Bikeweek Review 2019 by Sarah Kat

So here we are, post Bike Week and are you finally feeling like yourself again?
It was the 78th Annual Bike Week in Daytona this year and
Main Street was packed every day and night. In fact despite what the mainstream news says it was packed everywhere.

For Behind Daytona we spent the majority of time
at Main Street Station and Dirty Harrys but alsoexperienced
Cackleberry for my very first time.
After talking with all of our team members we all agreed it was the most fun of all.

The best part about Main Street during Bike Week? The number of bands, with the variety of music, all within earshot and walking distance. Don’t like this band? No problem! Walk next door and something completely different will be playing.
There is something for everyone.

For the Behind Daytona crew,
all the festivities started Wednesday for Bike Night with Big Engine and Diesal and off we went.
No Quarter the Led Zeppelin Tribute Band then hit the Stage the following night and it was a full on jam.

Friday, the official kick off, we caught Big Engine and Skin Deep at Main Street Station.
We roamed up and down the street, saw Bobby Friss and to close out the night Diesel at Dirty Harrys.
All of these bands pull in such a crowd and offer such a variety of music.

Saturday was a busy day and it started around 7:30 am.
Jeff the founder was up and at it with Sunrise Live Streams.
Our first stop was the Busted Knuckle Tour at
Seminole Harley Davison absolutely worth going to. Then Main Street Station and Dirty Harrys.
Various bands were heard throughout.

Now Sunday is when I got we got our first taste
of Cackleberry.
If you’ve not been, it is vastly different
then Main Street, pretty much anything goes…. And we mean ANYTHING! Topless bull riding, ladies walking around without their tops, topless go-go dancers, bikini contests in between the sets of music. It’s an experience in itself.
It is definitely a bit more wild than Main Street and provides a completely different experience.

On Tuesday, Blandini played at Main Street Station with special guest George Lynch. Our photographer Karen Romano Adams of Moments that Rock caught some great images.
t was an amazing concert.
Zoltan, the original drummer for 5 Finger Death Punch, is a sight to see when he plays. This was my second time seeing them play at the Station and boy do I hope they come back. Their show was outstanding!

Then we got to experience Drowning Pool. WOW!
hile I liked their music beforehand, I LOVE this band after seeing it live! I hope Phaedra brings them back again. And soon!
They drew in quite a crowd and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

The next day was a big one for us at
Behind Daytona.
​We interviewed two national bands, Saving Abel and Tantric. It was a first for me, but definitely won’t be the last. If you haven’t watched yet, please head over to our Facebook page and watch.
Tantric
https://www.facebook.com/BehindDaytona/videos/330987517773717/
​Saving Abel
https://www.facebook.com/BehindDaytona/videos/408701769696065/

Saving Abel and Tantric both play at MSS regularly and they are always a favorite. They draw in the crowd and get it hyped. This night was no different. We got to hear some of Tantric’s new music from the new album too.

Special shout out to Burgey’s Tiki Hut.
They allowed us to use their upstairs patio for the Saving Abel interview and fed us some
delicious food in between interviews.
​Definitely a great place for local eats on Main Street.

Saturday was the last big day of Bike Week this year. We were graced with Michael Allman starting with the Blues Dogs. Adam James then went on stage and man, him and Michael together is a treat. They are both eternal performers and know how to work the crowd.

Michael Allman stayed around and sang
with Leaving Eden, much to the their delight. It was pure bliss to watch.
They played off of each other and put on a show like no other.

All in all, it was a busy week and a half, but it was a BLAST as always.
Thank you to the venues and bands for making it such a memorable experience.
It will not be forgotten!

✌

Kat