By John Johnson, Photos Chaz Dykes of  Chaz D Photography

The concert at The Crowbar in Ybor City this past Thursday, was an unforgettable trifecta of rock and raw energy. Headlining the school night event was The Band Feel, whose performance was nothing short of spectacular. With a polished sound that effortlessly blended blues-rock, alternative R&B, and a bit of Southern swagger, The Band Feel knew how to work the crowd into a frenzy. Citing Led Zeppelin, The Black Crowes and Humble Pie as influences, they craft their own sound and vibe while paying homage to these iconic bands and their familiar sounds. The Band Feel, often referred to simply as FEEL is based out of St. Louis, although their increasingly growing gig schedule has kept them busy on the road. Their set was filled with standout original tracks, each one packing an emotional punch, from acoustic ballads to fast-paced jam anthems.

The quartet, of what I like to refer to as hair-farmers (they have a lot of hair), is a band that needs to be witnessed live to truly be appreciated. Consisting of vocalist Garrett Barcus, guitarist Tyler Armstrong, bassist Kadin Rea and T.J. Steinwart on drums, these four young lads play with the old soul of early 60’s to mid 70’s bands like The Small Faces and Bad Company. Barcus slithered and grooved about the stage while showcasing his impressive vocal range, from underneath a drape of hair. The tall, slender singer in 70’s style garb, is as visibly appealing as he is vocally. The youngest, and newest member of the group Rea, aptly held down the bottom end on bass, with swanky charisma (the kids call it riz) and hair that could be sponsored by Pantene. Keeping in perfect time with Rea was drummer Steinwart, occasionally supplying fills that some would think more suited for jazz, but he melded effortlessly into Feel’s rock arrangements.

When Barcus wasn’t unwittingly demanding all eyes on him by merely doing what he does, Armstong’s mesmerizing guitar playing took center stage. Even when he joked with Barcus and the attendees in between riffs, there were several other moments where he shredded his black Les Paul as if no one else was in the room. It was at those instances that I realized how appropriate “Feel” is, to not only their band name, but their overall vibe. All four of these impressively talented players, a band’s band if you will, are definitely loving and FEEL-ing what they play.

Next up were local favorites The Dirty Janes, who brought their grittier, more blues-infused classic rock sound to the Crowbar stage. Their set was marked by high-energy originals and the commanding presence of their lead vocalist and guitarist Nik Wilson, who always gives each song a sense of urgency. Wilson, in skintight black bell bottoms and fringed shirt, punished his Les Paul, all while belting out heartfelt lyrics from underneath his giant mane of hair. I use the term “punished” not only because of his impressive guitar prowess, but also because he closes out the majority of their sets by using his Gibson as a makeshift towel on his backside. Guitarist and backup vocalist Brandon Chacon, in all black attire also flung around his equally impressive coif, covered a majority of the stage with weathered Strat in tow.

The two guitar slingers writhed and pranced about, narrowly missing one another while swinging their six strings in their rock star regalia. Holding down the back end of this impressive young group is Christopher Erickson on bass and Cory Bernardi on the drums. Erickson, in floppy newsboy hat and super cool leopard pullover, plunked his big black bass with precision. Bernardi, in black cowboy hat and gold accented silk shirt, pounded on his red and white striped kit while filling in on harmonies. The group, who is currently recording music for their debut release, continues to expand their fanbase with their infectious original tunes, even introducing two new songs during their energetic set. These exceedingly determined and talented young musicians approach every performance, with their aforementioned fashion sense, with explosive panache, whether it be 40 people or 4,000.