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Friday, November 10, 2023
Miami Beach Bandshell
Over $67K fundraised

Overall Winner + Judges’ Choice Award + Hustle & Heart Award: The Meltones for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami with legal talent from Greenberg Traurig.

Four competing bands brought their A-game to the Miami Beach Bandshell for the 2nd Annual Law Rocks Miami last night! These bands, all featuring legal professionals, proved more than worthy competition for the title of Miami’s most rockin’ legal band. This electric evening had the crowd singing all the way through and dancing the night away, all while raising over $67,000 for nonprofit organizations!

The evening opened with a commanding performance by special guest, the Miami Beach Rock Ensemble. The impressive 12-member rock band featuring teens from Miami Beach High School came hot out of the gate with an electrifying performance of “Paradise City” by Guns N’ Roses, complete with shredding guitar solos. They brought the magic to the Bandshell with a mind-blowing rendition of Heart’s “Magic Man”, getting the crowd going with a setlist of pure classics that showed off their exceptional level of talent and ability to wow a crowd. It was a great example of the power of youth music education, and Law Rocks was happy to award the Music Matters Grant to the nonprofit responsible for the performance, Young Musicians Unite.

Making their Law Rocks debut, U2 cover band Wide Awake, took the stage as the first of our competing bands, crushing hit after U2 hit. They captivated the crowd with their performance of “Where the Streets Have No Name”, and their rendition of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” had everyone in the audience singing along.

Up next, returning band The Urge showed off their impressive range performing songs from a breadth of genres. They led the crowd in a sing along of Britney Spears’ pop hit “Baby One More Time” straight to SoCal classic “Under the Bridge” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, which took the crowd’s energy to a new level.

Last year’s Overall Winner, The Meltones, came to defend their title, putting the pedal to the metal with high energy tunes from Bon Jovi and Kelly Clarkson. The lead singer dazzled the crowd with her bubbly stage persona, dancing chops, and her sequined and leather ensemble. Rocking for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, Hall of Fame Sponsor Greenberg Traurig’s house band did a clean sweep, winning all three categories of the night.

Exit Left made their Law Rocks debut by opening with Blondie classic “One Way Or Another,” and proceeding to play a non-stop selection of crowd-pleasing hits by bands like Billy Idol and The Kinks. Despite their upbeat set list and fun party band status, the band took fundraising seriously, choosing a nonprofit close to their hearts - the Alzheimer’s Association of Southeast Florida.

Throughout the night, special guest DJ Moto hit the stage, spinning crowd favorites that kept the vibe alive in between bands and seriously impressing our host, radio legend Doc Reno. Featuring talent from the City of Miami Beach City Attorney’s Office, DJ Moto also generously DJed a full set during the evening’s pre-show VIP party, curating a chill yet upbeat atmosphere.

We’d like to thank all of our participating bands, their firms, supporters, and fans - all of whom came together to support not only the bands, but the broader Miami community. Thanks also to the Miami Beach Bandshell team; the Rock Panel of Judges: Glen Friedman; Sammy Gonzalez; Stacey Isaacs; Brian Lieberman; and Leslie Zigel; our host Doc Reno; and all of our nonprofit guests. The evening was made possible thanks to our tour sponsor Secretariat; Hall of Fame sponsor Greenberg Traurig; and additional sponsors Bilzin Sumberg and Meland Budwick, all of whom helped make the night possible. We’re grateful to all for their generosity, support, and endless enthusiasm for our event.

Many thanks, Miami. You rock!

Please consider making a contribution to support Law Rocks World Tour and ensure we keep rocking the globe for years to come!

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2023

Featured

Exit Left

Featuring legal talent from Bilzin Sumberg
Rocking for Alzheimer's Association Southeast Florida

Exit Left has become one of Florida's hottest musical acts! Featuring both male and female lead vocalists, the band offers a dynamic and diverse sound that is perfect for any occasion. The band's members are all seasoned musicians with extensive experience performing live in various original, cover, and tribute bands. Susie Ramirez provides the band's keyboard/synth sounds and delivers euphonic and charismatic lead vocals, while Drew Ramirez, our resident guitar virtuoso, delivers electrifying lead guitar and lead vocals. Ted O'Connell brings solid and groovy bass guitar licks as well as lead vocals to the mix, and Carson Martin provides a tight and energetic drum beat and also provides lead and backing vocals. Exit Left is known for their amazing sound quality and song delivery, making them a must-see act for anyone who loves great music. They cover a wide range of rock and party hits, from classic rock to modern rock, pop rock, and everything in between.

