Last Weekend: Big Concerts And The End Of, Or At Least An Interruption Of, An Era of Local Live Music

Sweet Bronco and I went to see The Bravery at The Culture Room on Friday night. It was pure fun! The crowd ranged from very young teeny boppers to people in their mid-40s, which provided a great deal of entertainment because some of the kids who were trying to mosh around in the middle of the floor got reprimanded by nearby stand-ins for parental figures. Crash Kings, the second opening band, was pretty good, but the first opening band, The Dustys from Arlington, Virginia should probably break up and all join different bands. That band was just not as entertaining as one would hope that the opening band for The Bravery would be.

Leonard Cohen’s concert at The BankAtlantic Center on Saturday night was precious (he’s a 75-year-old man who skips) beautiful (lush female harmonies and LC, an accomplished poet and novelist, even delivered some of his songs as spoken word poems) and inspiring (now we all want to be as wonderful as LC). The 75-year-old singer/songwriter/novelist/poet/monk was exactly what every artist could ever want, but most could never hope, to be: while exhibiting musical and linguistic talents well beyond the scope and scale of what any mortal could ever pine and pray for, he was humble and generous with the audience, exuding gratitude and hopes that none of his new South Floridian friends would get sick from the sudden weather change — which occurred during his concert! Worship him!

Sweet Bronco and I popped by Kilmo’s birthday party last night, which was a blast but for that lingering issue of the current venue’s fast-approaching demise, which drew tears from more than a couple of faces. There is some talk about the well-branded institution resurfacing some time in the spring, but for now it’s uncertain — as so many things are…for now. Albert Castiglia, Kilmo and others played blues song after blues song, interchanging players on different numbers. I don’t know that I’ve ever gone to the venue on a blues night and just sat there and listened before, but it was so fun and, despite the circumstances, everyone, even the birthday boy, seemed to be in good spirits. The venue’s final show will be on Saturday — Stonefox and Whirl with Nikki Maoz and other bands!