Tag: Lazer Focused Talent Agency

All Star Jam featuring Joel Hoekstra, Terry Ilous, Steve Unger, Patrick Johansson, and more at The Barn in Sanford, FL on 8/1/26 Words By Jesse Striewski/Photos By Brooke Striewski

For as long as its existed, rock n’ roll has always provided plenty of examples of tenacity, a D.I.Y. from many of those involved, willing to go above and beyond so that the show can go on. This was on full display all-around at the show held at The Barn in Sanford, FL this past Saturday, August 1, which was fully organized thanks to an idea that developed in the mind of Karen Lazer of Lazer Focused Talent Agency after a conversation with local musician/singer Leo Lee Rocks.

Thanks to this, a first of its kind, once-in-a-blue-moon type of concert was put on by top notch musicians lead by Joel Hoekstra of Whitesnake and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (and currently Stephen Pearcy/formerly Night Ranger, among many others), who Rewind It Magazine readers may recall we last caught up with in Cassleberry back in late 2024 as part of Hoekstra/Gibbs. Joined by XYZ/former Great White singer Terry Ilous, former Metal Church/Autograph bassist Steve Unger, drummer Patrick Johansson (who has served time on stage with W.A.S.P. on more than one occasion), and at times the previously-mentioned Lee, the act didn’t even have a chance to fully practice their set together beforehand aside from the usual soundcheck.

It was also encouraging hearing that most of these guys were running on fumes that night, each having to catch their own early morning flights to make it on the stage that night. (I myself was feeling the same levels of exhaustion after having been up at 4:00am the day of, I’ll just say thanks to the actions of others.) But it is seldom not worth it to not push through it all to make it still happen, and I’m glad that all those involved could still make the memories we now all share from the experience.

Local cover act After 5 primed the crowd appropriately, opening with “Boys of Summer” by The Eagles, Blondie’s “One Way or Another,” and The Cult’s “Love Removal Machine.” But by the time the band had gotten to Foreigner’s “Jukebox Hero,” Def Leppard’s “Too Late,” and Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell,” they were definitely speaking more of my language.

After 5 primes the crowd at The Barn this past Saturday, August 1. (Photo by Brooke Striewski)

But the real highlight came in the form of their version of “Detroit Rock City,” a personal favorite KISS track that showcased the talent of the rhythm section here for sure. More covers of AC/DC’s “T.N.T.” and “Hell’s Bells,” The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” and Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” followed, yet none topped the aforementioned KISS song in my book. (I may just be a tad bias here though if I’m being honest.)

And finally, the previously-mentioned all-star lineup took the stage just after 8:00pm on Saturday night, opening with a trio of Whitesnake classics in the form of “Slide It In,” “Fool For Your Loving,” and “Love Ain’t No Stranger” prior to launching into their version of the David Coverdale-era Deep Purple hit, “Stormbringer.”

Next up, Ilous gave a heartfelt dedication to his late predecessor in Great White, Jack Russell, prior to going into the anthem “Rock Me,” one of the absolute highlights of the night. Terry’s other well-know act XYZ was represented next with “Inside Out” before Joel took over on vocals for Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love.”

“Break on Through (to the Other Side)” by The Doors was up next before Leo Lee joined the band for a round of songs that included Deep Purple’s “Burn” and “Perfect Strangers,” as well as yet another cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs.” Johansson then briefly stepped into the spotlight for a drum solo before AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” could be heard, followed by an extended (and I do mean extended!) version of Led Zepplin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” complete with a Slayer riff or two thrown in for good measure.

As if that was not all enough, the full band then regrouped on stage for Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again” and “Still of the Night,” as well as Rainbow’s “Long Live Rock n’Roll” and AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell,” at this point with both Terry and Lee sharing lead vocals, as well as one of Hoekstra’s own guitar students, Juan (apologies I did not catch the last name), came out to take over on some leads.

XYZ/former Great White frontman Terry Ilous shares a moment with Hoekstra protege Juan on stage at The Barn this past Saturday, August 1. (Photo by Brooke Striewski)

But perhaps the most unexpected moment of them all came at the very last hour as bassist Steve Unger took over the lead vocal position for a cover of Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places,” which everyone joined in for in true sing-a-long fashion. It was a fitting, epic ending, to an otherwise already epic evening.

