By Bryan Kay
Staff Reporter
Few expat bands in Korea can boast a member quite like Detroit-native Andy Sirvio.
For starters, he doesn't fit the archetype true of many of his cohorts on the Korean scene: he is neither an English teacher, nor does he fit in any work in the entertainment sector.
The bass player in Los Diablos Blancos, Sirvio is in Seoul with his wife as part of her post at carmaker GM-Daewoo.
His work, so to speak, is music, and almost exclusively the band.
And while many may scoff at covers bands ― Los Diablos Blancos (Spanish for the White Devils) play rock n' roll favorites from across the ages ― Sirvio's relentless efforts to get their name out there appears to be paying dividends.
Also comprising Americans Aaron Furman on guitar and lead vocals and Ryan Gerard on drums and lead vocals, with Canadian Wes Waye on lead guitar, for a while they were constantly knocking on the door of bar owners in search of gigs.
But, now, the tables have turned, with the band currently booked through mid-October.
Yet, it all could have come to nothing had it not been for the Internet ― as well as Sirvio's energy.
``It all started on the Internet. Wes and I met at a studio in Hongdae while responding to an ad for a band," he explained.
``We realized the band was going nowhere but Wes and I shared a subway ride home.
``Several months passed and I joined Fishbowl 5, which was losing members. The guitarist and the singer then left, Wes stepped in and pretty soon we started to get a band together.
``I saw Aaron on You Tube and showed it to Wes, after which we sent a message to him and asked if he was interested in joining. Next thing we had a band with a proper frontman. We then added Ryan.
``The biggest thing was getting someone who can sing. A lot of people can play, but finding the right person to sing is a different story."
Thus, Los Diablos Blancos came to life, in the summer of 2008.
And despite making the breakthrough onto the music scene radar and recently seeing their level of popularity increase, Sirvio is quick to play down the band's success.
``I wouldn't call it an explosion, but the music scene is a popular topic," he said. ``Some of the expat magazines started to show an interest. They helped show that there is something going on.
``The phone is ringing now, whereas before we were chasing (bar owners). They are now saying, `When can come?' They are surprised to hear when we say we're all booked up through October. I think it is about the little bit of exposure and the club owners seeing what they are getting. Then it is, `When can you come back?'"
As for the perennial criticism of covers bands? ``You know, everybody's got an idea about what live music is to them," said Sirvio. ``We enjoy (being in a covers band) and the audiences are receptive. You have plenty of bar owners in Hongdae who put on original bands, but there are others who want good covers acts."
Los Diablos Blancos play Ole Stompers Rock Spot in Itaewon on Saturday night. Their My Space Web site is available at www.myspace.com/losdiablosblancos.