Geno welcomes the crowd to Amalie Arena to kick off the night.
Every year there’s one of those “oh wow” unexpected celebrities backstage at Freestyle Explosion Throwback Jam. Another thing I love about hosting Pacific Concert Group events is the artists are fans of each other. It’s cool to see which artists hang out sidestage so they can dance while other acts are performing.
My first time hosting Freestyle Explosion in Tampa happened back in 2019 at USF. We’ve had great shows ever since but the 2024 Freestyle Explosion in Tampa was one of the best yet. I like to tell my Freestyle Explosion stories in pictures so let’s get into it.
Before the show…
Geno/Q105
Before the show, I did a post on the Q105 website with my tips on which tickets you should buy if you waited, where to park, and most importantly where to eat before the show. I took my own advice and first dropped by Due Amici in Ybor for a slice of pepperoni. Honestly it was just OK. I think it’s their Sicilian pizza I liked more but they didn’t have any out and I was in a rush to get to the arena.
Geno/Q105
Once of the coolest moments every year happens when I pull up to the backstage gate and they have my name on the list. I always get a kick out of parking in Andrei Vasilevskiy’s spot! Honestly I have no idea if it his actual spot. But I like to think it is.
Geno/Q105
Holy crap! My own dressing room!?!? I first hosted Freestyle Explosion in 2019. COVID hadn’t hit yet. We were at USF at the Yuengling Center. I’ve been lucky enough to be asked back to host every Freestyle Explosion since. But I’ve never had my own dressing room until this year! I usually just snuck in to one of the artists who hadn’t arrived yet so I could change. Last year, Debbie Deb was kind enough to invite me to her dressing room she was sharing with Shannon. THAT was cool and shows what a sweetheart she is. Shannon too. But I’ve gotta tell ya having my own dressing room this year backstage at Amalie made me feel super important. Had my own shower, bathroom, and TV so I could watch the Bucs preseason game and flip back to see what was going on on stage.
Geno/Q105
Seeing the Zamobonis and mini shooting rink backstage gets me so pumped for the Tampa Bay Lightning season to start. This dry erase board in my dressing room is for coaches to draw up plays. I just used it to play Tic Tac Toe when some of the artists would come by.
Geno/Q105
Before doors open, the artists do their soundchecks and backup dancers practice their routines to make sure the show lives up to your expectations. And they always do.
Geno/Q105
Don’t worry I didn’t touch anything. I love getting to the arena early and walking on stage to get pumped for the show. And then I fantasize for a moment that I have 1% of the talent required to actually play these instruments well enough to be on stage as a performer. Someday maybe. I do play a hell of a kazoo. But those weren’t big in freestyle music.
Geno/Q105
Next it was time to look at tonight’s stage schedule. If you’ve never been to a Freestyle Explosion show, it’s non-stop hits all night long. With almost a dozen acts, it’s CRAZY. You’ve got to stay on schedule because arenas have a strict curfew. And the last thing you wanna do is tell Stevie B that he has to cut his set short.
Geno/Q105
DJ Slice takes the stage as doors are about to open at Amalie Arena. He worked the crowd into a frenzy before the artists even hit the stage.
Freestyle Explosion in Tampa… the show begins!
Geno/Q105
If you were ever curious what it looks like for us when we’re about to take the stage, this is it. Fortunately there’s a guy standing by the whole night with a flashlight so we don’t trip and do a faceplant when we walk up those steps.
Geno/Q105
She looks diva here, but Lulu from Nocera was so nice. This was us in the tunnel just before the lights came down to start the show.
Geno/Q105
Loved hearing Nocera do her Q105 Saturday Night Dance Party classic “Summertime Summertime.” We’re familiar with Summertime in Florida. It’s 11 months out of our year. And she was so nice to give me and Q105 a shout out on stage. She hung out for most of the night side stage to watch the other performers.
Geno/Q105
A big thanks to everyone who bought their ticket. When you guys fill up Amalie Arena like you do every year, it betters our chances to get the show again next year. Tampa is one of the only cities where that happens. Most cities around the US get a Freestyle Explosion show every 2-3 years. And by the way, thanks to all of you who rocked those neon ’80s looks… LOVED that.
Geno/Q105
Sweet Sensation was one of my first freestyle favorites. Betty’s a sweetheart. Snapped this quick selfie in the tunnel right before I was about to bring her on. PS what’s stuck in my teeth? Probably the make-your-own tacos they had backstage in catering. Sorry. Next year I’ll bring a toothbrush.
Geno/Q105
Betty Dee from Sweet Sensation performed all her classics like “Hooked On You,” “If Wishes Came True,” “Sincerely Yours” and even “Love Child.” I’d forgotten they did that cover. So good.
