SAN DIEGO — San Diego's International Summer Organ Festival wraps up on Monday with a rock and roll extravaganza.
In this Zevely Zone, I went to Balboa Park for a Labor Day concert preview.
Prepare to have your mind blown listening to AC/DC's Highway to Hell like you've never heard it before.
Gladys Knight had the Pips. Huey Lewis had the News. But vocalist Chloe Lou stands before the most musical muscle in the history of rock and roll. "It's pretty intense. It's a different gig than anything I do," said Chloe.
The Organ Pavilion Classic Rock Band is the only group of its kind in the world because it has 5,098 pipes.
"It's the largest open-air musical instrument in the entire world," said Raúl Prieto Ramirez who is San Diego's Civic Organist. "It's such an explosion of freedom for me," said Raul.
He is a classically trained musician more than willing to let his hair down.
"Absolutely, he really does," said vocalist Lauren Leigh. "Wait until you see his socks they go wild."
On the drums, you'll find T-Bone Larson, and on guitar, Ben Zinn rocks out.
"We play this kind of music all of the time but to be able to do this in this setting with this instrument is spectacular," said Ben.
Lauren then added, "The most amount of fun I have all year because you are on this incredible stage there are thousands of people who show up for this and you get to play with enormous, huge instruments and there is just nothing like it."
On the bass, Harley Magsino just soaks it all in. "Oh, yeah I mean every time you see this it's smiling faces," said Harley.
Set in the beautiful backdrop of Balboa Park's open-air venue at 2125 Pan American Road, performances bring a one-of-a-kind experience for guests. "For me it is meaningful, it gives meaning to this place," said Raul. "Classic rock played with an instrument like this you cannot do that anywhere else so come here."
"This is the one time you can definitely see rock and roll played with the organ," said Chloe.
This means you only have one job this Labor Day, enjoy the ultimate pipe dream, perhaps plug your ears and dance the night away.
"There is truly something for every music lover," said Raúl Prieto Ramirez, San Diego Civic Organist and Artistic Director for the Spreckels Organ Society. "It's all here! The Society is proud to present an explosion of styles, sounds, colors, and cultures in the heart of Balboa Park.
The Spreckels Organ Society is a non-profit organization that curates concerts and performances. The Organ Pavilion Classic Rock Band is the only group featuring the great hits of Classic Rock by Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin and Heart performed by a seven-member Rock Band.
The free concert will feature music by The Doors and Pink Floyd. The concert is on Monday, September 2, at 7:30 pm. For the full Festival program, click here. For more information about the Spreckels Organ Society, click here.