In our annual series spotlighting the annual Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival, we look at a series of subjects, people, and entertainers who will help the festival make its mark this 4th of July holiday season.
PART THREE: Ellwood City Arts, Crafts, Food & Entertainment Festival Series: Celestial Overdrive Set to Rock the Festival Stage
They are a true Classic Rock EXPERIENCE … they are Celestial Overdrive.
The Ellwood City Community will get a taste of what they have to offer Saturday night from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Ellwood City Arts,Crafts,Food & Entertainment Festival.
Celestial Overdrive was started around 2021 when the guys came together out of a desire to bring back the real rock and roll experience. A typical show includes intricate lighting that takes the band hours to setup.
Drummer Bill Viccari said it’s a true spectacle!
“Less is more for most bands, but that doesn’t work for us. More is more!”
With songs in their lineups from bands like Kiss, AC/DC, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin of course more is more. A band must pay tribute properly to such legends, and Celestial Overdrive does just that.
Based in Western Pennsylvania, the band is no stranger to the local circuit playing from Beaver, to Butler, to Ellwood City, to Hermitage, and to Ohio. Viccari is an Ellwood City guy and he is joined by Todd Natale of Edinburg as rhythm guitarist and lead singer; Shawn Riniti on Bass; and Adam “The Bomb” lead guitar player from Butler.
“We are a true band of brothers,” Viccari said. “ It’s fun. There’s no tension, no arguing or fighting, just music.”
Natale said Celestial Overdrive is unique.
“Nobody else is doing this,” Natale said. “A lot of the other bands, unless they are a tribute band are eclectic. We are playing ALL the biggest bands in rock history.”
Their name is two-fold Celestial is the soft side of the band. Their first set includes songs like Hotel California and More than a Feeling. Overdrive is the hard side as the sets get heavier with songs from bands like AC/DC and Led Zeppelin.
And the band isn’t afraid to try some challenging music.
“We do some stuff that no one touches … Band on the Run … Sultans of Swing … big songs,” Natale said. “And we really pull them off very well.”
Celestial Overdrive looks forward to playing at the Festival
“It gives up the opportunity to play in front of fans, friends, and family who might not come out and see us at the bars and also for new fans to have the opportunity to see us perform,” Viccari said. “We really love to see our followers grow”
For their performance on Saturday, the guys will play recognizablemore “first-set” material.
“Things you can sing along to,” Viccari said. “Songs that younger children and senior citizens can enjoy.”
The musicians said choosing only enough music to fill an hour was a challenge as they enjoy all the music they play.
Viccari said he is honored to get to play in a band with such talented musicians and he belives the crowd at the Festival will appreciate it too.
“People are going to really enjoy it.”
Be sure to check out and follow Celestial Overdrive’s Facebook page, where you will find a schedule of events. You don’t want to miss their entire set of music and full impact of the light show you experience at their longer, indoor shows at venues like the Ellwood City Moose.
“We really want people to come out and experience what we are trying to give them and that it’s something worth them spending their money and time on,” Natale said.
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