Geno/Q105
Tampa Bay’s best old school DJ and former Q105 Saturday Night Dance Party DJ, DJ Hoof dropped by rockin’ his classic SNDP logo t-shirt. Judging by the look on Betty from Sweet Sensations face, I think Hoof farted.
Geno/Q105
Is that who I think it is in the bottom left part of this crowd photo? It is! That’s a hip hop legend right there. Recognize that guy with the glasses?
Geno/Q105
Wow… hip hop pioneer and 3rd Bass member MC Serch was just hangin’ out! I don’t know if he’s friends with one of the artists but I had to ask to get a selfie with this legend… in his Mickey Mouse t-shirt! lol
Geno/Q105
I have to be honest. A few years ago, I’d never even heard of Lime. When they were at the height of popularity, the only vinyl I was playing was Sesame Street records. It wasn’t until much later when DJ Hoof put “Babe We’re Gonna Love Tonight” into a mix and I was shocked I’d never heard it before. I was addicted to the song instantly. So when they were announced to be on this year’s lineup, I couldn’t wait to hear it live.
Geno/Q105
Seeing Lime perform “Babe We’re Gonna Love Tonight” was the part of the show I was looking forward to most. And they did NOT disappoint. I’m going to have that song on repeat for months. I can’t get sick of it. I say next year we have Lime and Stevie B. Lime can just perform BWGLT over and over for 3 hours and then Stevie for the last hour.
Geno/Q105
Someone got a little too comfy knowing that Freestyle Explosion in Tampa meant he could just drive to the show. Saw Wesley Chapel’s George LaMond arriving at Amalie about 5 minutes before I was going to bring him on stage. Quick selfie and warning that he better get to his dressing room and be dressed in 5 minutes.
Geno/Q105
I asked George before he went on if he was going to do his amazing cover of “Don’t Stop Believin’.” It takes guts to cover a song with vocals by Steve Perry but George nails it. When he told me that’s second on the set list, I made sure I was ready. He killed it. By the way, watch for George as he’s heading to NYC to be in the production called “I Like It Like That.”
Geno/Q105
I’m so glad TKA is on the lineup every year. While I love their hits like “Maria,” the highlight every year for me is when K7 gets the place going wild with his 90s solo hit “Come Baby Come.” It was my jam in college. Until I worked for Q105, I never knew that K7 was K7 from TKA. Oops.
Geno/Q105
Took this one as I was about to go on after TKA to bring on Expose. When I get to host a show like this and be on stage for moments like this, it’s really one of those “Is this really my life?” moments. Thank you for listening to my show, following my social media… your support these past 12 years is why I get to enjoy moments like this.
Geno/Q105
Time for Expose! Let me be the one to take you to the point of no return because seasons change and I’ll never get over you getting over me!
Geno/Q105
They still sound so good. The ladies of Expose had the crowd out of their seats and dancing.
Geno/Q105
At intermission when they’re preparing the stage for Lisa and Stevie’s sets, I like to head up to the merch booth and say hi to listeners. Whenever you can, I know the prices are not what they were in the 80s, but try to drop by the merch table and support whatever artist you’re seeing. Artists don’t make much money from their music anymore. So touring and merchandise sales is really their whole income now.
Geno/Q105
Before we came back from intermission, I had to ask Lisa for a quick pic in the tunnel. Gracious as always. Love ya Lisa.
Geno/Q105
We love Lisa’s dance hits like “I Wonder If I Take You Home,” “Let The Beat Hit ‘Em” and “Head to Toe.” But when Lisa performs “All Cried Out,” it’s unforgettable.
Geno/Q105
Head to Toe, she always looks amazing. And she’s one of the kindest humans you’ll meet too. She sounded fantastic this year and got emotional from the Amalie crowd response she got.Wow. I was standing right behind Stevie B to bring him on stage and I didn’t even know it was him. He’s lost like 60 pounds. Another great ending to another incredible Freestyle Explosion in Tampa. Hopefully we’ll get to do it all over again next year. Be sure to use that hashtag #FreestyleExplosionTampa when you share your photos to social media this week!
Hear Geno on the air weekday afternoons. Geno's passions include fat guy food, concerts, sports, travel to Europe and South America. He loves 80s and 90s music, from MTV hairbands to old school freestyle, alternative rock to TRL era jams. Geno's radio career began in his hometown of Portland, Maine. Since then he's been on the air coast to coast from Boston to Las Vegas, Tampa to California.
Get The Q Factor Newsletter Delivered To Your Inbox
Stay up to date on the latest from your favorite artists, Tampa/St. Pete happenings, exclusive contests, games, and more.
By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.
