Those in the outside world tend to view the Gathering of the Juggalos as a lawless festival of debauchery, with apparently violent clowns — “gang members,” even, if you ask the U.S. government — running rampant and chaos ruling the day. In actuality, this notion is far from the truth…
He growls. He flashes gold grills with fangs. He’s Travi$ Scott. Signed to the production wing of Kanye West’s GOOD Music, with credits on Cruel Summer and Yeezus, many consider this 22-year-old Houston rapper and studio pro to be ‘Ye’s protégé and possible heir. Now, more than a year after…
Dance music culture as we know it today owes much to the seminal New York City scene of the ’70s and ’80s, and pioneering DJs like John “Jellybean” Benitez. While he would go on to an illustrious career as a producer, putting his Midas touch on chart-topping hits by the…
What’s different about this year’s Gathering of the Juggalos in Thornville, Ohio? Well, the cops for one thing. During last year’s event, set in Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, we encountered minimal security. The gatekeepers and patrol staff, which seemed to be just exceptionally large juggalos in “SECURITY” shirts, peered into backpacks to…
Pitch down dance music’s tempo from the manic 140 beats per minute favored by candy ravers — pitch it way down — and you begin to approximate the languid, sensual, baby-making rhythms of Slow Hands, AKA Ryan Cavanagh. Of course these days, tempo is less a concern for Slow Hands…
Machine Gun Kelly Presented by Dope Entertainment Grand Central, Miami Tuesday, July 22, 2014 Better Than: A rock show. Or a rap show. “Welcome to the greatest show on Earth. Lace the fuck up.” There’s only one place in Miami where you can comfortably rock Lebron James’ Cavaliers jersey without…
As the name People’s Blues of Richmond might suggest, guitarist Tim Beavers and bassist Matthew Volkes began making music together to commemorate a mutual friend’s funeral. “Tim and I went to kindergarten together, but we never played music,” Volkes tells Crossfade. “But in 2009, during our freshman year of college,…
Two guitars. No vocals. They grew up in Mexico City. They busked on the streets of Dublin. They played the White House for President Barack Obama. They recorded with a 13-piece Cuban orchestra in Havana. And now they’re coming to the Fillmore Miami Beach. Rodrigo Sanchez and Gabriela Quintero are…
Three months till III Points. For the second straight year, Wynwood’s homegrown music, art, and technology festival will flood its native hood with stellar bands and solo acts, street artists and performance types, tech startups and hacktivists. Obviously, though, we here at Crossfade are most hyped for the tuneage. So…
Ever had that reoccurring nightmare where you’re sitting in the middle of an office meeting and realize you forgot to put your pants on? If we had to bet on it, we’d say it happens, like, almost every Sunday night. Well, good thing for everyone, it’s just a dream. But…
J. Cole’s Dollar & A Dream Tour Grand Central, Miami Thursday, July 17, 2014 Better Than: Anything else you could do in Miami for a dollar. And most full-priced concerts. “Dreamville in this motherfucker!” It cost $1 to get in, but only J. Cole’s most ardent followers made it through…
In 1804, Haitian drums booming through the mountains helped the country overthrow slavery and gain its independence. In 2014, that same throbbing beat has established Haiti-born, Miami-based Michael Brun as an emerging international EDM powerhouse. And with his own freshly minted independent record label, Kid Coconut, he’s determined to further…
Welcome to Dreamville. As J. Cole says, “Miami. The Warm Up. $1.” Of course, he’s talking about the 2014 run of his Dollar & A Dream tour — a string of semi-secret shows in six cities across two continents. It only costs a dollar. It features a “special commemorative performance…
J. Balvin may be an up-and-coming superstar, but el Colombiano’s already living that reggaetonero life — topping Billboard charts, going Platinum with his debut album, La Familia, and partying with mamis till “6 AM.” Yesterday, though, José Álvaro Osorio Balvín was all “Tranquil[o]” at the Biltmore Hotel in anticipation of…
Without Africa, there’d be no Miami bass. There’d be no rock ‘n’ roll or hip-hop or jazz or salsa. No Hendrix, Nas, Byrd, or Machito. In fact, almost every modern music genre can be traced back to that great continent across the Atlantic. And that’s why, 16 years ago, Jose…
Brood. Swoon. Now dance. It’s been four years since New York City post-punk crew Interpol’s last studio album. (And two years since Paul Banks, Sam Fogarino, and Daniel Kessler reconvened following a hiatus caused by the departure of longtime bass player Carlos Dengler.) But now Banks, Fogarino, and Kessler have…
When Raheem Devaughn sings, panties get wet. That’s probably why he’s been featured on songs by everyone from Ghostface Killah to The Roots. The Grammy-nominated artist has also cracked the pop charts with his own albums and singles, including “Guess Who Loves You More,” “Woman,” and “Customer.” He’s an R&B…
Ray LaMontagne and Jenny Lewis With Belle Brigade Fillmore Miami Beach Saturday, July 12, 2014 Better Than: A night with any of these great acts alone. On any other evening, the sweet strains of Belle Brigade’s sibling tandem, Barbara and Ethan Gruska, would’ve been show enough. But over the weekend,…
He’s gone wild with Steve-O, shared paint with the Cavs, and sparked up with Juicy J and (likely) Wiz Khalifa. He was signed by Diddy. He covered XXL magazine. And his track, “Invincible,” has been used as theme song by both the NFL and the WWE. Born in Houston but…
One of the hardest things us working-class citizens face on a weekly basis is having to say goodbye to the weekend and waking up to the Monday morning grind. Yeah, we all hate it. But when you’ve got nothing but good vibes from CeeLo Green, Pitbull, and Lil Boosie to…
Hushed, earthy, soul-soaked. Those are the ways in which observers and critics have often spoken of Ray LaMontagne’s songwriting — ever since his recorded debut, Trouble, introduced him to the world’s music fans as a bearded Northeastern mountain man with an acoustic guitar. Not many would’ve described LaMontagne or his…
Take a sick day. Or three. It’s time to start planning for another Fool’s Gold Day Off — that annual, often out-of-control, traveling rager thrown by world-champion DJ, party pro, and label boss A-Trak. For 2014, the Day Off tour is set to trek from Brooklyn to Toronto, Los Angeles,…
