PENSACOLA BEACH -- Zach and I were polishing off our second beers and considering our options, which are numerous on Friday nights on the boardwalk at the beach.
We were sitting at the horseshoe bar in Bamboo Willie's, too far from the stage to be paying much attention to the band. Except: The guitar player from a distance bore a queasy resemblance to David Caruso. At least he wasn't wearing sunglasses.
We were ready to leave when Joceyln stepped up to the mic and stopped us in our tracks with a steamy version of "Smooth Operator.'' We ordered another round and found a table close to the stage.
Jocelyn followed with the best -- only? -- female cover I've ever heard of Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On'', followed by Edie Brickell's quirky "What I am.'' You need versatile pipes to pull off songs like that, and she has 'em.
And then the Shiz hit the fan. There are cover bands, and there are bands that play covers. The first group, they're a dime a dozen. You can find 'em at any club or lounge on any night of the week. They're a hybird of karaoke and Guitar Hero. There's no harm, really, as long as long as they don't dial up the sound.
The Shiz, we soon discovered, are a band that plays covers. Which is to say, they play 'em like they own 'em. They're so good and tight you don't care if they have original material. We thought Steve Miller was on stage, and then Steely Dan. Who has the nerve to windmill a bass, ala Pete Townshend of the Who? Jonathan Grooms of the Shiz does, while busting up the place with "Baba O'Riley.''
Add the seamless Strat guitar of Jerry Dawson, the apocalyptic drums of Doug Stiers and you have a power rock trio that sounded like they'd been playing together since they were babies.
And be very happy if Joceyln shows up.
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