Today we’d like to introduce you to Eugene Cantera and John Lefler.
Eugene and John, please share your story with us.
Captain and Camille came together by happy accident. We all played what we thought was a one-off “70’s night” at Opening Bell Coffee about 5 or 6 years ago. Making music together was fun and effortless and the reaction of the crowd that night was so positive that we knew we had something special to work with.
People of all ages have responded to our music. It’s one thing to see folks in their 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s swaying to these tunes, but it’s really fascinating to see a big “college crowd” singing along to many of the songs on our playlist! We all care about the music and do our best to pay homage to the “smoothest” songs of the 70’s, while at the same time making them our own.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Captain and Camille consists of 7 folks who all perform in multiple bands, so booking on short notice can be a challenge. Vocalist Michelle Sanguinetti lives near Austin but is passionately committed to the group and cheerfully travels up for all of our gigs. Otherwise, there is a real respect and love for each other and that just makes each performance a joy. That “feel good” vibe seems to be contagious with our fans as well.
Captain and Camille – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am lucky to play saxophone and sing a little in the band. I’m the “senior” member, so I’ve been playing a bunch of these songs since they were still newly released on vinyl. I think having horns (keyboardist and “captain” Mike Finkel also plays trumpet) really adds to our sound and allows us to cast a wider net on the 70’s playlist.
Every member of the band is outrageously talented, but it all works so well because we sincerely care for each other. On the rare occasions that we get together to rehearse, it feels more like a fun family party than actual work. Camille often brings some of her yummy pickled vegetables, jams or salsa (the bands namesake vocalist Camille Cortinas is the owner of Yims Foods, sold locally in the Dallas area), and there is always plenty of snacks and beverages to go around. John Lefler (singer, guitarist and killer graphic artist!) actually brought us each tee-shirts that say “good hang” and that’s exactly what it feels like. It’s rare for a group of seven members to all get along so well and I’m proud to be part of that experience.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
We’ve had a steadily growing and very loyal following really since the moment we started to play together. We try to spread the good vibes at every show, and our fans seem to feed off of that.
We’ve played venues of many sizes and shapes, but we work hard to maintain a connection with each audience. Our gigs have definitely become a guilty pleasure for all of us!
Captain and Camille:
Camille Cortinas – vocals, guitar
Michelle Sanguinetti – vocals, guitar
Josh Hammond – bass, vocals
Matt Trimble – drums, vocals
Mike Finkel – keyboards, trumpet
John Lefler – guitar, vocals, keyboards
Eugene Cantera – saxophone, vocals
Contact Info:
- Email: goodhang@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/captainandcamille/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/captainandcamille/
Image Credit:
John Lefler, Leanna Lamb Bates
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