There are at least 999,999 good reasons to attend Santee’s
River Park Festival and River Run 5k event this Saturday at Town Center
Community Park East.
But here’s the millionth and, to some, the best reason: Eddie Vandiver, lead singer for the popular cover
band Ramshackle, is giving his final performance. The energetic 41-year-old Alpine resident is putting his formidable vocal chords out to
pasture.
Vandiver, who works full time as general manager of
Sportsplex USA Santee , said he’s retiring from the band to spend more quality
time with his wife and two young children.
“I want to spend time with my kids while they still want to
hang out with me,” he joked, referring to his 4-year-old daughter and
6-month-old son.
Vandiver joined Ramshackle in October 2008 after answering a
“lead vocalist wanted” ad on the online job site Craigslist. He auditioned,
jammed with the band, and was immediately hired. He’d previously performed with
a local blues band called Mudwolf.The musical niche occupied Ramshackle is to produce easily recognizable hit songs from all genres that people can dance to. The band’s playlist ranges from Guns N’ Roses to Bruno Mars to Johnny Cash.
The motto on the group's website self-proclaims them as “San Diego’s Best Rock Cover Band.”
Over the years, Ramshackle played every venue from the House of Blues to the Disneyland Hotel to weddings and the city of Santee’s summer concert series at the park.
The band has already hired a replacement lead singer, Carlos Martinez, who will perform the second half of the band’s set at the River Park Festival, which runs from 3:30 to 8 p.m.
Vandiver said the band members, whose own children are now
adults, have been supportive of his decision. His tenure with the band didn't make him rich, but it slaked his thirst for authentic rock n' roll.
“I did it for the passion and fun of the music -- and the
camaraderie with all the guys in the band, “ Vandiver said.
