As 2024 winds down, we reflect on a year that has been both transformational and grounding. For POCKiT, this year felt different, quieter in terms of live gigs, with just around 12 shows, it marked the lowest number of performances we’ve done in a year (compared to the 20+ we averaged annually over the past three years). This slower pace served a greater purpose, giving us the space to embrace personal milestones—both Josh and I welcomed baby girls into our lives—and to release our long-awaited album. The album was a labor of love that challenged us and brought out our best recordings, taking our sound to new heights.
This pause from constant gigging was necessary. It allowed us to breathe, reset, and refocus. But don’t get me wrong, we deeply missed the thrill of the stage and the energy of live performances. After all, this band was formed during a gig. Every time we came together this year, whether to perform, record, or film a video, I was reminded of the unique chemistry we share as a band. I also felt immense gratitude for being part of a live music scene culture as vibrant and inspiring as South Florida.
Moving to South Florida has been one of the best decisions of my life (personally, professionally, and artistically). The music culture here is unmatched. While Los Angeles might rival Miami in terms of musical talent and discovery, the accessibility and closeness of South Florida’s music community truly sets it apart. Having previously lived in California and in the San Antonio/Austin area—where things didn’t quite click for me (though I still miss parts of it)—South Florida feels like a breath of fresh air. It’s a hub of innovation, creativity, and raw artistry that continues to inspire me every day. Don’t you agree?
As we look back on this year, we wanted to share some of the key moments that I and other talented people captured.
Highlights of 2024
Opening for Adam Deitch, BigYuki, Brad Miller & Eric Bloom
One of the standout moments of this year was opening for Adam Deitch, BigYuki, Eric “Benny” Bloom, and Brad Miller at Crazy Uncle Mike's in Boca Raton. Sharing the stage with such legendary musicians was surreal. Adam Deitch, one of the founders of Lettuce, has been a massive influence on me as a drummer—those Uberjam John Scofield jams? All day, baby! Big Yuki’s work with drummer Antonio Sanchez has always pushed boundaries and inspired me, and Eric “Benny” Bloom is yet another powerhouse from Lettuce whose music I deeply admire.
Brad Miller, an incredible South Florida native bassist friend whom I met when I first moved to Miami 12 years ago, was part of this phenomenal lineup and instrumental in making it all happen. Brad and I played a couple of gigs together back in the day, and seeing things come full circle by having POCKiT open for this extraordinary group was such a meaningful experience. We’re beyond grateful to him for thinking of us.
Adding to the lineup of musicians of the night, was VIBEAT, a West Palm Beach native band, which completely blew me away. Nate Skinner, their front-man leader is a vibraphonist virtuoso. He brought fusion jazz chops like I’ve never seen before in that instrument. The songs were groovy and brilliantly written with Joshua Ewers on bass, Sean Devivo on saxophone, and Andre Sudol on drums adding their perfect blend. Their musicianship was next level, making their set the ideal start to an electric Jazz/Fusion/Funk evening. Below are some images of the two opening bands during our set and sound check.
The event was one of those shows where everything just clicked—top-tier performances, a big crowd of music lovers, and a night filled with incredible energy and unforgettable jams. Truly one for the books for POCKiT! Big thanks to Adam Firtel of Cheesehead Productions for capturing the 3 bands' sets on video.
NuStereo Love “Concert For Good” at The Underline
Another standout moment this year was collaborating with Jojo from NuStereo Love “Concert for Good” event at The Underline in Brickell, right in the heart of downtown Miami. This area holds a special place in my heart because it was one of the first neighborhoods I explored when I moved to Miami (Little Havana to be precise) in 2012, and it felt like a homecoming to play there.
The night featured an exciting lineup of artists, including “Ledoux,” a talented Miami-based singer, and his band, as well as “Soleil,” a great friend and amazing vocalist. Josh Walton and I joined Soleil’s band—Josh on bass and myself on drums—alongside Richie Boisrond on guitar. POCKiT was the third act of the night, and the energy from the crowd was electric from the moment we kicked off our first song. To wrap up our set, we invited both “Ledoux” and “Soleil” to join us for a jam session on the Bill Withers classic, “Use Me,” with the two crushing it on vocals. It was the perfect way to close out our set! Finally, DJ extraordinaire Katie Ox, featuring Mike Garulli on guitar, kept the party going with a groovy closing set.
The sold-out crowd brought such amazing energy making it another show to remember. Huge shout out to Jojo for putting this killer event together, the crew that made this whole show possible, and the music lovers who attended and supported the bands. Photos by Ariel Opal and Junette Reyes.
POCKiT, Clean Cut & Burgundee live Gramps
Another stand-out moment was our show at Gramps in Wynwood, where we shared the stage with Burgundee and Clean Cut. Gramps has become a home for live music for original bands in Miami—it has an incredible vibe and has always championed local artists.
