MP3 of the Day: Rachmannanoff – “Never Made it to the Casket”

It’s been a while since I’d heard from reclusive producer/instrumentalist Harmonix. Yup, last time his work graced my stereo was way back in 2008 when he dropped the space-jazz, crunk-flavored and New Wave savvy Instrumentals, Volume 1. And this track here has a funny story, seems like he was trying…

Letters from the issue of April 1, 2010

Pay Dirt Yellow press: No one likes it when corruption, theft, and greed are associated with a government agency, but this article is pure sensationalism and really lacks merit (“Disorderly Conduct,” Tim Elfrink, March 25). It’s unfair to criticize an entire organization, or an entire profession, over the actions of…

Mixtape of the Week: Phatz – Palm Trees & Bomb Weed

Palm Trees & Bomb Weed is an authentic product exported out of the streets of Carol City. Phatz, a native of Carol City, puts together a collective of songs displaying his ability to stay fresh in rhyme, and in style. The word “swag” has pretty much been used to exhaustion,…

Music In This Week’s Print Edition of Miami New Times

While we update Crossfade a bunch of times a day, the Miami New Times still features a fresh crop of music news weekly, including features that go into more depth than the usual blog post.This week, Steve Almond talks with legendary poet / spoken-word artist / musician / proto-rapper Gil…

Moving Units: Radio-Active Records’ Top 5 Releases for March 23-29

In our Moving Units column, Mike Ramirez at Fort Lauderdale’s Radio-Active Records graciously keeps us up-to-date and comments on the current releases flying out of his store each week.Quoting Ramirez: “What’s up with the number 2 this week?!?!” We agree 200 percent about that. Apparently record buyers like sequels to…

Scarface: The Elementary School Play

This is wrong on so many levels. Anyone who can tell me where this little tyke production was staged gets a limited edition DVD of Scarface, a Tony Montana action figure, and a used coke vial. Scarface School Play – Watch more Funny Videos…

Backstage in South Florida: My Meeting With Macca

Music vet and New Times scribe Lee Zimmerman shares stories of memorable rock ‘n’ roll encounters that took place in our local environs. This week, a daytripping tale about catching Paul McCartney and his band on the run at American Airlines Arena.It was September 2005 and then as now, I…

Blast From the Past: Futurisk – The Sound of Futurism

Blast From the Past is an occasional Crossfade column re-examining classic South Florida releases of yesteryear. Click here for past editions. FUTURISK – The Sound of Futurism (Clark Humphrey Records) For all the cool synth acts the hipsters drool their PBR’s for nowadays, I’m glad and quite freaking happy to…

Marijuana Report: Florida Hunts Head Shops

While the rest of the country — or at least California, Colorado, and a few others — virtually legalizes pot, Florida is going retro.Bills making their way through the Florida House and Senate would impose a 25 percent tax on pipes with carburetors. Worse, it argues that these pipes couldn’t be…