Homies

The New Times New Talent Stage is where Miami-Dade and Broward's most amazing up-and-coming musicians will be showcased. Let's take some time to meet these rising stars.

The Waterford Landing uses Miami's suburban landscape as the inspiration for its beautiful, melodic experimentation. The group came together after Alex Caso (synths, vocals), Ed Matus (electric guitars, synth, drum programming, vocals), Richard Rippe (synths, electric fender bass, vocals), and Neil Rippe (drum set) took time away from multiperson bands to envelope themselves in more individual, electronic projects. "Having a band is like having a girlfriend. It's more like having three or four girlfriends if you have three or four people in your band," Caso says. This private work seems to have allowed the members of the Waterford Landing to expand as musicians, unrestrained by logistical problems inherent in a multimember band. The result is a deeply rich, creative, and danceable sound.

Atomic Tangerineis an edgy modern rock band, the winner of the nationwide HBO/Rolling Stones/Hard Rock Café "Rock the Stones" contest.

The Hideous Idiots began in the spring of 2005 when four working-class stiffs, seeking a mental escape from workaday drudgery, began writing catchy yet dissonant music and stream-of-consciousness, battery-acid lyrics in lead vocalist Orlando Rodriguez's North Miami condo. "We grew up listening to punk and heavy metal," says Rodriguez, "but we liked things that were very melodic, regardless of genre."

Modernagecame together in late 2003, riding Miami's "wave of change" into an indie-rock-embracing city, according to the group's vocalist, Mario Giancarlo. "We haven't played to an empty room yet," he says, an understatement considering some of the gigs the band has landed, including opening spots for the Stills and the Walkmen. Modernage's EP, Receiver, is available everywhere.

The Stop Motion, whose influences include the Pixies, Blind Melon, U2, and Pink Floyd, used to give out free custom lighters labeled with the group's Web address. The bandmates knew their name was spreading when someone in Colombia gave them a shout-out. "They said they found one of our lighters, checked us out, and really loved our stuff," says Gaston De La Vega, the bass player. The band's song "Boo Kitty" is featured in a Kenneth Cole compilation CD, and they also have deals with Fox and the WB.

Monte Rosa was invited to open the 2005 Billboard Latin Music Conference. Erik J.M., Monte Rosa's vocalist and guitarist, cites Radiohead and Oasis as two of their biggest influences. Their first single, "Me la Robo," has been heating up the airwaves, recently positioning itself in the number one spot on Puerto Rico's rock station, Alfa Rock.

Performing along with the aforementioned musical sexies will be some of Miami's hardest-working DJs: Bruno, Diaga, Parantula, Johnny Ramirez, Jae Vynel, Nikolas, DJ Pedro, and Nelson Diaz. So, brothers and sisters, step into the rapturous light of our pulpit of rock March 18 from midday to midnight at Bicentennial Park, Miami, and be saved.