Jucifer Churchill’s Pub, Miami Friday, February 21, 2014 Some bands wield volume artistically, turning sound waves into bludgeoning vehicles of expression and tapping into the very viscera of the audience through sheer force. Bands like Swans, Japan’s Boris, and Miami’s own Holly Hunt all use decibels to bolster the inherent…
Soulfrito Music Festival With Nas, Don Omar, Busta Rhymes, and others Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens Saturday, February 22, 2014 Better Than: The Winter Olympics. In contrast to the Olympic Games being broadcast the past couple weeks, Soulfrito: The Urban Latin Music Festival was organized to represent nations — Puerto…
With perfectly chiseled beach bodies, (mostly) sunny skies, and 80 degree weather in the middle of winter, Miami is like some sort of magical wonderland. And with never-ending music almost every night of the week, the 305 really is paradise. Here are the five best concerts to check out this…
Snap on that studded leather thong, metalhead. ‘Cause the legendary Lemmy Kilmister and the “loudest band in the world” wanna cruise with you. That’s right … Mr. Kilmister and bandmates Phil “Wizzö” Campbell & Mikkey Dee are joining the ranks of Kid Rock, Kiss, and all the world’s ravers by…
Only five years ago, the Head and the Heart were playing the Seattle pub circuit. But within 12 months, founders Josiah Johnson, Jonathan Russell, and mates found themselves signed to legendary indie-rock label Sub Pop while being buzzed over by critics declaring H&H to be the Emerald City’s next big…
To say that Dave Seaman knows a thing or two about programming a DJ set would be a considerable understatement. The pioneering British DJ-producer’s had over two decades to hone his craft at countless arenas around the globe. He’s also behind a hefty catalog of mix compilation albums, including several…
Party, party, party. That’s the mantra of the beat freaks, and the buzz of their chanting voices is already growing louder and higher and more frenzied with every passing day on the way to next month’s weeklong EDM freakout, otherwise known as Miami Music Week. Among the nightlifers contributing to…
Even if Wendy Davis loses her bid to be governor of Texas, she can be proud that her political career inspired a great song. Just as the Beatles wrote “Come Together” in honor of Timothy Leary’s campaign to be governor of California, the members of Bright Light Social Hour wrote…
Walking with zombies. And surviving the night of the vampire. As a pioneer of tripped-out rock ‘n’ roll and the frontman of quintessential 1960s psychedelic rock band 13th Floor Elevators, Roky Erickson — who emerged out of the wildness and weirdness of Austin, Texas — notched his spot among American…
“It’s acoustically different and it’s sonically different,” Israeli singer-songwriter Asaf Avidan notes, comparing his new debut solo album, Different Pulses, to his work with former band, The Mojos. “It has different sounds and touches on different genres of music and takes a different approach to making a record.” While Avidan…
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,…
The International Noise Conference has come and gone this year, leaving in its wake perforated eardrums, a melted motorcycle tire, and a missing flute. But noise as an accessory within other genres has become a very regular thing in recent years. Hell, even Kanye West has dabbled with harsh noise…
Don’t call Chaz Bundick’s sound chillwave. The California-based producer might have found his Toro y Moi project pigeonholed as such during its early Internet-based breakout phase, but anyone following his sonic evolution should know he has decidedly shed that dubious classification. “I feel that my sound has changed so much…
Nine Mile Music Festival With Ms. Lauryn Hill, Stephen Marley, Damian Marley and others Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds, Miami Saturday, February 15, 2014 Better Than: Staying home, eating discounted Valentine’s chocolates while listening to “One Love” over and over again. After last year’s Nine Mile Music Festival earned complaints for making…
Music is the fuel that keeps us going. That’s why the Magic City is filled with pretty good shows almost every night of the week, from trap star Lunice to hip-hop veteran Nas and reggaetonero Don Omar at the Soulfrito Urban Latin Music Festival. Just check out the five best…
Deadmau5 Ice Palace Studios, Miami Saturday, February 15, 2014 Better Than: Sitting at home realizing you definitely can’t afford to go to Ultra this year, thinking up futile ways to try and sneak in. Yep, we did it guys. We’ve finally earned cranky old Joel Zimmerman’s respect. As you may…
The Chocó region of Colombia sits in the South American nation’s northwestern countryside. Bordered by the mountains of neighboring Panama and the waters of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, this small, rural locality is one of the poorest places in the entire country. Yet it is culturally rich. And…
Valentine’s Day is all about sex, bass, and croquetas. Like Tina Turner says, “What’s love got to do with it.” And like Tio Pepe says, “It’s a variety show, pipo, not a gang bang.” We here at Crossfade caught up with Cuban puppet Pepe Billete ahead of the 305PLP ruckus…
Let us pray that the Pope of Mope does not fall ill again. Because, dear devoted, intelligent fans, the beloved Steven Patrick Morrissey has just announced a 2014 U.S. tour. And blessed be us … He’s actually coming to Miami. Last year, Morrissey was forced to cancel a bunch of…
Deep Dish is back. Last month, Dubfire and Sharam, legendary house music production partners who’ve been focused on solo stuff since 2006, began a mysterious “countdown to Miami” via DeepDish.com. There were no other details. But it seemed obvious that a reunion was coming. And at the time, we here…
Miami’s Melissa Giles was barely 18 when she started Soulfrito. The music festival, launched way back in 2002, was the first of its kind in Miami, presenting all urban styles, from reggaeton to rap, on one bill. For several years, she and Soulfrito were a success. But then the fest…
From the moment Tessanne Chin grabbed the mic and sang her heart out to Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” on season five of The Voice, the singer sent shivers down spines and made millions of Americans (and Jamaicans) jump off their couches and stare in awe at the TV screen…
