South Florida Sounds

Real Fucking Rock-n-Roll

2008-05-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

A few days back Black Finger sent me my first press kit -- I feel pretty legit.

They're new EP "Black Finger Forever" comes out tomorrow. It will be available on itunes and local record stories.

I think this CD is a hit. In particular, "Holidays" has this certain beautiful paranoid feeling. It's a great tune. Maybe it was because the bowl I smoked during "Hold On" settled in, but the lap steel guitar was hypnotic.

Speaking of "Hold On," Black Finger will be premiering a music video for the song at their CD release party May 10 at the Bamboo Room.

Another notable song from the CD is "Dixie Anthem," this song is pinnacle to their real rock-in-roll sound. Black Finger is the real deal when it comes to Rock.

If you want a copy of "Black Finger Forever," I think the best place to get it is their CD release party Saturday, May 10 @ 9 p.m. at the Bamboo Room in Lake Worth, admission is $10 and includes the EP. You can call (561)585-2583 for tickets.

They Were Nice Things to Find the Day after 4/20

2008-04-24T21:04:00.000-07:00

So I woke up on 4/20: my wallet was empty, most of my pot had disappeared (probably smoked or left on people's carpets) and I was still really high. "Awesome," I said, it was a good way to start the week.

But the best thing about the deal is I came into possession of two CD's. Which gave me hints at how and where 4/20 had taken place.

The Resolvers, H'amsa
The Resolvers' first official EP is solid, I mean really solid. They bought real energy to the studio, for sure.

The five-track EP has that real reggae feel; the same feeling that brings people out so many people out to their shows. The crispness of this EP really shows to the talent of all the musicians in the band.

My favorite track is Clear -- it's got a very complete feel. At times, there's an this urgency to chill.

I suppose the only compliant I have of the CD is that it's only 5-tracks, it's like a few bites of a really kick ass meal, you just want more. But maybe I'm spoiled after the long shows at Kahuna.

Spread the Dub, Live @ City Limits...1/18/08
This is a great tape, really good show. I mean you can get really caught up in it, kind of lost in those chill sounds. At least I did.

With a good mix of originals and covers, the live cd is really cool. The 4/20 show at Kahuna was the first time I've seen Spread the Dub, and I'm glad I could leave with a CD, but Spread the dub has street cred.

I knew about them before I tried looking them up, they got stickers everywhere -- guerrilla advertising at its best.

I don't like writing reviews, because what a review really says is "This was great or review worthy, and you missed it, don't you feel shitty?" But I'm going to, if you didn't get to the 4/20 show at Kahuna you really missed out, and you should feel shitty. It was a little crowded but - from my experience - everyone there was good people.

The music was fucking great, as well.

Next CD review: Black Finger - Black Finger forever. Probably in a few days -- May 10 is the CD release party.

Make some local sounds of your own

2008-04-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

One of the coolest parts about local music from anywhere is the infamous "Open Mic."

Open Mic nights are a great way to learn about a place that you're new to or to find new things in the place that you're old to. One of the bigger perpetuaters of the Open mic scene in South Florida is Renda Writer.

Writer makes sure something is happening almost every night of the week in South Florida, just look at his myspace...

Or don't you lazy bastard -- fine, I'll post what's going on here:

Monday's - Java D'lites. Sign up @ 7:30 p.m., First performer at 8 p.m.
Tuesday's - Kevro's Art Bar - Sign up @ 7:30 p.m., First performer at 8 p.m.
Wednesday's - The Funky Buddha Lounge - Sign up @ 8 p.m., First performer at 9 p.m.
Friday's - Java D'lites. Sign up @ 7:30 p.m., First performer at 8 p.m.

Beer and Music?!

2008-04-10T15:01:00.000-07:00

If you missed last months the City Link Beerfest, don't worry.

Friday, April 12 from 7-11 p.m. right next to the Broward center in Fort Lauderdale, Paul & Young Ron present New Times The Original Beerfest. With over 150 beers (available for FREE sampling) from around the world and food from local restaurants, it's going to kick ass.

Besides the heavy drinking, which I would have been doing with or without Beerfest, what I'm excited about it some different local music.

