The funny thing about the Boston Naturals is that many of their gigs are on the Cape, not Boston. A lot are in Wellfleet.
And that is where you will find the five members of the band on Saturday, Oct. 2. They are the solo act at the eighth annual Live for Lou fundraiser at the Wellfleet Beachcomber from 1 to 6 p.m. The event signals the end of the season and helps pay for treatment of addiction disorders as well as provide scholarships for student athletes and those wanting to work as addiction counselors. It is named for Louie LeBart, who died of an opioid overdose in February 2014. His parents, Todd and Holly LeBart, own the Beachcomber.
Admission is $30 for unlimited food; all proceeds go to the Live for Lou fund.
Scott Miller, the band’s guitarist and manager, said the Naturals have been playing at the Beachcomber for over 25 years.
It is their favorite place to play. “It feels like family,” says Miller. “It’s the setting and the vibe. So, we are thrilled to do it.”
The musicians all live around Boston, but, like many of their fans, they find themselves shifting to the Cape for the summer. The Pearl in Wellfleet, the Woodshed in Brewster, and the Sand Bar in West Dennis are regular gigs.
Winter gigs compete with their day jobs, particularly for Miller, who is a music teacher at Dedham Country Day School and must be up at 6 a.m.
The other band members have most recently been Billy Kane, John Matthews, Chris Georgenes, and Rick Kassiotis. All five were in bands that wrote and performed originals. But the Naturals are solidly grounded in who they are, says Miller.
“We are a cover band, but we go after it,” he says. “All of us want to do our best.”
To combat the boredom of playing the same old standards, they constantly add more music, he says. Rock remains a mainstay. Miller lists some favorites: the Smiths, Tom Petty, Steely Dan, Sublime, Black Sabbath, the Rolling Stones, ZZ Top.
Change is afoot for the Naturals with the retirement of Kassiotis, who has been lead singer for 10 years. The Live for Lou event will be the first appearance of a new lead singer, Ken Benda, who, says Miller, has “a full head of hair and a tattoo.”
