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?

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.

This Weekend Is Not a Stay-At-Homer

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.

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.

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!

Last Night Was Killer — Young Bands, Rad Sounds

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.

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.

The Mid-Week Nightlife at Monterey and Propaganda, and WTH is a Goolsby?

Last weekend was a total flop for me. I was so wiped out that the only thing that I had the energy for, besides watching the Winter Olympics, the entire weekend was a quick stop at The Bubble for the Art’s Sake event for like 30 minutes. It was pleasant though, and my friend Misha and I were particularly taken with Olga Volkus’ works.

While I was talking to Protoman a few weeks back, he mentioned Jasper Delaini of local group The Secondhand Outfit quite a bit. To me, The Secondhand Outfit has always been that immensely popular group that slams out Poor House every now and then when I’m trying to have myself a peaceful little evening. Well, I’m the big ignoramus who overlooks things a little bit different than what I’m accustomed to sometimes, but I can’t excuse myself for overlooking this rawness and eloquence anymore. Jasper’s other incarnation is as DJ Sensitive Side, and as such he spins the widest variety of music I could possibly imagine at The Monterey Club on Tuesday nights.

I think that I will take Propaganda booker/promoter Steve Rullman up on his recent suggestion that I check out Wednesday night’s show at Propaganda. The evening throws three touring bands together with one local act.

So, former Stonefox drummer Jeff Rose joined up with Paul Simundich and, I believe, two other former members of Quiet River to form Goolsby, which will play its first show at Propaganda in Lake Worth on March 15. I don’t know what a Goolsby is, but I don’t care. I’m just psyched to see the band formerly known as Quiet River back in action.

Hukilau Countdown Party tonight — looks fun. Think I’ll go to KMP w/ SMP.

I totally forgot about this event, but it looks pretty fun. Over by there at the Mai Kai they will have those there Hukilau Countdown Party shenanigans tonight. You must be careful if you go drinking at Mai Kai because some of their drinks are much stronger than you may be used to, OK? They will have some musical performers like Tallahassee surf rock outfit The Intoxicators and Gypsy Blue. Very nice good time. They start at 6 p.m. Free.

I think I’m going to try to go to this Kill Miss Pretty/SMP show at The Seamonster club tonight — that’s the one on the south side of the new river right next to downtowner saloon. Colleen Dougher over at City Linkmeister wrote up all of the details and relevant background details, about Squeeze nightclub, etc., in swirly prose.

Road Nods — Pine Hill Haints Tonight at Poor House 11 p.m.

I have a newfound love for the washtub bass and the washboard. I think Boise Bob & His Backyard Band did it to me a few weeks ago. An out-of-town country folk band called the Pine Hill Haints is coming all the way down here to the crustiest edge of the continental United States to play for all of us at Poor House tonight. Isn’t that sweet? If you hate lame country songs about how people have rigged their oversized pick-up trucks with stadium lights and tritely-delivered tunes about wasting away in nostalgia over lost love, you’ll probably like Pine Hill Haints. They’re not like that at all.

This Weekend: John Ralston, Ketchy Shuby, Doug Stanhope, Zombies Organize and (OMG) Sweet Bronco

I can’t believe that I’m going to miss Doug Stanhope tomorrow night at Culture Room! I’ve only been anticipating his arrival for the last 6 months, but I’ve got to do the local thing for selfish reasons and go to Propaganda. If you’re going to hang out around Lauderdale tomorrow night, I can’t recommend this comedian any higher. I guess he was performing at Poor House for a while, but not this year.

So, I am personally very excited about this weekend because Sweet Bronco will play with John Ralston and the Invisible People at Propaganda with a comedy group out of Atlanta called The Beards of Comedy.

I love fat, smart guys with beards, which makes it kind of strange that I’m with a skinny guy with no beard — whatevs.

Sweet Bronco will play another show on Saturday night with the smart and sassy braineating braniacs of Zombies Organize at Dada in Delray Beach! Yay! I love it when I have an excuse to go to Dada.

Also, Miami band Ketchy Shuby will play with Fusik at Propaganda. That’s going to be a great party. Danny, the percussionist from Ketchy Shuby, showed me the video that they recently made, and I must say it’s pretty cool. Love the natural SoFla setting and the reggae hippie vibe.