Breaking it out with that real electric, turntable sound, Madame Turk will be playing on the Live on the Revolution/America's Backyard stage, which sounds promising from her Myspace. Also playing is The Dave Matthew's Tribute Band and the Baker Act.

A new CD to put your Black Finger though

2008-04-10T14:42:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm apparently waiting for a Pre-release of Black Finger's new CD, Black Finger Forever to come to me by snail mail -- I'm pretty excited, especially after what I've heard from their myspace. Dixie Anthem is a strong foot-tapping song.

I'd love to review the whole CD, I just have to wait for that postman to drop it off.

If you want to get your grubby little hands and black fingers on their CD, they'll be playing at 21+ show at Bamboo Room. The $10 door price, includes a CD. You gotta call for reservations though, (561)585-2583.

Also, Saturday, May 17 @ 8 p.m., Black Finger will be playing at what might be the most appropriate venue for them, the Poorhouse.

A higher Dubconscious-ness

2008-04-10T14:32:00.000-07:00

Watch the video -- I got a feeling you'll get goosebumps the same as I did.

To be honest, i think the video says enough -- this band is great -- and going to see Dubconscious Friday, April 11 (Freedom Day) @ 8 p.m. at City Limits isn't even a question.

Live Heavy Petting on Stage

2008-04-10T12:01:00.000-07:00

It's funny, exactly 385 days ago, I got popped at Langerado, a renowned Jam band music festival.

It's been a pretty hard year since I yelled "heads up 5-0," and got beat up by cops and charged with some felonies. I spent the night in jail, visited P.O.'s, gone to court a few times and some other institutions, but tomorrow, in less than 12 hours that all ends. The hardest part though, was avoiding my favorite music scene, that was the jam band scene.

And now on the eve of my emancipation from the criminal "justice" system, I've found a great local Jam band: The Heavy Pets. I've heard of them before and you can put your top dollar on it, that when they play April 25 @ 9 p.m. at City Limits, I'll be there.

They have that epic, confusing sound, that has always made jam music the best. The song "So Thank You Music," is exactly what i remember, when if you were listening you might think everyone was just playing alone, but when you tune in, turn off and drop out, you can tell it's masterfully orchestrated.

It reminds me of the classic jam band crowd: where a view from the outside might look like nothing more than a bunch of crazed dirty hippies dancing, from the inside it's plainly obvious -- they're all moving to the same sound.

Where the Sounds are Coming From

2008-03-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

Dear readers,

Because of recent car trouble, I haven't been able to make it out to a lot of local shows recently. That old mantra about life giving you lemons... so in the most positive light South Florida Sounds is going to take some time to do a 5-part series focusing on local venues in South Florida, a map with the location of these venues is below:

It's not just a name – Eat an Alligator

2008-03-27T13:42:00.002-07:00

Alligator Alley, on Commercial Blvd. is a really great bar. Its dark, small and a little sketchy, its my favorite kind of place a dive bar.

The small stage, stuck in the front of the joint, is perfect for hearing live local music, or rather than intimacy which makes local music great – that experience of being so close to the musicians if someone pushes you from behind you might pour a beer on their shoe.

Alligator Alley has a great selection of micro-brew beers, including (one of my personal favorites) holy mackerel, which they server out of a proper glass. The food menu though, because the Alligator in the name isn't just for kicks, they serve real alligator on the menu for around $8.

There's always something happening at this bar, and if not it's a pretty nice place to hang out until something does.

Perfectly Rezoned to Rock

2008-03-27T13:42:00.001-07:00

If it weren't for all the chairs outside Dada's, it wouldn't be one of the finest restaurants in Delray Beach, it just be a house on Swinton.

Dada is a change of pace from the bougause establishments that have come to dominate Downtown Delray.

With a fantastic (although at times a little pricey) gourmet menu and a fine bar (that specializes in mojitos), Dada has always been one of my favorite places to catch a show and have a drink. There is no stage at Dada, which maximizes the local sound feel, instead bands set up in the front corners.

They've got bottles of wine for as low $15 and some really kick-ass mash potatoes for $6.

