Desert trippin’: Citrus alum/musician scores the gig of a lifetime playing alongside living musical legends

Citrus alum Anthony LoGerfo. Photo provided by: Anthony LoGerfo.

It’s the second weekend of Desert Trip, or “Oldchella” as the millennial crowd called it. A new festival created by the owners of Coachella as a throwback of sorts for a younger crowd to be introduced to influential artists who paved the way for the new guard. Tucked away in Indio’s Coachella Valley millions of music fans rallied together on Oct. 7-9 and Oct. 14-16 to see legendary acts like Roger Waters, The Who, Paul McCartney and Neil Young all on one stage.

Out of all the fans gather to see Young, the one with the best seat to see the world renowned musician was 33-year-old Anthony LoGerfo, who is looking directly at the back of Young’s head, watching while he commands the crowd with a dynamite performance.

LoGerfo, a La Verne resident, was a former music major from Citrus College. When he first stepped behind a drumset he had no idea how far it would take him.

The love affair between LoGerfo and percussion began when he was five years old. “I was introduced to bands like Led Zeppelin and The Who, which is what set it off for me,” he said, listing the likes of John Bonham, Keith Moon, Gene Krupa and Elvin Jones as his musical influences.

LoGerfo got his first drum kit at 10, then started his own rock band and began playing shows.

“I booked my first show at The Whiskey a-Go-Go in Hollywood,” he said. “I called them up pretending to be a promoter for this band and they gave us a show to play.”

By the time he got to Citrus, LoGerfo was a drummer, but couldn’t read music. “I learned how to play by ear, but reading music was never something I learned until I got to Citrus,” LoGerfo said.

Naturally, he had to start at the bottom of the pack but worked his way up by practicing, learning how to read music and even attending the higher level band’s rehearsals and classes in his spare time. “It didn’t come easy, but I practiced all the time and learned as quickly as I could,” he said.

After spending time and becoming acquainted with Professor Alan Waddington, LoGerfo began performing with the band If All Else Fails and was given the opportunity to record on Gwen Stefani’s debut solo album “Love.Angel.Music.Baby” in 2004, having assembled a makeshift drumline to record for her.

“Putting the drumline together was easy, everyone I asked wanted to be involved and were super excited!” LoGerfo said.

Eventually LoGerfo was introduced to Lukas Nelson, the son of legendary country artist Willie Nelson through Waddington after a Neil Young show.  After hitting it off, the pair formed the band Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, releasing their self-titled debut album in 2010.

“It was crazy being introduced to the son of one of my heroes and then becoming a friend with him,” recalls LoGerfo. “It’s still mind blowing that we’re so close.”

During the group’s early incarnation, Young had been acting like a mentor to Nelson and LoGerfo, shadowing them and helping out where he could, inspiring the group to push harder and play more.

“He showed up to our rehearsals and shows, giving us tips on our songwriting and performance abilities, helping us shape our shows in a way that we wouldn’t be able to do on our own,” LoGerfo said. “Neil has been like an older brother to us.”

After inviting them on a tour with him, Young proposed the idea of them being his backing band on the road and on his album, “The Monsanto Years.”

“I always said if Neil Young calls, I’d quit whatever band I was in and go drum for him,” he said.

Drummer and Citrus alum Anthony LoGerfo drums alongside legendary country artist Willie Nelson (left) and Neil Young during a performance. Photo provided by: Anthony LoGerfo

Thankfully LoGerfo did not have to quit and is currently playing with both his good friends and one of his biggest musical idols.

LoGerfo’s musical path is what eventually led to him onstage with Young at Desert Trip. Despite the pressure of playing a massive music festival with an array of iconic musicians to a sea of eager music fans, LoGerfo recalled the performance as “very natural.”

“Neil just sat us down and said it was like performing at the small brewery we had just performed at in San Luis Obispo, even though we knew there were at least thousands of people out there,” LoGerfo said.

Anyone who has seen Young live, knows he treats every performance like a big jam session and even for an event as massive as Desert Trip, LoGerfo and the backing band were up to the challenge of jamming out at the end of the night with Young and Paul McCartney.

“We loved the vibe we were getting, everyone seemed to be doing nothing but being one with what was going on on the stage,” LoGerfo said.

“Paul is the sweetest dude,” LoGerfo chuckles, remembering the night. “He got to know us, had a conversation, wanted to play with us and seemed as excited to be there as he looked when he was in his 20’s performing with The Beatles.”

Living a life that most young musicians dream of, he treats everything like it’s day one.

“Just being there is enough for me, I’m surprised I get paid for this!” LoGerfo laughed.

LoGerfo is a musician who is there for the artist and their needs and his work ethic is a force to reckoned with. He approaches every aspect of his musicianship as a labor of love, whether it’s performing on stage to thousands or jamming out in rehearsals.

“Never play for a goal,” he said. “Play for the love of playing.”