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Beautiful People, Adieu…And All of the Fun Stuff I’m Gonna Miss This Weekend

This weekend promises to be slamming. I won’t be able to confirm the radness of SoFla’s many events for myself because, God willing, I will be waterskiing in a lake somewhere in Kentucky. Yes, that is my idea of a good time. If you missed last Friday night’s Propaganda show (and I know that many of you did because I was there), then you most likely have missed your opportunity to see The Pretty Faces for a good long time. Gingerman 309 just texted me to let me know that the videos are up. Blond Fuzz also put on an excellent closing performance for the show. Bye bye Pretty Faces. We will miss you! Enjoy Cali!

The Laserwolf hunks will host a warehouse party called “Because we like to party” on Saturday night as a preview to their soon-to-be-extant bar in the warehouse area in northern downtown Fort Lauderdale and also because they are all-around rad dudes and those types of people throw parties. Here’s the flyer.

Also, IWAN will host a party at The Bubble on Friday night called The Itty Bitty Blazer Gala — with host Travis Travalonia. Could he be related to Travis  in the Universe? I’m really sad that I’m going to miss this one. Fashion and music and art and, most importantly, catty fashion show judges. Here’s the flyer.

Plus, I’m gonna miss  Tongues of the Heartworm at Propaganda on Saturday night. Heart break. Weak.

Tonight, We Go See Some Bands That Aren’t New!

A dizzying number of new band names are popping up on flyers and show listings. Presumably this means that even more new bands are emerging or that previously non-gigging bands are taking the stage or that we’re seeing more side projects from the already considerable number of musicians who are entertaining South Floridians week in and out. Exciting as that is, tonight it’s all about the tried-and-true South Florida bands that have been gigging the area for a few solid years. Propaganda’s got The Pretty Faces and Blond Fuzz (Stonefox),  who will share the club’s stage with newer acts The Clementines and Everymen, a pack of shirtless, suspendered madmen. This is a line-up that’s definitely worth checking out, even for Broward crews. Despite feeling exhausted, I will probably try to catch this show. It could be The Pretty Faces’ last South Florida gig, according the article I wrote for New Times BPB.

The Broward temptation that puts this plan into question is the show at The Monterey Club with the truly old school 954 rockers from Tongues of the Heartworm and Mr. Entertainment. Hmmm.

And We’re Off!

We’re off to the Legends of Rodeo show at Propaganda.

If we were sticking around the FTL, we would definitely head over to IWAN’s Bubble warehouse for the Celebration of Creation party.

Mid-Week Shows and This Friday Night

What is with all of the mid-week shows lately? Goolsby will play tonight at Propaganda with Kill Now and A Hunter’s Pace, but we’ll try to catch them at Respectable Street on Thursday with Sleigh Bells.

Speaking of mid-week shows, I finally saw twin brother-fronted The Dewars perform last Wednesday night at the oil spill benefit show at Propaganda. They were nothing less than phenomenal. I’ve got to get deeper into their recordings. They’re going to play again this Friday night at Propaganda, but I need time to digest what I’ve already seen. The Jameses killed it too, but they always do. We picked up their single record, which I’ve had to flip back and forth and back and forth just to give both songs “Rat People” and “The Haunted Rider” a few listens. We’ll catch both of those bands on August 7 at the Lake Worth It festival. Surfer Blood was awesome too. The band’s live show didn’t always live up to the hype, in my opinion, which would have been hard to do because the hype around that band was pretty big. Now, Surfer Blood really sounds and performs like a national band.

Instead of heading up north this Friday, we’ll likely go to Monterey Club for TIMB‘s birthday party. It’s been a while since enjoyed the classic line-up of Zombies, Freakin’ Hott and TIMB in a Lauderdale club. You can’t go wrong wtih that. The following Friday, the 16th, at The Monterey club will be Tongues of the Heartworm, thank God. It’s been a while since we’ve seen these guys — heard somebody had a baby. They’ve even got a new logo that’s sure to make you barf if their name hasn’t already done the job. Wait! MJ designed it? That’s bass player Mike Johnson. What? Awesome!

Last Weekend Was Challenging…Tonight Will Be Rad

Wow, I almost kept up with New Times writer/coolest girl on Earth Erica Landau (funny) last weekend. Now, I suffer the consequences, but that’s not going to stop me from going to the Surfer Blood/The Jameses/The Dewars/Chill Pillars oil spill benefit show tonight at Propaganda! I have to see The Dewars.

We went to see Kill Miss Pretty‘s Twin Peaks tribute show last Friday night, which was well-attended and a lot sexier than I had anticipated. That Alicia chick gets pretty wild onstage. She gets so wild that a large crowd congregates around the stage, and it becomes difficult to see what’s going on. So, we moved to the back of the room to listen for a while and then spent the rest of the night hanging outside, where I ate Jeremiah’s BBQ for the second time in my life, which was as amazing as the first time. KMP will play Viper Room in LA on July 11. Pretty cool, dudes.