Tell them South Florida Sounds sent you.

Poor Ol' Dive Bar

2008-03-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

In a lot of places on Las Olas, the music is too loud to have a conversation and the joint is too packed to get to the bar. The Poorhouse, on SW 3 ave, next to Revolution, is no different, but at least the music is usually local and the the people are cool.

They've got a great selection of beers: from Purple Haze, to Native Lager and regular domestics and imports. They make a pretty mean whiskey sour and have a full liqueur bar.

The Poorhouse is a dive bar, and seems proud of that fact. Some local favorites include the Freak'n Hot, Timb and the Zombies! Organize!!.

The Limit of Local Music

2008-03-27T13:19:00.001-07:00

If you love a local band and could imagine them on a big stage playing to thousands of screaming fans, well you could get closer to that wet dream at City Limits.

Delray Beach's City Limits is an interesting venue with a full-size stage, a great PA and national act-style video set up.

With two bars on both sides of the venue, serving bottles and liquor - the drinks are priced fairly.

The venue is a home to many Honeycomb.com shows.

Back Home at Backbone

2008-03-27T13:16:00.000-07:00

New time's 2007 Best Record/CD store, Backbone Music gets a lot of admiration from an anti-establishment guy like me. Rumor has it, owners Nunzio and Rafael Esposito are getting a lot of heat from the Delray City Commission for acting as a venue when they are only zoned to be a retail store.

They fight the good fight though, and still host some great music, although the music has to stop by 11 p.m. -- isn't it great when the government starts acting like your parents.

I've seen every kind of music here, from hip-hop to funk to heavy metal to punk rock. The music is always good.

Don't forget it is a CD/Records store, so bring your own booze, and drink it before you get there.

Drunkenly Lost the Notebook, but I Still Have the Expensive Camera

2008-03-24T22:19:00.000-07:00

So, Raffa and Rainer, those nice kids I heard on NPR; I got out to their show last month. And it was way cool. The sweet sounds of Raffa's voice, Rainer's expert guitar playing, the whole vibe that encompassed the show; well it's something you have to experience first hand.

And, like I normally do to myself at Dada, I got really wasted. I interviewed Raffa and Rainer; and I interviewed members of the audience. And I lost the fucking notepad. I thought I saw it somewhere around here, but it might have just been a figment of my drunken imagination.

But, I didn't lose the camera I took pictures with, here are some of those pictures.

Raffa And Rainer will be playing Dada's the first Sunday of everyone month, the next show will be on Mar. 6, around 10:00 p.m.

The Rundown (What YOU Missed)

2008-03-24T21:24:00.000-07:00

Here's some upcoming shows of some of ~~your~~ my favorite local bands:

3.29.2008, 10 p.m. @ Alligator Alley - Zombies! Organize!!

Mary, Laura and Bobby are back from their quick Gainesville tour, I'm sure there are lots of brain-hungry fans up there now.
Check out the new song on their MySpace - F bombs and 1 Up's (feat. Dot.Ay).
Also, Bobby finished they're first music video for Robotacus:

4.3.2008, 10 p.m. @ Dada - Black Finger

New EP and Video Premiere coming out May 10 (more coming soon..)

4.18.2008, 11 p.m. @ The Poor House - The Lights Down Low

Still awesome.

4.20.2008, 4:15 p.m. @ Kahuna - The Resolvers

4/20 CD release Party... on April 20th.
The Resolvers are doing a lot of different shows this month -- But I'm not sure if they'll be at Kahuna Sunday's this month.

Go to these shows -- before something bad happens to you, like missing out on life.

Folk Music Pulls on my Heart Strings.

2008-02-27T22:55:00.000-08:00

Folk is a term used loosely to describe music for and by the common people.

I was driving around one afternoon, listening to WLRN NPR my favorite local radio station. Sundays at 2 p.m. the station hosts a really great folk music show, I recommend it.

Well, on this particular Sunday, host Michael Stock was speaking with two UM students: Raffa and Rainer. I was pulling into Walgreen's to get some pictures developed, and they started to play "Boy at the Bar", I had to take a minute and enjoy the music; it was something else -- I had goosebumps, no lie.

