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Event Reports

The Entertainment Scene

Daytona 2014

Article And Photos By: Rob Keller

Originally Published In The June 2014 Issue Of Cycle Source Magazine

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Heading out of the cold in the north east to Daytona Bike week was extremely appreciated this year. The snow had been on the ground since November and wasn’t melting any time soon so a trip to the south was just what I needed to help me make it to the spring thaw. Leaving record cold temperatures to ride motorcycles, play music and hang out with good friends and fellow bikers is just a blessing. This year was a special trip for me because my son Robbie and his buddy Justin Smith were coming along.

The week started for us on Saturday as we pulled into Daytona. The sun was bright and warm, man did it feel good. We were ready to get the wind in our faces but first we had to pull the bikes out of the trailer. Yes, we hauled down this year but we had good reason. We brought our band gear with us so we could play a few shows while we were in town. We pulled into to Willie’s Tropical Tattoo to set up home base. Out came the bikes and it was on! First thing that we needed to do was ride. We headed for Destination Daytona in Ormond Beach where the party had already started. Bands were jamming and the vendors were selling. If you’re looking for anything motorcycle related a rally is the place to find it. They actually need to use a shuttle to transport people from one end of the property to the other because this place is huge! This is also the home of Bruce Rossmeyer’s Harley Davidson and JP Cycles. As we worked our way south from there we made a quick stop to visit with my Brother Jim Red Cloud as he was passing through town with his Navy Brother. Jim introduced us to his good friend Wayne Taylor, who turned out to be a fellow guitarist. Wayne asked if I wanted to check out the new guitar that he just bought, the next thing I knew we were jamming in the parking lot at McDonald’s. Wayne is a very accomplished guitar player and he blew me away with some James Taylor songs along with some of his original tunes. It was a short visit but I was happy to hear Robbie and Justin talking about what a great time they had with Jim while I was preoccupied making music with my new friend.

Next stop was the World Famous Iron Horse Saloon. This place is always rockin and they sure know how to throw a 10 day party. The Iron Horse is open all year long and is just like your favorite watering hole but when the rally is in town this place becomes a theme park for bikers. This is the place where you can listen to the great singer/ song writer David Allen Coe perform several shows during the rally. Brian Howe of Bad Company belted out all of our favorite tunes and then he turned loose Dereck St. Holmes, the vocalist and guitar player from Ted Nugent to sing Hey Baby! This man is probably one of the greatest entertainers we have ever had the pleasure of seeing. His stage presence and musicianship are just over the top, what a treat that was! Fran Cosmo of Boston was there to perform, the huge crowd went crazy singing along to all of the classics as they rocked the stage.

From there it was south and over the intercostal water way to Main Street. There is always something crazy happening from the board walk to the bridge. We always stop at The Bank & Blues to check out The Razorbacks, one of our favorite rockabilly bands from Jersey. They have been playing the rally for as long as I can remember. Right next door is the new place called Bad Boys where our brother Jack Shit was the master of ceremonies and many of the staff from Broken Spoke were on hand. Bad Boys had a great line of bands like Preacher Stone, known best for their song “Not Today”, the theme song for the television hit Sons of Anarchy. They played their southern brand of rock & roll that kept you dancing and screaming for more.

Jasmine Cane played too, never a seat in the house for her shows. Big House Pete and Crisp & Davis were tearing it up just a few feet away from where the Cycle Source Bike Show was being judged. Later we headed south on A1A to the No Name Saloon to visit our good friends Charlie Ransom and Wally from the American Motor Drome Wall of Death. This is a must see show when you’re at the rally and a real piece of motorcycle history. Once upon a time there were hundreds of these thrill arenas but now only four exist in the country, three of which were in Daytona. Luckily we ran into Brother Speed while we were there before we headed off for our traditional “all you can eat” shrimp dinner with Brother Bernie and Buck in Edgewater. There’s nothing like seafood by the sea. Then it was back to Willie’s Tropical Tattoo for the best chopper show in town and a visit with our entire crew of magazine, brothers and sisters that are always there to support our man Willy! Well, that’s what I remember. It was a great week!

If you missed Daytona this year the good news is it can only get better and better from an entertainment perspective. The days of the old time motorcycle rally have really changed into what is today a full service proposition with world class entertainment. You get some of the biggest acts in the world performing at these venues now and mostly for no cover charge. Along with that are celebrity appearances everywhere you go, incredible stunt and acrobatic acts and all centered around riding your motorcycle and having a good time. In the middle of all of this, if you’re anything like us, are the small moments that you walk away with incredible memories that can help get you through those long hours at work when you’re back in the real world. So make some plans to hit the next rally, near your place or with a good trip involved but if it’s been a few years I prescribe a healthy dose of Bike Week!

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