The holidays are over, and it’s time to get back to the grind, which means you deserve to go out at night and rock out. Friday night, January 23, 2026, All Music Magazine traveled to Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill located in St. Petersburg, Florida. Ferg’s is located across the street from The Big Sombrero, Tropicana Field. Tropicana Field used to house the Tampa Bay Devil Rays before Hurricane Milton tore the roof off in 2024. Ferg’s Sports Bar and Grill covers almost two entire blocks, with multiple bars, over 90 televisions, and a large outdoor stage that hosts live entertainment.
The headliner for this night was the seventies rock band Great White, hitting the stage just after 9:30 pm Great White formed in 1977 in Los Angeles, California. Currently, only guitarist Mark Kendall is an original member of the band. Great White released two platinum-selling records in the 1980s, Once Bitten (1987) and …Twice Shy (1989).
To warm up the crowd, the 1990s Rock band Slaughter, fronted by singer/ guitarist Mark Slaughter and original bassist Dana Strum, and they went on around 8:10 pm. The band actually formed in Las Vegas in 1988. Slaughter released five albums in the 1990′, with Stick It to Ya (1990) going double platinum and The Wild Life (1992) going gold.
The night’s entertainment started at approximately 6:45 pm with the Tampa Bay band Saints of Saturn. They almost apologised for not performing their usual electric bluesy set, but instead it was an unplugged show, which was great as the attendees got a beverage and found their seats. The band has recorded a five-song EP, with their debut single “Decay” available everywhere!
The acoustic set was engaging, and plenty of folks in attendance were introduced to a very talented trio. I know I am always on the lookout for the legendary swagger of the 1970s and the grit of the 1990s in a new band, and here they were. These are the two characteristics missing in bands over the past two decades.
Saints of Saturn Band Members:
Nik Wilson – Lead Vocals / Guitar
Cory Bernardi – Drums
Chris Erickson – Bass
Setlist: Not Available
Slaughter took the stage with a fury! The two original members, Mark Slaughter and Dana Strum have been touring for the past 38 years, and were on fire like they were shot out of a cannon. They must have gotten a shot of adrenaline from the two newcomers to the band, Jeff Blando, who replaced the deceased guitarist Tim Kelly in 1998, and drummer Jordan Cannata, who came aboard in 2021. Cannata is following six men who previously sat behind the drum kit.
Mark Slaughter sure hasn’t lost anything vocally over time and still belts out the hits like “Up All Night” and “Mad About You.” Dana Strum stalks the complete stage with his thundering bass, Jeff Blando rips on the lead guitar, and Jordan Cannata is a sight to see as he bangs away from his seat and then above the drums as he climbs above them. The show has something for everyone, from hard rock to soft ballads like “Fly to the Angels,” where the audience gets involved by illuminating the venue with the lights of their cell phones.
Slaughter has been on a brutal touring schedule for the past five years, and it looks like they will not be slowing down anytime soon.
Slaughter Band
Mark Slaughter – Vocals/Guitar
Dana Strum – Bass/Vocals
Jeff Blando – Guitar/Vocals
Jordan Cannata – Drums
Setlist:
1.Mad About You (With Intro) *
2. Burnin’ Bridges *
3. Spend My Life (Mark guitar solo intro) *
4. Unknown Destination
5. Eye to Eye (With Drum & Guitar solos) *
6. Days Gone By (Mark Acoustic and Dana Bass only)
7. Real Love *
8. Fly to the Angels (Extended) *
9. Up All Night (With “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by The Who snippet) *
Great White has been through a lot with a few changes over their 49 years, with lead singers and, most notably, the nightclub fire incident at The Station in West Warwick, Rhode Island in 2002, which, by the grace of God, the band somehow persevered. Lead singers’ lineup includes Jack Russell initially, then Jani Lane, Terry Ilous, Paul Shortino, Mitch Malloy, Andrew Freeman, and now the 28-year-old Brett Carlisle. Carlisle adds youth and longevity to the lineup. A funny note, at a point in the show, Carlisle asked, “Does anyone want to hear ‘Lady Red Light’ from the first album? Then, he shyly added, “it was way back before I was conceived,” which brought a few chuckles from the older crowd.
As long as Mark Kendall, the founder, wants to continue the brand, and from what I witnessed, there was way too much fun happening under the lights for any band member to walk away anytime soon. From the opening song “Desert Moon” to the last two powerhouse hits of the set, “Rock Me” and “Once Bitten Twice Shy,” the crowd stayed thoroughly engaged under the St Pete sky in mid sixties temperatures. It was the perfect night and under perfect conditions for a January evening in Florida for an outdoor concert.
I have seen Great White with three different singers. Unfortunately, I saw Jack Russell when he was very frail. I have seen videos of him back in the day, and he was a powerhouse. But this lineup with Brett Carlisle is very good, and he interacts with the crowd every second. It’s a nice touch, and everyone in attendance feels like they are a part of the show. I expect to see this band out on tour for quite a few years to come.
Great White Band:
Brett Carlisle – Vocals
Mark Kendall – Guitar/Vocals
Michael Lardie – Guitar/Keyboards/Vocals
Scott Snyder – Bass/Vocals
Audie Desbrow – Drums
Setlist:
1.Desert Moon (With intro)
2. Lady Red Light
3. Stick It
4. Rollin’ Stoned (With Brett Carlisle introduction)
4. Mista Bone (With intro jam)
5. House of Broken Love (With Mark Kendall guitar seque)
7. Big Time
8. Gonna Getcha
9. Big Goodbye (Album version)
10. Save Your Love
11. Rock Me (With Mark Kendall guitar seque)
12. Once Bitten Twice Shy (Ian Hunter cover) (With Band Introductions; Extended)
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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.