Then, we went to Poor House to catch some of Smokestack and the Foothill Fury show. It was pretty kickin’, but I still think this wandering musician is still not getting the attention that he deserves from local audiences. He’ll probably be back down here in October. If so, you’ll get a chance to check him out then. I like to follow him. It’s just my thing.

On Saturday night, my friend Inga (Inga!) and I hit up the Ketchy Shuby/Fusik show at Culture Room. Unfortunately, I arrived too late to see the boys in Ketchy Shuby jam out, but I did get to witness an awesome break dancing battle that went down on the middle of the floor. The B Boys continued to dance throughout Fusik‘s very sick set, which created a little bit of competition between the show on the stage and the show on the floor. Then, Fusik’s percussionist — Felix, I believe — started breaking onstage and then jumped down into the middle of the circle on the floor and unleashed some outrageous moves, but there was so much talent in the room that it just blended. I’m hooked on the B Boys now. Can’t wait to see this again. Also, can’t wait to see more local shows at Culture Room. Love the venue, especially with the video screens above the stage and outside on the patio. You don’t have to miss everything if you need a little breathing room. Nice.

All members of Fusik were decked out in dark suits, which was hot and sexy. We decided that Sanchez was the funkiest frontman on the planet and that we both have crushes — as what girl would not? — on the band’s bass player Mack. The $10 cover charge included a copy of the band’s album Hot Skillet, which made me dance around my apartment today while cooking lunch and doing dishes. Then, we headed over to preview The Downtown Music Hall, Kilmo’s nascent venue in the downtown warehouse district at 1st Ave and Sistrunk. It’s lookin’ pretty interesting. Rat Bastard, Steve Bristol and others tested out the stage with some noise music. Should be open in the next couple of weeks.

On Sunday, we hit up the monthly acoustic show that Trav hosts at The Jib Room and saw him play as well as his brother Brady Newbill, Evan Rowe (Catalonia) and Mike Mineo. They were all off-the-wall and talented at the same time, which is something that these guys have in common. There was a small crowd this time. If you’re not going to this, why not? It’s such a mellow party and perfect for a Sunday night.

Also, Mikey Ramirez of Radioactive Records held his 30th birthday party at The Monterey Club last night, and it was the best dance party of 2010 and possibly 2009. That’s a big POSSIBLY cause my 30th was pretty killer. I just wanted to say that right here in case, for some reason, he doesn’t remember his party. Just about everyone who goes out in Broward was there…on a Tuesday night.

Bye bye. See you at Propaganda tonight, right?

This Weekend — Stuff We Wish We Could Attend, But Can’t.

Retrocities and 80s night tonight at Respectable Street. We wish we could go, and not for the Miller High Lifes special. We enjoyed seeing boys last weekend at 1921, but we gotta stick to Laudy tonight.

D*ck Knuckle starring TIMB and the members of Zombies Organize and The Freakin’ Hott tomorrow night at Propaganda. It’s the hottest ticket in town and I sorely wish that I could experience the strange sensations that they stir up within me, but I gotta hit a birthday party. ;( $5 is the cover price. Now that’s entertainment value!

Ahem, Hi There Everyone

Aghh! This feels good. It’s been a while, eh? I don’t have too long to blog now, but I just want to mention the rooftop party that’s going on tomorrow night at Nu River Landing. Twilight Notes, the DJ group that spins at downtown Brew and other local venues, is celebrating its two year anniversary. That’s a big deal, especially considering that their parties have kept getting bigger the entire time. But, what I think is going to be super radical about the whole thing, besides the music and the company and the fact that it benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, is the whole rooftop angle. It’s running like charity events tend to with the steep cover price of $25 that’s not really that steep because it’s all inclusive. Good job, Adam. Good job, Eric. Good job all other TN-affiliated DJs. If we could all be as cool as you, we’d probably try and still eff it up.

Also, despite the distance I’ve been keeping from my internet, I have been going out and about for the last few weeks. There’s lots of new stuff to know (Stonefox changed its name to Blond Fuzz. Did you know that? If not, you’re further out of the loop these days than I am) and new people to meet (Have you seen the new local blog by the Fort Lauderdale Collective? They’ve got five bloggers and Mood Vane only has one. No Fair!!!! New Times Music Editor Reed Fischer already wrote about it at New Times recently-launched BPB-centric music blog County Grind. No Fair!!! Why’s everyone got to be so diligent all the time?). Also, there’s very likely going to be a not altogether new but very exciting venue opening in downtown right behind Maguire’s Hill 16 (Magoos!) in early July. Will discuss later.  Bye Bye! Miss you! Hi Shmee!

