Miami's Five Best Concerts This Week

J. Cole. Forest Hills Drive Tour with Big Sean, YG, and Jeremih. Tuesday, August 18, 6:30 p.m. Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach; 561-795-8883; ticketmaster.com. Tickets cost $21 to $63.75 plus fees via livenation.com. From 2014 Forest Hills Drive to 601-7 Sansburys Way, Fayetteville rapper J. Cole has come a long way since a...

By Laurie Charles

August 17, 2015

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J. Cole. Forest Hills Drive Tour with Big Sean, YG, and Jeremih. Tuesday, August 18, 6:30 p.m. Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre, 601-7 Sansburys Way, West Palm Beach; 561-795-8883; ticketmaster.com. Tickets cost $21 to $63.75 plus fees via livenation.com.

From 2014 Forest Hills Drive to 601-7 Sansburys Way, Fayetteville rapper J. Cole has come a long way since a "Dollar and a Dream." Just over a year ago, thousands of hip-hop heads from across the 305 (excluding 2,000 fans who were turned down) crowded Downtown's Grand Central for a night of $1 fun and chill vibes thanks to Cole's 2014 Dollar and a Dream Tour. Cole fell in love with the Magic City so much, that he rung in 2015 at the Delano Beach Club. But now, the platinum-selling artist will be spreading that love to the 561 during his gig at Perfect Vodka Amphitheatre.

La Luz. With Will Sprott and Ben Katzman's DeGreaser. Tuesday, August 18, 10 p.m. Gramps, 176 NW 24th St., Miami; 305-699-2669; gramps.com. Tickets cost $7 plus fees via ticketfly.com. Ages 18 and up.

Enter the Weirdo Shrine of Gramps and get your dose of "surf noir" with Seattle's indie rock crew, La Luz. Produced by Ty Segall, the band's sophomore album is, as described by the artist himself on La Luz's official bio, a "world burning with colors never seen, like mauve that is living.” Not too shabby, coming from a rock virtuoso and all.

James Murphy. DJ set. Presented by the Lexus Pop-Up Concert Series. Powered by Pandora. Thursday, August 20, 8 to 11 p.m. Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino, 901 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale Beach; 954-454-7000; gulfstreampark.com. Tickets are free with RSVP via eventbrite.com. Ages 21 and up.

"Dance Yrself Clean" and get ready to hit the slots in proper uhntz-uhntz fashion with former LCD Soundsystem frontman and DFA Records label boss, James Murphy at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino. What the hell James Murphy is doing at Gulfstream Park? Who the hell knows. But don't ask questions, just dance.

Tomas Diaz. Thursday, August 20, 11 p.m. Hoy Como Ayer, 2212 SW Eighth St., Miami; 305-541-2631; hoycomoayer.us.

From going to jail in Cuba for playing rock 'n' roll — which was, according to the government, considered "dangerous" music — to backing Bruce Springsteen, touring with Phish, and co-founding Spam Allstars, Tomas Diaz is, as described by us here at New Times, a worldwide phenomenon. This week, el músico will be doing the "Suky" with all los salseros de Miami at Hoy Como Ayer.

Umphrey's McGee. With J. Roddy Walston & the Business. Saturday, August 22, 9 p.m. The Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach; 305-673-7300; fillmoremb.com. Tickets cost $27.50 to $30 plus fees via livenation.com.

Formed in 1997 at Notre Dame University, Umphrey's McGee has been touring relentlessly for many, many years. They've brought their signature style of technically brilliant prog-rock combined with a freewheeling improvisational nature to plenty of cities, and now it's our turn.

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