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The Meltones

Featuring legal talent from Greenberg Traurig
Rocking for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami

Global law firm Greenberg Traurig is excited to have its house band, The Meltones, gracing the stage at the Miami Beach Bandshell Thursday, Nov. 9. The Meltones, named after firm co-founder Mel Greenberg, have been rocking in various incarnations since the mid-1980s. Now they have their sights set on defending their title as the 2022 LawRocks-Miami champions, right on the home turf of Greenberg Traurig’s founding office! The Meltones have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local non-profits in New York and Miami and couldn’t be more thrilled to play for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami. The LawRocks-Miami edition of the Meltones includes three attorneys from GT’s Miami office: Shareholders Burt Bruton on guitar and vocals and Jessica Fishfeld on vocals, and recently joined Associate Josh Tartell on guitar, with able backing from three local Miami musicians Larry Misrahi on bass and vocals, Noel Cleland on keyboards, and Joe Arencibia on drums.

The Urge

Featuring legal talent from Meland Budwick, P.A; Bilzin Sumberg; Clyde & Co
Rocking for Young Musicians Unite

The Urge — A rock cover band playing throughout South Florida. The band has played together in various incarnations since 1996. With hundreds of songs in their repertoire, The Urge is now focused on more guitar oriented, heavier and edgier material, but will still break out the classic oldies. The band features Fred Fein, managing partner, Clyde & Coe, lead vocals/guitar; Mark Meland, partner, Meland Budwick, P.A., lead vocal/bass; Joe Hernandez, partner, Bilzin Sumberg Baena Price & Axelrod LLP, lead guitar/vocals; and Frank Del Campillo, drums. The Urge is playing for Young Musicians Unite (“YMU”) which believes that every student deserves access to music education regardless of their socio-economic background. In fact, Mark Meland is currently on the Chairman of the Board of YMU and is an alum of the Miami Beach High School Rock Ensemble which is a YMU run organization. Notably, the stage at the North Beach Bandshell, the Law Rocks venue, is “The Clark Douglas Burris Stage” who was the original founder of the Rock Ensemble and taught music at Miami Beach Senior High School for 40 years while fighting MS.

Wide Awake

Featuring legal talent from GrayRobinson
Rocking for Showering Love

Wide Awake, the U2 tribute band hailing from Miami, Florida, is a musical powerhouse that captures the essence and electrifying energy of the iconic Irish rock band. With a passionate and meticulously crafted performance, Wide Awake manages to transport audiences back in time to experience the legendary U2 sound that have left an indelible mark on music history. From their flawless renditions of U2's most beloved hits to their attention to detail in recreating the band's signature sound, Wide Awake is a must-see for any U2 fan, guaranteeing an unforgettable night of pure rock excellence.

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Special Guest DJ Moto

Featuring legal talent from the City of Miami Beach City Attorney’s Office

Merari Motola studied film and TV production at Tel Aviv University. She returned to Miami in 1992 when she got a job as a receptionist at a small personal injury law firm on Miami Beach called Grover, Ciment. Within a year she was promoted to be a pre-litigation paralegal. After 10 intermittent years at Grover’s (having lived in Mexico City and Lima, Peru in between), she worked 10 yrs at Kubicki Draper and then 10 years at Akerman. She worked during the pandemic at Gunster Yoakley and after a brief stint at Gunster she landed a job as Paralegal Specialist at the City of Miami Beach City Attorney’s Office, where she has been working since May. Merari has been DJ’ing professionally since 2013 and has DJ’d hundreds of gigs in many of Miami’s most popular clubs, bars, restaurants and hotels, as well as countless private events, including for the American Bar Association and Terra Lex's Global Conferences, to name a few. Merari is very excited to be a part of the 2nd Annual Law Rocks Miami and looks forward to rocking out with her fellow legal eagles.

Special Opening Performance by The Miami Beach Rock Ensemble

The Miami Beach Rock Ensemble from Miami Beach Senior High School was founded by the late Doug Burris in 1972. The group is the first high school rock ensemble in our nation's history. The student-led musical group is a culmination of musicians, stage crew, and a sound engineering team. The Rock Ensemble comes together to play classic and modern rock and lends vocational experience to its students through engaging them in professional environments at a young age. Many professional musicians and sound engineers have passed through the ranks of the Rock Ensemble over its 52 year run.

New for 2023, Law Rocks is awarding the Music Matters grant in each city to benefit a local organization that supports music education, particularly for underserved youth. The first Miami recipient of the Music Matters grant is Young Musicians Unite! Young Musicians Unite believes that every child deserves access to music education regardless of their socio-economic background. They collaborate with schools to provide free music education, which has been proven to inspire personal development, foster a sense of community and prepare our future leaders. Click through to read our blog about Young Musicians Unite, including an interview with CEO/Founder, Sammy Gonzalez.

We are proud that Law Rocks Miami 2023 bands raised funds for the following organizations.