Pretty Boy Floyd, Sunset Rebellion, and Magi at the West End Trading Co. in Sanford, FL on 8/15/25 By Jesse Striewski/Photos By Brooke Striewski

Back in late 2018, Rewind It Magazine were commissioned to cover a Pretty Boy Floyd show in Daytona Beach, FL (with Nova Rex on the same bill). Unfortunately by the time we had made it, PBF were already on their last song of the night, and we had effectively missed the majority of their set, although some mingling with members of the band still did ensue afterwards (there’s still several photos from this night out there on all of our socials).

Nearly seven full years later, Pretty Boy Floyd were making their way back to our neck of the woods again (thanks in part to those at Lazer Focused Talent Agency for inviting them to come to town), and I knew we had to finally be there to get the full effect of their set this time around. And after some back-and-forth online conversing with frontman Steve Summers, plans were in place once again for Rewind It to review their show in Sanford, FL on Friday, August 15.

The moment my always-reliable wife/photographer Brooke and I arrived to the venue, I had reservations whether or not I would be able to actually make it to the end of the night (those of you die-hard Rewind It readers out there may actually recall I had recent surgery to my left ankle that I’m still recovering from). Thankfully, a member from the crew that night recognized my dilemma and graciously located a chair for me to use for the evening (thanks again, Mark).

Local act Magi were the first to take stage, and I was instantly intrigued by their throwback ’70s look (including an open-chested shirt adorned by their frontman a la Robert Plant) and sound. Songs like “Sun and Moon” and a cover of Cream’s “White Room” were all spot-on, and you could tell the chemistry of this group came together organically.

Sunset Rebellion were up next, and definitely matched the energy (though not necessarily the sound) of the previous group. The band fused more modern rock genres like alternative metal and post-grunge, and their lead singer was all over the stage for tracks like “Godzilla” (Blue Oyster Cult cover) and “Rebellion.”

And at last, ’80s rockers Pretty Boy Floyd hit the stage just after ten o’clock, and it was clear that everyone in that room was in for nothing but a good time from then on. Opening with “Your Mama Won’t Know” from their 1989 debut album was the perfect segue to tracks like “Toast of the Town” (their first Motley Crue cover of the night) and the anthem “Leather Boys with Electric Toyz.”

“Wild Angels,” “Live Wire” (another Crue classic) and “48 Hours” all followed, and were equally entertaining as the banter in between songs from frontman Summers (which was downright hilarious on more than one occasion). Somewhat newer number “Good Girl Gone Bad” followed before “Rock and Roll Outlaws,” “The Last Kiss,” and “Saturday Nite” kept the party going.

“Public Enemy #1” (the third and final Motley Crue cover of the night) followed before things slowed down a bit for the classic power ballad “I Wanna Be With You.” “Love Sick” was squeezed in before the band ended the night on a high note with their answer to KISS, “Rock and Roll (Is Gonna Set the Night on Fire)” brought the house down.

No sooner than the band exited stage were all four members – Summers, bassist DieTrich Thrall (also of Lords of Acid), and newcomers Matt Muckle (drums, also of German hard rock act Kingdom Come) and guitar shredder Jake Curtis Allard (the mind behind Midnight Maniac) all stuck around to hang with their fans/newfound friends (yours truly included) and pose for pics/sign any and all merch for them.

Pretty Boy Floyd frontman Steve Summers (left) with the author Jesse Striewski after Friday’s show at the West End Trading Co. in Sanford, FL on 8-15-25 (Photo by Brooke Striewski).

Often times it’s easy to find plenty of naysayers – usually just know-it-all online keyboard warriors who have never really done anything of much significance themselves – who like to put down or write-off bands like Pretty Boy Floyd. But these guys are still out there keeping the flame alive and giving every ounce of energy they’ve got, night in and night out (tonight they’ll also be playing Piper’s Pub in Pompano Beach before they eventually venture over to Texas).

Their shows are still full of plenty of vigor and enthusiasm (and as fun as can be), and with so many of the old guard now either retiring or worse, I’m glad to still have bands like Pretty Boy Floyd (as well as Great White and Slaughter, who Rewind It will also be covering next weekend in Orlando) around to provide a great night out like they did this past Friday. The moment I hear the band are coming to town again, I’ll likely be the first in line for it.

*More band photos still to come soon.