For All Those Ladies Out There

“I had show offers before I even had band members, as far away as Texas,” says drummer Doug Smith of Nite Romantics, a Duran Duran tribute band that debuted this month at the new Channel Twelve 25 club in El Cajon (at 172 East Main Street).

“Female fans were salivating via MySpace, chomping at the bit for a DD tribute. There were a lot of women at our last show.… The whole front row of the crowd was lined with women singing and dancing along.…

“Our goal is to as closely emulate the look and feel of a Duran Duran show as we can,” according to Smith, who says their black and white linen suits are meant to recall videos such as “Rio” and “Hungry Like the Wolf.”

“I think they’re a guilty pleasure that a lot of people are embarrassed to admit liking. Musically, they were very underrated and underappreciated. I think they got caught up in the pinup aspect of things, the screaming teenage girls, [and] the ultra-marketing and packaging.”

Nite Romantics singer Irv Becker is an amateur filmmaker, while keyboardist Raven White is an actor who’s played bit roles in films. Guitarist Johnny Alonso is also an actor, with a semi-regular role on the One Tree Hill TV show. Bassist Gil Barron is known around town as an accomplished flamenco guitar player.

According to Smith, the Beauty Bar has already offered Nite Romantics a monthly slot. Their next appearance there is June 24.

– Jay Allen Sanford