These covers smooth as 'Velvet'
By Devin Grant

Special to The Post and Courier

Charleston definitely has its share of cover bands.

Those who prefer their live musical performances with a big dose of the familiar can hear everything from '80s pop, to funk, to country and even participate in the action at Monday Metal Karaoke at Cumberland's. While I have always enjoyed original music by a good band, there is also something about singing along with a song from high school you never really lost an affection for, or just enjoying an evening of music that doesn't require you to absorb the lyrics, since you already know most of them by heart.

Saturday night presented yet another chance to enjoy some interesting interpretations of classic standards as Vintage Velvet performed at Gage Hall. For the uninitiated, Gage Hall sits adjacent to the Unitarian Church downtown. One of the charitable good deeds that the church performs is supporting after-school programs for various youth programs around town. To raise money to support those programs, the church presents a series of concerts at Gage Hall, a wonderfully intimate performance space that reminds one of the old community auditoriums that existed before coliseums and performing art centers were necessary.

In the past year or so, I have been fortunate enough to see a few inspiring performances, including blues artist Beverly "Guitar" Watkins, as well as the Celtic fiddle group Na Fidleiri.

For its final performance of the current fundraising season, the powers that be at the church (no, not the "higher" powers, I mean the charity organizers) decided to end things on a retro note. For the last few years, Vintage Velvet has quietly been making a name for itself among the numerous cover bands that perform in and around Charleston. Led by vocalist Regina Ruopoli, the band Saturday night also featured keyboardist and vocalist Jeff Castle, guitarist Steve Coe, bassist Frank Ruopoli (Regina's husband) and drummer Patrick King.

Vintage Velvet's specialty is music made popular during the era known as "The Greatest Generation." We're talking about music made popular by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and all of those other larger-than-life music icons who performed in front of a big band and behind one of those cool-looking, old-school microphones.

Saturday night's show began with the band playing an introductory instrumental minus Regina. She then joined the band, starting things off with "Mack the Knife." Gage Hall had been transformed for the occasion, with cloth-covered tables and candlelight setting a romantic mood. Introducing the next song, Ruopoli advised, "This next song is not necessarily a standard." Upon the conclusion of "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby," a couple of audience members up front advised the singer that the tune was in fact a standard. Ruopoli took the news in stride, and Castle quipped, "We learn a lot when we play together." Ruopoli's song introductions were full of stories about how she or another band member either discovered the song on a CD or what a particular tune meant to the band. She even revealed that the last time she had been in Gage Hall was during her wedding reception after marrying Frank. At no time did the banter run too long, and the mood of the stories was always kept light.

The band continued with songs that included Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love," Benny Goodman's "Moonglow," a jazzed-up version of "My Favorite Things" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore." After a short break the band continued with Castle taking over vocals on "Fly Me to the Moon" and a great version of Lyle Lovett's "She's No Lady." Ruopoli's return brought with it great versions of "Whatever Lola Wants," "Fever" and "All of Me." Introducing Billie Holiday's "Comes Love," Ruopoli told the audience that she discovered the song after buying a $6.99 CD at a drugstore. "It's not one of Holiday's most well-known songs, but it is one of her best," said Ruopoli. Always playing devil's advocate, even in a church hall, Castle smiled and asked, "Does that make it a standard?" After suitable versions of "Route 66" and "Summertime," the band bid the audience good night.

Overall the show was exactly what one would hope for with the style of music presented. At one point a couple in the back was driven to get up and dance during one of the livelier tunes. It was a classy way to spend a Saturday night, while also ensuring that an important charitable program could continue to flourish.

Talk about a win-win situation.