I might drag my mom over to MOAFL to see the Norman Rockwell exhibit this weekend. Fort Lauderdale is officially kicking off its holiday season with the Get Lit party, part of the Light Up Lauderdale series of events, tonight, but I think that a little NR is just the thing to put us in the mood to kick off the tree buying, shopping and cooking this year.

This Weekend: Don’t Even Bother To Wear Socks B/C They Will Be Rocked Off

The weekend approacheth with enough rad rock shows to generate conflict within the hearts and minds of people in search of something rad to do. On Friday night there will be a fundraiser rock show at Area 7 to benefit a local lady who’s fighting cancer. The show offers a unique line-up and there’s only a $5 cover for a very good cause. The Craven (TIMB), Stonefox, and Viva Le Vox will join three bands that I’m not familiar with — Loxahatchee’s own Fall of Olympus (metal), Deathmatch (metal) and Leading the Heroes (“hollow hearts and broken screams”)– to rock out and raise bucks.

Propaganda has an interesting show on Friday night as well. Three bands, representing three different regions of South/Central Florida, will come together to raise the sonic equivalent of tall glasses of orange juice to the hot marshy land that people hate to love almost as much as they love to hate it. Miami’s King Bee (blues playing dudes with beards, anyone? yes, please, I’ll take three), West Palm Beaches’ Noble Rocket (Sweet Bronco is dragging me to see this band, but I’m not exactly kicking and screaming) and Tampa’s The Beauvilles.

Saturday should be awesome too. My crystal ball is telling me that my Saturday night holds in store a short bus and a trip to Blue Martini’s 5th Anniversary party — it’s tough to explain. After that, I’m thinking about heading to one of a few shows. It’s a tough call to make.

IWAN hosts Florida Yeah! at Poor House. The Shakers (you might want to follow the link to the band’s web page for a good laugh. You’ll know what I mean when you get there!), Matilda Lights, Boise Bob and His Backyard Band and Dooms De Pop. That’s an interesting mix. I need to see this Boise Bob group. It’s supposed to be up my alley.

At Alligator Alley, the long-time local band The Psycho Daisies will play with Stonefox and Angry Pudding and The Dirty Boxes (yeesh!). That show might be well worth a visit.

Radioactive Records’ own Richard will play with his shoegaze group The Gray Girls. Kenny Millions plays too. This show is happening at Radioactive Records in Gateway Plaza.

Of course, there is always the option of watching Pride & Prejudice for the third time this week! Noooo! Darcy!

Moodvane’s sarcastic engine is driven by Intown 411.

Saturday: A Majorly Sweet Series of Affairs, Celebrations and Oddities

What’s not cool AT ALL is that all of the rad stuff is happening at the exact same time.

Saturday Night: South Florida arts promotion group IWAN will be generating some action on Saturday at The Bubble warehouse with local bands Murderous Rampage, Lazer Beast and Fantastic Amazing. It’s gonna be an early show. Starts at 7 p.m. and probably ends a little after 10 p.m. It will cost you $5.

Auter Explosion at Cinema Paradiso. The monthly event comes back up for air this Saturday night with live bands Pretty Please, Mind You and Casual Suspect. Short films, which were written and shot within a 48-hour period, will be screened. A contortionist named Jade Goddess will be there twisting herself into pretzels like so:

It costs $7 to get through this door. Starts at 9 p.m.

Respectable Street 22nd Anniversary Block Party: This is pretty much a home run. I think that, despite everything else that’s going on, I will have to check out the action on Clematis on Saturday. The tried and true like Stonefox, Freakin, Raffa & Rainer will perform with bands I’ve been wanting to see like Viva Le Vox and Orlando-based Strangers Family Band.

Alligator Alley: ElephantGun, a rad band, will play with Kinlin, a band that I don’t know anything about except for that I am afraid of them. I take the way metal bands present themselves literally. They are kind of scary.

Bye bye. Have fun. Notice that nothing seems to be happening on Friday? I don’t know what to say about that. If I hear about anything cool, I will post it up.

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