Tonight! Lake Worth or Bust!

We’re so excited to hit up Lake Worth tonight! Six great bands will be playing in that little Palm Beach town, and we’re gonna chill up there for my birthday. We even rented a hotel room so that we could party hard and not worry about driving home.  We’re gonna catch this show and see the incomparable John Ralston-fronted Invisible Music, the Dan Bonebrake-fronted Grey & Orange and see what the Northwood Social Club at South Shores Tavern. Northwood Social Club is pretty new, and I’m curious to see what it’s all about. Chris has heard a couple of the tunes before and he says that I, and anyone else who’s planning to attend, should expect good things.

Then, we’re going to head over to Propaganda to catch The Freakin’ Hott, Stonefox and Zombies! Organize!! live. Yes, that Stonefox. Yes, back together. Yes, you should probably already know that. Unfortunately, we’re going to have to miss the Florida Yeah Poor House show tonight with Kill Miss Pretty, Dooms De Pop and Murderous Rampage!

Freakin’ at Monterey with bands I’ve Not Yet Seen

Angry Pudding, The Dirty Boxes and The Instant Whips. Sounds like a nice opportunity to check out some new bands without having to expend too much NRG.

Goolsby Thursday at Respectables, Gentlemen Friday at Poor House

Goolsby plays Flaunt night at Respectable Street tomorrow night.

Also, Two Man Gentlemen Band, a unique old-timey two-man band will play Poor House this Friday night. I wrote about them for New Times this week, and I was so intrigued by them that I’m attending the show. What’s so intriguing about them? Watch this!

They’re sure to go over well with the Poor House crowd. Kudos to them for coming all the way from New York City! Also, Viva Le Vox will play with them.

Dialect Tonight – Cool Mix of DJs and a Fundraiser

Hello All. Tonight’s Dialect music/art party at Brew Urban Cafe downtown (right behind Tarpon Bend) is going to be bumping. Regular Dialect DJs Adam Foster and Esoteric will spin alongside DJ Sensitive Side, whose eclectic music mix has created quite a little scene over at The Monterey Club on Tuesday nights.

Also, tonight’s event will be a fundraiser to benefit Crystal, a Brew barista who was badly injured in a bike accident last Saturday night. They will collecting donations, so try to bring a few extra bucks to help her and her family with medical expenses.

This Weekend: It’s a Little Mind Boggling, But…

…we’ll be cool as long as we don’t try to do everything. Chris and I might, and that’s a big might, go see Flaming Lips at Sun Fest on Thursday night. After spending an hour hating them the last time I saw them at Langerado, and complaining the whole time that my party made me stand there and watch a bunch of furry creatures dance around the stage while Wayne Coyne crawled around the audience in his big clear ball acting like he should be (at the time, I thought undeservedly) adored, the band played one of my favorite songs, “Do You Realize”. Oops. Chris will never let me live that down. So I gave the band a few hundred spins over the years and Flaming Lips has become one of my faves. You know what other band I passionately hated the first time I saw it on TV? Arcade Fire. Nice instincts, Court. The other bands on Thursday aren’t as fabulous as the Lips and likely will not merit the 45 minute drive plus 30 bean per person drop. We’ll see.

Friday: Here’s a nice suggestion for Friday night: Alexander and Bastard Love Child of Rock ‘n’ Roll at 1921. Also, I haven’t been able to confirm it, but I think that the hilarious, wandering, bluegrass-playing, storytelling one-man band Smokestack and the Foothill Fury will be at The Monterey Club on Friday night. It’s on his MySpace calendar but not the club’s calendar. I hope he’s coming. We had a blast the last time we saw him. Smokestack’s gritty, but I highly recommend catching his show if you’re not otherwise engaged on Friday night. He’s always on tour, which is pretty inspiring for all of us regular folks. PS. Monterey’s very close to 1921, so it would be possible to hit both clubs. Keep in mind that these are not expensive venues. Five bucks here, five bucks there. How much do a couple of O’Doul’s really set you back?

Saturday, Huge Partay!Also, The Bubble’s big anniversary blowout is this weekend. I would go into the significance of the occasion, but it would be redundant to and a muted echo of Erica Landau’s brilliant article in New Times on the evolution of IWAN, the promotional group, and The Bubble, the space. Plus, I’m quoted in the article, which I believe is the first time that anyone’s ever asked my opinion in all of my, ahem, 27 years on the planet. If you hate poetic prose and just want to know what in the heck is gong on, the quick-and-dirty version is that IWAN is going to celebrate its anniversary with an all-day event at THE BUBBLE and all-night event at POOR HOUSE and an acoustic Sunday night show at JIB ROOM. I believe that event has gone monthly, and was a very fun affair last month (thanks, Trav). The line-up is listed on the Facebook invite. Also, the portion of the party at Poor House will feature a mysterious band called Falco, which I’ve heard is a lot like Stonefox, the tight-pantsed blues rock trio that broke up 3 months ago, but three months older and, if I’ve heard correctly, the members of Falco have beautiful muffintops.

