Thursday, January 29, 2015

Featured Live Music Artist of the Week - The Trans Ams





Last week I talked about a Daytona 24 band from the past, this week, a Daytona 24 band from this past weekend – The Trans Ams.  Definitely an appropriate name for a band playing at the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona.

Trans Ams was the live band from 8-10pm in the FanZone.  I admit, I did miss the first 20 minutes or so, but as I exited the tram from the backstretch, I heard the crowd chanting “She’s got the looks that kill” along with the music.  In total honesty, I had forgotten there was a live band, and thought this was just pre-recorded music playing, with fans chanting.  Then I realized, it was the band, and then I realized, just how good they were – that I thought they were the actual band – on tape.

The band consists of 3 guitars (lead, rhythm, bass), drums, and a frontman/lead vocalist.  They played classic hard rock (not just classic rock) – Kiss, Aerosmith, Motley Crue, Nazareth, and even The Beatles!  Yes, The Beatles (Helter Skelter to be precise, probably more in the spirit of Motley Crue’s cover).

Definitely a tough gig for a band as the majority of the audience was focused on the giant screen and the race broadcast.  The band of course was not bothered by this and continued to provide a fully interactive concert, encouraging the audience to put their fists in the air and make the Metal Horns, along with chanting along and even the dialogue found in small-venue concerts, such as “where are you from” and noticing the hats and jackets worn by the audience.

Musically, this band is spot on – every song sounds as good as the original – but also has nuances which make the songs unique to The Trans Ams.  In addition they have an excellent stage presence along with synchronized choreography a la Kiss and other metal bands of that time.  Lots of energy on stage and pure hard rock from the speakers.  A perfect back drop for the racing on the giant screen!

The Trans Ams - a perfect band for a perfect racing event.

No comments:

Post a Comment