The versatile multilingual vocalist Elin was born in Sweden, but you would never know it by listening to her. Her style has a strong Brazilian influence even when she is belting out standards like Gershwin’s “Fascinating Rhythm” or her own compositions, as heard on her début CD, Lazy Afternoon (Blue…
Never mind the misleading band name: Average White Band were racially mixed, but still hailed from very unfunky Scotland. Amazingly, the [usually] sextet created a brand of Seventies R&B with a serious swing that sounded really American, and really soulful. Their songs were rife with juicy breakbeats, and as such…
Everybody’s favorite local 305 hip-hop curator, DJ Khaled, is movin’ on up yet again. Yesterday, he announced the launch of his new record label, We the Best Music (named after his 2007 album, of course, We the Best). It’ll be ecxlusively partnered up with and distributed by Def Jam Entertainment,…
One of our sister papers in Texas, the Houston Press, has this great list today of 10 hip-hop break-up songs, “because Valentine’s Day is for suckas.” Among the selections from the list of mostly dirty south jams: “Crampin’ My Style” by UGK, “Dirty Bitch” by Geto Boys, and reppin’ the…
The words punk rock love song might seem like a contradiction in terms, but those who have spent any time in punk’s prickly embrace know better. Beneath the trappings of a costume, beneath the pent-up aggressive energy, there’s usually a big softy who just wants a big ol’ hug. And…
Van Halen with Ky-Mani Marley Bank Atlantic Center, Ft. Lauderdale Feb. 12, 2008 It’s hard to believe that it’s been 24 years since I last saw Van Halen featuring “Diamond” David Lee Roth and Eddie Van Halen together on the same stage. Yes, it was back in 1984 at Madison…
Local boy band Los Primeros have gotten with a group called Citizens to Save Hialeah Park, and recorded a bilingual song called, well, “Save Hialeah Park.” The park itself is the site of a former race track, clubhouse and grandstand, and, according to the group on its web site, “is…
Daft Punk backstage at the Grammys, in LED suits I’ll admit to not really paying much attention to the Grammys live broadcast this year. Kanye, Winehouse, blah blah blah blah, predictable for an awards show based more on (ever-weakening) album sales than anything else. That’s why it was pretty cool…
Amazing news: Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige are touring together. Doubly amazing: the tour kicks off at the AA Arena on March 22nd. This’ll be Jay Hova’s first tour since 2004. Tickets go on sale February 16 at 10 a.m., and they’re available through all Live Nation and Ticketmaster outlets…
Flo Rida shows off his Jimi tattoo at Sunset Place Thursday night There is just something about Missy. As I approached Ms. Elliott last night at Sunset Place for a special screening of Step Up 2, I felt my knees turning into Jell-O. Our eyes made contact; my heart began…
…He also dispenses health and safety advice. I don’t know about that El Tigre character though; he looks like a loose cannon. Sexy ‘stache, though… — Arielle Castillo…
Alright, the unofficial/official (the site is hosted by WMC itself) list of parties so far is up… As usual, with things starting as early as Monday and Tuesday (but really getting crazy starting Wednesday)! A couple of picks for, oh, Tuesday: –The annual Pop Tarts party at Automatic Slim’s, which…
Last Friday the crowd at Churchill’s included hesher types, bikers in Motörhead jackets, crusty bicycle people wearing shorts and stitched-up leather fanny packs, and a gaggle of of-the-moment local artists. Then there was the guy my companion pointed out: “Surprise! There’s someone in a Star Wars shirt.” In short, it…
Angels & Airwaves Tuesday, February 5, 2008 Revolution, Ft. Lauderdale Better Than: Spending all night trying to figure out why everyone accepts AVA as the abbreviation for Angels & Airwaves. The Review: David Glimour and Roger Waters did it. That is, they pursued solo careers after a hugely successful run…
Here’s one of the few other videos about South Florida music that I could find on YouTube. And this one is truly sort of amazing — it’s a tiny clip from what the poster says was South Florida’s only ever cable access show devoted to metal and hardcore. Of course…
Found a couple interesting things on YouTube from old-school South Florida public access shows (not as many as I would have liked, though!). First cool item was this video posted by the user “Ninjaguydan,” who lists her (?) name as Lisa, and says she directed this music video for her…
Time is upon us to start getting listings and information together for our annual Winter Music Conference Guide! So promoters, DJs, everyone, send me your event info here! — Arielle Castillo…
The autopsy report has come back for Pimp C, half of the legendary southern rap duo UGK, who was found dead in his L.A. hotel room this past December. The coroner’s verdict? A combination of sleep apnea … and SYRUP, that narcotic prescription cough medicine name-checked in oh so many…
Girl Talk February 2, 2008 Studio A Better Than:Cocaine and Miami Subs The Review: “Bounce That”, the 12th “song” off of Girl Talk’s third album Night Ripper has kicked off almost every mix CD I’ve made in the past year. And regardless of each of my friends’ musical preference, be…
Rod Stewart Hard Rock Live February 1, 2008 Longtime fans who bemoaned Rod Stewart’s recent four-album cycle of standards will be relieved to know that Roddy’s stripped his current tour of replays of the great American songbook and returned to singing the kind of songs that earned him his rock…
Yes, underneath the week-long orgy of beats and booze, concurrent with the endless, overwhelming number of boat parties, pool parties, regular parties, afterparties, during WMC there is, actually, a conference (the “C” part!). Of course, besides getting you into a number of officially sanctioned parties (including Ultra), the badge also…
When two-time Tony Award nominee Christine Andreas last came to Miami, it was to help christen the Carnival Center while taking a turn Margaret Johnson in a production of The Light in the Piazza. “Opening a venue is always exciting. Mine was the first foot or limb to step on…