Seriously, they do look a lot like Stonefox. See for your own self: Stop it, Stop rocking right now, silly boys! Stop banging your heads. It’s insuh-portable! Isn’t it weird that the weekend of Stonefox’s last show was the last time Smokestack played in Fort Lauderdale? Hmmm? Can we say full circle, kids? Can we say muy interesante and totally random? We can say whatever we want…almost.

Trips down memory lane are wonderful, aren’t they? Check this photo gallery out! Photos:
What did THE BUBBLE look like in the early days?

Also, if you’re a Palm Beacher, Saturday’s show at Propaganda looks way better than decent. Miami’s indie pop band Ex-Norwegian, a female fronted trio from Atlanta called Geri X, Mike Mineo and The Still Voice.

I think Saturday evening at Bubble and the Sunday acoustic at Jib will consume all of the energy that I’ll be able to muster, but running around to Friday’s events could be interesting too. I don’t want to miss Smokestack…if he’s really coming.

For Truly Curious Lauderdale Kids, Ancient River

Hey dudes! I was just surfing on the internets a bit and trying to catch up with the cool kids. For that reason, I cruised across Gainesville-based psychedelic blues trio Ancient River, which grown Gibbons geeks and Lauderdale scenesters from their mid-20s to early 30s will know includes former Outrights drummer Chad Voight. The band did an interview with Break Through Radio that goes pretty deep into its formation, influences, sound, etc. Most of us have seen at least one of Marco Argiro’s (Voight’s former bandmate in The Outrights) bands, The Killing Floor or The Mood, when he’s toured down here from New York. It would be awesome if Ancient River would come to South Florida to rock the smirks off of our faces.

Ancient River – “Four Letter Word”

ANCIENT RIVER | MySpace Music Videos

When You Grow Up in SoFla, the Soundtrack to Your Fondest Childhood Memories Sounds Like This…

My brother just sent the video to me and said “it must be watched” — not a bad way to prep for the weekend. This song is the source of my stock response when people ask what kind of guys I like: We like them short and we like them tall, we like them one and we like them all”. It cracks me up! Few things are as amusing in this world as women with omnivorous taste in men. Enjoy!

This Weekend: TIMB, Tampa Hippies and Viva Le Vox

Hey geeks! Have you hugged a hippie today? You’ll get your chance tonight if you want it. Tampa-based, conscious feel-good funk, hip-hop group Green Sunshine is currently touring all around Florida and will be at Propaganda this evening. Funky female vocals, some MC action and an uplifting message. They even have a song called “Turn the TV Off”, which is a good message. But, who’s gonna encourage us to save ourselves from the internet? I do wonder about that sometimes with the internet. Like, when is enough enough? How much time do I spend being productive on the internet, and how much time do I spend as a braindead vessel clicking and clicking while the clock is going around? Green Sunshine plays with West Palm Beach funk jam band Shittonoffunk and Delray Beach’s Coexist Scientist, which identifies, appropriately, as psychedelic disco funk — serious female vocals here too. Sounds like the night’s gonna have a nice collective energy.

The Craven and TIMB at Monterey Club tonight:
Awww. TIMB solo and his electronic project The Craven at Monterey Club. The sexual vanilla of his rockin’ friends from Zombies and Freakin’ will likely attend, so it’s safe to expect eclectic fashion and witty good times.

TheCraven

Viva Le Vox at Poor House tomorrow night:
I still haven't seen Viva Le Vox. The band has been recommended to me more times than any other local band, so I def will try to go to Poor House tomorrow night. We've sort of had a low tolerance for downtown lately -- parking drama and tools (not at P Hiz, but in surrounding areas). But, we'll try to muster the NRG for this one. Viva plays with Miami punk band Riot Agents and Miami's Los Bastardos Magnificos, which, if its MySpace song is any indication, is bouncy bluegrass with the expected growly vocals.

Viva Le Vox

Have you been to the Lodge in Boca Raton yet? Pretty interesting little craft beer establishment with food and lots of drink specials. Check out my review in City Link.

Written by admin · Filed Under Awesome People, Concerts, Fort Lauderdale events, Intown 411, South Florida Live Music, South Florida's Good-Not Evil/Lame Establishments 

This Weekend Is Not a Stay-At-Homer

April 16, 2010

Don’t run down to Publix for two-for-one Orville Redenbacher kettle corn or two-for-one Edy’s or any other two-for-one that goes junk-in-belly just yet because there are more than a few compelling reasons to go out this weekend. I know the third CD of Carl Sagan’s Cosmos just came in the Netflix, but seriously people…

Friday Night:
Poor House — I have a feeling that we’re going to end up at Poor House to see The Black Rabbits from Asheville, NC with Kill Now. Looks like a good show, and I could certainly stand to stick to 954 tonight. It seems like the most bang with the least exertion.

