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# Getting jiggy with baristas
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/getting-off-the-lot-a-winner/
- Published: 2007-07-12T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T02:16:31.000Z
- Author: Melody Hanatani
- Tags: Entertainment, Westwood, #archive-import

*By REAGAN WHEELER Special to the Daily Press*

WESTWOOD Just a few miles away from Santa Monica, a serious musical movement is brewing, literally.

This is where 22-year-old Angelo Santi toils away at the Starbucks on West Weyburn Avenue. To most of his customers, he seems like an average Joe, but there’s more to the story than meets the sleepy-morning, yet-to-be-caffeinated eye.

Santi is a guitarist in the band Bluebox. Along with three of his pals — Morgan Taylor, JoHero and Drew Langan — he started the band four years ago. With the exception of Langan, each of the band’s members have been employed with Starbucks at one time or another.

After having played up and down the western coast, often paying out of pocket just for the chance to play, the members of Bluebox continue to try and take matters into their own hands and have entered the Starbucks music contest, “Does Your Barista Rock?” Fifteen acts — each an employee of the coffee house giant — are vying for the grand prize, the chance to open for a renowned artist at the House of Blues in Hollywood.

“People take you more serious if you’re not waiting for someone to make you famous,” Santi said on Monday.

Not only does the winning act get to rock the Sunset Strip, but all of the 17 finalists are currently being played on the Starbucks Hear Music website.

Starbucks has proven very supportive of their employees’ talent over the years. The level of respect and integrity is like no other business, according to Santi. The company has made Fortune Magazine’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For nine years, most recently placing 29th in 2006 and 16th this year.

“This contest is just another way that Starbucks is dedicated to its partners,” said Gabby Vizcaino, spokesperson for Starbucks.

“Does Your Barista Rock?” is not the first contest hosted by the Starbucks Coffee Company. In 2006, they staged a national contest for baristas, after which 10 finalists were chosen and a compilation CD, “Off the Clock,” recorded and sold in all Starbucks chains.

Meanwhile, Bluebox has been honing their craft, recording their self-titled, first album last year. They’ve played in Sacramento, Santa Rosa, San Jose, and San Francisco within the last year. With 9,925 MySpace friends, the band is cultivating a fan base.

The group has been compared to John Mayer, Jamiroquai, Keane and The Fray by fans in the Bay Area. The other “Barista Rock” finalists include seven musicians from the San Diego area and baristas from Fresno, Bakersfield and Torrance, among other Los Angeles area enclaves.

Santi credits his current employers with helping him to chase after his dreams of stardom, saying his boss is “really flexible” with his hours if the band has an upcoming gig. The Westwood store’s assistant manager, Jeff Woodruff, even helped Bluebox set up a show in the store a couple of months back, calling Bluebox’ music “nifty.”

“I can count on them (his employers),” said Santi. “They take care of me.”

Bluebox entered the 2006 national competition, but didn’t crack the finals. Undeterred, they entered again this year, advancing to the finals in the regional contest. The band was on tour in Rancho Marietta, performing a benefit concert for Santi’s grandfather, when they got the news.

“We couldn’t even believe it... we forgot that we even entered the contest,” Santi said.

Now, the band members are busy encouraging fans to vote for their track “No Place To Run” to send them to the House of Blues.

Fans can vote until July 16 on www.socal-hearmusic.com. The winner will be announced July 23.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/071207-17_01.jpg)

LUCKY GUYS: Bluebox made the cut. (Photo: Photo courtesy)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/55/9f/559f9abc-8372-4a2e-8c2d-27386da4e363/content/images/2026/10/071207-17_02.jpg)

LUCKY GUYS: Bluebox made the cut. (Photo: Photo courtesy)

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 12, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/071207.pdf?ref=smdp.com)