Multiple influences comprise Newtones Band at sold-out event

The Newtones Band has its share of musical influences.

The Arizona band which will send off 2017 and welcome 2018 with a New Year’s Eve gig in Sun City West boasts members from Chicago, Wyoming, Maine, New Jersey/NYC and Montana. The blend leads to a sound as unique as the cover band itself, with many styles and musical chops to keep dance floors packed.

"When I think about all our musical roots and experiences, it covers bars to black tie ... high-end weddings, corporate work, dances, clubs ballroom, leading, tribute acts and emceeing," notes Gil Donatelli, the band’s guitarist/vocalist. "This is the very factor I believe enables us to play across many styles effortlessly."

A couple of weeks after playing a private gig for the Sun City Drama Club, The Newtones Band will be back in the area starting at 8:30 p.m. on Dec. 31 to ring in the New Year at the sold out New Year’s Eve dance at Palm Ridge Recreation Center, 13800 W. Deer Valley Drive, Sun City West.

"We will start off with some swing and 50s and 60s - also the dance specialties - then we’ll rock the last two sets with a variety of dance floor hits from Motown to today," Donatelli said of the New Year’s Eve approach. "We are looking forward to playing for these folks again. They were a tremendous audience at the outdoor concert we played for them this past October."

The band recently added a new singer when Jackie Lopez, one of two Chicago natives in the band (drummer Greg Bezdek is the other), came aboard. She brings an ability to sing in Spanish as well as English, performed as a Selena tribute act from ages 9 to 15 back in Chicago, and has more than 1 million ‘likes’ on YouTube with all her videos combined.

"She brought so much energy and youthful enthusiasm to us as well as expanding our repertoire and abilities to cover styles," Donatelli added.

UPCOMING GIGS

Dec. 31: 8:30 p.m., Palm Ridge Rec Center, 13800 W. Deer Valley Drive, Sun City West

Jan. 5: Silveridge RV Resort, Mesa

Feb. 3: Sunrise RV Dance, Apache Junction