Abel

Target Nevada

Do you worship the Devil? Are you looking for the appropriate soundtrack to accompany your inner desire to maim someone? Then why not consider the original Target Nevada? In an unfriendly city filled with synthesizers, booty music, and straight-edge kids scared of beer-chugging bands, Target Nevada carved out a decent existence by playing shows up and down the state, making a name for itself with off-the-wall antics by screamologist Alan Landsman, who is known for bleeding onstage and choking people with microphone cords.

But Miami’s bloodthirsty tattooed freaks, who once brought us hardcore heavy metal songs such as “1600” and “Reach Around and Happy Endings,” is coming to an end ... sort of. The group plays its final show with original drummer Rene Leon this Saturday, and another show the following week with a new drummer to be named later. We were a little afraid to ask the reason for the scary-looking Leon’s departure from the band he helped form. “Growing up and getting a job,” he answered. — Kris Conesa

Target Nevada, Foolproof, Caught Inside, All Hell Breaks Loose, Stop This Fall, and Underpaid perform at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 2, at the Alley, 1748 SW 36th St. Tickets cost $7. Call 305-638-4404.

Haitian American Day Festival

The red, white, and blue will be flying high and proud this Independence Day weekend. But in downtown Miami on Saturday, it won’t be Old Glory. The flag of Haiti will be waved and strapped like a Superman cape to the backs of singers from Djakout Mizik and other groups scheduled to perform during the second annual Haitian American Day Festival. Headlining the event is punky, sexy East Coast rapper Lil’ Kim. While her appearance may sound improbable, the fiery hip-hop diva has been a Caribbean queen of late, thanks to her work with soca stars such as Machel Montano. — John Anderson

Lil’ Kim, Djakout Mizik, Konpa Kreyol, Phantoms, 509, Misty Jean, Top Alderman, and several others perform during the Haitian American Day Festival at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 3, at Bayfront Park, 301 N. Biscayne Blvd. Tickets range from $10 to $30. Call 305-757-0449.

Party 93.1 Fourth of July Blast 3.0

Last year, dance music station Party 93.1 (WPYM-FM) brought out tens of thousands of people to hear Tiësto rip up the decks. This year’s lineup is even more impressive, starting out with German progressive house titan Paul Van Dyk, who will be performing in support of Rock the Vote’s registration drive. Backing him up is German trance star ATB, Motorcycle, local boy made good George Acosta (who is scheduled to perform his new hit with Jon Secada, “Just Another Day”), and the always dependable Murk boys. Add in a host of other DJs, including Edgar V and Markus Schulz, as well as a climactic fireworks show, and you have a massive party worth braving snarled traffic and bleary-eyed ravers for. Plus it’s free, kids. — Mosi Reeves

Paul Van Dyk, ATB, Motorcycle, George Acosta and Jon Secada, Murk, and several others perform during Party 93.1 Fourth of July Blast 3.0 at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, July 4, at Peacock Park, 2820 McFarlane Rd, Coconut Grove. Call 888-931-0931.

Quintron and Miss Pussycat, Gravy Train!!!!, the Vanishing

Like a children’s variety hour on a bad peyote trip, the bizarre musical pairings of Gravy Train!!!!, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, and the Vanishing bring a touch of vaudeville and street performance to I/O. Every good show involves a little comedy, tragedy, and a cheek-pinch of raunch, and this show has it all. Following in the tradition of the J.J. Fad-style of ladies’ rap, Gravy Train’s derrty, hypersexual rhymes, slurred over low-fi Casio beats, promise to leave blushing onlookers without a dry panty in the house. Meanwhile one-man band Mr. Quintron plays sunny tilt-a-whirl tunes with his handmade patented equipment, including his latest invention, the Drum Buddy. He’ll be joined by his wife, puppeteer, and maraca master, Miss Pussycat. Rounding out the sideshow is the Vanishing, whose Siouxsie-era machinations should add a touch of darkness to the evening. The only thing missing are the popcorn and peanuts. — Terra Sullivan

Gravy Train!!!!, Quintron and Miss Pussycat, and the Vanishing perform at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, July 3, at I/O, 30 NE 14th St. Tickets cost $10. Call 305-358-8007.

Skunk’s Fifth Annual Big Birthday Bash

Brian “Skunk” Tait has had his hand in just about everything that happens on the local punk rock scene. He recently formed SoFla Records, and, having released a couple of discs by bands such as Why Not and Hopesick, is gearing up to put out a compilation CD.

July 3 will be a showcase for the upcoming album as well as Skunk’s Fifth Annual Big Birthday Bash. Onstage will be the Hangovers (supporting their self-released album, Nickel Bag), Stay Hit (formerly known as the Knockouts, they have a strange fascination with the glam-rock band Ratt), Roach’s Sound 4 Sound, and Section 802. You’ll want to get there early because the dancehall punksters of Pool Party, who have (repeatedly) claimed that half of their members are moving back to Iceland, are scheduled to open up the festivities. They’ll be playing in honor of Skunk, too.

Churchill’s bartenders are gearing for the onslaught of alcohol-swillers, and Skunk is ready to spray his goods on you. — Abel Folgar

Pool Party, the Hangovers, Stay Hit, Sound 4 Sound, and Section 802 perform during Skunk’s Fifth Annual Big Birthday Bash at 9:00 p.m. Saturday, July 3 at Churchill’s, 5501 NE 2nd Ave. Tickets cost $5. Call 305-757-1807.

After a long, controversial annexation by the hip-hop crowd, Miami’s ever-evolving club scene is re-embracing the gay community in a big way, from crobar’s Sunday-night Glee Club to Mansion’s Anthem bash. Over at Space, local DJ Abel Aguilera has been holding court with Orbit (scheduled for a Fourth of July bash on Friday, July 2), a monthly party undoubtedly inspired by his overwhelming success as a resident at Alegria, which is currently held at crobar NYC.

Alegria is DJ Abel’s documentation of his energetic, crowd-pleasing style, a two-disc set that explores the multihued range of tribal. The first set, subtitled “Peak Hour,” focuses on slamming hi-NRG bangers such as the Nightcrawlers’ house classic “Push the Feeling On (Rosabel Club Anthem).” The second disc, subtitled “After Hour,” is darker and more percussive, featuring highlights such as Pony Club’s strong, bass line-driven “Saucy (Hess and Nick Dem Q remix).” For better or worse, though, the compilation sounds monochromatic. DJ Abel forces the listener to get lost in the groove, leaving quaint notions of song structure and vocal hooks behind. — Mosi Reeves