Just like Batman’s bat phone or the direct line between the White House and the Kremlin, Lorain County based cover group The Hotline Band is always ready for any occasion. “We’ve been together since 2003, and we’re pretty much an all-occasion band,” said guitarist-singer Mike Wypasek. “We do play the local circuit here but we’re concentrating more towards private events and weddings now. We’ll play all kinds of stuff. We try to stay with more of the classic rock type of music.” Among the songs The Hotline Band performs are ‘60s and ‘70s rock (Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama,” Cream’s “White Room” and The Kinks’ “You Really Got Me”), ‘80s hits (The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven” and Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Relax”) and modern tracks (Jet’s “Are You Gonna be My Girl,” Weezer’s “Beverly Hills” and U2’s “Vertigo”). There’s also a smattering of old funk, Motown and more. A network administrator/facility manager by day, Avon Lake resident Wypasek views this extracurricular activity as a necessity to alleviate the stresses of everyday life. “It’s just something I’ve been doing for a number of years,” Wypasek said. “I started playing guitar when I was 13 years old and have been in and out of local bands pretty much all my life. “So it’s just one of those things that’s kind of part of me. I wouldn’t necessarily say it defines me, but it is part of me and I enjoy it.” Averaging 30 to 40 gigs a year, The Hotline Band — Wypasek, Brian Gadomski (bass, vocals), Jim Brightbill (keyboards, vocals) and Bernie Gadomski (drums, vocals) — plays the area frequently. In fact, you can see them at 10 p.m., Feb. 29 at I-5's Bar & Grill in Huron. “It’s nice crowds and nice establishments out there,” Wypasek said. “The people are great out there, they really enjoy us. We’ve had a lot of success, and I’m not quite sure why they enjoy us as much as they do. I know that there seems to be a bit of a following. “We will see a lot of the same folks from gig to gig, so we try to deliver what the customer likes. We always try to keep the music danceable. That’s the main thing to take away from this is that the folks, I believe, enjoy to dance.” While lately The Hotline Band has been playing more and more private parties and weddings, which tend to pay better, Wypasek admits there is a benefit to a bar gig. “It does give us a little bit more freedom, and it’s not as structured,” Wypasek said. “We can, so to speak, let our hair down a little bit more at a bar so there’s clearly a bigger fun factor.” I-5’s Bar & Grill is located at 356 N. Main St. in Huron. Call (419) 433-5566 for more information.