SFS debuts Southern Belle Ball, where the Wynn family rose and reigned for a night

THIS LITTLE UNDERGROUND
SFS Southern Belle Ball, Will’s Pub complex, Sep. 17
Of Southern Fried Sunday’s themed events, the recent inaugural Southern Belle Ball spotlighting the ladies of Central Florida music was one of its most distinctive. And the food drive aspect for worthy local charity Second Harvest Food Bank was particularly timely considering the storm recovery mode that our community is currently in.
The takeover of Will’s, Lil Indies and the special events space of Dirty Laundry’s mini pavilion featured almost a dozen area acts including the usual notables like Kaleigh Baker, Sarah Purser and Beth McKee’s Swamp Sistas Songwriter Circle. But other standouts included Sleepy Giants – a new folk-pop duo spinoff of the Uke-A-Ladies – and Maple Sparrow – the Amy Robbins vehicle whose roots-minded, brass-filled rock & roll was given a good, solid honky-tonk edge by go-to pedal steel player Tommy Cooper.
But the musical storyline of the night was the storied Wynn family. Of special intrigue was Whyte Tygers, the new band of Heather Lee and Jordan Wynn.
A decorated act themselves, the wife-husband team have been quiet for years as they raise a family out in the country. Whyte Tygers is the new engine for the couple’s material that Jordan tells me has the potential to blossom into a group entity of its own. It’s a full five-member deal that, live, plays with less gospel delicacy and more soul, groove and size. And for a unit that’s barely a thing yet, they were a very solid ensemble and probably the most concentrated act I saw all night.
More than anything, though, it was a wonder to hear the power and grace of Heather’s voice live again. Though it’s been a long time since she’s been able to release it regularly, her soul still beams with the true fire and light of music. And it showed on stage, where she performed like a boss. That spark also reflected in guitarist Jordan, making for a collective performance that belied the fact that they’ve been off the circuit for years. In fact, they sounded more salient and relevant than most of their current, younger peers in the area.
Not that this review could, or should, change life circumstance, but if it can nudge them to be more of a presence on the scene once again then it would be a fresh infusion by some certified veterans.
Also on the roster was Hannah Harber, yet another, newer addition to the Wynn clan via marriage to local Southern-rock pillar Thomas Wynn. She, too, went maximum onstage with the Lionhearts, her own band of pros that included her husband on drums, local guitar legend Brian Chodorcoff and lush organs.

And because the opportunity was glaring and would’ve been criminal to not seize upon, Harber brought Heather and Jordan onstage at one point to really make it a family blowout.
  There’s no more perfect note with which to sum up the night because family – be it the actual, musical or community kind – is precisely what Southern Fried Sunday is all about. And the Southern Belle Ball is an event that, if allowed to become a tradition, could become an essential Orlando institution.
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This Little Underground is Orlando Weekly's music column providing perspective, live reviews and news on the city's music scene.

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