by John Johnson, Photos by Chaz Dykes of Chaz D Photography
Having covered Jerry Cantrell the night before, I needed something special to get me out of the house and across the bay on a subsequent week night. And that special something was an amazing twofer smack dab in the middle of DTSP (that’s downtown St. Pete if you’re wondering). So on a warm Wednesday evening, Jannus Live played host to a high-energy double bill and pure rock ‘n’ roll revival worthy enough to get me over the Howard Frankenstein Bridge (another locally dispatched nickname). Hollywood’s Dirty Honey kicked things off with a gritty, blues-driven set that showcased their throwback rock ‘n’ roll spirit. Crafty & crunchy riffs, soaring vocals, and an undeniable stage chemistry, they warmed up the already sweaty crowd in classic fashion. These dudes channel the kind of arena-sized sound that makes it easy to see why they’ve been gaining traction on the national stage. These four cats have swagger, and delivered a bluesy, riff-heavy set that paid homage to classic rock while still keeping things fresh sounding. Frontman Marc LaBelle’s gritty, and at times wailing vocals soared all whilst being a very charismatic dude, jumping on and off the stage to keep the audience engaged. While LaBelle wore all black, the three other members donned more vintage flowery flair, and the quartet as a whole are certainly not folically challenged. Hair galore. Justin Smolian’s bass grooves and John Notto’s fiery guitar work, nailed the tone during their eleven song set that had the crowd moving early. Their raw, unpolished energy made the outdoor courtyard feel like a sweaty rock club, priming fans perfectly for what was to come. Not only are they a tight proficient group of jovial lads on stage, being lucky enough to meet them post-gig, I can tell you that they seem to be as cool as they are talented.
After only a short intermission The Struts took the stage to a raucous ovation, immediately owning the night with their signature arena rock theatrics. Dressed to dazzle, flamboyant frontman Luke Spiller commanded every inch of the stage with pizazz to spare, his playful banter and magnetic presence pulling the crowd in from the first note. He turned the night into a glam-fueled party, blending Queen-inspired theatrics with infectious anthems. Kicking things off with the aptly titled “Primadonna Like Me” and what I thought might be an encore number in “Body Talks”. Spiller quipped that the last time the band was through Florida “everyone in America had Covid, but you didn’t. Is this still a place where you can have fun?”. The crowd answered in kind and the band launched into a full performance of their debut album Everybody Wants, celebrating the tenth anniversary of its UK release by giving fans a rare chance to hear the record front-to-back.
Track one, “Roll Up”, begins reminiscent of a Broadway musical, and the following 12 ditties fall in line superbly. Hearing tracks like “Could Have Been Me” and “Kiss This” live (track 2 and 3 respectively), in order, reminded fans why this record grabbed so much attention when it first dropped. The band’s musicianship kept the energy sharp and driving, as well as uber cool in appearance. The band looked like they were having just as much fun as the audience, and that joy was contagious throughout the Spiller spectacle. Taking nothing away from Adam Lambert, let’s face it, he’s otherworldly vocally and theatrically, I always hoped Spiller would have “replaced” Freddie Mercury fronting Queen. Do yourself a favor and Google some of the music Spiller and Queen guitarist Brian May have worked on together, you’ll understand why I feel so strongly about a Queen/Spiller pairing. The dark haired Jed Elliot on bass at stage left and super coifed guitarist Adam Slick commanding a Union Jack emblazoned Gibson hollow body at stage right. Between Spiller’s banter and the band’s relentless pace, the night felt less like a concert and more like a celebration of rock’s enduring spirit due to The Struts special ability to put on quite a show. Not to go uncredited, believe me, drummer Gethin Davies is a beast and proved such during the quartets seventeen anthem set. As the last notes echoed in the DTSP ether, the congregation bellowed for more. The Struts, as they’re known for doing, gleefully obliged and offered up two more bangers. “One Night Only”, which is probably the song that gives me the most Queen vibes, and show closer “Pretty Vicious”.
What made the night unforgettable was the connection between the band and the fans. Everyone was singing, dancing, and shouting along—it felt less like a concert and more like a celebration. When I tell you that 90% of the audience sang every word at the top of their lungs, take me at my word. The open-air setting of Jannus Live only added to the magic, with the warm night air and packed crowd amplifying the atmosphere. Dirty Honey delivered a killer warm-up, and The Struts proved they know exactly how to throw a party onstage. It was one of those shows where you leave sweaty, smiling, and already hoping they come back soon.
Now, Go Out and See, Hear and Feel Live Music.
