Clapping, foot stomping and moving to music is what The Renegade Orchestra, performing Aug. 30 at 7:30 p.m at the San Juan Community Theatre. Fans of Dirty Cello will be in for a treat as some of those musicians will be playing amongst the Renegade.
“This is not a calm show,” band conductor Jason Eckl told the Journal. “It’s everyone’s favorite rock songs played on different instruments. People have a hard time sitting still!”
The playlist includes everything from Jimi Hendrix, the Ramones, to Guns and Roses. There will be something for everyone. There will also be the added benefit of seeing friends and neighbors on stage playing their hearts out, as seven musicians are local. Eight will be coming from the Bay Area, according to Eckl.
The Renegade Orchestra formed during the peak of COVID, as a collection of musicians who play in big-name orchestras found themselves with extra time on their hands, and wanted to do something a little different, adventurous, perhaps even let their hair down and unleash their inner rebel.
Echl himself has a degree in conducting. While that may not sound like a difficult degree, Echl says the process is intense.
“It is shockingly stressful. You stand there waving your hand in the air in a clear manner while you are criticized,” Eckl said. “My teacher was very intense, criticizing everything from my index placement to how I was shifting my weight on my feet and what my eyebrows looked like.”
Like Eckl, all the members of Renegade Orchestra are classically trained musicians with degrees who then went off into the world, playing with big orchestras.
The Bohemian called them “Classic rebels,” adding, “The Renegade Orchestra contains the beauty of a classical symphony with the heart of a rock band by combining virtuosic musicians and a hard-driving rhythm section.”
Traveling to different festivals and concerts is generally a perk; however, logistics for such a large group, Echl says, can be tricky. Regardless, the group clearly has fun together. They recently played at the Port Angeles rock festival, not a place one would typically find orchestra players. Yet, it was a perfect fit for these musicians.“We always have fun playing for that audience,” Echl said.
When asked what advice he would give up-and-coming musicians, Echl responded, “We often hear you can’t make a living as a musician. But, you will never be replaced by AI. You get to travel all over, creating an art that brings people together. And, you actually get paid pretty well for it.”
The Journal asked why he wasn’t worried about AI, Echl explained that he and many of the group have been around long enough to remember the digital era. People were worried about sampling taking over. While there remain issues with copyright infringement, like most new technology, people have learned and adapted. Originality, creativity, and the human touch continue through technological evolutions.
Eckl tells audience goers, “If there is something you hate about orchestras, we do the opposite. It’s lively and we don’t expect people to sit still. We don’t play too long. It’s all about having fun.”
Tickets are $27 for adults, $15 for student reserve, or $5 for student rush. The concert starts at 7:30 p.m.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit https://www.sjctheatre.org/
To learn about Renegade Orchestra or listen to their music, visit https://www.renegadeorchestra.com/
