TOP : PIERCE VILLANEUVE ; BOTTOM : DON LEACH
Above
: The seven members of Laguna Beach-based band The Great North Special ; below : vocalist and guitar player Russell Long holding the band ’ s new album , “ Callithump Parade ”
Corradini and Russell Long on vocals and guitar ; Ben Wagner on guitar and pedal steel ; Albert Margolis on keyboard ; Anson Ditt on bass ; Derek Eglit on drums ; and Max Vega on percussion .
Since forming , the band has steadily gained a loyal following in Laguna Beach and beyond . This first full-length album showcases the group ’ s unique style , powerful musicality and the chemistry the members have developed through countless rehearsals and gigs .
“ Andrew and I , we ’ re writing the songs , but everyone in the band is writing their own part into the music — it ’ s fully collaborative between all the band members ,” Long explains . “ We ’ re inspired by the shared desire to play music . … We ’ re trying to have fun … [ and find ways to ] surprise ourselves or do something different .”
GETTING IN THE GROOVE The Great North Special ’ s live shows encompass the electrifying talents of the band ’ s members , drawing audiences into a euphoric blend of music and dancing .
Each performance takes the crowd on a one-of-a-kind musical journey that isn ’ t soon forgotten .
“ Ever since the beginning , there was a certain vibe and groove and chemistry that we all had playing with each other . It was evident from the very first time we got together ,” Margolis shares . “ That ’ s when we knew we had something special . But , every time you go through a project like this , as it happened in our first EP and was super evident when we were done with recording the [ latest ] record , we became much tighter … [ as ] a unit .”
In 2020 , the band released its self-titled debut EP , which included four original tracks underscoring the group ’ s seemingly effortless collaboration and alluring song lyrics . In 2022 , the band released the single , “ Love Service Devotion ” and cemented its foothold in the Southern California music scene .
“ For sure , the band has evolved since first getting together ,” Wagner says . “ We ’ ve evolved together in almost every aspect . I think , most importantly , the original songs that Andrew and Russell have written is what propelled us to another level . As a band , arranging them and recording them together got us so tight where the band is more like a family than seven buds just jamming together .”
In just a few short years , Wagner adds , the band went from playing three-hour shows with a couple of original songs and 14 covers to now performing 14 originals and a handful of covers . The band has often performed at Skyloft in Laguna , The Wayfarer in Costa Mesa , The Mint in LA , and farther afield at SLO Brew and Fernwood Tavern on California ’ s Central Coast , while also participating in music festivals like June Lake Jam Fest in the Mammoth Lakes area and Docent Brewing ’ s Field Trip Fest in San Juan Capistrano .
LAYING DOWN THE TRACKS When The Great North Special decided to record its first full album of original music , which Long says took about two years to complete , the band was financially supporting the recording with its own funds , but then heard about the Laguna Beach Artistic Innovation Grants program , which offers annual grants between $ 5,000 and
LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE 35