Photo by Pinsbro
Audio By Carbonatix
‘Tis the season to wrack your brain and try to come up with some holiday gifts people will actually enjoy. It’s a daunting task. You wanna show your favorite folks how much you care, but half your friends and family are boycotting Amazon and big box stores, while the other half have dedicated themselves to a life of minimalism because a social media influencer told them it was the only thing that will make the existential dread go away.
How is one ever to show their love via consumerism without stepping on toes or resorting to yet another gift card from the Publix check out aisle?
If your loved one is a music lover like us, we’ve got a few suggestions. The gifts on our list below do double-duty, supporting local businesses and hitting the mark that says, “Hey, I know you. I thought about this. I care.”
From books to tunes, accessories, and activities that are better for the brain than doom scrolling, here are our picks for the best Miami-centric gifts for the music lover in your life.
A Music Book from Dale Zine
Don’t just listen to music. Read about it with a cool and quirky publication from Dale Zine. Servicing the 305 since 2009, the good folks at Dale Zine don’t just publish underground greatness; they also carry it. Tap into “the culture” with the latest copy of Living Proof Magazine (which recently featured Earl Sweatshirt on its cover). Brush up on your electro history with On The Nile – The Book, a close examination of the world that the Egyptian Lover emerged from, with contributions from musical minds that include Ice-T, Moodymann, and Dam-Funk. Chuckle at the hilarity that is Oasis Talking Shite by someone who is not the Gallagher Brothers, and so much more! Stop by the brick-and-mortar shop in the Design District, or find what you’re looking for online–but stopping by the shop comes with the added bonus of checking out the latest art exhibit in the back and getting to know your friendly, local zine publisher. Dale Zine, 50 NE 40th St., dalezineshop.com
A Nostalgic Miami Pin Set from PinsBro
Do you have a millennial friend who can’t go downtown without crying about what used to be there but hasn’t been there for years? PinsBro has just the thing! This local creator crafts all kinds of magical pins to treat the Miamian in your life, be it the 8-bit Miami sports logos, the tiny cafecitos with skulls, or a round pin that just says “irregardless,” but it’s the A Nostalgic Miami set that will set music lovers aflame with memories. So far in the series, PinsBro has created likenesses of Tobacco Road, Churchill’s Pub, and Gramps. The creator also promises great spots, such as Grand Central and Vagabond, are in the works. Back in our day, it really was better, but back in the day is alive again on your lapel, tote bag, bucket hat, or whatever. pinsbro.com
Gift Cards for Sweat or Technique
We know we made fun of gift cards at the beginning, and really, there’s nothing wrong with gift cards, especially when they promise vinyl gold. Show your support for one of Miami’s best record stores by letting your little music mind run wild. Both Sweat Records and Technique Records offer gift cards either in-store or online at a variety of price points, depending on your budget. No need to remember if your loved one has that one specific cut or not. Just hand them the card and say, “go get ‘em tiger.” Sweat Records, 5505 NE 2nd Ave., 786-693-9309, sweatrecordsmiami.com/giftcard/; Technique Records, 880 NE 79th St., 786-717-6622, techniquerecords.com/collections/gift-card
New World Symphony Subscription, Nu Deco Ensemble Membership, Adrienne Arsht
You friend who loves music isn’t always the raver in the family. Some people take their live music with a little more sitting down, and for those folks, may we suggest the sophisticated gift of a membership or subscription to one of the city’s fantastic symphonic offerings? For $100 a month, New World Symphony VIP Members have a great seat waiting for them at every event. Nu Deco Ensemble Members get 10 premium tickets per season, acknowledgements in the programs, access to event recordings, an invite to the annual member appreciate event and more, with tiered-level pricing that starts at $2,500. The Adrienne Arsht Center also provides a few tiers of membership access, starting at $100 for early access to tickets, evolving at $305 for exclusive invites and concessions vouchers, and more expensive membership opportunities from there. You’re helping these cultural institutions thrive and giving the gift of music. Big baller moves. nws.edu/events-tickets/vip-membership/; nu-deco.org/memberships/; arshtcenter.org
Hip-Hop Games, Books and Kitsch From The Museum of Graffiti
It’s pretty damn cool that the Museum of Graffiti is here in Miami. Like, New York City, how did you let that happen? Whatever, we win–and your music loving friend wins more when you buy something to support the museum as a gift! From mixtape kitchen sponges to vinyl drink coasters, books on hip-hop fashion, a hip-hop coloring book, a hip-hop puzzle and more, there’s something for every head at every price point. museumofgraffiti.com
Shop Vintage Band Tees at Flagler Village, Red Hot Vintage and French 75
First of all, it’s insane that my Gen Z cousin thinks he likes the Deftones more than I do (bro! I was ALIVE when White Pony came out!). Anyway, if you’ve got a little whipper-snapper discovering the classics for the first time or a gray-haired rocker who used to have that one tour t-shirt from The Who but doesn’t remember where they left it 20 years ago, shopping vintage band tees is always a good vibe. Yes, sadly, the ‘90s is now vintage. Don’t let that stop you from handing your money to the nice folks working the store. Toward this end, we suggest the well-vetted vintage of Flagler Vintage, Red Hot Vintage and French 75. If they don’t have something for your friends and family, Target certainly does not. Flagler Vintage, 243 E Flagler St., instagram.com/flaglervintage; Red Hot Vintage, 3080 Sheridan St., Hollywood, redhotvintage.com; etsy.com/shop/French75Vintage.
Custom Ear Plugs
If your music lover goes to a lot of concerts and loud bars in their forever chase of the sound, it’s way past time for ear plugs. If your friend or family member swears by Eargasm or Loops and haven’t lost their latest pair in over a year, it’s definitely time for some customs. Music industry professional trust those made by 1of1, a company that makes custom ear plugs that not only fit perfectly, but filter all the bad decibels out while balancing frequencies of the music and friendly conversation, so you can enjoy the highs and lows and still understand what the person next to you is saying—if you want to. It all starts with an ear mold, and in Miami, the company recommends setting an appointment with its local contact by emailing bert@1of1custom.com. The fitting cost is part of the $200 for a set of custom ear plugs. Yes, that’s expensive, but consider the cost of going deaf. For some folks who really are about this life, those customs will make all the difference. 1of1custom.com
