- May 3, 2024
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This rock ’n’ roll time machine is coming to Rockefeller Gardens this Friday.
When Bob Panek hired on Roy Mangus, he was more interested in the experience on his resume than the similarity in their facial features. In fact, it wasn’t until another woman accused Mangus of teleporting until Panek realized they looked alike.
“At work I was at one place and he was at another, and someone asked him ‘Are you guys brothers,’” Panek said. “He said ‘No, we’re not brothers.’ One thing led to another, and we got to know each other and became friends.”
It was that awkward encounter that led forming the Not Brothers Band in 1998. Now made up of Buzz LaLonde and John Bigwood, the band has been performing together off and on for 19 years.
“For about three or four years we played all over Daytona Beach,” Panek said. “Then we took a hiatus and went our separate ways. We just got caught up in life, and we were kinda burned out on the music scene. We just recently got back together.”
Self-described as a “rock ’n’ roll time machine,” Not Brothers Band covers songs spanning 40 years of music. The group does everything from The Beatles to Deep Purple to R.E.M., but not in the way you might think.
“If we’re playing R.E.M., you would expect to hear ‘Losing My Religion’ or something else real popular,” Panek said. “We like to do the obscure songs, not the big hits. We would play ‘Man On The Moon.’”
Though the group says they’re still looking for their niche, they’re enjoying being able to play whatever kind of music they like.
“So far it’s been really great,” Panek said. “We’ve had a really warm response. People like us probably because of our mellow demeanor. We don’t bring our egos to the gigs. We like to have fun and get people singing.”
The group will be performing in the city of Ormond Beach’s final Summer Sounds Series concert 7 p.m., July 31 at Rockefeller Gardens.
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