Rotageezer
Formed in 1974 as Rotagilla, Rotageezer is St Augustine's longest running band featuring anthems of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, gypsy, Americana, jug band, rockabilly, and more.
Rotagilla is alligator spelled backwards. After decades of performing under that name, the band became Rotageezer in 2002, a wry acknowledgement in the face of aging like a fine wine. Originally comprised of members Bill Sabo, Mike Cunningham, Gene Eberhardy, Ed Wilson, and Butch Malone, Rotagilla won Florida's Top Rock Search in the late '70s as a comedy jug band. They even appeared on The Midnight Special.
Over the decades Rotagilla has taken many different shapes and sounds and compiled its ever-changing setlist into an unexpected fusion of both expanding genres and intriguing energies. Scott Sweet says Rotageezer is "non-denominational" when it comes to genre with a bit of humor thrown in. Their camaraderie can be seen in the little moments of unspoken connection during songs as well as felt through their light-hearted on-stage banter with one another.
Rotageezer consists of Damian Kemper on drums, Bill Sabo on guitar and tenor banjo, Jim Carpenter on 6-string guitar, 12-string guitar, and bass, and Scott Sweet on 6-string guitar, 12-string guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele and bass. They play anything acoustic from the '20s to today. Audiences can expect to hear three and four-part harmony while different members take turns singing the lead.
