by Eva Dameron
Daily Lobo
Frank Sinatra makes out with the '80s every Wednesday at the Martini Grille.
That's according to Al Dente of his band Vanilla Pop, which covers modern songs in a lounge act style.
"The act is a mix of '40s standards," Dente said. "We can do the old-style stuff, and we can also do the more modern material as well. I programmed everything into my synthesizer. We've got horns and strings and drums and the whole nine yards. We're doing some Metallica and some Outkast."
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He said the band's outfits match its cheesy music.
"I like to mix mismatching animal prints - animals that you wouldn't find in the wild cavorting together," he said. "Snake and cheetah are nice designs that work well together or zebra and leopard. You wouldn't see them together in nature, but I like to see them cavorting on my body."
The other member, Lester Moore, has quite a few suits.
"He's got his collection of high school prom tuxedos," Dente said. "It actually took him eight years to graduate, and each year, he bought a new tuxedo thinking he would graduate - but he didn't."
He said the two started Vanilla Pop after realizing bands take themselves too seriously.
"We started off wanting to do something different," Dente said. "All these singer-songwriters singing about love and peace and their heartbreak, and nobody gives a shit. People actually want to go out and have a good time.
I walk out into the audience, heckling, grinding onto other people while I dance. People can actually get involved in the show. Plus, my ass looks great in polyester."
Vanilla Pop has played at the Martini Grille every Wednesday for the past five years, but the restaurant's manager Brian Carson said he isn't tired of the act.
"They're always adding new songs - that's what makes it fresh," Carson said. "It's a cheesy Vegas lounge act. I think it's lots of fun, and it's a good time to dance, and it's a show that you can't really get anywhere else in Albuquerque."
Albuquerque Magazine gave them second place under the category "Most Likely to Achieve Stardom."
"They wanted us to win first place in a category so we could perform, (at their award ceremony) so they made up a category for us - 'Best Way To Drink In the Eighties.'" Dente said.
Joe Annabi, of the local band Yoda's House, said he had a great time at one of Vanilla
Pop's shows.
"They were awesome and full of boisterous energy and worth seeing," Annabi said. "But to be fair, I like annoying things."
