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.

Broward or Palm Beach? Bedtime or Party Time?

We’ve been so wiped out since last weekend when we headed up to Lake Worth to go to Little Munich (very cute venue with tons of seating in front of the stage, woohoo!), the German bar and restaurant that Rullman’s booking these days, on Friday night and then turned around and headed all the way down to Miami to go to Interpol and Grand Central on Saturday night (we never made it to the Holy Terrors/Tongues gig at Churchill’s).We might just — shocking! — stay in Broward this weekend. The Palm Beach band line-ups for the weekend make it very difficult to stick to a decision like that. It’s unlikely that I will. Take a look at these tambourine-shaking nutjobs that are going to play at (and most certainly fit right into the scene at) Little Munich tonight.

If you want to live a normal life in Broward, you have to try to ignore the fact that a touring San Fran band called Battlehooch is playing with the Clementines tonight at Little Munich or that Lil Daggers, Love Handles and Guy Harvey — bands that I really should see because I’ve seen them before but never given them my full attention and can’t quite seem to wrap my head around what they’re all about — will be playing at that venue tomorrow night. Then there’s Lavola tonight at Propaganda and I like Lavola and the Dewars are named on that bill too. I remember the good old days when there was maybe one cool thing happening over the course of the entire weekend. Life has become so demanding.

Blond Fuzz is playing at Dada tomorrow night (Saturday) at 10 p.m., which might be a nice compromise — not quite next door, but not quite Lake Worth. Hmmm… It’s been a while since I’ve seen those guys — their set in the rain at Lake Worth It doesn’t count in my mind. Methodaires will be at Poor House tonight, and they’re always fun in an easy kind of way. Garo is booking a night at P House tomorrow, but I’ve never heard of the music acts called Cognoscenti, 3 Ninos or Amy Shaw (although the name does sound familiar), but it’s probably that I’ve been spending too much time in other counties. There might be an event page for the night, but this flyer is the only thing I can find. Speaking of the FTL, there will be a straight-up dance party (no bands) tonight at 1921 to benefit a local battling cancer.

We love to watch surfing movies, so it’s not unlikely that we will hang around the Surf Fest over at Cinema Paradiso a bit this weekend. It’s the first year of what’s projected to be an annual surf film festival. Nice. Why is FLIFF so cool?

Ah, maybe I’ll just kick it on the couch with Carl Sagan’s Cosmos. Hmmm. Very tricky.

Super Intense Weekend Alert!

I wish that I were South Florida indie rock sensation Surfer Blood (yes, I would want to be the whole band, not just one particular member) so that the Dewars would be opening for me on tour. I wish that I were a Surfer Blood fan in a faraway town so that I could go to the concert with no expectations for the opening band and get my mind blown by the twinsy trippiness of “The Noise Boys”. It’s kind of like wishing you’d never seen the movie Wonder Boys before so that you could watch it again for the first time. Saying that, I guess the congrats goes to the Dewars for getting up on a radical tour. Leave it to New Times Music Editor Reed Fischer and his tractor-sized scooper to get the scoop on this development. I hope that he wears pastel or something Cheeveresque to the Dewars pool party this Saturday afternoon.

On Saturday evening, Chris and I going to the Interpol concert at The Fillmore. Then, we’ll likely pop into Grand Central for hot minute or two before heading over to Churchill’s for the Interpol afterparty/The Holy Terrors show. Yes, Tongues of the Heartworm will be there too, so don’t go and cry like a little baby. What else is happening this weekend? The Dewars and Evan Mui are playing Dada tomorrow night (Friday). Cool, cool. Bladesong (crazy!), Black Weather Shaman and The Freakin’ Hott are playing Propaganda Lake Worth tomorrow. Nice. My buttercup and some dude I’ve never heard of will be playing solo at Little Munich, so we’ll probably migrate back and forth between Prop and Little Munich. Hopefully, Steve Copeletti will be there to make fun of everyone! Aight, I’m in such a big hurry. I really don’t know what I’m still doing here. Have a nice day. Bye!

Lake Worth It and Kevin Barnes

Unwinding from a fun and educational weekend in Palm Beach. I spent the Lake Worth It festival with a crew of down people who know exactly how a music festival is supposed to be tackled.  Because they were there, I didn’t notice the heat or the rain or any downer moments for all of 12 hours. We laughed and got rocked the entire day. For their spirited participation, I am grateful. I attended for the elation that giving oneself over to a festival inspires, to find new bands of interest and, of course, to see The Dewars. All of my wildest dreams came true (even a late night game of Celebrity) and the Capone suite at The Hummingbird Hotel was as luxurious as ever.

I arrived before the music began. It was hot as dragon’s breath out and very few people attended the early part of the festival. Grey & Orange opened the day up right with an upbeat set, which pleased my mom and her crew who asked, “is this Sweet Bronco?” (it was their first time coming out to check out Chris’ band because most of these shows happen in smoky bars long after they’ve gone to bed). “Uh, no.” When SB did go on, they asked when they  were going to play their happy songs to which I replied, “These are their happy songs!” So, that happened. The good news is that they really enjoyed Grey & Orange, as did I. Sparse musically, but vocally pristine performances by Jesse Bauman and Wayside Flyer followed and pleased the parental units as well.  Yellow #6, which has a very catchy sound, was playing as we were running to get provisions. We’ll have to catch them some other time. After an amazing trip to Publix, we returned to find that most of the festival’s attendees were taking cover from a rain spell. But, a good number were standing in the rain to watch Bladesong shred some metal riffs. Bladesong, was utter madness and a new discovery for me. We weathered the rain for a hard-driving set from long-time favorites Blond Fuzz.

