March 19, 2009

Five Almaden dads rock out

By Luke Cunningham
Times Intern

Banks, biotech, computer technology and rock stars are an unlikely mix, but for five Almaden Valley dads, this is reality. And, it gives five dads with tough jobs a musical outlet from their work.

The group started playing in 2006 as a way to entertain neighbors during a Fourth of July block party. Bob Amstadt on bass, Kevin Johnson was doing vocals and Robert Hamchuk played guitar along with a simple drum machine when they unknowingly gave birth to the Just4fun band.

Just4Fun had a great time playing at the Montevideo Clubhouse last July. The band is holding a fundraiser this month at Los Gatos Lodge, asking patrons to bring canned goods and help support a cancer walk.

During the year following their initial performance, the guys included Ron Phalen, a friend and fellow Montevideo neighbor. Phalen had no performing experience and was a self-taught drummer, but his style and personality fit exceptionally with the rest of them and also allowed them to get rid of their drum machine.

Last year Guadalupe Elementary School asked Just4Fun to perform at their first Guadalupe Gala. Since all the band members either had kids who currently or had recently attended the school, they immediately said yes. At the Gala, they met Dave Gwartney, a guitarist. And, because they needed a second guitarist, they recruited him.

Before Rob Hamchuk became the vice president and project manager for a national bank, he lived in Los Angeles, playing the guitar as much as possible. He started playing back in 1975, and by 1985 was performing in a number of different bands. He decided to attend San Jose State University. Hamchuk continued to perform, but mostly at parties with friends. It wasn’t until he moved to Almaden that he got the urge to perform with a band again.

Johnson, the voice of Just4fun, began performing back in grammar school. He was always involved with school plays, and often sang for friends and family members. Keeping busy working as a senior manager at Cisco Systems, Inc, he finds playing with the band a great musical outlet, and a great way to perform with people who enjoy music just as much, if not more than, he does.

Amstadt, who has been adding blisters to his fingers for more than 20 years with his bass guitar, had no intention to stop. During the day, he works at Looperlative Audio Products, where he is the founder and president. He has worked hard to create some top quality audio looping effects.

Phalen does his part during the day to help protect people’s hearts. As a sales account executive, he manages a team of clinical and technical consultants for a biotech company that manufactures and markets diagnostic testing for cardiac disease. He got his first drum set when he was 12, and 34 years later is still banging away. Although he’s never had formal training, he was able to teach himself by playing along with some of his favorite albums when he was younger.

Gwartney was introduced to the guitar during his freshman year at Leigh High School and has yet to put it down. His first band experience was playing the bass during the summer after he graduated. Until joining Just4fun, his performances were usually limited to family and friends. During work hours, he is in charge of running development and operations of Ask.com’s data warehouse team.

Just4fun is simply a way for these five dads to have an outlet for their musical creativity. Their performances usually center on events to raise money for different community needs. They have performed at many Guadalupe Elementary School events, including both of the school’s Galas, at Dartmouth Middle School, Leigh High School football and Almaden Pop Warner fundraisers. The men enjoy playing these events because they know the money goes toward worthy programs in need of as much support as possible.

The band performed at the Los Gatos Lodge in January, and attendance was so large that the doors were wide open for them to come back for an encore on March 27. This show is a fundraiser for Second Harvest Food Bank and an upcoming cancer walk. Patrons are asked to bring canned goods to attend.

The band’s future includes playing whenever they can, and continuing their fundraising. In fact, they are available for Music In The Park and Art and Wine Festivals. Playing in the band full time would be ideal, but unfortunately, especially in this economy, they need to maintain their jobs. They have no plans to do serious recordings, but want to continue playing music and being close friends.