Monterey Club — The Rock City Angels have the longest band bio I’ve ever seen, detailing a long and complicated history that includes South Florida origins, Johnny Depp on guitar, rattlesnake boots on LA streets in the ’80s and a deal with Geffen records. The band’s coming down from Memphis, and the Monterey Club crowd is pretty psyched about it. Angry Pudding and The Dirty Boxes will also play.

1921 — Rebel, Miami band, will play at Lauderdale’s 1921. Here’s the event link.

SATURDAY:
Saturday is tough. All of these events are gonna be killer. I spose it would be possible to do the whole Record Store Day at Radioactive thing and then go to the Dada or the Prop show. Hmm. Just don’t know. It’s something to consider.

Zombies/Freakin will be at Dada Sat, 11

Freakin’/Zombies at Dada. Zombies Organize and The Freakin’ Hott at Dada. That’s a no-brainer.

Record Store Day at Radioactive: Miami band The Axe and the Oak, The Gray Girls from Fort Lauderdale, Pompano punk with The Shakers and DJs Sensitive Side and Esoteric and so on and so on and so on. It might be cool just to hang out around the record store all day and pretend like I feel nostalgic as if it’s something that I used to do as an adolescent.

Sheila - A Hunter's Pace - Ice Cold Confidence

Bitter Sweet burlesque/rock show at Propaganda: This should be an outrageous spectacle. Reckless Dames burlesque, Viva Le Vox, A Hunter’s Pace. Kill Now?!.

Is anyone going to New Times Beerfest on Sat? Inga texted me and said that I “have to go”. Didn’t even know she was in town. She’s a pretty persuasive lady, so I might end up there at some point. My future is such a mystery!

Written by admin · Filed Under Awesome People, Concerts, Fort Lauderdale events, Intown 411, Road Nods - Touring Bands, South Florida Live Music, South Florida's Good-Not Evil/Lame Establishments 

Alexander CD Release Show Monday at 1921

April 14, 2010

Musician and do-gooder Ryan Alexander just told me that his band Alexander is going to debut its CD It’s Not Always Signs, It’s Not Always Wonders at a show and media free-for-all next Monday, April 19, at 1921. 8 p.m.

Alexander last time I saw them

Bring your laptops or other data-capturing instruments if you wanna get your hands on the band’s new tunes. Oh Gosh, it’s all too technical for me. Good thing I already have a burned copy of the album! Chris and I have given it more than a few spins, and it’s definitely worth picking up. I don’t think Ryan’s even asked them yet, but he says he’s gonna try to get Goolsby to play with them. Goooooooolsby? That would be rad.

Written by admin · Filed Under Concerts, Fort Lauderdale events, South Florida Live Music 

So, It’s Tuesday! Boo. Has Anyone Gone to This Yet?

April 13, 2010

So, Chris and I went The Monterey Club last night to check out DJ Sensitive Side’s night and grab a drink. It was a pretty rad scene — a stylish, mellow crowd of about 50 or so people. The music was groovy, an eclectic mix — Ratatat, funk and mellow hip-hop. I was feeling super shy because I don’t really know too many people in this scene and because I’ve been feeling shy lately. Still, I ended up sitting next to where Jasper/DJ Sensitive Side was standing, so I struck up a conversation with him. What a nice dude. It was cool to chat with him because we went way back and had a few laughs about the days of the Fort Lauderdale Saloon (who remembers the laundry machine?) and, of course, Roxanne’s. I frequented both venues for nights other than those he hosted. In fact, I didn’t even know that he was doing nights at those clubs at the time, but he had about a year run at each. His Tuesday night gig at Monterey is a nice alternative to other places you could chill on that night of the week. For the last six weeks, he’s been putting on a Sunday night hip-hop night called Props over Here at Propaganda. That was news to me. Also, he’ll be at Radioactive Records this Saturday for Record Store Day along with The Shakers, DJ Esoteric, Gray Girls and others. I also enjoyed asking Monterey’s bartender/all-around man Brian inane questions about rockabilly culture. He told me all about what different jean cuff lengths mean and about the tiki culture rockabilly connection. It seems like this stuff never sinks into my head no matter how many times it’s explained to me.

Record Store Day at Radioactive

What I Thought About It Yesterday:

DJ Sensitive Side at The Monterey Club

DJ Sensitive Side/AKA Jasper from The Secondhand Outfit spins at The Monterey Club on Tuesday nights. The peak of my curiosity about this old-school 954 scenester keeps getting higher. The DIYer can rap, he can make rad flyers, he can keep the rockabilly crowd happy from behind the turntable. Frankly, I’m intimidated. I think I might go check it out for a little while. Renda Writer interviewed him for WeMerge. See video below. Sounds different and fun.

