Columbine. Sandy Hook. Virginia Tech. Once places of relative anonymity, known only as learning locales, they’re now synonymous with tragedies that have become increasingly common in the nation’s schools, unspeakable acts committed by young people plagued by spectres either real or imagined. It’s not an easy subject to absorb, much…
Global warming is a major issue these days, affecting everything from an increased possibility of death and destruction courtesy of the next killer hurricane, to the seemingly improbable winter weather that turns entire stretches of the country into a scenic panorama that suggests we’re entering a new ice age –…
Anyone who’s unaware might find it easy to dismiss Evita as yet another musical that’s run its course — or worse, a one-hit stage show with a terrific title tune but an otherwise well-worn narrative. But the terrific touring version that opened at the Arscht Tuesday night proved nothing could…
By now, the Blue Man Group has become a reliable brand, much like Cirque du Soleil and its various offshoots. Like Cirque and its ilk, the Blue Man Group has yet to grow tiresome or overindulgent, even in spite of the constant exposure. Somehow, the sight of these oddly endearing…
It’s never easy to see our hometown South Florida heroes venture off in search of greater glories. Of course, we’re happy for them — just look at the successes achieved by the Mavericks, Marilyn Manson, and Johnny Depp after they took their talents to a national stage. Still, it was…
When Todd Rundgren dubbed an early album A Wizard, a True Star, it might have seemed somewhat presumptuous at the time, given that his recording career was practically in its infancy. Four decades later, that title has come to sum up one of the most remarkably prolific careers in rock’s…
The Flick’s 50th Anniversary and Benefit for the Dolphin’s Project Titanic Restaurant & Brewery, Coral Gables Friday, March 28, 2014 It was a night of music, memories and nostalgia. Fifty years since the Flick opened its doors across the street from the University of Miami, many of the patrons and…
New York had its Cafe Wha? and Bottom Line. Los Angeles had the Troubadour. And while South Florida could never match either of those cities in terms of star power and mystique, it did have a venue that helped foster South Florida’s burgeoning folk scene in the 1960s and ’70s…
The year 1966 was a pivotal moment for the Moody Blues. That’s when bassist John Lodge and guitarist Justin Hayward joined the band and changed its direction dramatically. Abandoning the blues and R&B standards that had been the group’s stock in trade since its formation, Lodge and Hayward pushed for…
It’s little wonder that any attempt to get Jim Lauderdale on the phone can become something of a challenge. After all, given the man’s propensity for extreme multi-tasking, any chance of catching him when he’s not in the studio would seem to require both expert timing and enormous luck. Indeed,…
It’s true that a famous surname draws a lot of attention. Now imagine being the son or daughter of not one, but two famous parents. Double the benefits? Perhaps. But double the pressure? Most assuredly. No one knows that better than Michele Coltrane. The only daughter of jazz giants John…
Fernando Perdomo was once one of South Florida’s own, an omnipresent musician, local entrepreneur, and singer-songwriter who made an indelible mark on the local scene. He relocated to L.A. in June 2012, following the death of his mother and the sale of his family home, which also housed his recording…
By his own admission, Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz has a great gig. While most working Americans are quick to grouse about their jobs, Ortiz, the percussionist for Atlanta-based band Widespread Panic, exudes a level of enthusiasm that would likely make most people bitter with envy. “I can’t think of anything better,”…
“It’s still exciting,” insists Widespread Panic’s Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz, “even after 27 years.” That’s right … For the last quarter century, Ortiz and the rest of the outfit — vocalist/guitarist John Bell, vocalist/keyboardist John “JoJo” Hermann, guitarist Jimmy Herring, drummer Todd Nance, and bassist/vocalist Dave Schools — have been rocking…
By his own admission, Domingo “Sunny” Ortiz has a great gig. While most working Americans are quick to grouse about their jobs, Ortiz, the percussionist for Atlanta-based band Widespread Panic, exudes a level of enthusiasm that would likely make most people bitter with envy. “I can’t think of anything better,”…
Chicago at Hard Rock Live April 4
The Who at BB&T Center November 1
Anyone who’s followed the musical adventures of Fernando Perdomo knows that he’s never met a musical icon that he doesn’t admire. Or so it seems … We don’t really know which musical icons he’s actually met. But judging from his wealth of influences, it’s likely he knows several spiritually, if…
For a musician who once seemed to be everywhere at once, Fernando Perdomo seems unusually humble, if not by choice, then certainly by necessity. And the launch party for his debut solo album, Home is Wherever You Are actually finds him opening for Omine, one of the many acts signed…
Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson Fillmore Miami Beach Tuesday, September 18, 2012 Better Than: Jethro Tull? Hmm … There’s reason to consider. Ian Anderson’s decision to revisit Jethro Tull’s most elaborate opus (and no, we’re not talking Aqualung) certainly took some fans by surprise, if for no other reason that the…
See also “Chris Isaak on New Album: ‘We Did It Like the ’50s, No Overdubbing, That’s Cheating.'” Chris Isaak The Fillmore Miami Beach Friday, September 14, 2012 Better Than: Any other professional show biz showcase. Chris Isaak is at his best when he’s going back to basics. Of course, that’s…
Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson Plays Thick as a Brick 1 and 2 at Fillmore Miami Beach September 18
