Battles With Nisennenmondai Grand Central, Downtown Miami Thursday, October 27, 2011 Better Than: Approximately 95% of most live music events. Two tight bands, decently timed sets, booming sound. What else do you need? Last night, Battles blew our fucking mind. Sorry to indulge the most standard live music hyperbole. But…
In the decade-plus since Miami Dade College started it’s Middle East Dance Program, the curriculum — and it’s accompanying, annual Belly Dance Show — has become the biggest and best place in the state of Florida to hone the ancient art of danse du ventre.Saturday’s showcase, titled Arabian Dreams, is…
What exactly was grunge? We know the early-’90s trend was some kind of rock ‘n’ roll. But were its adherents just the latest batch of unwashed punks or hippies? They kind of looked like both. And the music kind of sounded like both too.Grunge — both the dirge-y guitar tunes…
By playing a completely straightforward amalgamation of various strains of rock, pop, and punk, Ted Leo and The Pharmacists have carved out a niche entirely unto themselves. Their anthems inspire an appropriate amount of big-grin pogoing, their lyrics are audible for maximum singing along, and their frontman is a real…
Austra at Grand Central November 2
Sebastian Ingrosso, Erick Morillo, Bob Sinclar at Scope Art Arena October 29
Battles at Grand Central October 27
Ted Leo and the Pharmacists at Churchill’s Pub October 30
Guns N’ Roses at American Airlines Arena October 29
After sex and drugs, rock ‘n’ roll is often paired with scary. Ever since the darkly psychedelic burnout at the end of the ’60s (epitomized by Iggy Pop’s amphetamine-inspired caterwauling and Lou Reed’s doom-y bad trip bummer jamming), there have been myriad genres obsessed with death, the occult, paranormal activity,…
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler used to be the quintessential writhing, wrapped-in-spandex rock ‘n’ roll sex symbol. Remember when this guy used to get Jagger levels of respect for his Pterodactyl vox, sleazy stage presence, and his big ol’ Mick-like lips? Well, these days anyone ever wants to talk about is…
While post-math-rock trio Battles should be recognized for its technical chops, dense songwriting, and pop-sensitive innovation, there’s also no denying the group’s status as a bona fide supergroup. While guitarists Dave Konopka and Ian Williams received their respective twinkle-noodle pedigrees from Lynx and Don Coballero, drummer John Stanier was a…
Though Juggalo parties are loaded with titties and soda pop, and their signature battle cry mating call, “Whoop! Whoop!,” would seemingly convey unabashed pride, it’s safe to assume that it ain’t easy being down with the clown. Everyone loves to rag on Insane Clown Posse, and the unwashed youth that…
[jump] 5. Mummies Are Better Than Zombies Here’s a good transitional monster for those apprehensive about adjusting their supernatural creature intake. It’s a scary step, but think about it: Mummy’s are baaasically zombies with a cooler costume–love the bandages,baby. They’re so 1999 BC– and a sexy and/or mystical ancient Egyptian mythology. 4…
Dithyrambalina is (1) a permanent public sculpture in New Orleans by Brooklyn-based artist Swoon; (2) a house for dwelling; and (3) a fully functional musical instrument. The structure is the centerpiece of The Music Box: A Shantytown Sound Laboratory, the three-month long exhibition of the sculpture-instrument and “Shantytown Orchestra” music…
While there’s reason to rage against the media saturation inherent to the internet (e.g. too many chill/witch/triangle clone bands uploading from their bedrooms), you’ve got to celebrate the World Wide Web for the incomparable access it grants to musical worlds previously impossible to connect with. For example, the delicately intricate,…
Aside from your standard Gucci Mane flareup, the world of hip-hop arrests has been pretty boring lately. Who cares about Ja Rule’s back taxes? Thankfully, early 2000s R&B boy band vocalist Lil’ Fizz (AKA Dreux Pierre Frederic) is bringing some flair back to notable incarcerations with Little Amsterdam, his recently…
and the recent live-action Transformers reboot, got his ass handed to him earlier this week by big-n-hairy shirtless guy. The story is classic: LaBeouf was drunkenly bumping into patrons at a bar, one of them lost patience and told him to “watch out,” and Shia responded, appropriately, with “What are…
In 2004, thriller novelist Ridley Pearson and South Florida funnyman Dave Barry teamed up to write — of all things — a children’s book. And to make matters even more improbable, the unlikely pair embraced the kid-lit genre whole hog by tackling one of its most enduring heroes: Peter Pan…
Bassnectar at Fillmore Miami Beach October 22
Krisp at Vagabond October 21
As her father’s manslaughter trial continues to wallow in spectacle, celebrity, and drug abuse, the 13-year-old Princess of Pop (that is, Michael Jackson’s daughter), Paris Jackson, has announced a new partnership with the “youth program” division of the Lingerie Football League. The issue at hand is clear: pop starlets (Gaga,…