After the ground dried up, we put down our cartoon blanket and parked right in front of the stage for the rest of the evening. Things got super deep super fast with our favorite weird bands the Dewars and the Jameses.

Invisible Music killed the closing set. At the afterparty at Propaganda, I discovered a delightful new noisy band called Lavola fronted by an enigmatic young brown-haired man with high-pitched vocals named Julian.

Julian also showed up at the Kevin Barnes show at Respectable Street on Sunday. I went up early for the sound check, which put me in the path of Monica McGivern, with whom I spoke for about an hour. She’s the photographer/artist who did the black and white photos of Palm Beach musicians. I was slow to admit that I missed her exhibit at the festival. I was very happy to learn that she put the photos up on her website foodshelterart.She got up on stage to sing with Fire Zuave, and harmonized with frontman Chuck Andrews beautifully.  Wow, how can one person have so many different talents? Spending a bit of one on one with Monica was one of my favorite experiences of the weekend. (You know who else doesn’t need a guitar to be a rock star? New Times photographer Ian Witlen.)

Not surprisingly, Kevin Barnes’ solo performance was a fantastic, intimate affair. Fort Lauderdale-based musician, writer, human curiosity Travis Newbill reviewed it did more justice to it than I have time for now. I think those of us who fested this weekend shared a handful of special moments — that was, after all, the point. Though the crowd picked up significantly at the end of the day, Lake Worth It was not as well-attended as it deserved to be. If it happens again next year, do yourself a favor and go.

Shows Tomorrow — Check out this Flyer

I couldn’t stop laughing after seeing this Sh*t Ton of Funk flyer. I’ve seen this image once before, but it still gets me. I don’t think that there’s anything funny about obesity in general, but the way the giraffe wears it gives  me a giggle. ST of Funk is playing tonight at Prop w/ The Dewars.

Invisible Music and The Dewars (3 shows, one weekend!), along with two bands I don’t know called Alphabet Soup and The Band in Heaven, will “baptize” the stage at Little Munich in Lake Worth tomorrow (Friday) and make it officially rad. I’m so curious to see this happening little German bar/restaurant/venue in action. Not sure if we’ll be able to get up there on Friday (cause we’ll be in Palm Beach on Sat and Sun), but this looks like a most excellent show. I think I’m going to head over to Little Munich for a bit during the Lake Worth It festival afterparties.

Blond Fuzz , who will play the Lake Worth It fest and an afterpaty, is playing Miami’s Vagabond nightclub tomorrow night (3 shows, one weekend!). We won’t be there, but tons of fashionable people certainly will. On this Vagabond flyer, I see a band called The New. Never heard of them before, but they’re also listed on Zombies! Organize!! August 21 Dada show. Also, Lauderdale’s own Catalonia will play Dada in Delray tomorrow night. What in the heck is going on? This metropolitan area is ablaze with happenings. I need a nap just thinking about it!

Well, Hello There!

Back from Kentucky. Louisville is a number one town for sure. We went to the 1792 distillery (Barton in Bardstown), visited the Louisville Slugger factory and deepened our tans at an awesome lake called Rough River Lake.

Ready to get out and about a little bit this week. The Dooms De Pop/Boise Bob show at Monterey Club looks like a classic FTL good time. I’m sure you’ve all heard about the Lake Worth It festival on Saturday. We’ll be there from early in the day because Chris’ band Sweet Bronco has a super early time slot (noon). Of course, we’d be there anyway because Dan Bonebrake’s Grey & Orange is playing first (at 11 a.m.) and we have yet to have our doors blown off by that project. I’m also eager to see The Dewars again and Guy Harvey for the first time. If you think that “blow yours doors off” is a strange expression, you’d better get used to it cause it’s my new fave. On my first day in Kentucky, a waiter told my table that the restaurant’s spinach dip was going to blow our doors off to which my mom’s bf enthusiastically replied “We’ll take it. Go ahead, blow our doors off.” While we were munching on worse-than-mediocre spinach dip (I’m generous; it was bordering on inedible), my ma’s beau swore that he was certain that the waiter really did think that this pot of cheese-like goop was fantastic. Anything is possible, I guess. Did you like my awesome vacation story? Now, you can enjoy my vacation pic. Here’s a picture from the distillery I visited.

Anyway, I don’t mean to compare Grey & Orange to the spinach dip. I’m just saying that I think they’re going to blow our doors off in a good way. In case you haven’t noticed, checking out area bands has been a passion of mine for well over two years now — true, it’s been a slow summer for me. Attempting to see all that there is to be seen can require a good deal of effort and expense, so I, for one, am excited to pack in as much viewing/listening as I can at this weekend’s festivities. Having been out of town and involved in a million other things, I’ve been a little out of touch with the happs. Fort Lauderdale, particularly, has been off my radar. I missed both IWAN events last month. Boo. Heard the second Travulous affair (OMG) was off the chain. True?

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!

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