Band

Cosmic Dance was formed in 1993 and the music still lives on in the hearts of many fans today. The band name is derived from the cult movie classic, Harold and Maude.

Band founders Toby Zambetti and Dave Matela met in Hayward, California in 1993. It was then and there the concept of Cosmic Dance came about. This band would exude improvisation, with a heavy blues and classic rock influence. The band was molded in the likes of Cream and Zeppelin. They were heavily into the blues and were constantly drinking from the fountain by engulfing blues artists like Brownie McGhee, Lightning Hopkins, Freddy King, Otis Redding, Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, Robert Johnson, Son House, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn etc. Some of the bands' other Cosmic influences include: Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Cream, Rush, Richie Havens, Bob Dylan, Morphine, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, The Beatles, etc. 

Humble Beginnings

John Roche was the drummer for Cosmic Dance and Tom Neely joined on bass in 1995 to complete the cosmic project. They spent 7 years writing, creating, recording, performing, selling, mixing and mastering. Their first recording took place in 1995 at Hyde Street studios in San Francisco. They agreed to use a 2- inch 24 track analog tape in order to obtain the warm vintage sound the band was after. Shortly after the recording session, John Roche left Cosmic Dance. After a year of searching, they found San Jose drummer Terry Thompson. 

Recording and Performing

The second recording project was done in Union City, California at the band house. They spent six months cooped up together making this record. It was all completed on a Fostex 4 track. This album caught the attention of many influential people that catapulted the success of Cosmic Dance. This last professional recording project Cosmic Dance created was in 1999.

Friends

Along the way, several people have and still do contribute to the success of the band. The band always remains grateful and can never thank them enough for their time and effort spent helping to promote The Cosmic Dance journey. These people include, but are not limited to: Barry Rose, Owen Sloan, Scott Matthews, Jim Langford, Pete Turrini (Pistol Pete Productions, pictured left), Club KAOS, Kevin Larsen, Margaret Scranton, Phil and his wife Karen, Heidi, The Rapter, and Chino Pisces.

Influence

Cosmic Dance (i.e. David and Toby) have performed at hundreds of Bay Area clubs during their musical careers. The band has played all over the west coast in towns from Seattle, Washington, and Eugene, Oregon, their home town the Bay Area California and all the way to Austin, Texas. They have shared the stage with great acts such as Rob Zombie, Linda Perry, Pat Travers, Gene Loves Jezebel, School of Fish, Forbidden, Tommy Castro and many more. Cosmic Dance music has caught the attention of such great musicians such as Ray Manzarek (The Doors), Carlos Santana, Linda Perry (4 Non Blondes), Govt. Mule, Pat Travers, Buddy Guy, Les Claypool, and Slash (Guns & Roses).

Recent

Dave is still writing today and often performs at acoustic coffee houses in Berkeley. He is a respected and a sought out guitar teacher in the East Bay.

Toby Zambetti is still writing, recording and teaching in the South Bay. He has also produced some local music as they have always been enamored with the tones he and David were able to capture in the recording studio. Both Toby and Dave remain active in the Bay Area music community and continue to create new and exciting music.