Ted Skolits enjoys unwinding with his pals in their band, Flashback, but most of the members take the summer off and are unable to perform for a few months.
Forming a new band, according to Skolits, is one method to keep playing while everyone else is on vacation. As a result, Skolits, his buddies and other bandmates established Konnection.
Konnection plays music that is distinct from Flashback. Flashback concentrates on songs from the 1960s, such as Frank Sinatra’s “That’s Life,” but Konnection plays songs from the late 1970s and 1980s, such as Pat Benatar, Fleetwood Mac and Journey.
“Konnection is a spinoff of Flashback. We wanted to appeal to the next generation of residents,” Skolits said. “The Villages is getting more and more populated by Boomers, so we wanted to appeal to them and play music they like.”
On June 11, Konnection played their first show, a driveway performance. Skolits and the band enjoy the popularity of driveway parties in The Villages.
“They were born out of the pandemic,” he said. “They’re different than playing at a restaurant or on a square, but you know the people are still just as excited to hear you play and have music to dance to.”
Because Konnection is “sort of like a backup,” Skolits, of the Village of Silver Lake, said the band is more easy going than any of his other groups.
“Since this group is new and casual, we all play only when we can,” he said. “We didn’t want to worry about saying no to vacations because we have a gig.”
Skolits is no stranger to collaborating with others. He also plays with a band named No Regrets once a month, in addition to Flashback and Konnection.
When the squares reopened after being closed at the onset of the pandemic, No Regrets became one of the first few bands to play.
“They also play at both City Fire locations.” he said. “I just love playing with so many people because everyone has a different feel, a different sound.”