Joyce Rudolph, Weekend
BURBANK -- Sitting in the kitchen, tossing around names for their
group, the a cappella singers were struck by inspiration. Glancing at
their surroundings, they came up with The Blenders.
"It's quirky and it fits because of the fact that we blend well
together," Tim Kasper says over the phone from his home in Minnesota.
When asked how the group created its harmonious sound, Kasper was
distracted. Outside a family of deer were passing through his front yard.
The group's style, Kasper says, turning his attention back to music,
was influenced by the Nylons, The Bobs and, also, Take 6, an all-black
group that has a gospel sound.
"We were turned on by the a cappella style at the time," he says about
the era when the group started, roughly between 1985-'90. "The sound we
preferred was less doo-wappy and more slick."
Sunday night The Blenders open the Starlight Bowl concert featuring
Rockapella, which is in the same musical genre.
The Blenders, who are all musicians, alternate their recordings, some
feature a cappella music, while others have vocals accompanied by
instruments.
Today, Kasper said, The Blenders, all in their late 20s, are
influenced by pop groups like 98 Degrees.
"We try to blend together difference genres," he says.
Their style, Kasper says, appeals to all ages.
"We did the Starlight Bowl concert last year, and it was just a blast.
There was a wide age range, and my experience has been we appeal to
everybody."
The outside venue creates a lot of energy, he says.
"There is a festival atmosphere. Everybody is there to have a good
time. That's what we do when we perform."
The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. and gates open at 5:30 for picnicking.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children. Parking is $2. The
Starlight Bowl is at 1249 Lockheed View Drive. For information, call
525-3721.
SPECIAL EVENTS
'Farscape' fans come together
at first fan convention
Fans of "Farscape," the first original series on the Sci-Fi Channel,
will get to meet cast members this weekend at the Burbank Airport Hilton.
Scheduled to attend are the show's creator Rockne S. O'Bannon and
executive producers Brian Henson and David Kemper.
Also featured will be behind-the-scenes footage, on stage
presentations, contests and a variety of licensed merchandise.
Convention hours are 1 to 7 p.m. today and Sunday. There is also a
charity breakfast at 10 a.m. Sunday. Tickets at the door are $20 a day
for adults and $10 a day for children, 7 to 12. Those under 6 are
