Miranda and the Beat Will Bring High-Energy Rock 'n' Roll to Gramps

From one swamp to another, New Orleans-based rock 'n' roll outfit Miranda and the Beat are bringing a night of garage rock and punk to Gramps on Sunday, January 26, with support from South Florida punks Real People. Danny Kroha, singer and guitarist from legendary Detroit garage band the Gories, will be spinning records alongside local artist Moni Musique (AKA Monica McGivern), who will be celebrating her birthday.

"All the boys are from West Palm Beach," shares California native guitarist and vocalist Miranda Zipse, joined by Dylan Fernandez (Farfisa), Alvin Jackson (bass), and Alex Mandel (drums). The tour, which includes stops in Melbourne and West Palm Beach, marks the first time the band will perform in South Florida and serves as a homecoming of sorts for most of the band.

Miranda and the Beat members met McGivern in 2019 in New York City while she was performing with her band, Haute Tension. While planning the current tour, the band contacted McGivern, who invited Kroha onto the bill.

"I'm a fan of Real People, they rule, and when Monica was like, 'Danny has family in Miami, and he's here a lot. Should we hit him up?' I was like, 'What? Hell yeah!'" Fernandez says. The Gories member will be spinning deep cuts from his collection of Detroit rock 'n' roll 45s.

"Kroha and I were talking last week, and he said this is the first time he's doing a DJ set where he has a slot to himself, so he's pretty excited for that," he adds.

Though Miranda and the Beat originally formed in New York in 2018, Zipse, Fernandez, and Jackson made the move to New Orleans about six months ago. "It's such a great, unique city. We love the culture and the people here; it's been a good fit for us so far. There's a lot of great punk bands and lots of sick jazz, of course," Zipse says.

"No pretentiousness in the scene here," Fernandez adds.
The band spoke to New Times before heading out on the ten-city Hits the South Tour in support of the sophomore album Can't Take It, which was recorded in King Khan's Moon Studios in Berlin and released via the labels Khannibalism, Ernest Jennings, and Wild Honey. The album features 12 high-energy punk anthems, many of which the band will bring to Gramps.

"The first album is definitely a culmination of all the early years, and the newer album is all of us as a unit, as a band," Zipse says.

Once they wrap up the current tour, Zipse and the band will head straight to New York City from Miami to record new tracks for a seven-inch release. The band will then go on a full U.S. tour in March and then head to Europe for more shows.

Miamians looking for a night of chaos, rock 'n' roll, and punk can find it at Miranda and the Beat's show. However, they'll have to deal with the band's private security before entering the venue. The band is bringing along Jackson's pup, Nala, on tour.

"She's a pit bull, and she's the sweetest, cutest baby. She said she's doing security, but I don't think she's going to stop anybody, honestly," says Fernandez.

"She's getting a lot of celebrity attention already. It's like, 'We don't care about this band. Who's this dog?'" Zipse adds.

Miranda and the Beat. With Real People, Danny Kroha, and Moni Musique. 7 p.m. Sunday, January 26, at Gramps, 176 NW 24th St., Miami; gramps.com. Tickets cost $12 at eventbrite.com.