Written by admin · Filed Under Awesome People, Fort Lauderdale events, Intown 411 

Propaganda Anniversary Show, Saturday April 10

April 12, 2010

I went to Propaganda for the first time a little less than a year ago. I’m generally a Lauderdale-only type of gal, but I was on an assignment to check out a different restaurant/bar in Lake Worth called the Rum Shack. I’d heard about the town’s new live music venue, so I thought that I’d pop around the corner to check out Propaganda. That was the first time that I officially met the club’s booker/promoter Steve Rullman, whom I’d previously only known by reputation, and I chatted with him about what he was trying to do at the club. That night, John Ralston was playing as John Ralston’s Invisible People, the previous incarnation of the project he fronts, which is now called Invisible Music and includes Greg and Andy from Black Finger. They played with an Orlando band called The Kings of New England that night. I was blown away by Invisible People’s sound and intrigued its members easy, smiling ways. Why are they all so happy all of the time? Why does their happiness infect me so, and make me want to pick flowers and run in circles? The effect is still the same. The questions are still unanswered.

John Ralston's Invisible People - my 1st Prop show

I thought the club was cool, but I’m not a big lover of I-95. I figured that the Palm Beach scene was a world away and really had very little to do with me. At that time I didn’t see myself frequenting Propaganda to the extent that I have. I didn’t anticipate that the club would be booking bands from all three counties and hosting touring bands from around the state and country to the extent that it has. I also didn’t anticipate that so many bands would bring it as hard as they have in the last year. In my opinion, the venue has brought a good deal of coherence to the local music scene — the show lineups always make sense and there’s enough variety that you pretty much get to see at least one new band every time you go. Last weekend, I watched six different local bands (three for the first time), and they all showed up and pretty much killed it. I blogged Friday night’s Mineo and Goolsby shows on Saturday, which you can check out below. Saturday night was a special one too. Thank goodness Gingerman309 was there with his video camera to catch the action.
First up was The Jameses:
Fairly new three piece from, as they call it, West Pain Beach. Dan on synth, Dan on drums and Jesse on guitar. Big ups on Dan’s fashion. I’m loving his Jordan/Johnson show shirt — he’s worn it both times I’ve seen the band. Jesse told me that both Dans in the band have the same middle name. Can you guess what it is? The Jameses get love from Impose Magazine. Florida still takes a few gentle knocks in the piece, but it seems like people are starting to get that it’s no longer safe to dismiss SoFla’s live music.

Second was Sweet Bronco:
Bias alert! Sweet Bronco played a rockin’ set and sweetly delivered my favorite song, “Morning Night”. Also, they covered John Ralston’s “The Only Evidence” because they adore him, which is an emotion common to just about everyone who meets the affable songwriter with a winning smile. Ralston, along with Black Finger’s Greg Lovell, has been working with them in the studio. Sweet Bronco bass player Jess Glisson says that there’s even a cat in the studio that sits beside Ralston and stares at him for hours on end — one of the perks of being a cat.

Third was Everymen:
Where did these punky bluegrass maniacs come from? Shirtless, suspendered mountain men types, a giant neck-tattooed dude who plays washboard and makes zombie faces at the crowd, a well-dressed man playing a saw? Everymen, a fairly new gang of wild men, stirred up a lot of drama and dancing at the show. No videos of them up yet.

Everymen at Propaganda Anniv Show, April 10

Last, but never least, Zombies Organize:
The Boca trio’s delivery of cutesy, muted curse-strung raps about robots, zombies and “sycophantic drudgery” is tried and true. The Zombies are always a good time, and they will always, always, be intellectually superior to mortals. Mary let me play a couple rounds of word dojo with her before the shows began, and it was high score city. I wouldn’t want to go up against this zombie chick in a round of boggle…or any other game that required cognitive aptitude. She eats brains like mine for breakfast.

Written by admin · Filed Under Awesome People, Concerts, Fort Lauderdale events, Intown 411, South Florida Live Music 

Propaganda Anniversary Show — Where I’m Off To Tonight

April 10, 2010

It’s almost time to get going up to Lake Worth. Going to see Sweet Bronco, Zombies Organize, Everymen and The James rock the 561′s indie dive bar. Free show. Yah! I hope that the Zombies are looking a little something like THIS!

Can it please be like this? One more time?

And a little something like THAT!

We

I don’t think I can live without a little of THAT!

