Homebuyer Highlights: Shawn Clark and The Doodz Are Focused on One Thing – Creating Joy in Every Crowd
Whether at his Lee Wetherington Home in LakeHouse Cove at Waterside, or at a variety of venues along the Suncoast, the most likely place to find Shawn Clark is behind a drum set. For Shawn and The Doodz – a premier rock and roll cover band based in Lakewood Ranch – music is about more than simply performing in front of thrilled crowds. From rehearsing iconic, complex songs that are likely difficult for other groups to perfect to closely connecting with audiences, the challenges and rewards of playing together, in sync, are what drive the band to continue creating unforgettable experiences.
“The ‘why’ for us is listening to music stirs emotions,” said Shawn. “That makes us all feel alive but playing music with others and doing it well brings a whole next level of joy. Part of the ‘why’ for us is joy, but also playing the music gives us a great sense of accomplishment.
“Learning a piece of music, coming together in practice, then performing it well is exhilarating. It’s about trying to do something difficult and challenging and then succeeding together.”
Performing head-banging hits from the 1970s through the 2000s across Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, Bradenton and Parrish, The Doodz formed as many great bands do – out of a mutual passion for music and a vision they all shared, having previously played with popular bands nationwide. Lead singer Brandon Mocadlo and Mark Jones, a talented guitarist, connected first. Then entered Jeff Dirksen, a fellow guitarist and vocalist who played alongside acts like Cheap Trick and Blue Öyster Cult.
Shawn was the most recent addition, rounding out the band after they discovered each other via a website designed to connect musicians. Together, they’ve taken the stage by storm, playing beloved songs by renowned groups from Aerosmith to 3 Doors Down and the Foo Fighters, to lesser-known tracks produced by bands like Blackberry Smoke and Joe Bonamassa. There’s an exceptional energy given off by the band – and shared by audiences – because these four artists not only select music that other groups consider tough to play, but they are also genuinely inspired by the hours-long enjoyment they can generate in the lives of people in the crowd.
For Shawn and The Doodz, their “favorite” show is always the next one. And with audiences packed with knowledgeable music lovers, the musical talent in a league of its own and the chance to rock outdoors year-round, Lakewood Ranch is the perfect atmosphere for the band to call “home.” It’s at the center of a region filled with opportunities for Shawn and his bandmates to fuel their passions and leave a lasting impression.
“Well, playing and performing music is part of how each of us lives a life that is fulfilled,” said Shawn, who started playing the drums in the fourth grade. “Part of living a fulfilled life is experiencing joy. So through the music and being with each other, we experience joy. Being fulfilled is also part about that, partly about having a sense of accomplishment. So we achieve that by playing well individually and together.
“Being fulfilled is also about helping others find a little bit more joy and happiness in their life.
So living a life that’s fulfilling in these ways is a big part of what drives the band to continue to play and perform.”
For The Doodz, their future endeavors are straightforward – continue to grow and bring joy into people’s lives.
“Our goal is to continually evolve, so getting just a little bit better every day so that eventually bigger things can happen,” said Shawn. “What I mean by getting better every day – technically, our music gets better, our song list expands and improves, and our relationships improve.
“So that’s getting a little better every day, so that eventually bigger things can happen.”
