CRESTVIEW — As Tucker Ewing, Mike Ingram and Charlie Buice prepare for their 12:30 p.m. Saturday performance, they're putting finishing touches on their first album.

The Rips' debut album, which is all about vintage surf rock, is scheduled for a spring release. Copies will be available in early April at their upcoming shows, and on iTunes.

And the Destin band's anticipation is building.

"We are incredibly excited about this album," Ewing said. "(It) will really showcase our sound: classic and vintage, yet original and catchy."

Q&A

Where are you from?

Tucker Ewing, lead vocalist and bass guitarist: Born and raised in Colorado; lives in Santa Rosa Beach. Mike Ingram, vocalist and electric guitarist: Born and raised in Destin. Charlie Buice: Born and raised in Fort Walton Beach.

(To the vocalists) With the guitars, beards and matching sunglasses, I have to ask: Are you guys related? Ha ha! We have no blood relation, but we certainly feel like family!

How long have you been making music together? Charlie and Mike have been playing in different bands together for years. And after meeting Tucker in November of 2014, The Rips were formed.

Why did you become a musician?

Tucker: I remember being captivated by bands and musicians at a young age, and knowing that I wanted to be on stage.

But the real turning point for me was when I started writing my own music. At that point, I quickly realized that singing and playing my own music was my favorite thing in the world.

What's in store for Triple B attendees?

Our tunes are inspired by music from the 50s, 60s and 70s, meaning, our sound has vintage guitar tones, catchy grooves and sticky melodies that you can't get out of your head.

What's your favorite song to perform as a guitarist? As a drummer?

For all of us, playing songs that we wrote is the most fulfilling. 

What's next for The Rips?

The future is looking very bright for us. We will be playing locally along the Gulf Coast through the summer, and then we will begin doing small tours starting in the fall.

From there, we plan to keep traveling, writing and recording, as much as possible.

WANT MORE INFORMATION?

See The Rips' photos, videos and performance dates at www.facebook.com/theripstunes and www.theripstunes.com.

Email Editorial Assistant Renee Bell, follow her on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B: Surfer rock group to play before new album drops

Participating barbecue cookoff competitors, as of this writing, include Funny Farm BBQ, Kickin' Ash Since '68 and Ranch House Kitchen, but competitors often sign up at the last minute, and more are expected according to event organizers.

This year's competitors also include Bel Aire Terrace Apartments, Black’s Magic BBQ, Double Deuce Smokin’ BBQ, Funny Farm BBQ, Hub City Smokehouse, Jackson’s BBQ Catering, Kickin’ Ash Since ‘68, Matthew’s Real B-B-Q & Catering, Pigstickers, Poverty Hill Smokers, Ranch House Kitchen, Ricky J’s BBQ, The Little Smokehouse and Two Brothers Bar-b-que.

Two-part People’s Choice tickets can be purchased for $1 each. Take the ticket’s “sample” portion to any participating barbecue competitor in exchange for a taste of their food.

After sampling various competitors’ offerings, bring your ticket’s “vote” portion to any Triple B information booth along Main Street, where each participating competitor will have a bucket for their tickets. The People’s Choice Award winner —announced at 5 p.m. — will win the People’s Cup Trophy and a cash prize.

Fifteen groups competed in last year's barbecue cookoff, according to a Crestview Area Chamber of Commerce list.

SCHEDULE

10 a.m.: Opening ceremonies, including the national anthem, sung by Meaghan North of Crestview.  The Emerald Coast Young Marines will present the colors, and Mike Wright Reynolds will emcee on the north end stage. Ceremonies coincide with the start of the barbecue competition.

11 a.m.: Dismal Creek

12:30 p.m.: The Rips    

1:30 p.m.: The Okaloosa Sound

3:20p.m.: The Good Lookings  

5 p.m.: Awards ceremony for barbecue competition winners

6 p.m.: Event ends

Editor's Note: Patrons also can enjoy illusions by Black & Co., music by Blackbird and The Okaloosa Sound, and demonstrations from Gordon Martial Arts students. Times for these events was not scheduled by press deadline.

•••

EVENT SPONSOR: COX

Platinum Sponsors: CCB Community Bank, CenturyLink, Lee Buick GMC and Okaloosa Gas District

Gold Sponsors: Asurion, Childcare Network, Community Bank, Legal Shield and Shoal Creek Rehabilitation Center

Silver Sponsors: Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, First NBC Bank, Gordon Martial Arts, Gulf Power, Okaloosa Title & Abstract Co., and STO Summerlin Truck Outfitter & Service

Bronze Sponsors: Chessher Motors, Eglin Federal Credit Union, Emerald Coast Dermatology, Jays Guns & Accessories, Holloway & Hardy PLLC, Main Street Land Title Co. LLC, Moulton Land Title, Okaloosa County Teachers Federal Credit Union, Shaw Moving & Storage, The Fred Astaire Dance Studio and The Lewis Diamond Gallery

Partners: City of Crestview, Emergent Recording & Production House, Florida Lottery and North Okaloosa Medical Center, Wise Equipment, Cumulus Media, Walmart, Publix

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B: Competitors, schedule and event sponsors

Welcome to the city of Crestview and the exciting Triple B Festival! (It's scheduled for 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28 on Main Street in Crestview.)

You will find the tastiest barbecue here, accompanied by outstanding bluegrass music and the best of the Blackwater River — all in our historic downtown district on Crestview's Main Street.

Enjoy the day with your family, try the many varieties of barbecue, and don't be afraid to tap your toes to America's most authentic music.

Our hospitality is second to none, and we are sure you will be planning another visit real soon to the Hub City of Northwest Florida.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B: Crestview mayor welcomes cookoff attendees

The Okaloosa Sound — hitting the south stage at 1:30 p.m. Saturday — blends vocals, drums, bass and guitar for covers and originals, everything from fun to soul.

