Mixtape Delivers Flashdance And Other 80s Pop Flashbacks At Frank McDonough Park

By Joanie Cox Henry

Beneath the canvas of a perfectly painted South Florida sunset sky, 80s rock pop band Mixtape took the Stage last Saturday at Frank McDonough Park to bestow two hours of tasty hits upon its delighted crowd.

Fronted by the magnetic Lindsay Giova, whose vocal and physical acrobatics channel infinite joy, MixTape delivers performances that blur the line between tribute and revelation. The band kicked off the set with Prince's "Let's Go Crazy," and the thrill ride never ceased from there.

Something Happens And I'm Head Over Heels: Lindsay Giova offers a head-standing ovation!

Groovy guitarists Mike Elmore and Steve Kaminer traded razor-sharp riffs and harmonies with a tenacious tapestry of sound, while the rhythmic foundation flourished, fueled by the hypnotic Fernomenal Funkmaster Fernando Santomaggio's thunderous bass lines and powerful Paco Camara's explosive drumming. The way this band performs flawlessly together creates the perfect canvas for a collective concert catharsis for both the band and the audience. Mixtape offers a rare alchemy that transforms ordinary venues into a quantum leap back to a time when leg warmers, Tab and Trapper Keepers ruled and St. Elmo's Fire was wildly blazing.

Side Y(A)Y: Mixtape rocks Lighthouse Point.

Some of my favorite show highlights included Giova's ultra fun rendition of "Material Girl," Elmore's killer version of Duran Duran's "Rio," Santomaggio's irresistable adaptation of "Don't You (Forget About Me)" and Kaminer's superb contributions on keys to "Simply The Best."

Ax Men: Fernando Santomaggio + Steve Kaminer jam during a stellar set.

The crowd indulged in Playa Bowls and Mrs. B's Seafood while some of the younger showgoers followed Giova's lead and cartwheeled around the venue. I had a chance to chat with some people who hadn't seen Mixtape before, and I was genuinely excited for them as I watched them smile and dance along. They stayed the entire show and reported back at the end, "They are amazing!" I couldn't agree more.

And when the weather cooperates in South Florida, there's really nothing more satisfying than watching one of your favorite bands under a perfect sky. A breezy April evening in South Florida with a lawnchair, a bottle of high-quality H2O, and a killer band after a hectic week is a vibe all its own. Mixtape has plenty of other rad shows coming up, so definitely check out this totally tubular band at https://mixtapebig80sradio.com/.

Here are some videos from the show: