Member Bios
Meet the band.
Virgil Mandanici — Guitar, Keys, Vocals, Harmonica
Virgil Mandanici is the musical backbone of Briarwood Blues Society, bringing over five decades of experience, feel, and instinct to the band. Raised in a deeply musical household—where guitars, keyboards, and voices were always in motion—Virgil was immersed in music from the start. Like many kids of his generation, he took accordion lessons early on (yes, that was cool back then), but it was the guitar that truly captured his imagination.
As a young listener, Virgil was profoundly moved by Steve Howe’s “Clap” from The Yes Album. Hearing that piece lit a fuse—it wasn’t just music anymore, it was a calling. Watching his brothers Glenn and Kris already playing guitar only intensified the pull, and before long, Virgil was all in.
His early musical DNA was shaped by players like Jimmy Page and Peter Frampton, long before he ever held a guitar himself. As he found his own voice on the instrument, his style evolved into a blend of raw, rootsy grit and atmospheric expression—somewhere between the earthy swagger of Joe Walsh and the spacious, emotional phrasing of David Gilmour.
Within the band, Virgil sets the tone both musically and energetically. Rehearsals are full of conversation, laughter, and exploration—but when the music starts, something clicks. The band locks in on a level that’s hard to explain and impossible to fake. It’s a shared awareness, a groove that everyone feels at the same time. You just know when it’s happening.
A lifelong craftsman, Virgil spent many years building guitars and has personally built several instruments that he still plays today—each shaped to fit his hands and musical instincts perfectly. Chasing tone is more than a hobby; it’s a passion. His Mesa Boogie California Tweed delivers rich, expressive sound with or without pedals, and his Yamaha YC61 keyboard has become a powerful new voice in his sonic palette.
For Virgil, the best moments on stage come when the audience connects—when people start dancing, nodding their heads, and getting pulled into the groove. Outside of music, you’ll most likely find him on his motorcycle, where the road clears the mind and resets the spirit. When he’s not riding, he’s teaching guitar, recording, learning, or performing—music is always in motion.
Ultimately, Virgil hopes listeners leave with something that reaches them a little deeper than expected—whether it’s an original song or a familiar tune rediscovered. If the music leaves behind a good memory, a spark, or a feeling that lingers, then the night did what it was meant to do.
Dan Nix — Drums
Dan Nix is the rhythmic engine of Briarwood Blues Society—an instinct-driven drummer with around 20 years behind the kit and a deep respect for music that’s played by people, for real. Raised in a musical household, Dan was surrounded by sound early on, but it was during high school—at an all-boys military boarding school—that music became something more than background. It became an outlet: mental, physical, and necessary.
Dan doesn’t point to one single “this is my calling” moment, because the truth is simpler—he’s always enjoyed playing drums. But there was a spark that lit a fuse: “White Unicorn” by Wolfmother. Around the 4:08 mark, there’s a classic Hawaii Five-O-style tom roll—an old-school drum moment dropped into a new context. Hearing something familiar land with fresh impact inspired him to chase that feeling. As a kid, he practiced that roll down the toms until it felt right… and he’s basically never stopped practicing since.
His early influences read like a drummer’s hall of fame: Keith Moon (The Who), Ian Paice (Deep Purple—another lefty), and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers). Lately, his ears have been pulling toward funk and jazz fusion, feeding a style that’s equal parts power and precision.
In the band, Dan brings feel, intuition, and strong non-verbal musical awareness—he reads the room, the musicians, and the moment. He’ll be the first to joke that he contributes “rushing and louder volumes,” but underneath the humor is a drummer who’s played in bands since early high school and knows how to lock a rhythm section in tight. He loves playing with energy—sometimes bombastic energy—because for him the thrill is in the impact, the commitment, and the push.