Members are vocalists Stephanie Soul; Josh Carter, guitar and bass; Adriel Wilson, drums; John White on keyboards, bass and vocals; Joseph Pizzaloto, guitar and bass; and Max Kipnis, guitar, bass and vocals.

Though unscheduled, as of this writing, the following groups also have confirmed performances:

•Crestview's Corey Black, Black and Co.:  Expect a "mesmerizing, mind-boggling melange of mystery — it's magic!"

•Crestview duo Blackbird: Fresh voices featuring harmonious blends, soulful sound and eclectic style

•Gordon Martial Arts students and their instructors will give demonstrations.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Triple B: The Okaloosa Sound, locals and more to entertain festival goers

CRESTVIEW — A group of Crestview High School chorus students was among Okaloosa, Walton, Escambia and Santa Rosa counties' lone representatives at the March 16 Florida Vocal Association state competition at Jacksonville University.

The singers qualified in November 2014 for the State Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessment, choral music Director Kevin Lusk said.

Crestview students’ ratings were:

•Duet: Maddie Anderson and Emily Jacobson: Superior

•Solos: Maddie Anderson, Emily Jacobson, Morgan Seip and Eli Rogers: Superiors

•Chanticleer and Destiny show choirs: Excellent

•Chanticleer Women: Superior

•Destiny Ensemble 2: Excellent

•Student Conductor Morgan Seip: Excellent

•The duet and the Chanticleer Women's ensemble were selected to perform on the Honors Showcase.

“Judges recommend outstanding performances for a special recital that performs for all participating schools,” Lusk said. “This is the second time that the Chanticleer Women's Ensemble has been selected.”

The Women’s Chorus will perform April 24 in the State Choral Music Performance Assessment competition in Tallahassee.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview High chorus excels at state competition

CRESTVIEW — Kids today! They just bury their faces in computer games and don’t know how to socialize, letters-to-the-editor writers periodically lament.

But that's not the case for some Crestview-area teens, tweens and 20-somethings.

“Yeah, I play video games, too,” Trea Snider said while deploying a creature card during a spirited game of Magic: The Gathering with his friends, Jonathon Hanline and Colin Dermody. “But I also love board games."

Traditional and classic parlor games, such as Monopoly and Pictionary, are among diversions some residents turn to when socializing.

Read commentary on this issue: "Board games bring a welcome, personal distraction">>

The satirical, politically incorrect Cards Against Humanity, a game that proudly calls itself "a party game for horrible people,” is a favorite for larger gatherings, Josiah White said.

“It can get pretty rude,” he said, laughing. “But it is so much fun.”

For Crestview High School junior Lindsey Wakayama, monthly family games nights are opportunities to have fun and catch up.

“It’s a good way to get away from electronics for a few hours and see how everybody has been,” she said. “It’s a good way to get closer to your family or whoever you’re playing games with.”

When playing with her peers, board games remove the pressure of some social situations.

“It’s a fun way to be friendly without being awkward,” Lindsey said.

PROXIMITY

“It’s more fun playing games with people you can see,” Hanline said, noting that online gaming opponents can be as far distant as another continent.

“I don’t play online video games,” Alex Andrews said. “I like to play traditional board games. It’s fun to see people's reactions to things that happen in the game and, if you win, you can brag a little.”

Andrews’ roommate, Jack Barr, said he believes online video games have their place, too.  

“I like to socialize,” he said. “But if it’s just me at home, I’ll play a video game for a couple hours. It’s kind of like having the friends I hang out with in the room, playing a board game. It’s similar but we’re in different locations.”

He blames older residents’ assessment of young people's social skills on other factors.

“People who are home schooled don’t have a lot of face time with people their own age, and playing video games gives them a sad idea of what reality is,” Barr said. “That’s what affects socialization today.”

KIDDIE GAMES

Baker School alumnus Dillon Komula and his roommate, Justin Kidd, like board and video games, including a game from Komula’s childhood.

“The other day we played Break the Ice, and then we played Monopoly with the family,” Komula said. “But we also just bought an Xbox 360.”

While Komula used to play the online game Halo Reach — “That is the funnest one,” he said — he prefers settling down with friends, family, snacks and a board game.

“I find it more sociable because you get to be face-to-face with people,” he said. “It’s more personable. There’s more bonding. I’m kind of a social butterfly.”

“There’s nothing like having a pizza-and-game night,” Andrews said.

“When it comes back to socializing, I would include video games, too,” Barr said. “It’s still an act of socialization. I go out all the time and I work and I have good face-to-face relationships, but I am an avid gamer.”

Not so for Lindsey.

“I don’t play video games as much as I used to,” she said. “Now that we started playing board games once a month, I found myself playing video games less and less.”

—

WHAT ARE THEY PLAYING?

Young Crestview area game players list these as among their favorite parlor games:

•Cards Against Humanity (Cards Against Humanity LLC): The 2011 “party game for horrible people” asks players to make the dealer laugh by playing off-color response cards to a question.

•Apples-to-Apples (Mattel): This game of comparisons is a matter of comparing, well, you know.

•Encore (Endless Games): Two teams volley back and forth singing snippets of songs containing specified words or themes as they advance to a final sing-off.

•Magic: The Gathering (Wizards of the Coast): A trading card game in which wizards deploy spells, artifacts and creatures to defeat their opponents.

•Monopoly (Hasbro): The classic real estate buying and trading game has delighted players since 1935.

•Pictionary (Mattel Games): Since 1985, players have been racing opposing teams to doodle a clue their teammates can guess first.

•Sorry (Hasbro): Players in this 1929 English board game vie to get their pawns around the course first while trying to negate opponents’ moves.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Board games replace video games for these Crestview residents