RedCoats rock Fiddler’s Green

redcoats

From left: John Link, Jim Melvin and John Washburn

Exclusive to MeierMovies, September 25, 2016

Some would describe The RedCoats as a Beatles cover band, but after watching them belt out dozens of rockers, and a couple of ballads, by not just the Beatles but the Stones, Badfinger, the Kinks, Creedence Clearwater Revival and the Byrds, I’d simply call them one of the best live bands in Central Florida.

The four-man group rocked Fiddler’s Green in Winter Park on Saturday night from about 8:15 p.m. until the early hours of the morning, and I do mean rocked, as I’ve never seen the popular Irish bar quite so loud and dance-crazy. Indeed, that might be my only complaint: The venue was simply too small for their volume and energy. Still, whether one was dancing just inches from the stage or slumping next to the amp, the intimacy made for an unforgettable experience.

The Orlando group, which formed in 2011, consists of Jim Melvin on lead guitar, John Link on mostly rhythm guitar, Mike Hanson on base and John Washburn on drums. All contribute vocals, but Melvin (whose voice has a George Harrison quality, but also a spark of Paul McCartney’s rocking energy) and Link lead the way. And it’s all about the music, as they neither dress like nor try to physically resemble the Beatles in any way, though their musical arrangements hew closely to the Fab Fours’ (with the notable exception of a very stylish country version of “I’ve Just Seen a Face.”)

Their Facebook page currently lists no upcoming gigs, which is tough to believe, but look for them soon at both Fiddler’s and Dexter’s.

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