The Jameses and Jacuzzi Boys at Florida's Dying's Six-Year Anniversary Party

Something to remember about roadtripping to Orlando: If you leave anywhere near dusk, you'll always hit shitty traffic leaving Miami. Crossfade braved the "four" hour drive to check out Florida's Dying's six-year anniversary at Will's Pub and experience what the fuck is going on up there and meet who's a...

By Liz Tracy

January 17, 2011

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Something to remember about roadtripping to Orlando: If you leave anywhere near dusk, you'll always hit shitty traffic leaving Miami.

Crossfade braved the "four" hour drive to check out Florida's Dying's six-year anniversary at Will's Pub and experience what the fuck is going on up there and meet who's a part of it.

Thanks to delays, we only caught the last two bands of the first night of a two-day festival.

Though we've seen the Jacuzzi Boys many times here, we had previously missed West Palm's the Jameses. They, like other bands who performed, haven't released anything on Florida's Dying, but were featured this weekend anyway. The Jamses wowed us, in the sense that we said "wow!" and got all excited.

Their lo-fi psychedelic pop music was super danceable, and seemed to me to be under-appreciated. The room was packed, but there wasn't enough physical reassurance going on there with the crowd. Someone bring them back to Dade. We want more. Their debut LP will be released this year on Captured Tracks.

Orlando loves the Jacuzzi Boys. People were wearing their t-shirts. And the second the band went up, beer rained down all over our glasses and shoes. Those (much) younger than us went up into the air, surfing the crowd. Jacuzzi frontman Gabriel worked the kids into a perfect frenzy being sassy and shit. At one point, he tied the black bra thrown at him around his neck like an ascot. Romantic.

We talked after the show with Florida's Dying's Rich Evans. He grew up in Broward, but now he's the anchor to a legitimate rock scene in Central Florida. His label and this trip made us infinitely less ashamed to live in this geographically isolated state, illuminating Florida's connection to a larger web of solid musical acts. Knowing how alive Florida is, we're more likely to be taking road trips again soon.

Follow Crossfade on Facebook and Twitter @Crossfade_SFL.

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Liz Tracy is a culture and health journalist whose writing has appeared in the New York Times, the Atlantic, Glamour, and Vox. Previously, she served as New Times Broward-Palm Beach's music editor for three years. Wherever she goes, she brings a little bit of Miami with her.

Contact: Liz Tracy

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