No Te Va Gustar Kick Off US Tour at Grand Central Tonight

It’s always fun when a band chooses an ironic name. Like the Uruguayan rock ensemble No Te Va Gustar (You’re Not Going To Like It), with whom we couldn’t disagree more wholeheartedly. NTVG’s style is fundamentally catchy, and heavily reminiscent of ’90s bands out of neighboring Argentina’s better known scene,…

James Zabiela at the Vagabond, July 1

James Zabiela The Vagabond Friday, July 1, 2011 Better Than: A lumberjack convention. But also kinda like one, as you will find out below. It was a wet, steamy night, the kind you might think the Miami nightlife set would enjoy. But it seemed to keep the crowd thinner than…

Venezuelan Hip-Hoppers Cuarto Poder Kick Off US Tour Tonight at PAX

When someone says Venezuela, you probably don’t immediately think hip-hop. After all, the South American nation has long been knows for its salsa. Oh, and a strange, insane little dictatorial ferret who’s more than just a little bit acquainted with Castro’s backside.But don’t tell Cuarto Poder that Venezuela and hip-hop…

U2’s 360° Tour Is the Super Bowl of Rock Spectacles!

See the full 32-photo U2 at Sun Life Stadium slideshow. U2’s 360° Tour With Florence and the Machine Sun Life Stadium Wednesday, June 29, 2011 Better Than: The Black Eyed Peas at the 45th battle for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. On February 3, 2002, U2 played the Super Bowl XXXVI…

Arboles Libres at Transit Lounge June 30

The guys of Miami-based Arboles Libres have become darlings of a wide swath of the South Florida scene thanks to their geographically inclusive musical approach. The rock en español crowd loves the group for its frequent foray into Spanish lyrics. That’s only a little piece of Arboles’ musical mosaic, though…

Psychedelic Furs at Culture Room July 1

In the early ’80s, U2 and the Psychedelic Furs played the German TV show Rockpalast. Thirty years later, Bono is filling Sun Life Stadium while the Furs play Culture Room. What happened? Both acts were influenced by the Jam, the Clash, the Buzzcocks, and the Sex Pistols. But as Bono’s…

Steve Aoki at Mansion July 2

If there’s one thing Miamians really love, it’s a good show. So even if you’re not crazy about Steve Aoki’s mixes, at least you can expect a night of instantly recognizable party tracks, crowd-surfing, stage-diving, The Lion King theme music, and free vodka shots poured straight into your mouth by…

Shabba Ranks at Revolution July 2

The annual Flashback Night has revived classic Caribbean sounds in South Florida for the past five years. After a packed edition last year at Café Iguana Pines, the event returns this year even bigger and better at Revolution in downtown Fort Lauderdale. A true coup for the night’s promoters is…

Nil Lara at Bougainvillea’s July 2

It might strike you as odd that an artist who plays multistringed instruments — such as the tres, a six-stringed Cuban guitar; and the cuatro, a four-stringed Venezuelan guitar — goes by the name Nil. But that doesn’t mean Mr. Lara is synonymous with nada. His heyday was back in…

Rick Ross at King of Diamonds July 1

Rick Ross is the Boss. And he’s got a personal stockpile of greenbacks almost as huge as the U.S. Treasury’s cash stacks. So needless to say, Mr. Ricky can afford to celebrate American independence and excess in a bling-bang way that’d make even the fattest capitalist shine bright and star-spangled…

The Hundred in the Hands at the Electric Pickle, June 23

​The Hundred in the Hands Presented by Nightdrive With Benton, Will Renault, Uchi, and Laura of Miami Electric Pickle Thursday, June 23, 2011 Better Than: Getting your car broken into by a crackhead looking for Lashonda’s iPod. Walking toward the Electric Pickle at 10:15 p.m. on the half empty streets,…

Xperimento Mixes it Up Miami-Style at Jazid July 9

Fusion is a way of life in Miami. Spanglish may as well be the official language. Restaurants boasting Asian fusion cuisine are popping up everywhere. And mixing up musical influences is an ancient tradition by now. Xperimento, named New Times’ Best Fusion Band this year, blends the band members’ Latin…