FN Dish – Food Network Blog: Go behind-the-scenes at Food Network featuring your favorite chefs, shows, recipes, events and more.

As a major sugar junkie, I’ve been watching Ace of Cakes for years. And like with most reality shows, I feel like I got to know its stars—especially Duff Goldman, the bad-boy baker and owner of Charm City Cakes. So when my boss told me I’d be going backstage to see Duff’s band play a concert at the House of Blues and write a story about him, I was excited (Yes! Maybe he’ll make me a cake shaped like my face!), though a tad confused (he has a band?). I was also a little nervous, since on the show, Duff can sometimes be the serious guy who cracks the whip on his wisecracking staff. . .so what if he was too serious about the “craft” of his music to let loose and have some fun?

Well, I didn’t need to worry about that. It’s true that Duff’s songs are moody, atmospheric, and all-instrumental (listen to one of his songs here); it’s not the hyper pop music you might expect from someone who spends his entire day swimming in sugar. But hanging out with him and his bandmates was fun and upbeat. Once they finished their sound check, we piled into to a private room in the House of Blues bar, which was decorated with red velvet booths and gold Buddha statues. After ordering a round of Yuenglings, Duff kicked up his neon-yellow sneakers and the goofing around began. The guys gave each other noogies (luckily, visiting journalists were exempt) and Duff teased the youngest member of the group: “Remember when we messed with you by painting your guitar pedal hot pink?”

Download a free copy of one of the band’s songs (to download as an MP3, right click on the link and select “Save Link As. . .”). Plus, enter for a chance to win a free CD of Duff’s album, signed by Duff himself. See the full story about Duff’s band from Food Network Magazine.

—Sarah Z. Wexler