Local band earning respect

BANDING TOGETHER-Aspen, a local band that often opens for bigger groups, headlines at The Canyon club this weekend. Aspen isn't a household name in music, according to band member George Rangel, but famed musicians often show their respect by requesting that the Thousand Oaks group open for them.

Aspen, whose music some compare to The Eagles, will be the featured act at The Canyon in Agoura Hills tomorrow night. Another local band, Sea Cloud, will open the show.

"We were one of the first bands to play at The Canyon club," Rangel said. Since those early days of the club, Aspen has changed members for various reasons.

In 1998, Rangel, Lou Garcia and Zamora Rodriguez met, and in the next year formed Aspen. Soon after, the band made a CD called "Blue Skies." An instrumental version of the song "Blue Skies" was recently included in the Shout Productions film, "Fired," starring Tim Allen.

Aspen's current band lineup includes Rangel on vocals and guitar, Garcia on vocals and guitar, Cheryl Pederson on vocals, acoustic guitar and the flute, Albert Shotwell on bass, and Daniel Rangel-Rangel's son-on drums. Rangel's 22-year-old son is the newest member of Aspen.

"Right now, one of the things I'm really loving about life is that I'm playing with my son," Rangel said. "We've only done two shows together. But I look back at him and he's got a big old smile on his face-that's become 'the ultimate.'"

Although the band members aren't able to exclusively make music for a living, the band has established a good reputation for playing on stage with some of the biggest names in music, including Los Lobos, Men at Work, Ambrosia, Venice, Herman's Hermits and Eddie Money. Aspen has also shared the stage with actor Gary Sinise's Lt. Dan Band, with comedian Tim Allen and many other notable talents.

"It's really cool because we get the respect from the people we respect," Rangel said. "That says something about who the band is as far as the musicianship level."

Aspen members hope they'll soon be able to make a living solely from their music. Rangel said the group is "in talks" with the music label EMI/Capitol in the U.K. for a recording deal.

"If anything hits, that's great," Rangel said. "That would be the icing on the cake. But at the end of the day, we do this because we love it."

Aspen will perform Fri., July 28 at 8 p.m. at The Canyon. Doors open at 6. For more information about the show or the club, call (818) 879-5016 or go to www.canyonclub.net.

For information about Aspen, go to www.aspenmusic.net.