Shoegazers, Dewars, Albums, New Lauderale Indie Electro Party

Well, Broward County is looking pretty weak this weekend to one whose tastes run the way mine do. Palm Beach, not too shabby. Party #1. The Dewars are playing Little Munich (have you downloaded “Noise Boys” for free yet?)tonight with shoegazers The Band in Heaven, which is tempting. We love us some shoegazers, yes we do, and find their disinterest in overt expression so invigorating/intimidating. Who is this band Happy Town? It’s name is almost as unGoogleable as Guy Harvey.

Party #2 and Party #3 Lavola and the Clementines are playing Dada this weekend — Lavola tonight and the Clems on Sunday. Party #4 Both of these bands will play with A Hunter’s Pace at Respectables on Saturday.
Party #5 We didn’t go last night, but it looks like DJ Andie Sweetswirl is going to be spinning an 80s, elecro, indie night at Monterey Club going forward on Thursdays. I wonder if they still have the navy blue hoodie I left there when I went to a show a couple of months ago. Doubt it. That hoodie is hot. No doubt somebody picked it up. Good thing I got two of them. I’m excited about this weekly party. Think the chill Monterey vibe will keep it from getting too glam for my occasional presence. I love to dance, but I hate to dress cool.

Party in your ears The cover art for Blond Fuzz’s upcoming album Perfect Breakfast is making news on the New Times music blog County Grind. I just linked to it because, you know, the image is the exclusive and all that special stuff. Photographer Monica McGivern, who is all over the music scene these days, designed and photographed it. You’ll see the yin and yang with two halves of an egg — perfection and breakfast together at last. The album’s track listing is posted in the article too. We know tracks “Too Strung Out with a Rock ‘n’ Roll Band” and “Long Drop” are pretty sweet, but what about the rest of the tracks? Who knows when I’ll get the opportunity to sample this stuff?!?!?! BF is playing Saturday the 17th at Poor House with some burlesquers.

Political/socioeconomic commentary party in yo ears Speaking of new music, the lanky redheaded boy wonder Ryan Alexander slapped his iPhone down on one of tables at Brew Urban Cafe the other day and offered me the opportunity to plug in my earphones for a preview of his band Alexander’s latest stuff while he went outside to circle around the parking lot on his bike. Yes, even though he just released an album earlier this summer, he’s already recorded another that’s called, assuming I read the scrolling text on the complicated handheld device correctly, Mutineers — just a couple of weeks ago in Orlando. I don’t understand what makes this guy tick or how he manages to be so chill and so prolific at the same time. Now, I’m listening to a very pretty song called “She Changed Her Name”. It’s a sad tale about a girl who becomes a stripper. Frown. Ben Gibbard’s influence is felt less here  than on the previous album It’s Not Always Signs, It’s Not Always Wonders. “How Do You (Know My Name)” really reminds me of The Kooks, but Ryan says he doesn’t listen to the Kooks. I must be hearing things…Hmmm. The title track “Mutineers” is rocking and gets very political, but that’s nothing new for Alexander. I’m liking it so far. He better burn me a copy though. I can’t just sit around and listen to songs on peoples’ iPhones. I don’t even know how to work an iPhone. Oooh, that’s an interesting text message. Ooopsy. I doubled up on me text. All better now.

Respectable Street Tonight — Forgot to Mention This, Sorry Sheila

So, the ball of cosmic energy that resides within a human form called Sheila Hafsadi invited me via Facebook chat to attend a rock show/burlesque show fundraiser for Dub City Derby Girls tonight at Respectable Street. I told her that I would be way too tired to attend this action-packed event on the northern regions of South Florida, but that I would mention it. So, now I’m mentioning it. Here’s the flyer.

I support roller derby and all things Hafsadi, and I’m happy to see that local bands Everymen, Angry Pudding and Bonnie Riot do too. The event starts at 9 p.m. Did I mention that the roller derby girls will wrestle in creamed corn? No. Well, that’s going to happen too. Burlesque by Modernesque Burlesque. Entrance costs $8, and you’d better be at least 21 to attend this one.

Last night I tucked myself in with Sagan’s Cosmos disc 5. Have you ever seen Cosmos? It’s amazing. I know I’ve talked about it before. It’s seriously the best. It’s nice to know something about our place in the universe and to know why we are star stuff. Plus, I love Sagan’s Kermit the Frog-style narration. Netflix it ASAP. So, we’re probably going to do something tonight. I’m thinking that we’ll either check out Garo’s line-up over at Poor House or go to Dada to see Blond Fuzz. Hope ya’ll have fun whatever you do.

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.

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!

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.

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