As anyone who has eaten Asian party mix will tell you, rice crackers are delicious, a condensed indulgence balancing salty, spicy, and sweet. But more than anything, the real pleasure of these treats is the texture — they are satisfyingly crunchy, whether shaped like spheres, crescents, or spirals. And if…
Gogol Bordello’s pulsing Mediterranean sound and sljivovica-drenched stage presence have found eager listeners from around the globe. Gogol centers around frontman Eugene Hütz, who first assembled a motley crew of Eastern European expats (himself a refugee from the Ukraine and the Chernobyl disaster) from various New York City bars and…
Bubbling up to the pop surface after the hits of ’70s and ’80s love walruses such as Barry White had all but dried up, Keith Sweat is a living, breathing link from those disco-era pioneers to the Autotune-addicted rappers of today. Sweat is one of the last kings of the…
As ASG pumps out stoner metal/hard rock, the Raleigh, North Carolina-rooted outfit’s album covers lay bare its interests. The 2002 self-titled effort features a woodcut of a topless woman. The Amplification of Self-Gratification, from 2003, spits at subtlety: A near-naked harlot, dressed in Old Glory, leans on an amp and…
How time flies. I first caught Bad Religion as a very young teenager at the 1998 edition of the Warped Tour, and they were a classic act then. The genres represented on this tour have widened a whooooole lot since then, and the face of punk and its offshoots has…
Say what you will about Kelly Clarkson, there’s little denying she’s got a set of pipes most singers would kill for. American Idol’s very first (and most successful) winner has announced a fall/winter tour with a stop at Hard Rock Live on December 13. Despite what the naysayers believed, Clarkson…
Miami’s very own Awesome New Republic continues on their steamroller release schedule with a follow up to this year’s Rational Geographic, Vol 1., the aptly named Vol. 2. This band is constantly on the move, despite a recent injury to B-Rob’s foot, with the help of the hustling fellows at…
A couple months ago, I would have called watching Fox’s So You Think You Can Dance a guilty pleasure. Now, after watching poetry in motion for more than half a season, the guilty part is gone and it’s exciting to see the top 12 contestants from this season will be…
Click here to view a full slideshow of photos from the event.JahfeThe Clevelander, Miami BeachSunday, July 19, 2009 Better Than: Actually being in Cleveland The Review: Miami’s hottest roots reggae/Haitian culture band Jahfe officially released (again) its long-awaited album, The Solution, Sunday night with an early evening poolside performance at the Clevelander…
Click here to view a full slideshow of photos from the event.Radio-Active Records’ Eighth Anniversary Party With Beings, Jose El Rey, and the ShakersRadio-Active Records, Fort LauderdaleJuly 18, 2009Better Than: Stumbling upon a rare 12″ original vinyl of the Stooge’s Fun House in mint condition at your neighbor’s garage sale.The…
The Offspring/Sum 41July 18, 2009Pompano Peach AmphitheatreBetter Than: Sha Na NaThe Review:When I was a wee, wee lad, there was a series on the boob tube called Sha Na Na. The show, which featured the singing and hijinks of the same-named group, was an exercise in rock and roll revivalism…
New Times’ winner for Best Music Venue, the Talent Farm, is hosting the X&Y Fest on September 26 and 27, and they’re looking to add some bands to the stage. There is no charge to submit your band (all genres, shapes, and sizes will be considered). The only catch is…
Industrial rockers RevCo a.k.a. the Revolting Cocks are coming to Revolution Live on October 22, and they most certainly are not gay. They take special care on their new album Sex-O Olympic-O to point that out about 40 times during their six minute “I’m Not Gay” track. It’s obviously an…
Cat Shell Local musical luminary Diane Ward will play the Girls with Guitars songwriter series on Tuesday, July 21 at the Van Dyke on South Beach. She’ll appear alongside some of South Florida’s finest singer-songwriters of the XX-chromosomed variety — actually, one is XY — including Daphna Rose, Sarah Packiam, and Cat Shell. If you’re…
Though some may consider J Lo’s attempt at juggling music, acting and varied entrepreneurial endeavors to be noteworthy, let’s face facts. Nine out of ten people either snicker at the mention of her music, chuckle at the reference to her acting, or both (…much as I want to poke fun of…
Who better to follow up Ida Engberg’s superb performance at Space last Saturday night than esteemed fellow DJ dominatrix Mistress Barbara? Sicilian-born Montrealer Barbara Bonfiglio has been a staple of the international techno scene for well over a decade, boasting a distinctive DJing style and compelling repertoire of original releases…
Sno Cones, The State Of, AfrobetaFriday, July 17, 2009Propaganda, Lake Worth Better Than: The metal show I saw later Saturday night at the Poorhouse. The Review: XX-chromosomes and some serious musical variety ruled the night Friday at Lake Worth’s Propaganda. From the new band Sno Cones to The State Of…
The Culture Room’s website is stating bass playing demi-god Victor Wooten is coming with drummer JD Blair to the Culture Room, but doesn’t have an exact date. Still, there’s plenty of reason to get excited for this show. Victor Wooten is, quite simply, one of the finest bass players playing…
Skankers of the world unite! Orlando ska legends The Supervillains are coming back to Culture room on September 19. Dom, Skart, Dan, Smally, and Cardo are also scheduled to play at Arts Park in Hollywood on September 5 with the English Beat, Reel Big Fish, and a slew of reggae…
Swedish DJ/producer Ida Engberg is one of the fastest-rising female stars in the male-studded world of techno. A resident at Stockholm’s legendary Cocktail Club, her career was kicked off auspiciously in the mid-2000s and headed right to the top, where she’s shared the decks with some of the biggest names in…
Pardon the cheesy pun, but Bomba Estereo is blowing shit up! The Colombian outfit has made quite a name for themselves internationally since forming in Bogota. After letting the creative juices simmer abroad, 2009 is the year they finally take over the States, winning over fans with their unique blend…
Shows this weekend by local artists, or concerts that are otherwise under-the radar in Broward and Palm Beach. Friday:Piano and drums mixed with vocals that are simultaneously haunting and tough define the sound of The State Of, the female duo from Miami playing Propaganda tonight. While you can really hear…
