On Friday, July 12th, inside the Air Force One Pavilion, the Ronald Reagan Foundation & Institute scorchingly kickstarted its annual tribute band-headlined Sunset Dinner Series at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum with the first of three acts this summer: the returning DSB, deservedly heralded as the “world’s greatest Journey tribute band” by AXS TV.
For over four hours, hundreds of guests experienced a delightful feast for the senses as they were treated to a lead vocalist who seamlessly captures Steve Perry’s vocal heyday, to go with four other flanking musicians who satisfyingly complement the renowned 80’s rock chart-toppers, not to mention access to both the Reagan and Star Wars exhibits, and a delectable three-course meal.
The event began promptly at 5:30 p.m., as couples and families alike walked through the hallowed corridors highlighting the life and times of the 40th president, before entering the Pavilion and being seated at one of the numerous tables.
Scrumptious Caesar salads and egg-bread rolls (with butter balls) lay in waiting as servers assiduously refilled water glasses and brought out the primary entrée of the evening (notwithstanding dietary restrictions): roasted chicken breast, adorned with cherry tomatoes, a spring mix, and spiced tenderstem broccoli. Even more appetizing was that this culinary arrangement was assembled over a bed of gravy-accentuated mashed potatoes. Doubtlessly cooked to perfection, and served at an optimal temperature, the dish provided a variety of texture and flavor to accompany each bite.
Dessert consisted of tiramisu cake dusted with cocoa powder, a chocolate-covered espresso bean on top and, in what was a gratifying surprise, a fabulously flaky bottom crust. The cake offered a medley of decadently enriching accents alternating among vanilla, coffee, chocolate, and mascarpone.
Throughout the night, attendees also made their way through the exhibit titled Defending America and the Galaxy: Star Wars and SDI (standing for the Strategic Defense Initiative famously rolled out during Reagan’s tenure), the main draw being a multitude of artifacts underscoring George Lucas’s multi-billion-dollar vision, particularly pertaining to the original three Star Wars films.
Until September 8th, visitors can peruse rare memorabilia, concept sketches, posters, camera equipment, replica weapons and, interestingly, new additions celebrating Carrie Fisher’s involvement — including Princess Leia’s white ceremony dress, slave costume, original scripts, name-embroidered movie set chairs, and more. Despite opening in March, the aforementioned pieces were made available only recently thanks to the departed actress’s brother, Todd Fisher, by way of their illustrious mother Debbie Reynolds who fervidly looked after her daughter’s keepsakes.
The musically affable DSB, who are comprised of frontman Juan Del Castillo, electric guitarist Jay Gore, keyboardist Henry O’Neill, drummer Danny Berglund, and bassist Mike Clairmont, began their set precisely at 7:00 p.m. on a stage backed into the overarching glass windowpanes of the Pavilion, majestically overlooking the synchronously near and distant hills of Simi Valley.
Spanning 15 years and counting, the Los Angeles-based DSB transcends the “lesser” moniker of a conventional tribute band, impressing as a legitimate and admirable group who properly contextualize the numbers they’re covering. Leading the charge is Del Castillo whose timbre, pitch accuracy, resonance, stability, and durability match, if not exceed, Steve Perry’s finest exploits. For two hours, he and his bandmates covered Journey’s anthology of hits from the 1978 album Infinity and beyond; and, whereas even a great vocalist would have shown signs of wear and tear toward night’s end, Del Castillo proved himself to be an elite singer with unimpeachable technique, which enabled him to utilize a dynamic mixed voice that paradoxically became more potent with each successive song.
The unique, three-tiered Air Force One-housed venue and superior musicianship more than made up for the lack of pyrotechnic-supplemented pageantry as “Who’s Crying Now,” “Stone in Love,” “Lights,” and the first-half finale, “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’” — additionally notable for the dance-floor participants joining in on “na na na na” — were expertly performed.
The second half began with a goosebumps-producing rendition of the national anthem soloed exclusively on guitar by Gore as guests rose to their feet with their hands placed on their hearts. This soberingly beautiful moment and “Faithfully,” which was dedicated to the U.S. Armed Forces, validated that there is no better setting to be patriotic.
The exquisite poetry of “Wheel in the Sky” — at least on this occasion — wasn’t lost on Del Castillo who pointed up to the historical cockpit and fuselage above him. Amusingly, the song’s title also inspired a specialty cocktail of the same name available for order at the Ronald Reagan Pub. Mixed with tequila, orange juice, and grenadine, to go with a maraschino cherry, “Wheel in the Sky” fulfilled visually, auditorily, and gustatorily with its piquantly citric taste.
Exciting versions of “The Party’s Over (Hopelessly in Love),” “Escape,” “Open Arms,” and Perry’s “Oh Sherrie” followed — the latter especially resonating with the contented dancers. However, what really captured the audience’s unanimous attention were the mega smashes — the indelible “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” and, of course, “Don’t Stop Believin’,” the acronym for which has been reverentially adopted by founder Del Castillo’s band.
After the Sunset Dinner Series concert-goers slow-danced to ballads with their significant others, heartily clapped, sung along, and rocked out to Journey’s high-tempo hair-raisers, it was these final anthems, popular to the extent they’ve become the soundtrack to innumerable lives, which united waving arms amid smiles and high-fives in front, and far exceeding the reach of, the stage.
Indeed, it was a sight that substantiated Del Castillo’s earlier observation when he remarked, “This is a concert, and the word concert means together.” Combined with a well-organized and enjoyable dinner; an epic and ultimate acoustics-friendly site hosting the skilled DSB who paid terrific homage to Journey; as well as exclusive Star Wars exhibit offerings, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute’s first entry in the 2024 Sunset Dinner Series amounted to a memorable happening.
Two Sunset Dinner Series events remain on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute calendar: the Eagles tribute band, TLR, on Friday, August 2nd, and the Chicago tribute band, Kenny Cetera’s Chicago Experience, on Friday, August 16th. For further information on these two events, and to purchase tickets, click on the foregoing hyperlinks.
For more details on DSB, including future tour dates and tickets, visit DSBBand.com.