Sadly, the shows archives haven't been updated in a while, but they do have a nice selection of Youtube videos:

The Miami locals are making the hike up to Palm Beach County, March 2, at 9 p.m. to play Dada in Delray.

If you've never given folk music a chance, you have to, at least once. It's the kind of music that can get into your core if you let it, the kind of music that can really move someone.

Raffa and Rainer reminded me of that on that Sunday afternoon.

Resolve to see Them on Their Home Turf

2008-02-27T22:41:00.000-08:00

"I wanna see you dance, man!" He said after busting out some crazy robot move to The Resolvers sweet and truly reggae sound.
"I'm not there yet man," I pointed out, bobbing my head and mixing my 7-on-7 with a cocktail straw.
There was a awkward moment between he and I.
"I'm so fucking high man, I can't see straight," he reassured me.
All I could do was smile.

It was a perfect scene at Kahuna's, arriving late to The Resolvers weekly Sunday afternoon show. I parked at 7:15 p.m. I should have parked at the meters across the street to avoid the $10 parking robbery next to the bar.

I ordered a 7-on-7, which was proper as the band began to play a dub-style Pink Floyd tune. The place -- that, the Resolvers had played every Sunday for almost two years -- was full of friendly people and beautiful girls.

You could throw a rock into the ocean from the front door of the bar, it's the kind of place I'd expect to catch a really great reggae band; it's a gift they play they weekly.

Come check out my new Sunday hangout, I promise you'll like it.

Two for One!? It's like a sore di- Well, you can't beat it!

2008-02-27T22:18:00.000-08:00

I know our Ipod Generation -- born from and raised by strobing television, instant messaging and soft amphetamines like caffeine.

So I'll make this short (enough for the average attention span) and sweet (enough to keep you coming back for me like crack):

Friday, March 28 @ 8 p.m.
Respectable Street - The Premier Indie Venue.
Two bands

The Handsome Furs - A Canadian Duo, "as sparse and repetitive as possible with the help of little more than vocals, guitars, and a new drum machine." Captivating.
Violens - A New York Local Sound that say they sound like "Descriptions of nightmares, the passing of time, speculations on spiritual messages, and accounts of psychedelic hallucinations." Brilliantly true description.

I've been on a little bit of a Local music from afar touring South Florida spell, but these are rare opportunities. Don't miss out.

Local Music From a Far Away Land.

2008-02-27T21:27:00.000-08:00

~~There are few things cooler than local acts touring: Beer. Ah, Fuck.~~

Ok, there's only one thing cooler than local acts touring-- that's beer.

Coming all the way from New York City, The Honeycomb presents Mink. For two tour dates at:

March 5, 9 p.m. @ Dr. Feelgoods, West Palm Beach. Free
March 6, 9:30 p.m. @ City Limits, Delray Beach.

I have never seen Mink, but they sound pretty fucking good, in my expert opinion; "Fucking" is a industry-technical term.

They've got that real Rock and Roll sound, that is kind of lost in music today -- local, indie or commercial -- mixed with that psychedelic feel that never really existed in music for my generation.

There "About me" on the Mypsace might serve as a perfect example for that psychedelic feel:

"To play until the end of time," drummer Stella Mozgawa continues. "Until the end of the universe."

I feel a flashback coming on now. Wow, I'm hallucinating a Youtube Video:

In the words of Hunter S. Thompson's Attorney Dr. Gonzo on the Way into Las Vegas:

"What the hell are we doing out here in the middle of the Desert?"

A Dive Bar with The Lights Down Low

2008-02-27T21:08:00.000-08:00

I drove out to Coral Springs once to see the Lights Down Low. I can't remember why.

I might have just gotten back form a music festival, probably Bonnaroo: wearing a tye-dye T-shirt, smoking grass and bored. They were playing The Walk that night, I didn't know what "The Walk" was. I was kind of confused when I arrived at a shopping center, but I was really impressed with their real funk and jazz sound.

It wasn't the best show ever. A lot of that had to do with the venue -- which was, as stated above, a strip mall -- but Friday, Feb. 29 at 11 p.m. when they play the Poorhouse in Las Olas has real potential.

