In search of live music on Saturday May 30, 2020 a road trip was in order to Saint Petersburg, Florida. The journey led to the St. Pete Side Lot in the Warehouse Arts District of Saint Petersburg where 22N was scheduled to perform. The Side Lot is an open-air night club nestled next to the 3 Daughter’s Brewery. Upon arriving I was hospitably greeted by the Side Lot’s owner, Bill McArdle who is also the executive producer of Tampa Bay Night Life TV. Tampa Bay Night Nightlife TV is the go-to guide for concerts and entertainment in the bay area. The venue was as advertised, open air with gravel flooring and a bar to the right as you enter. A few tents aligned the sides and the stage was at the other end. A row of picnic tables ran down the center from the entrance to the lighted dance floor in front of the stage. Florida’s hurricane season kicks off in just two days so isolated showers can pop up at any time and I wondered if we would get the show in. I was grateful the sky was blue with a few scattered clouds, it looked good. As cool as the venue was outdoors and all, I really have to say I was equally impressed with the porta-pottys that were located stage left. There were actual toilets and sinks with running water and the flooring was an oak laminate! This is an amazing venue and I wished it was closer than the two-hour drive that it took me to get there.
After surveying the landscape, I set out to introduce myself to the band 22N. I found the lead singer Kristen Lee at the side of the stage. I introduced myself and explained why I had come. She then pointed me out to David Lay, the drummer, as he deals with media and marketing. Before I excused myself, I had to ask, “What does 22N mean?” Kristen explained David Lay was ex-law enforcement and 22N is the police call sign for “Disturbance – Noise Complaint”. At that point, I was aware this was going to be a fun night.
I met up with David as he was mingling with the crowd. He was eager to talk about the band and point out that the screens and electronics were owned by the band and they had a full crew of production and lighting engineers. Now I was extremely intrigued as I have never seen a bar cover band with this sophistication. I knew they had been nominated in the Bay Area in 2019 for:
Best of the Bay 2019 Nomination – Best Local Cover Band
Best of the Bay 2019 Nomination – Best Local Band (Original)
Best of the Bay 2019 Nomination – Best Local Hip -Hop Act
Best of the Bay 2019 Nomination -Best Local Jam Band
Best of the Bay 2019 Nomination -Best Local Pop Act
Best of the Bay 2019 Nomination -Best Local Rock Band
Best of the Bay 2019 Nomination -Best Local Soul/R&B/Funk Act
Best of the Bay 2019 Nomination -Best Vocalist
Best of the Bay 2019 Nomination -Best Singer/Song Writer
Best of the Bay 2019 Nomination -Best Stage Director
But I still had never heard of them? David said 22N is pretty much pigeon toed into Central Florida’s West Coast and hadn’t been able to break into the Orlando market. I found this weird as 22N calls Lakeland, Florida home. After some good-natured banter back and forth about the Covid crisis and how it affected the band, I returned to my picnic table and readied my equipment for the show. The schedule said 6PM to 9PM and I had arrived around 6:30PM hoping to cover the second set when the band had already warmed up. But I was corrected, the show started at 8PM and the doors opened at 6PM. I had time to kill and used it wisely getting to meet the band and get their background.
Just after 8PM the show started. Immediately, I was drawn to the video screen behind the drum riser that flashed shapes and colors complementing the elaborate stage lighting. Kristen Lee held center stage in a black and white striped top with tight black pants and heels. Her blonde hair blew in the breeze caused by fans behind. Her stage presence demanded every eye in the venue. The band opened with “Harder to Breath” by Maroon 5, and the show was off! The crowd did not need a lot of coaxing to get up and dance on the lighted stage once the sun set at about 8:21PM. The dance floor was continuously filled the remainder of the night.
22N’s set picked up steam and you could tell they had been together for awhile as they really enjoyed performing with one another. This was evident from the smiles and playfulness on stage. What stood out to me was every member of the band sang. Kristen sang lead for the majority of the show, but Mike Roberts, the keyboard player sang lead and also played guitar. Everyone in the band is an exceptional musician. Tim Jones on lead guitar never missed a lick and mirrored the original recordings of the covers they performed. Jeff Hufstedler dressed in a Scottish kilt along with David Lay on drums kept the rhythm line going, keeping everything on track. To compliment Kristen leading the charge, Mike Roberts performed with emotion and was all over the stage keeping the fans engaged in the show.
This show was fun! The crowd really enjoyed getting out once again and blowing off some steam at a rock concert. 22N is a very polished act and a band every live music fan should experience. Why Orlando has taken a pass on this band befuddles me. Get out and support Central Florida Live Music! You might just find a new favorite band like 22N!
Band:
Kristen Lee – Singer
Mike Roberts – Keyboard / Vocals / Guitar / Harmonica
Tim Jones – Guitar / Vocals
Jeff Hufstedler – Bass Guitar / Vocals
David Lay – Drums / Vocals
James Madden – Production Manager / Sound Engineer
Don P – Video Production
Jordan Dutton – Lighting Production
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Setlist:
1. Harder To Breath (Maroon 5 cover)
2. The Middle (Jimmy Eat World cover)
3. Rollin’ in The Deep (Adele cover)
4. Panama (Van Halen cover)
5. Your Love (The Outfield)
6. Authority Song (John Mellencamp cover)
7. Santana/Havana
8. Only One (Melissa Etheridge cover)
9. Save A Horse (Big and Rich cover)
10. Shine (Collective Soul cover)
11. Working for The Weekend (Loverboy Cover)
12. Separate Ways (Journey cover)
13. Rebel Yell (Billy Idol cover)
14. You Give Love a Bad Name (Bon Jovi cover)
15. Nothin’ But a Good Time (P0ison cover)
16. Shook Me (AC/DC cover)
17. Dance Monkey (Tones and I cover)
18. Moves Like Jagger (Maroon 5 cover)
19. Shut Up and Dance (Walk the Moon cover)
20. Uptown Funk (Mark Ronson/Bruno Mars cover)
21. Pour Some Sugar (Def Leppard cover)
22. Sweet Dreams (Eurythmics cover)
23. Walk Away/Word Up
24. Don’t Stop Believing (Journey cover)
25. Queen Medley
26. Bring Me to Life (Evanescence cover)
27. Man in The Box (Alice in Chains cover)
28. Zombie (The Cranberries cover)
29. Wanted Dead or Alive (Bon Jovi cover)
30. My Own Worst Enemy (Lit cover)
31. Rock You Like A Hurricane (Scorpions cover)
32. Nation Army (The White Stripes cover)
33. Shake it For Me (Luke Bryan cover)
34. Let’s Go Crazy (Prince cover)
35. Raise Your Glass (Pink cover)
36. Kryptonite ( 3 Doors Down cover)
37. Fight For Your Right (Beastie Boys cover)
38. Teen Spirit (Nirvana cover)
39. Sweet Child (Guns N Roses cover)
40. Hail To The King (Avenged Sevenfold cover)
41. Home Sweet Home (Motley Crew cover)
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Photographer and Editor/Founder of AllMusicMagazine.com. My love of live music has taken me to incredible experiences with the top bands of all time in stadium shows to the smallest venues with equally inspiring musicians. Using the medium of photography and my publication, these memories will last forever.
