Re:Set Beach Band

Re:Set was born from the need for something new. Less drama, more music, better vibes, colder drinks, and the kind of energy that keeps people hanging around long after they said they were leaving.

Built for the beach bars, patios, breweries, tiki huts, waterfront stages, and party crowds of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Re:Set delivers feel-good anthems from the 60s to today with rhythm, personality, humor, and just enough chaos to turn any night into a singalong party.

Based around St. Pete, Clearwater, Indian Rocks Beach, and the greater Tampa Bay area, Re:Set is a four-piece band made up of seasoned musicians and working professionals with years of live performance experience. Between theater stages, private events, original bands, music education, and countless live shows, every member brings real-world experience, professionalism, and confidence to the stage.

We are built specifically for Gulf Coast nightlife. We are not trying to be the coolest band in the room. We are trying to be the band people talk about the next day while recovering over brunch and ibuprofen.

Our setlists bounce from beach classics like “Margaritaville,” “Three Little Birds,” and “Dock of the Bay” to full-volume crowd favorites like “Sweet Child O’ Mine,” “Jessie’s Girl,” “Mr. Brightside,” “La Bamba,” and “Livin’ La Vida Loca.” We mix classic rock, reggae, Latin rock, 80s anthems, country rock, pop hits, dance favorites, and singalong chaos into a show built for beach towns, bar crowds, private parties, and anyone looking for a reason to order one more round.

The personalities are half the show.

Alan “El Papi” Viera brings Puerto Rican swagger, guitar fire, rock-star poses nobody asked for, and enough charm to convince the crowd they sound better singing after their third margarita.

Robert “Tico” Romero brings Costa Rican flavor, theater energy, crowd interaction, quick humor, and the dangerous confidence of a man absolutely willing to hand somebody in the audience a microphone.

Francisco “Reni” Abad brings smooth Puerto Rican groove, ridiculous musical talent, and the cool, collected energy that somehow keeps the whole operation from turning into complete beach-bar anarchy.

Then there is Nicole “Queen of Stix” Cognato, bringing powerhouse drums, killer vocals, years of performance experience, zero tolerance for nonsense, and enough New York sass to keep the boys in line while driving the entire band like a stolen jet ski.

Together, Re:Set brings musicianship, professionalism, beach vibes, Latin flavor, humor, dance-floor energy, and the kind of personality that fits perfectly somewhere between a Gulf Coast sunset and a questionable late-night decision.

We bring the sauce.

Nicole Cognato, also known as the “Queen of Stix,” is a multi-instrumentalist, educator, and versatile drummer whose style draws inspiration from artists such as Cindy Blackman Santana, Sheila E., Travis Barker, Dave Grohl, John Bonham, and Nate Smith.

Originally from New York, Nicole developed her musical foundation through the city’s diverse Rock, Hip Hop, Reggaeton, Pop, and Reggae scenes. After relocating to Florida in 2009, she expanded her musical range and became active in the local music community, performing with original and cover bands across Hard Rock, Alternative, Motown, Soul, R&B, and Rockabilly.

Outside of performing, Nicole is the founder and manager of Nicolex Music Island, where she teaches piano, drums, guitar, ukulele, and vocals to children and adults around the world.

As the drummer for Re:Set, Nicole brings together her Rock roots, rhythmic versatility, and love of Latin Rock and Reggaeton to help drive the band’s energetic and diverse sound.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Alan Viera, also known as “The Papi,” is a guitarist, trumpet player, and versatile musician with a background in performance and music education. He began on trumpet, developing strong skills in sight reading, theory, and ensemble playing before guitar became his primary instrument while studying Guitar Performance at Universidad Interamericana.

Alan’s playing draws from classic rock, 80s and 90s hits, beach music, Latin rock, and Spanish favorites. As both a lead and rhythm guitarist, he brings a flexible style that helps Re:Set move naturally between English and Spanish material.

Outside of music, Alan has built a long career in automotive leadership and customer experience, managing teams for several major automotive brands.

With Re:Set Beach Band, “The Papi” helps shape the band’s bilingual identity, diverse repertoire, and live show. He is also part of BoriTico Akoustic Duo, performing guitar and vocals in a relaxed mix of English and Spanish favorites, rock, country, beach music, and Latin songs.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Francisco “Reni” Abad Hernandez is a multi-instrumentalist whose musicianship extends far beyond his role as bassist for Re:Set. His musical background includes bass, electric and classical guitar, piano, saxophone, cuatro puertorriqueño, and cuatro venezolano, giving him a broad understanding of harmony, rhythm, and arrangement.

Before Re:Set, Reni performed with several bands in Puerto Rico, including Disturbios, Si Señor, and Fuego Caliente, developing a musical vocabulary that spans rock, Latin music, pop, and traditional influences. His playing is defined by precision, groove, and a thoughtful approach that serves the song while keeping the rhythm section locked in.

Reni also currently performs with Puerto Rican rock band Banda Rota, continuing his connection to the island’s rock scene while bringing that experience into Re:Set’s diverse repertoire.

Outside of music, Reni is a mechanical engineer who studied at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus. With Re:Set Beach Band, he combines his multi-instrumental background, Puerto Rican roots, and rock experience to help shape the band’s bilingual sound across classic rock, Top 40, beach music, Latin rock, and Spanish favorites.

Robert “Rob” Romero is a Tampa Bay vocalist, actor, and performer whose stage experience brings natural showmanship to Re:Set Beach Band. Active in the local theater community, Rob has appeared in productions including Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks with Gulfport Community Players and has also performed in several one-act productions, earning praise for his comedic performance in Death Brings a Casserole.

Rob is also involved with SAGES Theater, where he serves on the board. His credits include the Spanish-language presentation of Negando La Gravedad at Ruth Eckerd Hall’s Murray Theatre for Hispanic Heritage Month.

Outside of entertainment, Rob brings more than 25 years of automotive industry experience, with an extensive background in Fixed Operations leadership, service operations, customer experience, and team development.

As lead singer for Re:Set, Rob combines his theater background, outgoing personality, and years of working with people to connect naturally with a crowd. A devoted Parrot Head, he is equally at home with beach and Buffett favorites, classic rock, Top 40, country, and Spanish-language songs, helping make every Re:Set show feel less like a performance and more like a party.