Tag: The Barn

Nicko McBrain’s Titanium Tart, Medal Militia, and Maximum Friction at The Barn in Sanford, FL on 8/29/26 Words by Jesse Striewski/Photos by Brooke Striewski

It’s been over fifteen years since the last time I’ve heard Iron Maiden’s music live back in 2011, and although I’ve since seen frontman Bruce Dickinson on his spoken word tour more recently in 2022, it felt as though it was time to finally dust off the old Eddie merch and catch longtime drummer Nicko McBrain’s latest project Titanium Tart at The Barn in Sanford, FL this past Saturday, August 29 – another amazing show brought to you by Lazer Focused Talent Agency.

Upon arrival once again with my wife/photographer Brooke, I was a bit disappointed to learn that we had missed up-and-coming metal act Maximum Friction’s set entirely. However, within minutes of walking through the door and running into an old/familiar face, Douglas (who if memory serves we hadn’t seen since an Orlando Queensryche show back in 2018), we were informed that we missed an amazing set that included a cover of Anthrax’s “Caught in a Mosh” (footage since posted online confirm this indeed).

Metallica tribute act Medal Militia were well into Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” (there’s that song again!) by the time we fully got our bearings. Now, I’ve made my conflicted stance on tribute acts well known over the years (especially when it’s for a band that’s still active and touring like Metallica), but when you can see the passion for the material really shining through each member on stage, I tend to be more open-minded to the idea. (Bonus points that some of the members in the band are actually veterans, too…THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.) I’d be lying if I said I wanted to go out of my way to hear overplayed tracks like “Masters of Puppets” or “Enter Sandman” in any given setting most times though, but the guys were definitely spot on with their playing, and they honestly did have me fully engaged with their version of “One.”

Medal Militia performing at The Barn in Sanford, FL on 8/29/26. (Photo by Brooke Striewski)

And finally, Nicko McBrain and company took stage right around 8pm, opening with a soaring version of “The Number of the Beast.” (As soon as I heard frontman Paolo Velasquez hit that high note that was enough to make Dickinson proud, I knew we were in for one hell of an evening!) From then on it was a barrage of tracks both old and new that one’s not likely to hear at every Maiden show these days, including “Infinite Dreams,” “The Writing on the Wall,” “The Clansman,” and another Blaze Bayley-era cut (and an all-round personal favorite of mine that I had to actually record some of, complete with the monk chants in the very beginning), “Sign of the Cross.” Side thought/pet peeve of mine here, for those who like to stand in the way and shoot video for every song at shows like this these days – what are you doing with all of this footage, are you really re-watching it that much?! And doesn’t anyone like to actually just live in the moment at all anymore?!

But I digress, after another newer track in the form of “Darkest Hour,” McBrain briefly stepped out from behind his kit to engage some with the crowd. It was around this time that we were able to witness a very real Spinal Tap-ish (I never tire of using this reference!) moment when he attempted to throw something out in the crowd so high that it actually landed on the rafters, though efforts to retrieve the item with a mic and stand proved to be in vain. After a few laughs, McBrain resumed his position, and got back down to business with “Stranger in a Strange Land.”

Nicko McBrain steps out from behind his drum kit to give us the most Spinal Tap-like moment of the night at The Barn in Sanford, FL on 8/29/26. (Photo by Brooke Striewski)

“When the Wild Wind Blows” was up next before a face-melting rendition of “The Trooper” was sandwiched between it and “For the Greater Good of God.” Then finally, the one-two punch of “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and “Hallowed Be Thy Name” closed things out for the near-dream like set list for most Maiden fans (of course there’s maybe a track or two in there I would’ve personally switched out for something else).

On a personal note, I’d be lying if I said my mind was not elsewhere for a good portion of this show, as my father was recently hospitalized the week prior to it. Looking back, I remember actually staying at his place in Ellenton all those years ago when I had gone to that previously-mentioned Iron Maiden Tampa show back in 2011, so in a way, he’s kind of been there with me for each occasion. I’ve never asked for prayers on here before, but right now certainly seems like a time we could use some, should anyone reading feel so inclined.

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.