Sheila Witkin Memorial Reunion Concert

So now we find out just how cool Johnny Depp really is. Way back, young girls would pack local clubs to see a band called the Kids, fronted by a scraggly young man named Johnny. Now the Kids, along with other bands upon whose shoulders South Florida's original rock scene was built, reunite on behalf of Sheila Witkin, who passed back in April, at age 66. Will Depp show up?

Ah, who cares? The punk outfit considered the first DIY band in this area's postgarage era, the superseminal Cichlids; and the godfather of local o-rock, Charlie Pickett, are also on a bill stunning for the number of bands getting together a quarter-century after their glory days.

The music will be powerful, but the historical significance and chance to flash back to a wondrous time in Dade-Broward cultural history is just as big a draw. As is a chance to pay homage to a woman who gave over much of her life to helping others.

Witkin — who worked for Sony Music and volunteered tirelessly to help raise money for children afflicted by cancer, leukemia, and HIV/AIDS — was much beloved by members of the South Florida rock community and almost everyone else lucky enough to know her. For those about to rock, they salute her. — Greg Baker