ARLINGTON Offering their annual New Years Eve tribute to classic rock-and-roll, Toby Strotz and his band, Strutz will provide lots of great ol music for dancing at the Hawthorn Inn this year, starting at 9 p.m. after an elegant prime rib and salmon buffet dinner.
We are starting our 19th year with two great new band members, said Paul Christie, who plays keyboards and sax, sometimes both in one song.
This is the last real music, Christie said adding they are proud that they never even consider using fake back-up music.
New members include Mike Brandvold on bass and Carol Harvey, vocalist.
Harvey returns after singing with the band during its first year together in 1988.
Its what we grew up with, Harvey said noting thats the reason they love to play the old songs of the 60s and 70s.
Thats some very sweet sounds you are making, Christie told the new bass player, Brandvold during the bands (sometimes) weekly Wednesday night rehearsal last week.
Weve been regrouping this year, looking for some replacements, said Strotz, the founder of the band who plays drums.
Brandvold most recently played with the David Bowie tribute band, Changes.
Along with Strotz, the classic rock tribute band also includes long-time members Deanne Hansen, vocals and percussion and Dave Pettigrew on guitar and vocals.
This is the best rock-n-roll tribute band in the Northwest, said their promoter Patrick Robison, who developed Darringtons Classic Rock Festival eight years ago.
Christie said the band chooses some of the more challenging songs of the era.
We have the knowledge and skills to perform the more complicated songs, Christie said.
The now middle-aged musicians started playing together on a New Years Eve of 1988 at the Bryant Community Hall, and have appeared in many different community halls through the years, including the historic dance hall in Sylvan.
All the musicians live around the Arlington area except Christie who commutes from the Eastside an hour and a half drive through Everett these days. Their sound guy, Roger Engels also has a long commute from West Seattle.
Strotz started playing drums when he was 8 years old and founded Rock High, when he was in high school. He played with Silver Creek and tried country with Bufflo Nickel and Storm Riders before settling in with the current group.
Strutz members are proud to have performed with many nationally-recognized rock bands through the years at the Classic Rock Fest.
The wall of their rehearsal studio in a shed on a lower Stillaguamish River Valley farm reflects the many years of fun theyve had playing with big-name bands in Darrington.
They played with Bad Finger, Blue Oyster Cult, Randy Bachman, Pat Benatar, Steppenwolf and 38 Special.
See all the signatures we got, Strotz said as he pointed to a couple of drum faces hanging on the wall covered with dozens of signatures, and some promo pictures, as well as an extensive collection of Classic Rock Festival posters.
Pat Benatar put on a really good show, Christie said as he named his favorite.
Bad Finger was pretty darn good, Strotz said. They even used our equipment for one show, Strotz said adding they killed time between sets chatting with that British band one year.
It was hard to understand them with their accents, he said.
And dont forget Fog Hat and Creedence, Strotz added as he pointed to another poster on the wall.
They are especially proud of opening a show for Grass Roots and claim as personal friends members of Iron Butterfly.
We chat on the phone with them sometimes.
I think its the big wall of sound that I like best in this type of music, Harvey said her trick for preserving her voice for belting out some very strong vocals in the attempt to sound like the likes of Aretha Franklin is to drink a lot of water.
We are very honored to have these two great musicians joining us, Christie said.
Listening to Strutz play the good ol songs of the 60s and 70s certainly is a trip down memory lane. They capture well the sounds of the popular songs that we boomers grew up with.
The song list for their rehearsal night ranged from Wild Nights by Van Morrison and Chain of Fools by Aretha Franklin to Neil Diamonds Cherry Cherry, and Time Wont Let Me, by the Rolling Stones.
I cant wait forever, they sing . . . Even tho you want me to. Time wont let me, no! Weve got a list of about 200 songs, Strotz said. We have to pick and choose for each performance.
For those who cant make it to the New Years Eve party at the Hawthorn Inn, Strutz fans should save the date, Friday, Feb. 16, when the band has agreed to perform a benefit concert for the Arlington High Schools new performing arts center in a new winter concert series presented by the Arlington Arts Council, the Arlington Boys and Girls Club and the city of Arlingtons Recreation Department.
The celebration of Arlington talent offers three concerts on the third Fridays in January, February and March at the old Arlington High School auditorium.
Strutz will offer a Romantic Rock-n-Roll Night Friday, Feb. 16 as part of that three-concert series, when all ages are invited.
(The series also includes Wintertime Blues with the Gryffyn Band Friday, Jan. 19 and a Classical Spring Night with Brass Menagerie Friday, March 16).
The last time I was the old high school stage was 1973, said Strotz who is a 1974 graduate of AHS. Its going to be a gas playing in the old auditorium, he said.

How to go
For reservations to the Hawthorn Inn New Years Eve Bash call 360-657-0500. Cost is $149 per couple and $79 per single. The party includes a buffet dinner with prime rib and salmon and a chicken bonne femm, a champagne toast at midnight, party favors, and dancing with Strutz. Overnight at the Hawthorn includes a breakfast buffet and late check out on New Years Day.