By Christopher Trela | NB Indy
What does it take for a band to bond? In the case of Side Deal bad weather did the trick.
The Newport Beach-based band was in Park City, Utah, for the Sundance Film Festival. They were driving to a morning gig in a rented car, and it was snowing.
“We were coming down a steep grade and hit a patch of black ice,” recalled band member Joel Owen. “We started sliding toward the railing that keeps you from going down the hill. We slammed into the railing and survived. That’s when we became a band. We thought something’s going on here.”
“We were on our way to play a women’s rally in front of a thousand people in the snow,” added Stan Frazier, Side Deal drummer. “Jane Fonda and Gloria Allred were there. We played two songs. It was triumphant.”
Side Deal hopes for a similar triumph in returning to the Newport Beach Film Festival to perform during the opening night gala party on Thursday, April 26, in Fashion Island. It’s a coveted gig, but the band members are no strangers to high-profile events thanks to their past association with well-known bands.
Side Deal consists of drummer Stan Frazier (Sugar Ray), bassist Charlie Colin (Train), and guitarists Joel and Scott Owen (Pawn Shop kings). They all grew up in Newport Beach; Colin attended Newport Harbor High, the other three went to Corona del Mar High. Now, their professional music careers have taken a new turn as members of Side Deal.
The guys have known each other for more than 20 years, but never played music together until 2016 when Colin called Frazier to come down and jam with him at the Lido Theater when his new band, Painbirds, was performing with Skunk Baxter (The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan). Frazier invited the Owens’ to the gig as well. A few sets later, a new band was formed.
As their website notes, Side Deal exists not only to reshape and play the hits from the former projects alongside all new originals, but to maintain an ever-revolving door of friends from bands loved around the world to join in on the fun.
Film fans were treated to the sounds of Side Deal a year ago at the festival, when they were also the featured band at the opening night party.
Since that gig, Side Deal has performed at private parties, charity events, Sundance Film Festival, The Coach House, and most recently Campus Jax, where they debuted new material that will appear on a forthcoming album.
For their encore appearance, Colin and Frazier (who also serve as musical directors for the film festival) said their set list includes surprise guests. And they’ll perform a mix of new songs and familiar hits of their previous bands.
“We do our own covers,” said Frazier, “but we’re excited about the new material. We’d like to release the album before we play the Irvine Barclay Theatre in August. That is our short-term goal. Beyond that, we don’t know.”
“We’re taking it as it comes,” said Joel Owen. “This is happening outside of us. It feels external, divine.”
The film fest opens with “American Animals,” screening at Edwards Big Newport in Newport Center. Afterwards, film-goers attending the gala make the walk to Fashion Island for culinary tastings from 30 local restaurants as well as performances by Side Deal and Academy of Villains dance company.
Tickets to the opening night screening and gala are $225 each and are available at NewportBeachFilmFest.com. Patrons can also purchase gala tickets only for $175 each. Guests must be at least 21 years old.
The film festival line-up includes 350 films from 50 countries and includes nightly special events, conversations with filmmakers, international spotlight events and seminars. Showings are through May 3 at several locations.
