By Joanie Cox-Henry
In the twilight hours of a sizzling South Florida evening on the New River, Big Rock Band took the outdoor stage under a halo of magical moonlight at the Downtowner for one final performance on Sept. 28, 2024, before the iconic Fort Lauderdale venue closed its doors forever. Big Rock Band gave this treasured hotspot for locals and tourists alike a proper send-off with a set stacked with hits such as "You Sexy Thing" by Hot Chocolate, "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," and closed with a jaw-dropping, heart-wrenching rendition of "Purple Rain."
As the sun set on decades of musical history, the band's frontman, Alex Lencina, reflected on the moment's significance.
"It was bittersweet," Lencina says, with his fierce rock and roll voice tinged with nostalgia. "To a certain extent, I'm all about moving forward and everybody having things better, but there are some places I feel should've just stayed as is."
The Downtowner wasn't just another bar—it was a cultural touchstone that represented the heart and soul of Fort Lauderdale's music scene. And it did that well for over 30 years on the New River. As the city races toward modernization, this closing marks the end of an era, taking with it a piece of the city's authentic character.
"You see so much advancement in what Fort Lauderdale is becoming," Lencina observed. "The Downtowner gave you that real feel of hometown."
Lencina was also delighted he brought his brilliantly talented daughter Julieta Lencina on stage that night to belt out Blondie's "Heart of Glass" and other hits.
"There were a lot of memories made there for a lot of people," Lencina mentions. "At the same time, it was nice my daughter got to sing there. In the ruins of other things, it’s a good memory to hold onto, especially for her and her future as a performer."
For multiple members of Big Rock Band, the venue also holds deep personal significance.
Bass god and bonafide "Funkmaster" Fernando Santomaggio, whom Lencina fondly refers to as "the ambassador" of the group, offers his perspective. "For casual visitors, and regulars alike, its closing is much more than just losing a local watering hole," Santomaggio says. "The Downtowner will surely be missed. Over the years, I’ve been to The Downtowner on several occasions, in several different capacities—as a patron, as a performer, and as a clergyman!"
Yes, believe it or 'knot,' the ultra-talented musician with a magnetic stage presence who exudes playful energy fused with intense focus in every performance actually officiated a wedding at that venue!
"It always felt special," Santomaggio says. "The setting. The history. The people."
The band's legendary lead guitarist, Jimi Fiano, who has been compared to ZZ Top and brings his own brand of shred to every set, recalled his own unique history with the venue stretching back to the '90s, playing with various acts including Kilmo & The Killers, Motel Mel, and even some of the outside Blues festivals in the '90s and early 2,000's. He remembers the original owner, John Baker, as "a music lover and a sweetheart of a guy."
Located just a stone's throw from the Broward County Main Jail, the storied Downtowner has had its fair share of epic tales to emerge from behind the bar to behind the bars across the way!
"During a more wild period in my life, I found myself in the jail next to the Downtowner and peering out through one of those little slit windows from the fifth or sixth floor of the jail," recalls Fiano, who has worked with members of Foghat, Bad Company and Night Ranger. "There was some kind of function going on at the Downtowner, and I told a couple of the inmates that I played there quite often. They didn’t believe me. Now that's the Blues!"
Although Big Rock Band's riveting rhythm guitarist Scott Sherman, who performs with highly honed technical precision, didn't previously perform at the Downtowner, he acknowledges what the venue meant to the South Florida community.
“That was my first and only time I performed there so I don’t have fond memories or interesting stories to share," Sherman shares. "But I’m in agreement with the widespread sentiment that the new condos supplanting historical cultural establishments is a net loss for everyone.”
Ysauro Hernandez, an explosive rhythm maker and vocalist in Big Rock Band expressed his sadness to see the Downtowner go. The highly skilled, soulful musician frequently posts nostalgic images of old Florida landmarks on social media. "I felt a little melancholy about," Hernandez reveals of performing the last show there. "It always makes me sad when a live venue goes away, but I also understand economics."
The Future Is Bright For Big Rock Band
As Downtowner comes to an end, it's up to the locals to keep the memory and folklore of such places alive by supporting live music at other local establishments. Big Rock Band remains focused on the future. The group is preparing for two upcoming shows in Boca Raton. And Lencina will be getting off at the end of the month for a three-show run in Northern California with Backstreet Boulevard, a band he played with years ago.
"We're trying to diversify our list," Lencina explained. "I think the only thing music should do is connect with people. If we can get that done, that's a great night." Big Rock Band takes pride in its members' individual successes. Lencina celebrates that Fernando Santomaggio recently joined '80s cover band Mixtape on bass and vocals, and Jimi Fiano is touring locally to promote his solo album, Sweat & Pray. "I'm elated every time something positive happens to the boys as far as them venturing out and doing other things," beams Lencina, who has rightfully earned the nickname of South Florida's Demon of Screamin' thanks to his voracious vocal delivery on some of the most complex rock bangers to perform live. "It just speaks to the band and caliber of musicians we have. It’s like a perfect recipe. Everybody has their own special ingredient they bring to the band."
See Big Rock Band performing live at 8:30 p.m. at https://www.biergartenboca.com/ in Boca Raton on Friday, Oct 11, 2024, and at Crazy Uncle Mike's in Boca Raton on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2024.
Big Rock Band says goodbye to Downtowner with "Purple Rain" as the final song played there.
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