Sammy Rae & The Friends: Camping in Miami Beach; BANDSHELL @ MIAMI BEACH, 03.01.24

Written and shot by: Cameron Gonzalez

The Brooklyn-based band took the rain soaked stage with all the grace of Tom Holland in his “Umbrella” Lip Sync Battle. Bringing the crowd together with an amalgamation of genres, and smooth talking riffs. The band made the Miami open-air venue feel like home with warm lights, mossy decor, vocal acrobatics, and a few certified members of the 305 to bring it all together. 

The opener, Les Greene & The Swayzees, kicked the night off in the most literal way possible. If the band wasn’t jumping, they were on the floor, and Les refused to miss a note while doing it. Whether it was flying kicks or doing the splits. My jaw was dropped and there it would remain, this band demanded the attention of the audience. Their high energy and chemistry with one another onstage called for it. The band’s authentic lyrics, lively licks, and soul set the stage for Sammy Rae & the Friends. If anyone is going to represent Miami’s local music scene to a new audience, it’s the Swayzees. 

The Friends walked out with lanterns, like counselors guiding students to a campfire, they sat down for an instrumental rendition before lead singer, Sammy Rae Bowers, joined them. It was different than any show I had ever been to, I didn’t know there were so many friends to be had. All seven members occupied the space in their own ways. Resting heads on one another’s shoulders while sat atop a synthetic log, dance moves that synced across stage. Running and laughing the whole way through.

A few songs more before Bowers took a moment to speak about the tour. Explaining that rather than centering a tour around a release it’s anchored by new conceptualizations of the bands older songs. The band also teases the idea of new releases before Bowers takes a step back to allow friend and guitarist, Will Leet, take the lead and the audience by the hand. Guiding them through the music with incredible guitar playing and presence. 

The Swayzees weren’t the only ones representing Miami. James Quinlan, bassist of Sammy Rae and the Friends, took center stage for a moment. Shedding his t-shirt for a secret Miami vice jersey underneath. The entire crowd chanted “305! 305!” as Bowers explained that Quinlan was born and raised here. There is something so beautiful about being from a city as diverse as Miami is, it unified the audience in a way not many cities can. The equally diverse performances from both bands only solidified that bond further. Everyone could see someone like them on stage. 

The audience was one of the sweetest I’ve ever had the pleasure of interacting with. Sammy Rae and the Friends use their large internet platform to set boundaries with concert-goers, and proudly share the names of venues that have complimented their audiences’ show etiquette. This clearly extends outside the social media bubble. I had the pleasure of talking to and interacting with some incredible audience members. The mix of red Swayzee fans and yellow/purple Sammy fans brought a beautiful hue when the lights shined back onto the house. There was no formal photo pit and yet people were willing to give up their front and center spots to me momentarily for the perfect shot. I couldn’t keep track of how many thank you’s and bows over loud music I made. 

Sammy Rae & the Friends successfully created a safe-space on the beach allowing for all forms of self-expression and self-love to embrace the venue in a warm hug bound together by a love of music. By the end of the night everyone was a friend of The Friends.