The name Ten O’Clock Lunch is kind of an inside joke for people who work at grocery stores, or anywhere else where the shift begins at 6 o’clock in the morning. It’s a fitting name for the group, which was started by George Zaferes, a grocer who would use his 10 o’clock lunch break to play music.
Zaferes started jamming with a co-worker, who’s no longer in the band. Other band members came on after riding their bikes by the jam session and asking to join in.
Eventually these jam sessions turned into a regularly gigging band, playing an array of covers from genres including blues, rock, soul, country and reggae. The band’s rehearsals quickly got much more formal. One of its strengths is the vocals. There are three members that sing lead, and do harmonies. But no matter what, the band’s always been about having fun and getting people to dance.
“We’re all professionals, but we don’t really take ourselves all that seriously,” says harmonica player Richard Wankoff. “We’re not just playing songs that we want to play, even though we chose songs that we like. We thought other people would like them, too.”
The band has been going for four years now, popping up at local spots like Crow’s Nest, Michael’s On Main, Severino’s Bar and Grill, and the Fish House.
The repertoire is diverse, and it’s all covers. It’s hard for the members to describe just what connects their material. The main thing is that they feel like it’s going to get people to dance That’s what it’s all about.
“We’re versatile. We’re really all about playing a groove and having a good time and helping the people have a good time,” Wankoff says.
INFO: 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22. Crow’s Nest, 2218 East Cliff Drive, Santa Cruz. $5. 476-4560.
Thanks Arron Carnes for taking the time to check us out!