Colossal Music Fest

Another weekend, another Tobacco Road-centered music festival sponsored by the tireless Oski Gonzalez and Queen of the Scene. No, seriously, these two are among the most unfailingly positive movers and shakers on the local scene. And if they put on so many multi-stage, million-band festivals, it’s because they really care…

Los Enanitos Verdes

Los Enanitos Verdes (“The Little Green Dwarves”) are pretty much the granddaddies of alternative rock in their native Argentina. They’ve been in the game a hell of a long time — 30 years, if you count the early days, before guitarist Sergio Embroni and keyboardist Tito Dávila signed on in…

The Happy Mondays

Although they remain a cult act in the United States, the rough-and-ready northern Brits of the Happy Mondays are hugely influential on today’s indie/dance crossover acts. Founded by brothers Paul and Sean Ryder in ’80s Manchester, the Mondays formed at the exact moment when postpunk was fading and early dance…

Novalima For the First Time in Miami, This Saturday

In an age when all things retro are honored with a certain amount of street cred, a group from Peru called Novalima took kicking it old school to a whole new level. Delving into their country’s history and tracing back to the roots of the first slaves brought over in…

DFA’s Tim Sweeney Plays Poplife at Electric Pickle this Saturday

Poplife’s new Saturday night at Electric Pickle kicked off with a real bang in September and has already hosted some fine artists from the indie dance contingency, like VHS or Beta (DJ set) and Alexander Robotnick. This Saturday night brings NYC-based DJ/producer Tim Sweeney, one of the youngest new talents…

Concert Review: Way Out West at Shine, September 19

​To view a full slideshow of photos from the event, click here. Way Out West Saturday, September 19 Shine at the Shelborne South Beach Better Than: Watching their live footage on YouTube. The Review:For better or worse, this is less of a proper concert review than my own reflections on the cultural/commercial legacy of Way…

Concert Review: The Rat Opera at Tobacco Road, September 19

Hearing Damage: The Rat OperaTobacco Road, Miami Saturday, September 19, 2009 Better Than: Reminiscing at home by yourself about Rat Bastard’s courageous and outrageous accomplishments. The Review: For more than two decades Frank Falestra, better known as Rat Bastard, has shaped the South Florida music scene. A masterful producer and an eminent luminary in…

Around the World in 12 Hours at Space

Hey house junkies, turn off your computer and pack your bags — you’re going on a trip, and I’m not talking about the chemically-induced kind. This tomorrow night, Space Global Sessions has invited 11 DJs to take you “Around the World in 12 Hours.” The event starts at 11 p.m,…

A Festidan for the Rest-idan

Remember when you were in high school and house parties were the highlight of the week? The smell of teen angst, hormones, and liver damage thick in the air, live music pounding through sub-par speakers, and the incessant fear of cops coming and breaking up your party…really takes you back…

Matt Tolfrey and Crazy Larry Play Electric Pickle Tonight

The PL0T kids are at it again! Tonight brings a last minute double serving of deep techy goodness at the Electric Pickle with transatlantic favorites Matt Tolfrey and Crazy Larry in tow. Young British DJ/producer Matt Tolfrey has made his steady upward move from local pub DJ to internationally-recognized artist…

Concert Review: Skream and Benga at White Room, September 16

Skream and BengaWednesday, September 16, 2009White Room, MiamiBetter Than: Staying home on a Wednesday night.Dubstep has arrived. Sort of.Wednesday, White Room hosted two of the genre’s biggest icons, Skream and Benga. The British DJs have achieved almost cult status in the States. They aren’t necessarily bringing the crowds Tiësto pulls…

Concert Review: Rootz Underground at Pulp Live, September 16

Rootz Underground Wednesday, September 16, 2009 Pulp Live, Fort Lauderdale Better Than: Breaking the law and getting away with it. The Review: There are two words to describe the music of Rootz Underground: “rebel rock.” And from the looks of what transpired Wednesday night, rebellion in all its rockin’ glory was at hand. It’s been…

Wisin y Yandel

Puerto Rican duo Wisin y Yandel is without question the most successful reggaeton act in the history of the genre, outselling all the other heavyweights. Anyone remotely familiar with the genre will recognize their song “Rakata,” originally off the Mas Flow II (More Flow II) compilation and then later released…

Mala

Almost unbelievably, this performance by UK dubstep giant Mala at the Vagabond comes just a day after his colleague Skream’s gig around the corner at White Room. Miami aficionados of the genre might not have to go out again for a long time. And lest you totally miss the boat…