All Music Magazine was more mobile on day two in Daytona Beach, Florida covering nine bands in five bars. Bike Week 2023 was in full swing as the streets were busier and motorcycles were spotted further inland as I made my way across the bridge that separates the beaches from the mainland over the Halifax River. Parking lots were at capacity, but I managed to arrive when a car was leaving to obtain a spot. If your heading to Bike Week, come early!
Scream Machine At The Legendary Boot Hill Saloon 6:00pm-8:00pm
My first stop was the outside stage at The Legendary Boot Hill Saloon, who by the way is celebrating 50 years of operation. Performing live on stage was Scream Machine. The Ultimate 80’s Arena Rock Show tribute band out of Tampa playing Rush, Motley Crue, Led Zeppelin, Poison, Journey, Billy Idol, Metallica, AC DC, Van Halen and more!! This is a fun show, and all band members have big hair wigs to add to the craziness. Check them out if given the chance.
Band:
Eric Stewart– Guitar
Jay Hajj – Vocals
Dave Wrenn – Drums
Chris “Slooter” Anderson – Bass
RedGate at Main Street Station on Front Stage 10:00pm – 12:00pm
Redgate is a band from Volusia County Florida that covers songs from Lynyrd Skynyrd, REO Speed Wagon, The Who, and many more. Barb Paugh fronts the band with powerful vocals and the rest of the band is tight and puts on a great show. A very entertaining set!
Band:
Barb Paugh – Vocals
Ron Poulin– Guitar
Greg Stevens – Drums
Walt Brunson– Bass
Greg Plewa – Guitar
Big Engine On The Main Stage at Main Street Station 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Big Engine was on the main Stage at Main Street Market getting the crowd ready for the headliner Blandini. A powerhouse band from Jacksonville, Florida. Big Engine has been around a long time and has released five albums and plays originals and some covers in their live show. They closed with “The Zoo” by Scorpions, one of my all-time favorites, and they nailed it!
Band:
Tony Mikus – Vocals/Guitar
Hans Oellerich – Guitar/Vocals
Hypersona At Dirty Harry’s 10:30pm – 12:30pm
Anyone in Central Florida knows Hypersona as they might just be the hardest working band in the area. Eric Frates is an exceptional drummer with a fantastic voice and vocal range. Hypersona usually plays five days a week as the full band, or a duet. They have been a staple of Bike Week for years!
Band:
Eric Frates – Drums/Vocals
Steve Savage– Guitar/ Vocals
Frank McDaniel -Bass
Crashrocket at Full Moon Saloon 10:00pm – 1:00am
Crashrocket is a four piece band performing covers from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and current rock, with a set list that consists of well over 150 songs there is something for everyone. Crashrocket also has 2 CD’S with original music which can be bought at the band shows. Glenn Bailey is an excellent front man, Paul Murphy on bass is a great player and showman, Brian Magner is very talented on guitar, and Jenie Ashbaugh is a beast behind the kit. Being one of Central Florida’s rock bands, you can catch them somewhere every weekend!
Band:
Glenn Bailey – Vocals
Brian Magner – Guitar
Jenie Ashbaugh– Drums
Paul Murphy – Bass
Paradoxxx on the front stage at Main Street Station 12:00am – 2:00pm
Paradoxx is a relatively new band (1 year) fronted by the talented Aaron Lightnin with awesome vocals. I had time to speak with Aaron on Friday night as he stopped by to say hi. I promised I would stop by at the end of the night and get a few images. Being pressed for time as it was 1:00am and I was on my way out of Main Street I didn’t get the time to stay and listen. I promise I will make that time in the future.
Band:
Aaron Lightnin – Vocals/Keyboard
Raleigh Estes – Guitar
Sammy Allen – Bass
Dale DaBone – Drums
Are Friends Electric at The Bank and Blues 10:00pm – 1:00am
Are Friend Electric is a band I have been wanting to see as I have only heart great things about this band. When I popped into The Bank I was pleased they were on stage and the joint was jumpin! Being short on time I also didn’t get to spend enough time to completely enjoy their performance. They are on my list to revisit very soon.
Band:
Andrea Elmer – Vocals
Billy Dean – Drums
Jeremy Mix – Guitar
Brian McMahon – Bass
Jasmine Cain at Dirty Harry’s at 8:00pm – 10:00pm
Heading down Main Street, I ducked into Dirty Harry’s Pub and there on stage was the hardest rocking lady in the industry hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Ms. Jasmine Cain! This is a pure rockin performer and you haven’t experienced Bike Week if you haven’t rocked out with Jasmine! I always look forward to seeing this artist just slamming her bass guitar and commanding the stage and every eye in the audience. Since 2021 when I first covered Jasmine’s set, she has been on my radar as a not miss show!
Band:
Jasmine Cain – Vocals/Bass
Taylor McKee – Guitar/Vocals
Philip Kelly – Drum
Blandini On The Main Stage at Main Street Station 10:00pm -12:00am
The headliner of the day at Main Street Station for the second night in a row was Blandini. Jeff Blando from Slaughter/Vince Neil on lead guitar and vocals, Paul Drennan from 38 Special/3 Forks Road on bass, and the powerhouse drummer from, West Babylon, NY, Jordan Cannata! This lineup just plain rocks! Saturday night’s crowd was larger than the previous night as word got out about how great they were on Friday night. Blando and Cannata let it all hang out as they knew they had the rest of the week off before they heading to Yakama National Legends Casino in Toppenish, Washington to meet up with the other half of the band Slaughter, for a Friday night’s concert.
Blando was on fire as he shredded his guitar through the entire set. Drennan cranked out the baselines and had a rocking base solo showing off his skills in the stoplight as Blando left the stage leaving he and Cannata to thunder on. Cannata is a show by himself and with only the second time witnessing his performance, I was still mesmerized by his skill and showmanship. He is really something to watch. These boys were sure having fun and you could see it by the grins on their faces. Pure joy in front of the crowd.
Band:
Jeff Blando – Guitar/Vocals
Paul Drennan – Bass/Vocals
Jordan Cannata – Drums
Setlist:
1.) We Will Rock You (Queen Cover)
2.) Paranoid (Black Sabbath Cover)
3.) Stay With Me (Faces Cover)
4.) Still of The Night (White Snake Cover)
5.) Snortin Whiskey (Pat Travers Cover)
6.) Would (Alice & Chains Cover)
7.) Heaven & Hell (Black Sabbath Cover)
8.) I Don’t Know
9.) Strangle Hold (Ted Nugent Cover)
10.) Free For All (Ted Nugent Cover)
11.) Judgement Day (Kings of Chaos Cover)
12.) Led Zeppelin Medley
Whole Lotta Love
Good Times Bad Times
The Ocean
What Is & What Should Never Be
Moby Dick
Dazed and Confussed
Stairway to Heaven
13.) Possum Kingdom (The Toadies Cover)
14.) Starseed (Our Lady Peace Cover)
15.) Baba O’Riley (The Who Cover)
16.) Feel Like I Do (Peter Frampton Cover)
Follow Blandini Online:
Follow Jasmine Cain Online:
Follow Hypersona Online:
Follow Crashrocket Online:
Follow Big Engine Online:
Follow Scream Machine Online:
Follow Paradoxxx Online:
Follow RedGate Online:
Follow Are Friends Electric Online:
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.
