The Yächtley Crëw arrive for the Temecula Balloon and Wine Festival

Shawna Sarnowski / Backstage360.com

This May, Temecula’s 41st annual Balloon and Wine Festival returned, and occurred over three days. The event, offering balloon rides and good times, brought with it musicians equipped to entertain thousands. Among them was Los Angeles based The Yächtley Crëw, a band with seven members. Including Philly Ocean who provides vocals, Sailor Hawkins on the drums, Baba Buoy on the bass, Pauly Shores on the saxophone, Tommy Buoy on guitar, and Stoney Shores and Matthew McDonald playing the keyboards.

Together, they play an array of soft rock songs from the seventies and eighties, also known as yacht rock. Returning fans demonstrated their support through wearing matching hats, akin to those worn by the crew. Against settling clouds and an orange sky, people held their drinks up high, socialized, and danced about. They put on a splendid show, one that lived up to the kind things returning fans promised before it started.

Opening with “Reelin’ In The Years,” the crew continued their performance with Pilot’s “Magic,” and “Break My Stride.” One could hardly determine who danced better. The audience, or the band members. Ocean also sang “Steal Away” with a voice as clear as the shoreline, encouraging everyone to bounce around, and sing along to the music. Buoy, in-between songs, would toss guitar picks into the audience.

Shawna Sarnowski / Backstage360.com

Throughout the show’s lineup, the band members maintained a chipper appearance. Ocean blew kisses, flashed a million-dollar smile, and would periodically kneel in close for the cameras. For onlookers, it was apparent how comfortable the band was with this genre of music, swaying like an oceanic breeze. Attired in navy-blue jackets, white pants, and their captain’s hats, they jovially embraced their theme.

Their interpretation of “Turn Your Love Around” was elevated by Pauly Shores’ flute-playing abilities, and the thunderous resonance of the drums, conjured by Hawkins. While playing “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight,” the crew were sandwiched between beams of light, and a field’s worth of phone flashlights. Both Baba Buoy and Tommy Buoy excelled during “Biggest Part of Me,” expressive and full of charisma.

Shawna Sarnowski / Backstage360.com

The dancing persisted throughout the whole night, with one celebrated song merging into the next. During “Maneater,” a darling moment occurred when a little boy from the front row was guided on stage to dance alongside the crew. Afterwards, they excitedly shifted into “Danger Zone,” even tossing off their jackets. Hawkins even tossed one of his drumsticks into the crowd, much to the jubilation of whomever caught it.

“Careless Whisper” was a showstopper, complemented by fluorescent-toned lights, and Pauly Shores’ execution of the iconic saxophone segment. It elicited the greatest reactions from couples in the crowd. For “Ride Like The Wind,” they integrated synchronized-sidestepping, and for “You Make My Dreams Come True,” Ocean extended the microphone towards the crowd, praising them for filling in the lyrics.

After playing Rupert Holmes’ “Escape,” lights were brought up on the audience. Ocean asked if anyone out there was a returning fan. Unsurprisingly, countless were. He then asked if anyone was a newcomer. Many also raised their hands, but Ocean welcomed them aboard, and dubbed them crewmates for life.

The show continued with “Kokomo,” and “On and On.” In preparation for the next piece, Ocean asked the audience to give it up for McDonald, saying when the keyboardist plays like that, he wants to go to church. Ocean asked the crowd to put their hands up, as they built up to the opening notes of “Rich Girl.” The crown jewel of their lineup was “Come and Get Your Love,” played against a backdrop of glowing hot air balloons. To learn more about their Full Steam Ahead tour, visit https://www.yachtleycrew.com/.