Winery Dogs Packed The House At The Plaza Live in Downtown Orlando, Florida on 3-26-2023

 

 

It was a hot and muggy night in Orlando, Florida amidst the Milk District where  The Plaza Live is nestled between dairies. The heat didn’t stop the crowd from lining up around the building to see the Winery Dogs, prior to the doors opening at 7:00pm. The floor seating was general admission, so getting to the front was the priority of the masses as they calmly stood in line. Luckily, there was a barrier to allow a gap between the stage and the crowd. Just enough room for photographers and videographers.

The show started promptly at 8:00pm with the Orlando heavy metal band Breed. Breed was started by bass player Jake Blachura and guitarist Matt Bloom in 2019. The band released an initial EP called “27” in 2021. Since the release of their initial four song EP, the band has released three singles, “Only World”, “Holy Sacrifice”, and the latest single, “In Your Head”. This band was really tight and put on a great show complete with hair flips and hair twirls that got the audience into the show.

Breed is making a splash and be on the lookout for them coming to a venue near you!

 

Band:

Tito Blaze – Drums

Bentley Fitzgibbon – Rhythm Guitar

J. Nieto – Vocals

Jake Blachura – Bass

Matt Bloom – Guitar

 

 

Setlist:

1.) Only World

2.) Tittillated

3.) In Your Head

4.) Middle Man

5.) Holy Sacrifice

 

At a minute after 9:00pm and after the opening recording of Grand Funk Railroad‘s “We’re An American Band”, the American super group The Winery Dogs wasted no time getting to the nitty gritty by opening with “Gaslight” and “Xanadu” off their latest album, “III”.  They took a brief pause as singer and guitarist Richie Kotzen addressed the crowd, then went into “Captain Love”. It was easy to understand that this trio was something special and local Orlando musicians were everywhere in the crowd.

Richie Kotzen’ was a part of the glam metal band Poison in the early 1990’s, as well as playing in “Mr. Big” with Billy Sheehan at the end of that decade.  He also appears on over 20 albums that have been released. Bass player Billy Sheehan just might be the most famous bass player currently playing live. He has been voted best rock bass player five time by Guitar Player Magazine. All Music Magazine published a podcast with Billy as he sat with our own Dr. Music, Scott Itter just last August. The interview can be seen HERE! To round out the super trio, Mike Portnoy, one of the founding members of the band Dream Theater. Mike was a member of Dream Theater for 25 years before leaving in 2010 and becoming the drummer for Sons of Apollo and Winery Dogs, with Billy Sheehan. There are also a number of other projects, just to many to name. Winery Dogs started in 2012 with the same line up as today.

The Plaza Live got a great show as the band played 17 songs which included a two-song encore. They even filmed a new music video during the show for the song “Breakthrough”. I know I said that the openers, Breed were really tight, but this super trio was way beyond tight and just rolled right through their 105-minute set. Get out and see this band! You will be sad if you miss them.

 

Band:

Mike Portnoy – Drums/Backing/Vocals

Billy Sheehan – Bass/Backing Vocals

Richie Kotzen – Guitars/Keyboards/Piano/Lead Vocals

 

 

 

Setlist:

1.) Gaslight

2.) Xanadu

3.) Captain Love

4.) Hot Streak

5.) Desire

6.) Breakthrough

7.) Time Machine

8.) Stars

9.) Damaged

10.) Mad World

11.) The Other Side

12.) Bass Solo

13.) The Red Wine

14.) I’m No Angel

15.) Oblivion

Encore

16.) Regret

17.) Elevate

 

 

 

 

 

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