A Night With the Rods

May 20, 1998

After spending a night at the Sapphire Supper club with The Honeyrods, I am happy to say that I think the music scene in Orlando is still kicking and heading in the right direction - even if the "Politics that be" are trying to change the look of downtown. Coming from Austin TX, I am used to a wide variety of styles and a lot of different influences. I am a newcomer to the local music scene and relatively new to Orlando, but for as long as I've been here, I have seen some great bands in small coffee houses to larger venues like the UCF Arena.

Last Monday night at the Sapphire was no exception - it was incredible! I mean here you had three completely different styles of great music. Arriving as the first band, Butterclub, played their last two songs, I was unable to get to check them out fully, but I liked what I heard. It was kinda like a mixture between The BeeGee's and The Grateful Dead.

As The Denizens set up, my wife and I took advantage of the club's buck a draft special and (it being our first time inside Sapphire) admired the set-up of the club. I wish it had a better layout for taking photos, however. I was not able to get good shots of all the bands, but as I understand it The Denizens are a local band. Their sound kinda reminds me of a of Queensryche combined with a heavier alternative guitar sound.

However, the best was still yet to come. The Honeyrods are definitely a live band! Their show is full of energy as well as excitement. I mean, how many cups of coffee does the singer Gordon Cabaniss, who is also from Austin Texas, drink before he goes on stage? I think that he is a great frontman for the band. He was able to "feel out" the crowd, and you could tell he was having a really good time, which really made their sound totally fill the club. These guys, as we say in Texas, "Tore up the stage"!

As the show continued, the band played several of their classics like Wild Bill" and "Ignorant" as well as the popular "Love Bee". One really cool added attraction of the evening was when all the members of the band 7 Mary 3 showed up and hung out in the audience. I believe that the total time that the Honeyrods played was about 90 minutes. It was actually the Rods free day off, but they decided to play the Sapphire after hitting all the places that the band missed on the northern leg of their tour with 7 Mary 3. Now, since 7 Mary are from Florida, the Rods had to get a guided tour of all the cool hangouts and bars in Orlando and also just hang with their buds.

As the show came to an end and we left the club, I can remember thinking that this entire evening was filled with a lot of entertainment, and I can honestly say it sure beat the hell out of staying home on a Monday night watching re-runs of Melrose Place.

Woody Short
Air Force Brat. I moved From Austin Texas to Orlando with my wife to go to Full Sail school, where I recieved my Digital Media Degree. Currently, I am interning at The Slant, working at Full Sail, and looking for a full time gig. I like to make hot salsa and, I love music as long as it is not pop.