The Poorhouse is a true dive bar, which is my favorite kind. The selection of beer is amazing, with specialty beers, like my personal favorite Purple Haze. I mean, hot damn, that's good beer.

Beer and Funk? That's a good combination no matter how you define those words.

The Devil Came Down to Las Olas

2008-02-27T20:48:00.000-08:00

I found this little gem of a venue by accident. The Atmosphere Lounge looks to be one of the chillest spots in Las Olas.

To be honest, I haven't formally had an opportunity to check it out, but I will be 9 p.m. Saturday March 8. Why?

Well besides $2.50 beers, which is always a plus, Los Diablos is playing.

Now I've never heard these guys, but from the noise on their Myspace, well, I'll bite. Especially for free. It wasn't just the sound, it's their whole Web presentation.

They note they're influences as:

summer months in county jails...
eviction notices...
liner notes of every 70's record our folks ever had...
late night breakdowns...
6 a.m. jobs...
dirt roads...
southern skies...
busted hearts...

All things that I dig and can relate to.

Jake Cline, City Link editor, explains in their "About me section,"

the music of Los Diablos is bracingly authentic, from the high-lonesome cry of Stankus’ steel guitar to Dubin’s penitential, open-wound songwriting.

I couldn't have said it better Mr. Cline, so I won't try.

Throwing a Toaster into a Bathtub Don't Feel This Good

2008-02-06T17:25:00.000-08:00

The stage presence energy the The Pots 'n' Pans bring could run Palm Beach County.

In a May City Link article about the band, Dan Sweeney wrote, "With the exception of a few musicians like Billy Boloby [Pots 'n' Pans front man], entertainment is dead."

Boloby, former music editor of New Times, expressed his feelings on the band in the article: "Oh, it's fucking good, man...It's really good."

Typically, these statements come from ego-centric assholes, but Boloby speaks the truth, for example:

"We're trying to stray away from the punk stuff that we all played when starting out," Evan Eastham, vocalist and bassist, told Closer Magazine's Larry Boytano in this Dec article, "But the drunker we get, the more we revert. So we have these garage-y power-pop songs that end up sounding punk."

The band's recently released four-song debuted EP is available on their Website, if you like what you've seen and heard so far.

But everyone knows a CD is nothing compared to the real thing, especially one of The Pots 'n' Pans caliber, so check them out at Backbone Music Feb. 29 at 7:00 p.m., where they'll be playing a benefit show for Fifth Estate magazine with Molten Guava, Monsters, the Walking Dead and Bill Blanks.

How Long Have I Been Legal For?

2008-02-06T17:12:00.000-08:00

I remember seeing The Int'l Language for the first and only time on my 21st Birthday, April 13, 2007. Obviously, it was a Friday, but I was lucky enough to see them.

I walked into Dada and took a seat at the bar. The bartender (they're really nice at Dada) asked me what I wanted. Having never ordered from a bar, I responded, "To get drunk."

She mixed me a proper Long Island Ice Tea; The Int'l Language must have been taking a break because as she hands it to me Bob Rich's Sax blasts a real sweet sound right behind me. I turned around, drank my first legal drink and watched them play, and it was great.

I haven't seen or heard of them since then, but then I stumbled (literally) upon a flyer that says they're playing at Dada Feb. 15 at 10:30 p.m. So check it out.

Who'd Guess? It's Bigger than I thought.

2008-02-06T16:28:00.000-08:00

Whilst myspace-whoring, I found some noise from Lake Worth.

Yes, and with a little bit of faith and a sober driver you know I'll be following Black Finger from South Shores Tavern to The Poorhouse Friday (7:00 p.m.) and Saturday (11:00 p.m.), Feb. 15 and 16, respectably.

According to their Myspace they were "Voted 'BEST NEW BAND OF 2007' by CITY LINK magazine." It's impossible to confirm this since City Link dumped their website and sold their soul to South Florida Metromix sometime last year, but this isn't Bob Norman's The Daily Pulp.