Gear-wise, Dan’s favorites are his cymbals: a 24” Zildjian ride and an 18” crash—pieces he trusts, loves, and (as he’d put it) can’t ruin the tone on too easily. But his bigger obsession is the full-kit blend—making the bass drum, snare, and toms sound right together, like one unified instrument.
Interestingly, live performance isn’t his favorite part of music. Dan plays for himself first, and for everyone else second. That said, he still loves the feeling of a band playing tight—that moment when everyone is locked in, parts are nailed, and you can trade that look across the stage that says, “Yep… that was it.” And sure—compliments never hurt.
As for gig memories, Dan’s got some legends: a “Spaghetti Wrestling” show with an inflatable pool filled with cooked, oiled spaghetti where audience members were invited to wrestle while the band played… and another surreal favorite—performing on a floating pirate ship off Madeira Beach during a day-long boat-and-music festival.
Offstage, Dan enjoys time with his wife, dog, and friends, and he’s the kind of person who’s always working on something—hands-on projects around the house, cooking, traveling, and staying busy.
When people leave a Briarwood Blues Society show, Dan hopes they leave with one clear feeling: real music is still being played. In a world that can feel rushed, manufactured, and overly packaged, he loves the “hands-on” side of music—the human fingerprint in the work. Like spotting a faint fingerprint on a handmade clay bowl: proof that a person was there, shaping it. That’s what he wants the music to feel like—human, present, and unmistakably alive.
Robert “T-Bass” — Bass Guitar
Robert “T-Bass” brings deep groove, quiet strength, and undeniable feel to Briarwood Blues Society. Though born in Miami, his formative years were spent in Jamaica, where music was woven into everyday life. Surrounded by reggae and dancehall from an early age, Robert absorbed rhythm not as theory, but as culture—internalizing pulse, movement, and pocket long before he ever picked up an instrument.
When he eventually found the bass, it felt less like a new beginning and more like recognition. Playing with others unlocked something that had been developing inside him for years: a natural ability to lock into the groove and make the whole band feel grounded and connected.
Musically, Robert’s DNA draws from reggae and dancehall rhythms alongside classic blues and soul—styles built on feel, repetition, and a deep, steady pocket. In Briarwood Blues Society, that translates to unwavering steadiness, control, and a foundation the rest of the band can lean into without hesitation.
On stage, Robert’s greatest reward is simple: seeing people dance. When the crowd moves, he knows the groove is doing its job.
Offstage, he stays active through cycling and values time with his family. Perhaps most impressively, he’s also a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, having competed for many years—discipline and focus that quietly mirror his approach to music.
When audiences leave a Briarwood Blues Society show, Robert hopes they feel grounded, energized, and connected—to the music, to each other, and to the moment they just shared.
Adric Lawlor — Guitar
Adric Lawlor plays guitar for Briarwood Blues Society, bringing a calm, focused presence and a genuine love of the instrument to the band. He began playing guitar about eight years ago after being encouraged by his mom to learn an instrument. Given the choice between guitar and violin, Adric quickly found that the guitar felt like home.
Early on, his biggest musical influences were close to home—his uncle Dan and later his cousin Jonathan—shaping his connection to music through personal inspiration rather than specific artists. While Adric doesn’t point to any one musician as defining his sound, his playing reflects a thoughtful, steady approach rooted in listening, learning, and doing his best in every moment.
Within the band, Adric describes himself as calm and quiet during rehearsals, focused on growing as a player and supporting the music as a whole. Though playing live still makes him nervous, his favorite part of performing is hearing the audience enjoy what the band is creating together.
A self-described gear minimalist, Adric’s favorite piece of equipment isn’t a guitar or amp—it’s his pick. Out of all the picks he owns, he sticks to just one because it feels exactly right in his hands.
Outside of music, Adric enjoys playing games, spending time with friends, and occasionally cooking or baking as a relaxing way to unwind. When audiences come to see Briarwood Blues Society live, Adric hopes they leave feeling happy and satisfied, having shared in a genuine musical experience.