Featured

Host - Doc Reno

Doc is on the radio afternoons and mornings in multiple markets. Currently, you can hear him live 3-7pm on BIG 105.9 and Nights in Washington DC 7P-12 Midnight on BIG 100. He also records a Late Night Nationally Syndicated Radio Show called " The Red Eye Rock Lounge " that airs nationwide from New York City to San Diego, and is also carried by iHeartRadio 5 nights a week on the Rock - Classic Rock iHeartRadio Channel. Doc also does a Saturday Afternoon Show 3-7pm for iHeartRadio.

When Doc isn’t on the air, you can find him doing anything involving sports. He is an avid marathon runner, with 5 marathons and 14 half marathons under his belt – and planning on a 15th! He is a spokesman for several local and national advertisers and is involved in countless South Florida charities. He’s a huge sports fan and has both a personal and working relationship with all of the major South Florida sports franchises. The same is true with the local music scene. If there is a Big event happening (no pun intended!) there's no doubt that Doc will be there.

Featured

Judge - Glen Friedman

Glen Friedman is a native South Floridian. He plays Piano, Trumpet, and Bass Guitar and is a classically trained musician receiving a music degree from Florida International University in Miami, FL

He has played music professionally for the past 30 years, including gigs on cruise ships, traveling circus and has toured with many world renowned musicians. He currently leads and plays in his 18 piece Jazz Band, and rocks out with the 80's/90's cover band Hot Mess.

When not playing music, Glen runs his executive search firm called White Tiger Search which he founded in 2006, and also runs his music lesson company, G-Clef Music Academy where they teach in-home music lessons.

Judge - Sammy Gonzalez

Sammy Gonzalez is a Miami-born, internationally acclaimed musician, mentor, and founder of Young Musicians Unite. Sammy recognized the staggering lack of music education in many of Miami’s underserved communities and created YMU as a response to this deficiency. Sammy has played nearly 1000+ concerts, gone on 15 US tours, and landed spots at SXSW music festival and Van’s Warped Tour. As First Chair in the Miami Beach Classical Guitar Quintet, he toured the US and Japan, winning awards at both regional and national levels.

Sammy has over 20 years of experience working in music education; and under his leadership, YMU has impacted over 15,500 students since 2013.

Judge - Stacey Isaacs

Stacey Isaacs was born and raised in New Jersey. She attended the University of Miami, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, with Honors in her major. Upon graduating, she received a Centennial Scholarship to Seton Hall University School of Law, in Newark, New Jersey, where she was Vice President of the Jewish Law Society.

Since returning to Florida in 1997 after passing both the New Jersey and Florida bar examinations, Ms. Isaacs has been employed by various notable insurance companies, defending their workers’ compensation cases. Ms. Isaacs is also admitted to the U.S. District Court for Southern District of FL. and served as Chairperson of the 17th District Grievance Committee “D,” reviewing bar complaints filed against lawyers in her district. She received an award for Meritorious Public Service for her time serving in that regard.

She co-founded Workinjuryrights in 2014 and exclusively represents injured workers since then. She is currently a managing partner there.

In her spare time, Ms. Isaacs enjoys the FL sunshine, exercising, and singing lead vocals in her band, Hot Mess.

Judge - Brian Lieberman

Brian Lieberman is owner of Miami Beach culinary staple, OLA Miami. A lifelong lover of music, he is an avid guitar player and collector. Lieberman manages the Sunset Four, a Beatles tribute band featuring four South Florida teens who opened last year's Inaugural Law Rocks Miami as a special guest.

Judge - Leslie Zigel

Leslie José Zigel is Chair of SMGQ Law Firm’s Entertainment, Media & Technology Group. Clients include: Pitbull, Bob Weir, Marco Antonio Solis, Maluma, Wisin, Carlos Vives, The Wailers and Endemol among others.

Prior to law school, Leslie worked as a musical festival producer (Newport Jazz & Folk Festivals, New Orleans Jazz Fest) and corporate entertainment executive (American Express Gold Card Events and Platinum Card by Invitation Only). Upon graduating UM Law School, he served as VP, Business and Legal Affairs for BMG Latin America. He was a partner at Greenberg Traurig, Greenspoon Marder and ran his own firm ZIGLAW. He has executive produced numerous films (receiving an Oscar nomination and Tribeca Film Festival award).

Leslie plays bass in numerous jazz and jam band configurations. He’s had the honor of sharing the stage and jamming with the likes of Bob Weir, Branford Marsalis, John Scofield, Phil Lesh, Robert Randolph, Stanley Jordan, Mickey Hart, Nestor Torres, Carlos Vives, Victor Wooten, Lemon City Trio, and Grateful Dead tribute bands Spiral Light, Crazy Fingers and others over the years. Drawing on his passion for music and giving back to his community, Mr. Zigel actively serves on the Board of Directors for Young Musicians Unite (YMU).