Regardless, this is 2008, and there's, apparently, an Internet! So digitally sample the sweet nectar of Black Finger with Myspace music and Youtube videos. Look out! Here's one now:

Now that you've seen them -- alone, in your room, naked and probably masturbating -- go to the one or both of the shows: Feb. 15 7:00 p.m. @ South Shores Tavern and/or Feb. 16 11:00 p.m. @ the Poorhouse.

Post Valentine's Zombie Riot

2008-02-05T20:03:00.000-08:00

I won't lie -- I can't get enough of the Zombies! Organize!!; arguably they are one of the most creative local bands in the south Florida scene. And you can see them - for Free – at Dada Feb. 21 at 10 p.m. (although at Dada 10 p.m. usually means 11 p.m. but it’s a nice place; show up and have a few before the set) for a late Valentine's Day show.

The first time I saw the trio -- made up of sisters, Laura and Mary Sheffield, and Bobby Jividen -- was Supercon 2007 at the Cypress Creek Marriott, last June. It was unforgettable. In the depths of a comic convention filled with cosplay anime-addicts was a tiny gem of a stage somewhere off in a sideroom.

I recognized Bobby Jividen, Mary's husband, from the Myspace pictures. There was a sense of intimidation at first because their Myspace music was so good. He told me all the shows were running late and described the music to me as "political zombie hip-hop," although the band would later add pop to that.

The beats were so expertly plugged into Fruity Loops on that HP laptop, and Mary's rapping was not only lyrically deep and meaningful, but her flow was incredible. Add Laura's back-up vox, guitar and Wurlitzer piano playing and the sounds in undeniably uniquely great.

Jeff Stratton wrote an article for New Times back in April 2007, describing them as "South Florida's most talked-about new band."

Jake Smith's July New Times inteview delves a little deeper into the music’s meaning citing, “the politically charged rock act has spread its gospel of anti-consumerism and anti-celebrity propaganda throughout South Florida.”

Mary told me in an Oct interview at the Lion and Eagle Pub(Great Pub by the way), "It's about anyone who mindlessly follows the Status Quo without questioning."

In the same interview Jividen chimed in explaining, "Zombies, by nature, are a vehicle for politics. People walk by wearing brand-name shirts - it seems like FAU and Boca are the capital for people who don't care - they don't even think about how their consumption hurts the rest of the world."

Lyrics, like from the song “I am the Swooish,” really express this anti-consumerism message:

“how do we make shoes sell hotter then crack
how we take your money without you fighting back
our commercials are a 30 second cultural hijack
i stole your culture now i'm sellin it back

wearin the swoosh is paying to be a billboard
you gotta know that baby you're being whored
and tacitly condoning shit that should be abhorred
for oppressing the proletariat your money's our reward”

I’m not sure how much more I can hype this band, and honestly, they don’t need it.
Here watch a video:

If you’re going out to one show this month, it has to be this one.

That Old Sound

2008-02-04T17:16:00.000-08:00

There's something special about Reggae: maybe it's the skank, the tempo or the accent. Perhaps it's the peaceful vibe of the music. Most likely it's everything I mentioned and something else --indescribable.

If you don't know what I'm talking about you should check out local reggae band The Resolvers; coming up to play City Limits, Thursday, Feb. 7 at 8 p.m.

Resolvers bassist, Steave Nieratka, told me in a University Press article that the Resolvers have a "Universal appeal."

In the same article, Ron Eisner, electric guitar and harmony vox said, "Each one of us from The Resolvers, we're into old music. Reggae is older than you think, you can trace it back to the oldest rhythms and we're trying to make something new from it."

Todd McFliker for Livebroward.com said, "The Resolvers perform about 95% original material." But don't be surprised if you hear some old reggae favorites.

You can see the Resolvers at their self-described home, Kahuna's Bar and Grill, 4 p.m. any Sunday. But the Thursday night City Limits show is a must see.

City Limits is a great venue to see any band play with reasonably priced drinks, great acoustics and a good view from just about anywhere in the bar; besides it's Thursday -- that's the new Friday in 2008 -- so get the weekend started right.

It'll be especially easy for the women, because it's also Ladies Night.