Orlando, Florida was rocked out on Saturday November 16, 2019 with local rock station 98.9 WMMO’s Downtown Concert Series, presenting Jack Russell’s Great White. The Downtown Concert Series started in 1992 and has always been a free event hosted by 98.9 WMMO. Many locations around The City Beautiful have hosted the event, but this show returned to its original home on Church Street. Located on the red brick road between the skyscrapers that paint the Orlando’s city skyline, Church Street is a very cool location. But, on this evening much cooler as chilly winter winds blew through the streets of downtown, making 54 degrees feel like 34 degrees.

In the weeks proceeding, WMMO held a battle of the bands to award a local band with the honor of opening this show. Two bands were chosen along with last years winner as opening acts. Grindstone Sinners started the event at 3:48pm with their bluesy style of rock and roll. They were the runner up of WMMO’s Battle of the Bands. The Sinners have been rocking Central Florida for the past few years, and if I’m correct, none of the band members are of legal drinking age. The point being, no member is over the age of 20 and they perform well beyond their years. This band has great depth with the rhythm section of Jeffery Hunt (Bass) and Daniel Conner (Drums). Ashlyn Weidemiller’s soulful voice keeps the songs on track as Jay Umauf and Jared Frost battle back and forth between guitar leads. This band is ready to leave Central Florida and tour nationally so help them out and help build their fan base. The Grindstone Sinners are rock and roll as it’s meant to be.

Band:

Ashlyn Weidemiller (Lead Vocalist)
Jay Umlauf (Lead Guitar & Vocals)
Jared Forst (Rhythm Guitar)
Jeffrey Hunt (Bass Guitar)
Daniel Conner (Drums)

Setlist:

After Midnight (Eric Clapton Cover)
Can’t You See (The Marshall Tucker Band Cover)
Life Can Be A Breeze (Grindstone Sinners)
Beast of Burden (The Rolling Stones Cover)
Love Me Now (Grindstone Sinners)

Monticelli started their set just after 5:00pm, complete with 2 blowup, 6-foot green aliens and their drummer wearing an alien mask the first couple of songs. Now, this band had won this year’s WMMO’s Battle of the Bands, so there had to be more to them than just the alien theme. There was, and the brothers Monticelli put on a great set that started with Deep Purple’s “Highway Star” and ended with an untitled original that is set to be released on their new LP. This 3-piece band rocked out their performance and left the crowd wanting more.

Band:

Artur Monticelli – vocals / lead guitar;
Vítor Monticelli – bass guitar;
Bruno Monticelli – drums.

Setlist:

Highway Star (Deep Purple Cover)
Behind These Walls (Monticelli)
Payback (Monticelli)
Carry on My Wayward Son (Kansas Cover)
Untitled New Song from Monticelli

Next on stage just before 6:30pm was Papa Wheelee, Orlando’s number one cover band. They were crowned Orlando’s best band in last year’s 98.9 WMMO’s Battle of The Bands. David Hayes and company have been on the scene 10 years and have built a great fan base. Papa Wheelee was a great warm up as they covered everything from Bon Jovi to Luke Bryan. The crowd continued filling in during their set and was ready to go. Check out Papa Wheelee, they are always playing in the Orlando area. They are a great party band that performs everyone’s favorites as if they were their own.

Band:

David Hayes – Lead Vocals, Guitar….
Jack Wallace – Guitar, Vocals….
Johnny Bell – Bass, Vocals….
James Thatcher – Drums & Fireball!!!!…..

Setlist:

You Give Love a Bad Name (Bon Jovi Cover)
The Breakup Song (The Greg Khin Band Cover)
Feels Like the First Time (Foreigner Cover)
Country Girl Shake It For Me (Luke Bryan Cover)
Dance The Night Away (Van Halen Cover)
Are You Gonna Go My Way (Lenny Kravitz Cover)
Don’t You Forget About (Simple Minds Cover)
Thunder Kiss 65 (White Zombie Cover)

Jack Russell’s Great White hit the stage at roughly 8:30pm playing the title track from their 1986 release “Shot In The Dark”. The crowd had doubled in size during Papa Wheelee’s set and remained the hour and a half break between bands. I’m not sure if the wind had died down, or the increase in temperature was due to the warmth of body heat from the people packed in front of the stage. Either way, the cold was no longer an issue as Jack Russell’s Great White rocked Church Street.

The drama of two touring Great White’s came to an end in 2013 when a federal judge granted Jack Russell to continue to tour and make a living with the name “Jack Russell’s Great White”. To me, and clear to many in attendance, Jack Russell’s vocals are synonymous with the “Great White” sound. Having one without the other just won’t be right. It wouldn’t have been a Great White show if they hadn’t played “Rock Me” or “Once Bitten Twice Shy” and “Jack Russell’s Great White” didn’t disappoint. Jack Russell’s voice is Great White!

Band:

Jack Russell (Vocals)
Tony Montana (Guitar)
Robby Lochner (Guitar)
Dan McNay (Bass)
Dicki Fliszar (Drums)

Setlist:

Shot In The Dark (Great White)
All Over Now (Great White)
Heart the Hunter (Great White)
Lady Red Light (Great White)
Street Killers (Great White)
Save Your Love (Great White)
House of Broken Love (Great White)
Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo (Johnny Winter and.. Cover)
Mista Bone (Great White)
Helter Skelter (Beatles Cover)
Desert Moon (Great White)
Shakin (Eddie Money Cover)
Rock Me (Great White)
Once Bitten Twice Shy (Ian Hunter Cover)

https://mnprmagazine.com/jack-russells-great-white-performs-a-free-show-in-orlando-fl-november-16-2019/