Basin Summer Sounds Something for everyone, but XEB was the sound they came to hear

EPHRATA — The event was billed as the Basin Summer Sounds but as the weekend unfolded it became apparent that it was much more than that.

The smells of garlic fries and sweet and sour wafted from food vendor row. The smoke from B's Rub from Othello produced a heavenly scent as it filtered into the gentle breeze coming off the nearby hillside. The idea of hog wingz, fritters and onion rings was mouth watering. And of course, Jim and Joy Duzon's Top Gun Concessions sat in its usual spot at the end of the row producing its infamous corn dogs along with a menu of festival food to help feed the masses.

It was clear this had become the Basin Summer Sights, Sounds and Smells festival in front of the Grant County Courthouse in downtown Ephrata.

Out on the streets, the basketball stands lined the streets in each direction, lonely outposts from the morning's 3-on-3 street ball tournament. Daniel Marroquin and Anthony Soltero from Soap Lake traded off time of possession, pounding against each other for advantage as the summer sun beat down on the hot pavement. The sweat pouring down their faces didn't disrupt the joy of hoops on a hot day.

The day was about face paint and semi-independence for 4-year-old Liliana and her 3-year-old brother Mikhail Shtyea of Soap Lake. They spent the afternoon in the face paint tent, sporting a newly sparkling creation from the street artist as they darted in and out of the other kids dancing and playing in front of the stage where the Gypsy jazz, world beat sounds of Ranger and the Re-Arrangers filtered out to audience sitting in the shade. Even though Liliana and Mikhail played the child's game of independence under the watchful eye of mom sitting on the bench under the large trees surrounding the stage, they always seemed to silently check in with rewarding smile. Face paint and a free run, how cool is that?

For 2-year-old Blaze Warren from Moses Lake, the Basin Summer Sounds festival was a life-changing experience with the bite of his first corn dog. His eyes focused on the package as he followed his dad Shawn Warren to the picnic table, never wavering as Shawn lifted him onto the seat. The time had come and his eyes widened when Shawn moved the massive corn dog close. At first it seemed like his little mouth was, well too little. But he was not to be denied and he bit down on the cornmeal dog on a stick like a bass to top water gear. Too little my eye, in fact his eyes, which had been closed to this point flew open in surprise.

To Serenity Smith from Ephrata the summer festival was a chance to let her hair down figuratively and quite literally. She serenely glided her skateboard in and out of foot traffic on the sidewalk in front of the stage to the gentle sounds of Ranger and the Re-Arrangers, flowing with the gypsy-jazz music. She took a vested interest when Briana Renea pointed to her as she sang during her set. But she catapulted into action when energy-driven, power jam of 80s cover band Nite Wave sounds filled the air. The hair came down, the index and pinky fingers on a balled up fist went into the air and the hair-swirling dance of her generation was on as she danced in front of the stage to the music created long before she was born.

While the sounds of violin and guitar intermingled with country and western throughout the day, it became clear the only summer sound the Columbia Basin came to hear was the world-class raw energy generated by XEB, original members of Third Eye Blind minus Stephan Jenkins.

XEB took the stage, lead singer Tony Fredianelli beckoned the crowd forward and the night exploded with the music of a band that blew out of the gate with a self-titled debut album that produced super hits like "How's It Going to Be," "Semi-Charmed Life" and "Jumper," which were all top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.

Kevin Cadogan (guitar), Tony Fredianelli (vocals) and Arion Salazar (bass) worked the crowd into a frenzy and whatever differences caused Third Eye Blind to implode back in 2000 went out the window.

Because in the end, it was the sound the people came to hear.

Rodney Harwood is a sports writer with the Columbia Basin Herald and can be reached at rharwood@columbiabasinherald.com.