by photojournalist Dan Fernandez
Local radio station 97X presented it’s annual 97X “Next Big Things Legends” Friday evening at The Baycare Sound in Clearwater, Florida. NBT Legends is a spin off series of the OG local alternative rock fest which serves to highlight bands that have long running, deep ties to the alt radio station and brings a touch of nostalgia to those out there who have been loyal attendees over the last 25+ years. I had the pleasure of covering last year’s inaugural NBT Legends event showcasing powerhouses Cage the Elephant, so the bar was set high from the start.
It was not going to be easy to follow that pyrotechnic and forceful performance but follow up they did with a crew that consisted of local up and comers Saints of Saturn, Orlando’s own 408, Bradenton local Dylan Cotrone, Waterparks hailing from Texas and the men of the hour, Yellowcard originally from Jacksonville Florida. This lineup screamed Florida through and through.
Starting a show at 6 pm on a Clearwater evening meant two things, that we were guaranteed a full night of hard rocking tunes and that we would all collectively be soaked in sweat 20 minutes in. Man was it brutal out there. Shout out to all of you who took care of each other out there and kept one another hydrated. This was not my first time seeing Saints of Saturn. They are local guys, so we run into them quite often but one thing they never do is disappoint. The boys brought a quick and heavy hitting set to the table that showed that they could command the big stage with the best of them.
Following Saints was 408, another semi local act whose sound is reminiscent of pop punk greats such as Green Day, Jimmy Eat World and Blink-182. These dudes would just as easily fit in on stage at 2002’s Pop Disaster Tour as they did the NBT Legends stage. Side note, that Pop Disaster Tour has the distinctive honor of being the first concert that a young Dan was kicked out of after jumping the rails and juking out security to get a better view of Blink’s set. As someone who came of age in the early 2000’s it puts a smile on my face to see alternative, punk, pop punk, ska and emo making a resurgence. Shout out to Miami’s Fuákata for representing Florida ska, 97X let’s get these guys on next year!
The third name to take the stage was a brand new one to me but he dang sure introduced himself quickly and loudly. Dylan Cotrone performed a blend of raw lyrics, acoustic jams and an energetic/fun loving approach to owning the stage. The method to his musical madness has already begun to pay dividends, quickly separating him from the pack and earning Dylan and co a key time slot on the night. Experiencing the combination of watching this young artist let loose on stage with an effortless confidence while taking in his funky rhythms I could not help but be reminded of a young Bradley Nowell. That may sound like high praise, but trust me, when you see Dylan live, you’ll get it. He may still be getting his feet wet, but this young man has something special that is hard to pin down. Keep your eyes peeled for Dylan Cotrone in the future.
The penultimate act Waterparks from Houston, Texas ramped up the crowd with their vigorously zippy performance style and plenty of crowd banter, including about 35 scientology jokes. We get it guys; they’re a weird people, but I digress, back to the music. Each time a Waterparks broke out into a new jam the crowd could quite literally feel their pulses rising with the melody and hearts beating with the sound of each kick drum. It’s hard to apply one genre to this group as they throw out little tasters of pop punk, electropop, alt rock, indie and a little bit of grunge to create a cyclone of pure dynamism. Waterparks served as a prime pregame for our headliners.
Right around the 9:40 mark Jacksonville, Florida locals and Next Big Thing Legends Yellowcard stormed the stage to fill the night sky with their distinct approach to pop punk which prominently includes the use of a violin. With over ten studio albums to their name these guys truly are legends in the world of alternative music. Their deep set list of hits further put that status on display, dropping 17 songs on the night including “Way Away”, “Light Up the Sky”, “Empty Apartment”, “Breathing” and their breakthrough hit “Ocean Avenue.” This is the second time I have covered Yellowcard in the past calendar year and each time I have with those catchy bangers stuck in my head for days.
After 25 years of 97X’s Next Big Thing, the Legends Series seems a fitting way to carry on that legacy in the new and improved venue at The Baycare Sound in Coachman Park, the same park that has played host to every NBT since day one. As I said in last year’s write up, I grew up attending this festival and knowing that it, along with Van’s Warped Tour, shaped a fair amount of my own taste in music it is a great feeling to not only see the NBT name carry on with such strength but also see the bond that local festivals like these create.
Whether it’s a group of friends, strangers who met at the gate or parents with their kids we all came for the same reasons. To reminisce in the memories built over the years, to share those memories with those around us while making new ones at the same time and most importantly, to get down to some amazing, tasty tunes! Mark it another successful year for 97X’s Next Big Thing Legend Series. Now who’s on tap for next year?!