We opened the show that night, and the energy in the room was electrifying. The sound of the room was spot-on thanks to the expertise of Rafa Cadavieco, the audio engineer, and it was such a joy to be part of a lineup with other talented musicians. For this performance, our dear friend Andrew Amengor joined us on trumpet for “How Do You Say It?”—it was a beautiful moment in front of an incredible audience. Shows like these remind me why I love being part of the Miami music scene—it’s all about creativity, collaboration, and supporting each other. Check out this video of "Corn Bread" on YouTube.
POCKiT & Butterfly Snapple at Zey Zey Miami
Last year, we started a series of shows at Zey Zey Miami for their initiative to introduce local jazz bands for happy hour every Friday. The venue has been the center house of incredible national and international bands and during the summer this year we were invited back by Anthony Hall, the venue’s co-founder and head of production. Anthony has been a great supporter of the band and gave us the opportunity to curate the night alongside another local band.
For this show, we partnered alongside Butterfly Snapple, led by guitarist Diego Melgar, and bassist Camilo Vélez. This band has been on my radar for some years now and it was a great opportunity to curate a show together for this event. Their songs are incredible, and seeing them perform live was such a treat. Michael Duffy on drums brought an incredible groove to their set. The night was all about community, collaboration, and the love of jazz fusion. Check out the video below of “Greasy Napkin” from that night.
Sunset Sounds feat: POCKiT live at Boca Raton Museum of Art
This year, we were thrilled to perform again at the Boca Raton Museum of Art as part of their Sunset Sounds concert series. Christina Berrios, the event manager, has been a great supporter of the band. The energy from the audience made us feel at home. It was a reminder of how live music can bring people together in such a special way. For this show, we had our dear friend Bob Smiley on the saxophone. Bob has been a long-time collaborator of the band and it felt so nice to have him perform with us this evening.
POCKiT live at Tarpon River Brewing
Playing at Tarpon River Brewing has always been a highlight for us. Over the years, it’s become a familiar and welcoming venue, where we’ve had the privilege of performing as part of their rotating band lineup. The space itself has a special vibe, and it’s been incredible to see so many friends, and music community members gather to enjoy our music. For this night, we had a full lineup of special guest musicians including Bob Smiley and Manny Echazabal on saxophone, Luigi Arredondo on drums, and last but not least Steve Kornicks on congas. The energy of the evening was so dope, with each musician contributing their unique style. Check out our full set from that night.
Opening for Johnny Mathis at Kravis Center in West Palm Beach
This show was something special, not only because it was unique in setup but also because we had the honor of being the lobby opening act for the legendary Johnny Mathis at Kravis Center in WPB. Oscar Quesada, the director of programming and an incredible musician, invited us to set the funky vibe as the crowd gathered in the venue before the show.
To make the gig even more memorable, Chip’s dad and stepmother were visiting from Minneapolis, so we knew it was going to be special. The size and reverb of the room were huge! The beautiful, open lobby created a space for people to hang, and we started by testing the sound to make sure we weren’t too loud.
Our one-hour set was a success, with the crowd clapping after every song. The energy in the room made it such a cool experience. Definitely another show for the books! See some images I captured with my phone from the night below.
En Camino Album Release
2024 was a milestone year for POCKiT as we proudly released our album, En Camino - On Our Way. This project represents more than just music—it’s a reflection of our journey as a band and as individual musicians. Each song on this record tells its own story, shaped by the diverse influences and musicality of the collaborators who contributed to the project.
What truly sets En Camino apart is the raw energy and soul we captured throughout the process. The album blends live recordings from our unforgettable trip to Mexico—including Versa, Coconut Jam, and Use Me—with studio tracks like Mocoso, HDYSI (How Do You Say It?), Greasy Napkin, and No Headlights. This balance between live spontaneity and studio precision gave us the freedom to experiment and evolve, pushing our sound to a new level.
Releasing this album has been an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s fueled our passion to continue creating, collaborating, and exploring as artists, and it’s been amazing to see how the music resonates with music lovers. We’re so proud of what we’ve accomplished with this album and can’t wait to see where it takes us next.
If you haven’t yet, we’d love for you to check out En Camino on your favorite streaming platform.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As this year ends, we’re excited for what lies ahead. We’re ready to get back to playing live, creating new music, and reconnecting with our friends who appreciate our sound, and that has made this journey so fulfilling. This year reminded me and the band of how much we love what we do, and we can’t wait to see what the next chapter holds for POCKiT.
Looking ahead, we also want to share that Sebastian Pareja will be stepping away from the core lineup as he pursues new opportunities in his music career. We’re grateful for all the great moments we shared and the incredible talent he brought to the band. We wish him all the best moving forward!
For now, we’re holding onto the gratitude for everything 2024 brought—growth, challenging milestones, and a deeper appreciation for our path.
To everyone who’s followed us along the way—THANK YOU. Your support and encouragement mean the world to me and the band, and we can’t wait to share more music and moments with you in the new year.
See you in 2025!
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