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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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.
