To the uninitiated, the rockabilly scene can seem distinctly insular and a bit intimidating: Some of those dudes look pretty mean, don’t they? Like just about everything else, however, the reputation and the reality are usually two different tins of pomade. Take beery, rip-roarin’ Bradenton trio The Downshifters, for instance — they’re some of the nicest guys in south-of-the-Skyway rock. And singer-guitarist Paxton Richards’ bike-customizing shop, P-Man’s Classic Cycle Paint, has become semi-legendary for parties/shows that amiably combine the vibe of an outdoor extended-family picnic with that of an industrial-art opening at a biker bar.Last year, the ‘shifters decided to up the ante, inviting in some out-of-town bands with whom they’d played and adding a hot rod and custom-bike show. The result was the first Heatstroke Hot Rod Hoedown, and it was such a hoot that they’re staging an even bigger version this Saturday, Aug. 28.
This year’s installment kicks off at noon. The musical entertainment comes courtesy of seven roots/grease/rockabilly acts from all over the Southeast: The Downshifters; Orlando’s T-Bucket Terrors; North Port’s Psycho DeVilles; Charleston, S.C.’s The Defilers; locals The Obscene; Jacksonville’s The Go-Nowheres; and O-town acoustic performer Rickey Dickens. Custom cars and motorcycles will be on display all day, with prizes in various categories awarded at 5 p.m. There’s also an elimination-style pool tournament, with prizes of its own, beginning at 4.
You get all of that for free. Bring a little cash for beverages, as well as food of the meaty, charred and saucy persuasion (provided by Elvin’s Old Fashioned Ribs), or a lot of cash for some tattoo work by Big Mike of Bradenton ink parlor The Lion’s Den. Take along some sunscreen, too — the space actually inside P-Man’s can get pretty cramped and sweaty when the bands are playing in the loft that doubles as a stage, so most of the socializing/eating/cell phone yakking occurs outside. Richards reports that he’s working on getting some shade-tents together for the daylight hours, but be prepared to endure a little sweltering summer weather in exchange for a cool yet extremely unpretentious day of loud fun.
“Yeah, some people complained about the heat last year,” says Richards. “What do they want? It’s right there in the name.”
P-Man’s Classic Cycle Paint is located at 721 Seventh Ave. W. in Bradenton. The Second Annual Heatstroke Hot Rod Hoedown will run from noon until everyone goes home. For more information, call the shop at 941-744-1157, or check out www.pmansclassiccyclepaint.com.
This article appears in Aug 25-31, 2004.
