It started out with me begging during a routine networking meeting. I had one goal: find someone to join me for a SIRSY concert in Daytona Beach. The band had come highly recommended by Jay Franze, who insisted they were a must-see. I wanted to make this one happen—especially when I realized they were playing just over an hour away.

The challenge? It was the morning of the show. My husband passed. My daughter had cheer practice. None of my local friends were free. I asked the group, half-jokingly, if anyone wanted to come on a spontaneous road trip for live music. That’s when Anna Marie messaged me: “I've only had 4 hours of sleep, seems like a bad idea, what time should I be ready?"

We hit the road that afternoon with barely any prep. I’d only seen Anna in passing at our weekly meetings, so the idea of a 90-minute car ride with someone I didn’t know well felt like a social experiment. But it quickly turned into effortless conversation. We talked about business, family, music, and everything in between. It was one of those rare drives where time flew and silence never settled in.

When we first got into town, we realized what we’d walked into: Bike Week in Daytona. There were barricades and police everywhere. It was overwhelming at first, but also kind of funny—like we were crashing a party we hadn’t been invited to.

We circled the hotel trying to find parking, unsure if we were in the right place. Eventually, we pulled into the valet, which turned out to be free with restaurant validation. #Winning We stepped inside and were immediately greeted with the bougie scent of the hotel lobby and the sparkle of the fancy floors. A Harley was on display inside, that Bike Week energy wasn’t just outside—it was everywhere.

Finding the venue was its own adventure. We could hear the music but couldn’t figure out how to get to it. After a few wrong turns and asking for directions, we landed on a large oceanfront patio set up for live music. It was beautiful but nippy. The mist coming off the water added to the atmosphere, but also clung to everything—especially Anna’s glasses, which fogged up by the end of our meal.

We learned gotta get seated with a menu or no soup for you! LOL Oncce we got menus and identified by a waiter, we ordered fish tacos and cocktails, and although the food wasn’t anything to write home about, it was the music that mattered. The performance setup was unexpected: no big stage, no flashing lights—just two very talented musicians, their instruments, and the ocean keeping beat. On a warmer evening it would have been magical.

SIRSY is a rock-pop duo from upstate New York made up of vocalist/drummer/flutist Melanie Krahmer and guitarist Rich Libutti. What makes them extraordinary isn’t just their music, but how they perform it. Melanie sings lead vocals while playing the drums, a keyboard bass with her drumsticks, and occasionally a flute. Rich plays guitar and covers bass parts using foot pedals. Their live setup allows them to sound like a full band, even though there are just two of them on stage.

They’ve shared stages with big-name acts like Maroon 5, Grace Potter, and Train, and have built a loyal fanbase through relentless touring and dynamic storytelling. Their lyrics are smart, emotional, and often funny. One moment they had us tapping our feet, and the next, laughing at a joke about how bass players “never get the girl”—except Rich did.

When the band took a break, we made our way over to to say hi and snag a picture. Melanie was warm, gracious, and down-to-earth. She made us feel like old friends rather than fans. We also met Dottie, who we initially assumed was Melanie’s mom. Turns out, Dottie was mid call setting up SIRSY's next performance date!! She was just as friendly and genuine, making us feel even more welcome. We were all so intrigued with Dottie that Melanie asked her for her secret to living so long because she'd shared with us that she was in her 80's. Dottie replied, "A good scotch, Dewers actually!" Then Dottie showed off her new tattoo she'd gotten on her birthday! We could all be so lucky to have to much life in us in our 80's.

On the drive home, Anna and I talked about how glad we were that we said yes. What started as a last-minute decision turned into a genuinely memorable night. We didn’t just discover a new favorite band—we deepened a friendship, shared stories, and got to be part of a moment that reminded us why live music matters.

If you get a chance to see SIRSY live, don’t hesitate. Their talent, energy, and authenticity are rare. And if someone invites you on a random road trip to see a band you’ve never heard of—consider saying yes. You never know what you might discover.

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Check out the band: SIRSY

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