Laura is truly outrageous

Written by admin · Filed Under Uncategorized 

Last Night Was Killer — Young Bands, Rad Sounds

April 10, 2010

Mike Mineo CD release April 9 @ Funky Buddha

I got my hair blown back by Mike Mineo and Goolsby last night. Round about 9:30 p.m., I drove up to The Funky Buddha Lounge in Boca Raton to check out Mike Mineo’s CD release party. After interviewing Mineo for a New Times’ story, I was intrigued to see the elaborate production that the singer/songwriter and his producer Brent Williams put together for the CD release show.  I wanted to see how the songs on the 18-track album Eccentricity translated to the live performance, and it worked out quite well for Mineo and crew. The venue was fairly well packed out before the band took the stage at around 10:30 p.m. It was an elaborate stage set up with Bill Muter on tuba and bass, Mineo on guitar and a bunch of other dudes on drums, sax, keys, and so on. The opening of the show wasn’t all that dramatic though. They just launched right into “Believe”, the album’s first track, and kept on going with minimal chit chat. “Work” and “Old Shoes” and “Eccentricity” were standouts. I also really like the one cover song on the album. It’s called “Some Kind of Fish” and it’s written by a dude named Adam Weinstein. The band started a little late and took a long intermission, so I had to jet early in order to get back to Fort Lauderdale’s Monterey Club for the show that was going on there. If this post has not satisfied your curiosity about the Mineo release party, check out Travis Newbill’s more thorough concert review on New Times‘ Crossfade blog.

Goolsby, April 9 @ Monterey Club

I cruised down to catch what I could of the Goolsby/Fire Zuave show. I didn’t make it in time to catch Fire Zuave. Goolsby played last, so I finally got my chance to see them. I’m glad that I made it. They were as good as I could have hoped. They’re loud and rocking, but it’s not one big blurry sound. The music is dramatic and they’re composed and jokey in a way that makes me wonder, what is it the kids are into now? Paul Simundich (sigh!) played barefoot — again, what are the kids into now? — and even rolled his guitar back over his head to botch up a little behind-the-neck action. It all added up to an awesome show though. Fire Zuave left their stage lights up, which created a really cool visual effect for this hawt young band. I haven’t put my pictures up yet, but I will when I get home. My camera is there with transfer cords, but it’s super jacked up these days. It shuts itself off after almost every picture I take. Lame.

Written by admin · Filed Under Awesome People, Concerts, Fort Lauderdale events, Intown 411, Road Nods - Touring Bands, South Florida Live Music, South Florida's Good-Not Evil/Lame Establishments 

A Few Days in the Keys and the Keys to the Weekend…

April 6, 2010

Chris and I are going to be scooting on down to the Florida Keys for a couple of days, and we’re surely going to miss ya’ll. But, what can we do? We need a little sunshine and warm water! Seriously. Last weekend blew by in a showless blur of ham, furriness and resurrection. The shows are gonna be crazy this weekend though.

Thursday night - Zuace, Gools, Dewars

I’m not going to be able to do everything, but I am going to try my very darndest to make it out to see Fire Zuave, Goolsby, Black Finger, Noble Rocket, Cracker, Zombies Organize, and some other bands.
If we get back into town on Thursday night, I’m going to cruise up to Propaganda to check out Fire Zuave, The Dewars and Goolsby. If we don’t get back into town on Thurs, I am contemplating skipping Sweet Bronco’s Gainesville trip for a Friday night show with Ancient River (that’s drummer Chad Voight’s band — ya’ll remember him from The Outrights back in the day?), a psychedelic blues rock shoegaze band (bluesgaze is what Chris and I like to call it) that absolutely kills it, and going to check out Fire Zuave and Goolsby along with Tampa-based bluesgaze (aw yeah! anotha one) band Sleepy Vikings at Monterey Club on Friday night instead — it’s always cool when people take the time to come down to SoFla to play for us. Thanks, dudes. Chuck Andrews of Fire Zuave, a South Florida band that relocated to Athens, compares the college town’s music scene to a skate park, where everyone is pushing each other forward, and says Fire Zuave is sitting on two albums worth of material and rehearsing four hours a day to push it forward in a serious way. Darn, they must put on one hawt live show.

Fire Zuave -- What are those things?

I’m gonna go to Propaganda for the 1-year anniversary on Saturday, so I’ll miss the metallic mastery of Murderous Rampage and Shroud Eater and Junior Bruce at Poor House. Who’s Junior Bruce? I get so behind on these things sometimes. At Propaganda on Saturday, The Broncincators are going to play with darling, sexy, smartypants rappers Zombies Organize, The James and Everyman. Everybody was cuckoo for The James last time we saw them.

