
For some performers a life in music is a studied affair, built around the pursuit of art. However, others perform music for the sheer love of it. The fact that they can pick up a sizable following in the process, is almost a bonus. Such is the case with The Flip and Rollie Band, which hosts a CD release show for the debut album “The Adventures of…” at Moondoggies tomorrow, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. The “band” is actually a duo consisting of lifelong friends and Lake Tahoe natives Philip Carrillo (Flip) and Ryan Brolliar (Rollie). While Carrillo mainly sticks to guitar, Brolliar covers a lot of ground, contributing anything from keyboards to ukulele. Although the pair is known for their mix of acoustic originals and covers, it’s their irreverent sense of humor that is the secret ingredient to their success. Now mainstays of the beach communities’ music scene, Carrillo and Brolliar have been performing together since sixth grade, though only on a professional level together for three years. “We’ve been playing around campfires and parties and wherever they’d have us, since junior high,” Brolliar said. The duo’s name is taken from their nicknames, but Brolliar admits there is one other reason for the tag. “We’ve done this thing where we grab each others ankles and sort of roll in to the stage, like a human wheel, as our entrance for an encore or something like that, literally flip and rolling,” he laughed. “We learned that in high school.” Though Flip and Rollie were originally considered a cover band, both men agreed it was time to move into original music. “We do a good job at playing other peoples’ music,” Carrillo said. “But it wasn’t fulfilling enough, so we took time away from that to work on our album.” Tomorrow’s show will be the group’s first public performance in more than six months, as they took time off to record their CD. The album’s 14 tracks ultimately took 10 months to complete. The Flip and Rollie Band’s versatility, sense of humor and compact size have made them a popular booking at events ranging from weddings to Chargers games. “Our music is just one element of what we bring,” Carrillo said. “Humor, for example, is extremely important. There’s a lot of bantering between the two of us onstage.” Though The Flip and Rollie Band has performed in numerous local venues, they considered Moondoggies to be the only choice when it came to their CD release show. “We have a long history with the owners,” said Brolliar, who promises a bigger production than might be found at a typical CD release event. “We used to play there every other week and have kept in touch. With the patio and the big screen TVs, it was perfect for the different things we have planned for the show.” While the pair is holding some details secret, extras on the night will include costumes, a balloon art entrance, custom cocktails and the premiere of The Flip and Rollie Band’s first video, “Where Will She Go.” According to Brolliar, the release of “The Adventures of…” is just the start to a more concerted effort to get the band’s music heard by a wider audience. The Flip and Rollie Band has recently acquired management and has tour offers in place, including a cross country college trek and international shows. Brolliar and Carrillo have worked together for most of their lives and that situation looks to continue, indefinitely. “We’re always going to play music,” Brolliar said. “We love entertaining, we both love attention, we love the interaction. It’s not going to end anytime soon.”