Last weekend, Florida favorites The Heavy Pets brought an incredible set to the AURA Music Festival, playing an 80’s tribute set that included some fun musical moments throughout. The five piece welcomed a number of guests for the set, including TAB horn players Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman, alongside Alison Paige Hilley, Robert Smiley, Daniel “Quinto” Naval, and John Provenzano.
The show opened with “Electric Avenue,” of course, and featured a sit-in from Mike Mineo and Ben Smiley (of the Main Squeeze) on Queen’s “Another One Bites The Dust.” Later, Mike Dillon joined in for a cover of The Clash’s “Rock The Casbah,” and festival creator Daryl Wolff got in on the fun, adding some keys to A Flock of Seagulls’ “I Ran So Far Away.”
The show also included covers of David Bowie, Grateful Dead, Paul Simon, R.E.M., Prince, A-ha and more! Listen to the whole show, as taped by Butch Almberg, below:
Setlist: The Heavy Pets Tribute To The 80’s At AURA Music Festival, Live Oak, FL – 3/6/16
Set: Electric Avenue > 1999, Let’s Dance, Synchronicity II > Take On Me, Steppin Out > Touch Of Grey, Another One Bites The Dust*, Call Me Al > Rock The Casbah**> In Your Eyes > Everybody Wants to Rule The World, I’m Coming Out > Holiday > Give It to Me, Blinded Me With Science > I Ran So Far Away***, This Is The Place, It’s The End Of The World
Band: Jeff Lloyd, Mike Garulli, Jim Wuest, Jamie Newitt, Tony D’Amato
with special guests Jennifer Hartswick, Natalie Cressman, Alison Paige Hilley, Robert Smiley, Daniel “Quinto” Naval & John Provenzano.
*w/ Mike Mineo & Ben Smiley. **w/ Mike Dillon. ***w/ Daryl Wolff.
[Cover photo by Jason Koerner Photography]