Disco Inferno keeps the ’70s party burning

February 9, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

Who knew? It turns out disco doesn’t suck after all. In fact, the ’70s trendy dance genre is getting the last laugh decades after the rock crowd turned “disco sucks” into popular bumper stickers, T-shirts and chants at baseball games where disco albums were blown up. Just a note, the latter ended in a riot. Today, disco is nothing more than looking back at the polyester-wearing era that strapped on their platform “Boogie Shoes” in the hope it would “Get Down Tonight.”

Helping baby boomers remember and younger generations understand the carefree fun of the music is Cleveland-based ’70s cover band Disco Inferno, which amazingly has been playing around the Buckeye State and beyond for more than 15 years.

“It’s one of those things that keeps growing and growing,” said singer-guitarist David “Sonny D Lite” Maffei. “We’ve gotten busier and busier just in the past six or seven years. When I started out, I thought this was going to die out because on the West Coast, it kind of has. For us, I think it’s just danceable music. It doesn’t matter what age you are or if you even know the songs. As soon as the music is played, you can tell it’s dance music. Also, we bring a fun element, too. We have story lines that go on, and we try to entertain.”

In a nutshell, Maffei said Disco Inferno’s shtick is “Saturday Night Fever”-meets-“The Brady Bunch” movie of the mid-’90s. The former is with the choreography and dancing on stage, while the second provides a ’70s corniness. Then there’s the soundtrack, which includes the obligatory Bee Gees (“How Deep is Your Love” and “Night Fever”), along with KC and Sunshine Band (“Get Down Tonight”), Gloria Gaynor (“I Will Survive”), Wild Cherry (“Play that Funky Music”) and Hot Chocolate (“You Sexy Thing”).

At one point, the music provided an interesting paradox for Maffei, who not only grew up head-banging heavy metal but played in such bands during the ’80s.

“At that time, there was this anti-disco [sentiment] because it was more of a culture that people didn’t get,” Maffei said. “Now years later, I find I listen to disco even when I’m not playing. I really enjoy the music. When you listen to Bee Gees albums or Earth Wind & Fire, the musicianship is incredible.”

For disco naysayers, if such a group still exists, the proof is Disco Inferno packs people in wherever it plays. In fact, the outfit is booked for 2012, including numerous gigs in Youngstown. The next show takes place Saturday at The Cellar.

“We draw crowds because we’re different and entertaining,” Maffei said. “There aren’t a whole lot of disco bands out there. And we get a lot of girls who follow us. Girls come and like to dance, and that brings guys because they know all of the girls will be at the Disco Inferno show.”

So does Maffei, dressed in an afro wig and platform shoes, get hit on often?

“You could say so, but I’m married,” Maffei said, laughing. “So now I say no, that never happens.”