The Sorentinos | Bands We Love

The Sorrentinos (courtesy of the band)

Classic rock ‘n’ roll with a modern twist, The Sorentinos is a band with a late sixties-era feel, accessible to the hipster kid from the in-crowd and his retired hippie parents too. With singer-songwriter Danny Sorentino and his crew of musicians in California and lead guitarist Steve Lee in London, the Bay Area based group has established itself as a sonic force on both sides of the Atlantic.

Blending elements of British Invasion bands like The Rolling Stones and The Kinks with American folk rock artists like Bob Dylan and Neil Young, The Sorentinos create a kind of hybrid sound from its list of influences. What come out are folk minded, guitar-driven pop melodies in the musical vein of Tom Petty, Dire Straits and The Traveling Wilburys.

Apart from The Sorentinos’ subscription to roots rock music, the band also plays in a variety of other genres including blues, country and jazz. The group’s tenth album, Vol. 10, uniquely features a cello section among the fusion of bass, guitar, lyric and backup vocals, drums and keyboard.

Started in the ‘80s, the group has been listed in the top ten rankings of international music publications, and has had its songs played on several episodes of the popular television series, Melrose Place. While the band still plays shows far and abroad, The Sorentinos can be found performing on more local stages from easygoing nightclubs in San Francisco to upscale estates in the wine country.
- Michael Shufro

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The Sorentinos have released 15 CDs on The Major Label and have opened shows for many well-known artists including Bob Dylan, Buck Owens, John Lee Hooker, Jeff Beck, Dwight Yoakam, Peter Frampton, Chris Issak , Chicago, Creedence, Peter Green, Lucinda Williams, Blues Traveler, The Yardbirds, The Spencer Davis Band, and The Radiators.

A favorite saying of the band: “Life is what happens in the meantime….”. Calling America and the UK home, this is certainly a band who continue to take on the world on their own terms.

Band Name: The Sorentinos

Year Formed: 1987

Band Members:  Danny Sorentino – singer songwriter, guitar, harmonica; Rob Ruiz – bass, vocals; Steve Lee – 6 and 12 string guitars; Howard Vatcher – guitars, vocals; Kenny Susan – drums, percussion, vocals

Home Stomping Grounds: Santa Rosa, California

Self Described Style: West Coast Rock and Roll

Albums + Release Dates: Danny Sorentino and the Sinners-1989 -Obviously Five Believers-1994-What we Dream-1995-Welcome to the past-1996-Family-1997-All good Things-1999-End of the Day-2001-Danny Sorentino Four Chord wonders-2002-Love and Haight-2003- Way Out-2005-Volume ten-2007-Lucky Buck and the winners-2008-The Sorentinos Leftovers Vol 1-2009-If not now when?-2009-The Sorentinos Leftover Vol 2-2011

Band Website: http://thesorentinos.com

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Sorentinos/90432870614

Regular Gigs: Gigs all on thesorentinos.com