by photojournalist Allison Davis
This past Friday, I had the absolute pleasure of photographing some of my personal favorites. Listen, this little ol’ heart of mine will always have a place for the music of the 80s especially the rock and metal. I hadn’t been to Ferg’s in a bit, but I was really happy with the updated concert space! The whole night felt like a reunion of the crew from the George Lynch (Rise of the Decades Tour) show I shot in the beginning January; it was so good to see so many familiar faces, like the local boys from Midnight Vice and Wicked Serenity.
The night started off with the very talented Saints of Saturn. These are also local boys with a style that takes little pieces from every era—from the 70s to now. They are truly unique in their sound, and I have no doubt they have an impressive future ahead of them! They are on my watchlist. I’d highly recommend checking out their socials or website now, so you can be one of the ones to say, “I remember when they were playing our little Tampa Bay venues.”
Next up was none other than Slaughter! Let me just say, as someone who has to capture the night through the lens, it is always appreciated when a band plays along with you if you know, you know! They were ready for the camera and did not disappoint.
Mark Slaughter was on point with his vocals, which can be a hard thing to come by as time passes on. Their drummer, Jordan Cannata, was so high energy that at one point he was actually standing on the drum set while playing and didn’t miss a single beat. I have so much respect for the work drummers bring to the table. Dana Strum and Jeff Blando were on top of their game, too. When they played those iconic hits “Fly to the Angels” and “Up All Night,” I was just in my world.
Great White: Bluesy Souls
Last but not least was Great White. I’ve always loved the bluesy undertones in their songs; it’s one of the reasons they got my attention many moons ago. They opened with “Desert Moon” and let’s be real: if I know the songs, I am singing along while taking photos. That’s something I rarely see other photographers doing in the pit, but I can’t help it!
I’d previously photographed (Rise of the Decades) Brett Carlisle with his band AON (All or Nothing), so I was thrilled to do it again. He even gave me a sweet fist-bump greeting when he saw me with my camera down in front. He joined Great White a few years back, and I love the gratitude he shares for being in a band he grew up listening to he brings such a fresh light to the group. Meanwhile, founding member Mark Kendall was all smiles the whole set. I have such admiration for musicians who still love every minute of it after all the years and craziness that comes with the territory.
When they played “Rock Me” and “Save All Your Love,” I found myself back in the pit with a front-row seat just to take in every ounce of those songs. The night left me filled with nostalgia and big smiles, especially seeing how the younger generations are so on board with this music. It’s clear they plan to carry it on for decades to come.
