by Stephanie Struyck Elgin

Their music takes you back in time with classic rock tunes from The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, the Doors and many more. You may have even heard them at local venues throughout town.  They are … Acoustic Soul.  
What started out as a two-piece band four years ago, slowly evolved into a group of four talented musicians, bringing nearly a century of combined experience to the stage.  
Band members include Joe Fuoco on drums and percussion, Joe Bertalli on guitar and vocals, Robert Pozzi on Guitar and harmonica and vocals, and Mike Fitgerald on bass and vocals. Three of the four band mates were born and raised on the east coast in New York, but now the group proudly calls Santa Clarita their home.
The name, Acoustic Soul, was created by one of the founding members, Tony Fontayne, who is no longer with the band. “Tony is a nice Italian boy from Jersey,” stated Joe F. “Joe B. and I just played a gig with him in New York a couple months ago.” While the band consists of four members, whenever possible, they perform with an additional percussionist, saxophone or keyboardist.  “It is an incredible music experience.  Combine dancing, drinking and the chance to hear the best songs that built rock and roll, well it doesn’t get any better than that,” states Joe F.
Acoustic Soul has been performing throughout the Santa Clarita Valley and within a short time, has carved a name for themselves, often performing at most popular night spots. Locations include Valencia Wine Company, Tournament Players Club Valencia, Hyatt Valencia, Bella Cucina, Salt Creek Grille to name a few. Acoustic Soul performs at the Valencia Wine Company on a regular basis.  “We play twice a month there and it’s a blast.  Great music, the best wines and non-stop dancing all night long,” states Joe F.  “You can see great musicians ripping it up, and since we often play with special guest players, there’s always a surprise.  It’s like the good ol’ days.  You just can’t find that vibe anymore.”
The band even performs outside the SCV.  “One of our favorite performances was at the Italian Wine Festival in Hollywood.  There were thousands of screaming happy Italians…What more could you ask for?”   
Acoustic Soul always delivers a fun filled evening, full of timeless music covering a wide variety of artists for all ages.  They have built a strong reputation and loyal following in southern California by delivering an event not soon to be forgotten.  “We have a 4,000 person mailing list and communicate with our audience weekly.  We have over 250 songs in our playlist, covering everything from the 50’s to the 90’s.  We continually mix up our music sets to keep things fresh,” states Joe.  “We also play requests, so we may play a whole evening of audience selected songs….These nights are always a riot.”
Make your event, one to remember with Acoustic Soul.
For more information or if you’re looking to book an event, contact Acoustic Soul, find the band on Facebook or visit www.myspace.com/acousticsoulnow.  You can also call 661-414-6900.