BY SHERI TRUSTY

PORT CLINTON – Guitarist Alex Sandstrom and the two bands he performs with are going to keep downtown Port Clinton sparkling with sound on the Fourth of July. First, the Palatinos will kick off the night’s music with a high-energy rockabilly performance at RiverFront Live at 6 p.m., and Hollywood Connection will bring its unique yacht rock sound from 8 to 11 p.m. as part of Main Street Port Clinton’s summer concert series. Sandstrom’s guitar is a driving, headlining feature with the Palatinos, and it takes a softer, backseat role with Hollywood Connection.

Both bands are sponsored by Nicole DeFreitas.

The Palatinos will bring rockabilly to downtown Port Clinton’s Independence Day concert. (Submitted photo)

PALATINOS

The Palatinos are celebrating their 10th anniversary this year.

“We started in 2015 because of our shared passion for rockabilly. What we play, I would characterize as 1950s Sun Records-era, easy rock and roll. We play Elvis, Eddie Cochran, Johnny Burnett and the more modern rockabilly, like the Stray Cats,” Sandstrom said. “It’s high energy, guitar-driven, rockabilly dance music.”

In addition to Sandstrom on guitar, the band also includes John Conroy on bass, David Berger on vocals, Paul Juhasz on sax, and Marcus Langenderfer on drums.

Sandstrom began playing guitar when he was 16, and he was drawn to rockabilly.

“When I was young, I listened to the Stray Cats and Johnny Cash,” he said. “I like the culture of it – the classic cars, the pinup girls. It’s uniquely American music.”

Sandstrom said rockabilly is a niche genre.

“It’s roots music. It’s the purest form of rock and roll,” he said. “It has western swing, blues, jazz, and country elements. It’s hard not to be moved by that.”

Hollywood Connection will perform in The District on July 4. (Submitted photo)

HOLLYWOOD CONNECTION

Hollywood Connection is bringing something totally different to The District stage: yacht rock. Sandstrom said yacht rock, which was popular in the late 70s and early 80s, is a subgenre of soft rock. It is a mix of luxury and mellow.

“It has laid back vibes and upbeat, catchy melodies,” Sandstrom said.

Popular yacht rock groups include The Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan and Hall & Oats.

“But we also play blues, hip hop, funk, rap, reggae, and a little country,” Sandstrom said. “We do an eclectic mix.”

The band includes Sandstrom on guitar, Steve Taylor on bass and vocals, Mike Darby on drums and vocals, Ray Benson on percussion, and Edward Mark on keyboards. Sandstrom said the band was formed by Taylor, Darby and Benson, and he and Mark joined later.

“I sort of take a backseat with the guitar when this band plays. It’s more of a groove than flashy guitar, like it is with the Palatinos,” he said.

Like the Palatinos, Hollywood Connection is a niche band.

“There’s not a whole lot of bands playing the breath of material we do,” Sandstrom said. “One minute, we’ll be doing yacht rock, and the next we might do hip hop, like ‘This is How We Do It.’ There’s a little bit of something for everyone.”

Sandstrom said the bands are looking forward to being part of the Independence Day festivities in downtown Port Clinton.

“I like the atmosphere of being by the lake, and the live music scene is good down there,” he said. “It’s always busy with people. It has great crowds.”

For more information on the downtown Port Clinton music scene, visit www.mainstreetportclinton.org and the RiverFront Live Group Facebook page.