Silver City Band

Hernando events, week of June 19

'70s Disco Night

Friday

The event features DJ Marty "The One Man Party." There will be a contest for the best 1970s attire. Light refreshments will be served. Beer and wine will be available. Seating is limited; reservations recommended. The event kicks off the Spring Hill Community Association's 2011 concert series. 7 to 10 p.m. $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Lake House, 1202 Kenlake Ave., Spring Hill. (352) 666-4746.

Today

Hernando County Fairgrounds Weekend Flea Market: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hernando County Fairgrounds, 6436 Broad St, Brooksville. (352) 397-3351.

'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' wraps up at Stage West: This is a nonmusical adaptation of the familiar story about Dorothy's quest with the Tin Man, the Scarecrow and the Lion. 2 p.m. Stage West Community Playhouse, 8390 Forest Oaks Blvd., Spring Hill. $10. (352) 683-5113. stagewest.net.

Monday

Irrigation Efficiency: Learn how to get the most from an irrigation system, plus retrofits that benefit plants and reduce water bills. 5:30 p.m. Free on first-come, first-seated basis. Hernando County Cooperative Extension Service, 1653 Blaise Drive, Brooksville. (352) 754-4433.

Tuesday

Florida Library Youth Program presents Make and Take Craft: Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to stop by the library to make a special craft. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. West Hernando/S.T. Foggia Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., Spring Hill. (352) 540-6391.

Wednesday

Master Gardeners weekly plant sale: Plants for shade and sun are available, including flowering plants, ground covers, shrubs and trees. Funds raised benefit the Hernando County Master Gardener Program. 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Prices vary. Master Gardener Nursery, 19490 Oliver St., Brooksville. (352) 754-4433.

Facebook for Beginners: Participants will learn what Facebook is, how to use it and the privacy issues involved. Assistance will be provided to those wishing to set up a Facebook account. No cost to participate, but class size is limited and advance registration is required. 10 a.m. to noon West Hernando/S.T. Foggia Branch Library, 6335 Blackbird Ave., Spring Hill. (352) 540-6392.

Florida Library Youth Program presents Make and Take Craft: Children ages 5 to 12 are invited to stop by the library to make a special craft. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Spring Hill Branch/Harold G. Zopp Memorial Library, 9220 Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill. (352) 540-6391.

Tunes - Silver City Sun-News

In their first Vans Warped Tour appearance, Las Cruces band Cloud9 Murders, promise to bring stage presence and an independent sound to the local stage on June 29.

"It's all about the community, you're doing it for your audience. If you don't care about the audience, why they hell should they care about you?" said bassist Armando Gomez.

The group is looking forward to the exposure, he said, as the hardcore metal band finds booking gigs, and even finding a place to practice, in Las Cruces difficult.

"We would either practice at my house or our drummer's (house), and we were getting a lot of complaints - phone calls, people calling the police and ruining practices," he said.

"Often in Las Cruces, venues will say they welcome any type of music and are in favor of supporting local bands," Gomez said. "And then we'll go and say 'okay, we'll play here,' and then they refuse to let us play! It happens over, and over, and over again. Every venue has denied us."

Gomez said the band is denied based on style, not talent. In its genre, the group has been successful. They branched out beyond Las Cruces to play venues in Silver City, Deming and El Paso. The group recently won a battle of the bands competition during the Baddest of the Border event in El Paso on May 21.

"So that's when we started thinking, maybe we should just rent a shed and label it a venue. And when we do it, we say anyone can play or practice there," Gomez said. "We want to rent or buy something, and make it for all types of musicians - acoustic or country. We don't care about the type. We care that you respect yourself enough to have camaraderie in this town between musicians. I'm going to help out this guy even if he can't help me out, and I'm going to do that because he is a musician and I'm a musician."

The band formed in 2003, broke up in 2005 and reunited in 2010. Members of the band are Jesus Estrada (singer), Jason Benavides (singer), Gabriel Rivera (guitar), Armondo Gomez (bass), and Jacob Gonzalez (drums).

"Now that we're back together, we're way more serious about this whole music deal, and touching ground that people don't usually try to go to," Gomez said. "People like us. A lot of people hate us. We speak our minds. If we'd like to say cuss words nonstop for 10 minutes, we will. I don't see why we should stop."

The band also takes pride in its musicianship and originality, steering clear from covers as much as possible.

"Cover bands are cool.

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