Last summer, Youngstown rockers The Vindys, who have been setting northeast Ohio on its ear for a while now, got a big break. They landed their first national tour, supporting Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo on their Funtastic 24 tour, with a Cleveland date at the MGM Northfield Park Stage where the Vindys had previously opened to Benatar). The tour took them to New Jersey, Washington D.C., Detroit, New York City, Connecticut, Indianapolis, Denver, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, Portland and multiple cities in California.
Apparently the combination of bands clicked because Benatar has tapped the band to go out on the road with her again this spring on a series of dates that kick off April 18 in Tulsa, Oklahoma and wind up June 1 at Delaware’s Selbyville Pavilion. On May 31, they’ll be back home at the Youngstown Foundation Pavilion with Lita Ford. Altogether the tour comprises more than two dozen dates.
Ahead of the tour, the band has released a new band-penned single and video called “Electric,” a track with Motown vibes, rock guitars and a horn section.
The group, fronted by charismatic singer/guitarist/lyricist Jackie Popovec, came together more than a decade ago but woodshedded for a few years in obscurity before their reputation in northeast Ohio started to snowball and expand beyond the area. Popovec is the band’s main attraction, with a powerful yet nuanced style that recalls classic R&B vocalists such as Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner. But she’s well supported by a hard-rocking band that features lead guitarisr John Anthony and Rick Deak on rhythm guitar. The touring band also includes drummer Owen Davis, bassist Brenda Burke and keyboard player Nathan Anthony.
Learn more about the band at thevindys.com.