is scheduled to perform Saturday nights in November at Frankie Maduros Cigar Lounge, in Longleaf. Every other Friday is reserved for performances at Cigars and Pars in the Trinity area.
"I did it for a living for 13 or 14 years," Santo said, recounting the origins of the band.
The repossession business is his day job these days. "I've played all over the country," including the Kansas City Jazz Festival, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New Orleans.
The band mates are quite versatile. Boyer, for instance, plays flute, guitar, keyboards and saxophone. Gidaro also can wail on the saxophone while sharing in the vocals.
"Between Richie and Russ, it's like being in a family up there," Santo commented.
Indeed, Gidaro first started playing nearly 30 years ago with Santo's dad, Bo Santo, who helmed the Rocket Tones.
"It's still fun," Steve Santo remarked. "I'll quit when people stop enjoying it. It's been a fun journey. I hope we get another 18 (years) out of it."
For a long while, the recession had owners of bars and lounges singing the blues.
But now, with an economic recovery in sight, Joseph Karl is singing a different tune.
The owner of The Karl Reef in downtown New Port Richey is testing the waters by adding live entertainment Wednesday nights for the first time in years.
The Steve Santo Band, a fixture in the area for some 18 years, is performing Wednesdays at the popular watering hole at Main Street and Grand Boulevard at least through the end of the year, and perhaps beyond.
"We're bringing it back," Karl said about the midweek concerts, a rarity in the area. There really hasn't been any Wednesday entertainment for a couple of years, he observed. The Reef had experimented with a disc jockey spinning tunes Wednesdays, but that faded as well.
When Karl decided to try to spur midweek sales, he instantly thought about hiring the "best oldies group in Pasco and Pinellas," the Steve Santo Band with Richie Gidaro. Russ Boyer completes the trio. "They sound great."
They will perform 8:30 - 11:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Karl said, followed by dance music until 2 a.m. Aiming for ages 25 to 65, Karl tailors specials on beers and other drinks. He thinks wine and martini specials will appeal to women customers.
On stage, Santo beams a big smile between songs.
The lead singer pours his soul into tunes ranging from Sinatra to Santana.
Santo is glad to fill a midweek void in entertainment venues with the Reef gig. The band is scheduled to perform Saturday nights in November at Frankie Maduros Cigar Lounge, in Longleaf. Every other Friday is reserved for performances at Cigars and Pars in the Trinity area.
"I did it for a living for 13 or 14 years," Santo said, recounting the origins of the band.
The repossession business is his day job these days. "I've played all over the country," including the Kansas City Jazz Festival, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and New Orleans.
The band mates are quite versatile. Boyer, for instance, plays flute, guitar, keyboards and saxophone. Gidaro also can wail on the saxophone while sharing in the vocals.
"Between Richie and Russ, it's like being in a family up there," Santo commented.
Indeed, Gidaro first started playing nearly 30 years ago with Santo's dad, Bo Santo, who helmed the Rocket Tones.
"It's still fun," Steve Santo remarked. "I'll quit when people stop enjoying it. It's been a fun journey. I hope we get another 18 (years) out of it."
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