Propaganda anniversary party

OMG, there is waaay too much happening this weekend. Sunday, Cracker will play at Propaganda. If you can fill in this blank, you might be a top contender for attending the show. “I’ll be with you girl/Like being low/Hey, Hey, Hey like ___________”. Shh, don’t sing it out loud. They have other songs too. They’re playing with Noble Rocket and Black Finger. Have you ever seen Black Finger? It’s been a wicked long time since I’ve seen the group. I’ve caught Greg and Andy in action with John Ralston’s Invisible Music, but it’s been just about forevs since I’ve seen the dark digit as such.

Sheila Hafsadi, frontwoman for A Hunter’s Pace is pushing to promote the bejesus out of her April 17th Reckless Dames event with Viva Le Vox and Kill Now?! show. I mention this because I like to see people put in effort and also because I still haven’t seen the buzzed-about Viva Le Vox, one of many reasons that I’m thinking about going. I’m not going so that I can get spanked by an oversized lollipop. That’s next weekend.

Next weekend - Bittersweet

Wow, this is one crazy week. I think I’m gonna need a nap.

Written by admin · Filed Under Awesome People, Concerts, Fort Lauderdale events, Intown 411, South Florida Live Music, South Florida's Good-Not Evil/Lame Establishments, Success is Your Destiny, Sweet Bronco 

Good Friday Is Not So Great — Seriously, What’s Up Tonight?

April 2, 2010

I like to think of myself as a happy gal who lives in a reality apart from skeevy men, but the creeps are sure getting to me this week. Not only did I see what I’m 90% sure was a pimp wielding a halved belt at what appeared to be a prostitute in a 7-11 parking lot this afternoon, but I also had to hasten my step while strolling to my car behind Gateway to get away from a man walking quickly behind me while catcalling. Sweet! I’ve had a few other unsettling experiences in the last 24 hours that I won’t go into. How I love talking to men who are immune to what remains of my charms — big ups to all of the dudes who don’t find me in the least attractive. You know who you are, and you are appreciated beyond measure. All that being said, it’s evident that I am still in South Florida. To celebrate, I tried to sunbathe this afternoon, but realized as soon as I got to the pool in the late afternoon that it’s located on the east side of the building. No sun. Wah! I was supposed to go to Alabama this weekend, but those plans fell through. I searched the web this morning, but I don’t see that anything amazingly special is happening tonight. Oh wait, hmmm. Kilmo and the Alligator Alley Allstars will play at Maxwell Room at The Downtowner Saloon tonight. That might be fun. I haven’t seen Kilmo in ages! Maybe I can harass him about if/when he’s going to reopen the Alley. Yeah?

alligatoralleyallstars

What’s going on with everyone else? Seriously, I think I must be out of the loop this weekend. If you’re not too cool for me and you know something that I don’t know, hit me up on the Facebook. If you’re creepy and attracted to me, do not hit me up on the Facebook. Maybe I should be happy that there’s not too much going on. Maybe it’s a bowling/karaoke night and I just don’t know it yet….

Written by admin · Filed Under Concerts, Fort Lauderdale events, Intown 411, South Florida Live Music, South Florida's Good-Not Evil/Lame Establishments 

Yesterday Was Dorky Day, Today is Awesome Day

March 25, 2010

Yesterday, no awesome live music. Today, a lot. I am pretty psyched to get wild with The Spam Allstars and Hashbrown and all those other people at the H.E.L.P. Event to benefit Haiti at Revolution. I think that I’ve had fun before, but how can I be sure? I think tonight might top the list — assuming no one says mean, junky stuff to me like somebody did last Friday night. Don’t be mean to me, suckers. I will despise you.

Help -- Haiti benefit at Revolution

That partay will be followed with a hawt Poor House show featuring the guy who should be sitting over there on the couch but isn’t because he’s doing something with his band, Sweet Bronco, the new incarnation of Dooms De Pop featuring the incomparably amusing (and quite talented) Mike Johnson on bass. Garo will be frontin’ that act. Also, Tongues! of! the! Heartworm! So exciting.

Tongues!!

Written by admin · Filed Under Awesome People, Concerts, Fort Lauderdale events, Intown 411, South Florida Live Music, South Florida's Good-Not Evil/Lame Establishments 

Pretty Faces Still on Earth – Playing This Saturday

March 24, 2010

Here’s a news flash for those of you who thought that The Pretty Faces had fallen off the face of the Earth: they’ve just been writing and reorganizing, and they will play this Saturday night. Well, it will be an acoustic set at The Lodge in Boca at 9 p.m.. They’re encouraging people to wear Lodge-style gear, so go heavy on the plaid and try on some boots, scarves and other weather-inappropriate wear. You’ll have to look hot if you want to keep up with Hannah. There’s a costume contest with prizes cause it’s The Lodge’s one-year anniversary. Here’s the link to the event page on Facebook.

Court tries to keep up with Hannah's byooty -- tough

Written by admin · Filed Under Fort Lauderdale events, Intown 411, South Florida Live Music, South Florida's Good-Not Evil/Lame Establishments