Red lipstick, auburn curls, and a silhouette from a 1950’s pinup. Christina Watka, lead singer of The Cheeks stands on the side of the stage watching as her bandmates take their positions. The fuzzy loudness of the crowd begins to hush as the five men in black suits take hold of their golden instruments, sticks, strings and piano keys. A rhythm fills the air that takes one back to a decade when rock and roll was humming on the radios and dirty dancing was on the verge of getting dirtier.
After opening instrumentals, the tiny silhouette of Watka, 25, takes the stage in a sparkling tight gold dress; and it’s a surprise to hear a voice that is reminiscent of Aretha, Tina, and Janis. Everyone in the room begins tapping their feet, twisting and shouting, and singing along.
Click here to read the rest of Kati Mennett’s interview with The Cheeks.