My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, released in 1981 (and recently reissued), was an attempt by David Byrne and Brian Eno to forge new territory via found sounds, samples, and assorted Africanisms that foreshadowed a good many musical trends. In contrast, Everything That Happens represents a retrenchment, albeit an…
As the continued existence of the Warped Tour proves, I get older and the kids stay the same age. And as long as the latter is true, there will also be room for one more three-chord song based on a one-note joke. Hence the seventh full-length of pop-punk covers by…
If you saw the full-length version of the Kim Kardashian sex-tape, for some ladies, this is a no brainer. But VH1 is in the process of starting a new television show called, So You Want to Date Ray J? One can only suspect that it’s all about lining up eligible…
Miramar-based rapper Rahsaan is quickly showing himself to be one of the hardest working MCs in South Florida. The Georgetown, Guyana-born, Brooklyn/Kendall raised lyricist has been on a tear lately, first hopping on the Rock the Bells tour with his crew, the Outfit, then linking up with Scheme Magazine to…
For such a relatively short existence, few bands have excited such extreme reactions in the heavy music world as the Orlando-based quartet Trivium. Formed in the earlier part of this decade while the members were still teenagers, the band’s 2003 full-length debut, Ember to Inferno, messed with the metal heterodoxy…
Karu & Y hopes for better luck second time around. Karu & Y (71 NW 14th Street, Miami), the biggest failure in Miami’s nightlife/culinary scene since, well, ever, is asking for a second chance. According to the press release, the “new leadership” presumes Miami still wants an upscale lounge and…
Justin Namon Michael Vincent Patrick, one half of Designer Drugs. Click here to view the full slideshow. Designer Drugs Monday, September 8, 2008 White Room, Miami Better than: A mouthful of actual designer drugs. Electro, blog house, nu rave — whatever, you call it, has been on the rise since…
I walked into the historical landmark known as Churchill’s Pub at 1:30 p.m. on a recent Saturday afternoon. Bad Brains front man HR was sitting on the stage and waiting for me. I introduced myself, as he pulled me close. “Lets go to the backyard,” he whispered into my ear…
Sayre Berman Chris Isaak Sunday, September 7, 2008 Pompano Beach Amphitheatre Better Than: Catching cool. When I first caught Chris Isaak, it was on the fourth floor of a legendary New York nightclub called Danceteria and the cat was still relatively unknown. But by the time he and his Silvertones…
Ryan Russell Jinchuu, Mehkago N.T., and Torche Saturday, September 6 Churchill’s Pub, Miami Better Than: The great majority of the corporate metal shows to hit the area in recent months. The Review: Here’s one thing about underground rock audiences in Miami. They may be smaller than in other cities, but…
Friday, September 5: *That retro-fried garage rock stuff that’s going strong in the rest of the country doesn’t often seep down here, so catch a little of while you can tonight, when the Seattle foursome the Boss Martians hit Churchill’s. Click here for the scoop. *The Microdots play the weekly…
Time to have bizarre celebrations, because Athens, Georgia, band Of Montreal is returning to South Florida December 6. The psychedelic indie rock outfit will be gracing the stage at Revolution (200 W Broward Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale) as part of thier tour in support of their ninth album Skeletal Lamping, which…
Local indie rock band Modernage has just released a new music video for their new song “7/9/12” off of their soon-to-be-released EP Sirhan Sirhan. The song is classic Modernage punched up with an electronic beat. It reminds us a bit of The Postal Service, which is not a bad thing…
Anthony Green Wednesday, September 3, 2008 Culture Room, Fort Lauderdale Better Than: Those love poems you wrote in eighth grade about Julie, er, or was it Sarah? One thing is clear: Anthony Green has found love. Well, that’s not just because he really did recently marry his longtime on-again, off-again…
If you’ve ever considered yourself a South Beach local, at one time or another you’ve been to Buck 15. Hell, you were probably there last night, which means you know the joint is located smack on the backside of Lincoln Road, and you have to already know where you’re going…
Although she has a degree in literature from a university in her native Rio de Janeiro, local singer-songwriter Rose Max always had music in her genes. “My great-grandfather was a classical composer and conductor, and my grandfather was part of the samba scene in Rio in the Thirties,” she says…
Pool Party 25 Pool Party Sensational Hits (self-released) www.myspace.com/poolparty The best way to describe the legendary Pool Party is by stealing the description from the band’s MySpace page: “Slade giving the Ramones head inside of Kraftwerks’ robot factory, while watching themselves in the mirror!” This is some creepy disco-influenced power…
Last year, Marc Anthony received mixed reviews for his portrayal of salsa pioneer Héctor Lavoe in the big-budget biopic El Cantante. But that critical reception does not reflect the Nuyorican actor, singer, and songwriter’s true star power. As he approaches his 40th birthday, Anthony boasts enormous crossover success, recording musically…
Real-deal rock-and-fucking-roll returns to usually buttoned-up South Miami this weekend, thanks to a new direction of musical programming at Bougainvillea’s. Hidden away from the street by thick, verdant Florida flora, the laid-back bar in a cozy cottage is rededicating itself to nurturing the local original music scene. To that end,…
It’s been a banner year for half-Miami/half-Atlanta-based (wahhh!) quartet Torche. The release of the band’s second full-length album, Meanderthal, this past April unleashed an avalanche of megawatt praise from the likes of Spin, Mojo, Decibel, and basically everyone who matters — even the usually cranky dudes over at Pitchfork. Representing…
Pablo Ceballos, hailing from Madrid, is most often spotted controlling dance floors alongside DJ Chus (a.k.a. Jesus Lopez Esteban). Their location on the Iberian Peninsula inspired the duo to coin the term Iberican to describe their fierce blend of the worthy elements of house and, yes, even trance. The sound…
Fusion. Within music, it’s practically a dirty word. Though the term is intended to suggest the magic of endless possibilities, it has an unmistakably loaded ring to it. And much as in the realm of cuisine, anything that bears the “fusion” tag is likely to stir up derision, controversy, and…
