DubFest Featuring Bunny Wailer, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Reel Big Fish, Goldfinger, and othersHollywood ArtsPark at Young CircleSaturday, September 5, 2009 Better Than: Anything that has come to the ArtsPark in a very long time.The Review:Last Saturday, the rain just wouldn’t let up. By the time 2:00 p.m. rolled around, yet…
The Jean Marie, Arboles Libres, Pretty Please, and Static MoonChurchill’s Pub, MiamiFriday, September 4, 2009 Better Than: Paying 20 bucks to loiter at your favorite lackluster South Beach club and end up holding your best friend’s hair back in the WCThe Review:Despite a pretty stellar local lineup, this past Friday…
These days it’s rare to find a new reggae act who embodies the genre’s traditional roots. But such is the case with Rootz Underground, a six-man band formed 10 years ago out of “di yard” — Jamaica. They not only sound right, but act right, singing conscious lyrics of justice…
To read the previous installment of Jacobs Ladder’s tour diary, click here. These are the on-the-road chronicles of Miami band Jacobs Ladder as it completes its ninth national tour, brought to you by bassist Sammy Gonzalez.Bands, if you’re heading out on the road and want to share your own tour…
To view a slideshow of photos from the event, click here.CP Rocks Presents: Can I Say-Sunday II With Tongues of the Heartworm and AnchormanCinema Paradiso, Fort LauderdaleSunday, August 30, 2009Better Than: An hour-long sermon The Review:This past Sunday marked the second installment of longtime local promoter Mark Pollack’s “Can I…
To read past installments of South Florida According to Brooklyn, click here. While this blog has covered events there several times already, this week I want to talk about the Bubble in Fort Lauderdale. This place is what this town needs to bring back the D.I.Y. fist-raising of the late…
¡Mayday! The Thinnest Line (Self-released)maydayonline.com This five-track EP is rife with sexy rhythm and blues, with elements of funky hip-hop and solid live instrumentation behind it. It gives an overall lounge feeling for the casual cool cat that dresses well and knows how to order a drink right. The collective…
When the guys in Miami trio Jacobs Ladder told us they were leaving on their second national tour of the summer (and their ninth national tour to date), we asked them to send us some recaps of their time on the road. Local musicians, if you’re going on tour –…
Respectable Street’s 22nd AnniversaryClematis Street, West Palm BeachSaturday, August 22, 2009Better Than: The 21 previous Respectable Street anniversary parties (probably)The Review: It’s been 22 years since Rodney Mayo bought an old Salvation Army soup kitchen at 518 Clematis Street in West Palm Beach and converted it into the punk rock…
Two weeks ago, Crossfade video master Jacob Katel and I dropped in on the last day of the second annual P.A.T.H. hip-hop summer camp run by Brimstone127 and Amit Regev. The week-long workshop was held down the street from the Miami New Times offices, at the Miami Light Project. was…
A few months ago I wrote about the new anti-tether law that Joe Sanchez got approved in Miami-Dade County this past March. That was a step in the right direction to protect who can’t speak for themselves. That was real progress. Which is why I’m even more pissed off, in…
When it comes to roots-rock-reggae music, few old school legends that are still touring have the pedigree for great songwriting that Don Carlos possesses. Although he’s often overshadowed by more popular Jamaican reggae singers like Burning Spear and Toots Hibbert, Carlos started out in the same era (early ’70s) and…
Ex Norwegian, The Freakin Hott, and Zombies!Organize!!At Propaganda’s Grand Opening CelebrationPropaganda, Lake WorthSaturday, August 15, 2009Better Than: The grand opening of the new El Dorado near my house a couple months back.The Review:You all know we’ve been dropping some serious ink on Lake Worth’s on-the-money music joint Propaganda for some…
With the recession and all, the days of music writers’ snail mail boxes getting stuffed daily with press kits is pretty much over. Most labels and publicists send private download links these days, which is actually an excellent idea. Promo CDs are just going to get put on a music…
D.I., Agent Orange, and FearWith Bloodhook and Total ChaosRespectable Street, West Palm BeachSaturday, August 8, 2009Better Than: It actually was just as good as fucking while high on cocaine. The Review:My Saturday certainly got itself started with a whole fucking bunch of Parrot Bay on Friday night and a large…
Viva Le Vox and Alex Nelson Dada, Delray BeachFriday, August 7, 2009 Better Than: Anything else going down on Atlantic Avenue on Friday nightThe Review:Once the waiters start clearing the tables away from the front entrance of Delray hotspot Dada, it’s clear that it’s no longer tuna tartare time. (Well,…
To read past installments of South Florida According to Brooklyn, click here. I attended the local stop of the Warped Tour, on Saturday, July 25 at the Cruzan Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach, and was disappointed that no one really watched Bad Religion. I don’t get it! These guys are…
Square One MusicFestThe Pavilion, downtown Delray BeachWith Elastic Bond, the Pretty Faces, and Ever So KleverFriday, July 31, 2009Better Than: Barbie’s 50th Birthday exhibit at Old School Square’s Cornell MuseumThe Review:When a state’s revenue shrinks, it’s usually funding for the arts that takes the biggest lance from the budget cut…
This week I would like to talk about how the punk rock and hardcore scene here really has no support anymore. Today, kids see “punk rock” on MTV and channels like that, but the truth is that shit’s not real. The bands you see there are bands that really didn’t…
Michael Jackson dies and all of a sudden he’s the greatest entertainer of all time. Not so fast. MJ made three great albums, invented the moonwalk and, well…. Let us take another look at the performers who have truly proved most thrilling over the years.1. Elvis Presley Michael Jackson may…
Redeye ’09With Dooms De Pop, Astari Nite, and Confused as EverArtserve Fort LauderdaleFriday, July 24, 2009Better Than: Guy Harvey paintings and seashell collectionsThe Review: Fort Lauderdale is perhaps better known for its nickel slots and three-for-one drink specials than its cultural pursuits. But you could have fooled the hundreds of…
Yes, it’s no secret I hang out at the Poorhouse in Fort Lauderdale a lot. But here’s a new event worth mentioning at the bar: My Pod Mondays. It started a few weeks ago and is hosted by the place’s legendary bartender, Mr. Jon Owens. People interested in putting their…
