Band performs Aug. 31 at Butterfield Amphitheater
“This is our passion,” said John King of the band Change Required as he opened his interview with the Town Crier. The local band formed in Idyllwild 18 years ago and is renting out the Butterfield Amphitheater for a two-hour, non-stop performance from 6-8 p.m. on Aug. 31.
Change Required will cover songs by Stevie Ray Vaughan, Fleetwood Mac, Linda Ronstadt and more. King also said they’ll play “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.”
After this performance, the band will not be taking on any additional gigs. The band will be focusing more time on original projects and a little less time performing.
Quite a change for the band that has played local weddings, backyard birthdays and charity events since its beginning.
Change Required has been the Idyllwild Summer Concert Series bonus-night band for three consecutive years, playing the Friday night after the final Thursday night performance of the season. This year, the band will play on a Saturday.
Change Required started out as a duo, sometimes trio, and has grown over the years with local musicians coming and going. Even though the band has undergone some changes throughout the years, King, guitar, fiddle and vocals, and Vince Day, vocals and bass, have been the long-time members. Day has been with the band off and on for 15 years. Elaine Latimer — keyboard and vocals — was with the band for 15 years.
The Aug. 31 performance will have band members Kaitlyn McMahon, vocals, and Craig Wills on vocals and drums, but a couple of other musicians will be joining the band that night — Kelly Wills, vocals, and Long Beach’s Art Wild, keyboard.
Wild and King go back. The two musicians played together in Dynamite Gangbusters out of Long Beach and have known each other for about 40 years. King played with Dynamite Gangbusters for 20 years.
Change Required has maintained a following over the years. Not only have the locals been loyal, but the band attracts fans from San Diego — who make the trip up to Idyllwild for a weekend getaway.
There is no change required for the Aug. 31 concert, as it is a free concert. However, there will be a tip jar and Idyllwild Community Center will have its booth selling water and snacks during the performance in case you get a little thirsty or hungry.
