JAMC, Just Like Honey When The Jesus and Mary Chain came on the scene in 1983, they could hardly play their instruments and relied on earsplitting volumes to mask it. Singer Jim Reid has often admitted to being drunk before taking the stage to compensate for a lack of musical aptitude and his shyness. The songs are simplistic, rooted in classic ‘60s pop rock, but played with a wash of noise inspired by the Stooges and the Velvet Underground. JAMC tore a hole into the synth-crutched zeitgeist of the mid-80s. After a series of notable UK singles and legendary live shows that inspired audiences to break into fights, the band released its debut album on a major label, the Warner Bros. subsidiary Blanco y Negro Records. Since its 1985 release, Psychocandy has become a revered record over the years. It’s been often cited as a touchstone for such ‘90s alt-rock subgenres like dream pop and shoegaze. Like a symphony of buzzsaws grinding away at once, the electric guitar driven din of JAMC is hypnotic and challenging at once. But it can also be gorgeous. There’s something magical in the noise and feedback that creates the mystical musical mirage related to psychoacoustics, where the listener might notice melodies that are not even there. JAMC
Part of what made this record so ballsy was the bold, dreamy opener, “Just Like Honey.” The sharply reverbing guitars by brothers Jim and William Reid, the languorous drum beat played on a tom and snare cribbed from the Velvet Underground’s Moe Tucker and Jim Reid’s lethargic, breathy voice singing wistfully about idealizing a young woman he can never approach. It’s a good thing JAMC are saving this momentous track for the climax, as the band has decided to play the entire album for its 30th anniversary, preceded by several of its hits from the rest of its five album catalog. Though they have not released an album since 1998, the band’s legend offers plenty to make it worth the ticket to its only Florida show, way down in Miami, on this historic tour… but don’t forget your earplugs. The Jesus and Mary Chain play Olympia Theater at Gusman Center (www. olympiatheater.org), Oct. 2, at 8pm. DJ Mikey Ramirez will set the stage with appropriate sounds. ~ Hans Morgenstern | The Independent Ethos (indieethos.wordpress.com)
Gang of Four Soldiers On Three years after Jimmy Buffett released his 1978 single “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” Gang of Four unveiled its own “Cheeseburger,” a song that envisioned the centerpiece of American cuisine in terms closer to Hades than Valhalla. The song opens with audio of a drive-thru request for a burger to go. After a few seconds of Hugo Burnham’s martial drumming, Andy Gill’s guitar enters the mix, shattering in aggressive ribbons before settling into an XTC-like dance groove, punk and disco Gang of Four commingling with surprising consonance. You can almost see the sweat flying like shrapnel from singer Jon King’s face as he barks out the lyrics, which question the workaday rat race of money in/money out, a cycle of mandated consumption and mindless leisure. Every great Gang of Four tune from those halcyon years of 1979 to 1983 sounds like a mission statement. Influenced by Brecht, Godard and Dr. Feelgood, the Gang critiqued societal norms and establishment ethos in their seminal songs, through funk-inspired post-punk music that was as simple, stripped-down and dangerous as King’s lyrics were literary and oblique. Nobody had heard anything quite like the group’s astonishing debut EP, 1978’s Damaged Goods, a kind of disarmingly catchy mutant disco that simultaneously alienated audiences and hooked them at the same time. As the U.K. music journalist Simon Reynolds wrote in his book Rip it Up and Start Again, the music made “the listener flinch from the shards shooting out of the speakers.” Though they opposed the bombast of arena rock, Gang of Four’s concerts were as much driven by performance spectacle as Joy Division’s, with King convulsing and gyrating like a possessed tent-show revivalist.
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Unbeknownst to many, Gang of Four has soldiered on—and sometimes off—for more than 30 years after 1983’s Hard, its last LP to chart anywhere. Most of its original members have left, with guitarist Gill the last Gang member standing, prompting critics and nostalgists to dismiss the current incarnation as Gang of One. Certainly, Gang of Four’s 2015 album What Happens Next sounds like an entirely different band, with a sonic palette decidedly more produced, atmospheric and soulful than the chilly, menacing austerity of the early work. But purists should know that as the band winds up its North American tour in South Florida, material from the early years dominates the set lists, including “Anthrax,” “At Home He Feels Like a Tourist” and “To Hell With Poverty.” The tour stops at Culture Room at 8pm Oct. 29. Tickets cost just $20; pick them up at ticketmaster.com, or call 954-564-1074 for more information. ~ John Thomason
The Evolution of Broncho Broncho’s frontman, Ryan Lindsey, is humbled upon hearing comparisons to Joy Division, OMD and Roxy Music. You get a sense he’s genuinely excited about hearing the names of these bands in context with some of his band’s stylistic flourishes. We called the band’s guitarist/vocalist in Norman, Oklahoma, where his mates are currently doing some recording. Speaking to him about the small details like counter melodies Broncho and odd phrasing, it’s clear he’s no cheap imitator of rock gone by. He’s a seeker of being genuine to the classic pop groove … and its subversion. He talks about the small details in making his voice an instrument, playing with shortening words or even doing some phonetic, wordless singing, like the stuttering rapid-fire refrain that made “Class Historian” such a success last year. “I think that’s the big difference between this record and the last record,” says Lindsey. “There’s a lot more implementation of melodies from all aspects, the guitars, vocals, even non-word vocals, oos and ahs, ohs. I like throwing those in, and this record had a lot more of that.” It sounds simple, but picking apart the catchy, surprising song constructions reveals a keen sense of Broncho’s songcraft. The band went through a profound evolution between its 2011 debut, Can’t Get Past the Lips, which flaunted a brash garage punk sound to the acutely post-punk stylings of 2014’s Just Enough Hip to Be Woman. But if Lindsey has to point to the biggest evolution for the band, it lies in its lyrics, which have a looser, less contrived feel. “That was probably more than anything a true progression,” he says, “cause on the first record, a lot of it was things that made us laugh, and I think we expanded on that on this record, coming up with something that makes us laugh and then thinking it may make sense in something, or it’s just a great moment.” Broncho are redeemers of pop rock in the best, most pure sense, writing from raw elements and not relying on shady studio tricky, much of which dominates eMpTyV’s morning programming and pop culture. Broncho open for the Growlers at Culture Room (www.cultureroom.net), Nov. 3 at 7:30pm ~ Hans Morgenstern | The Independent Ethos (indieethos.wordpress.com)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
RESPECTABLE STREET: Fall of Olympus, Response Negative, Moguera
O’CINEMA: Popcorn Frights Film Festival
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1
RESPECTABLE STREET: Lavola
PROPAGANDA: LFTD LVLS & Holidazed
FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Adventure Club
DADA: One Drop Rebellion CHURCHILLS PUB: KEN Mode, Child Bite, Garrett Jamieson, Holly Hunt BAYFRONT PARK AMP: Alt-J, San Fermin THE STILLERY: Rose Quartz KREEPY TIKI: Jangle Leg, Zoo Peculiar
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FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Los Amigos Invisibles DADA: Big Chief BREWHOUSE GALLERY: The Whiskey Wasps
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PROPAGANDA: Artoberfest Day 1: Stratolites, Yardij, Steel Brothers Band, Ba Roos, Luna Rex, Fuzzhound, Fireside Prophets, My Electric Heart, Raggy Monster, Scattered Light, Skoros, Payote Coyote, Octo Gato, Smith Sundy, Sada, Rivers, Askultura, Bonnie Riot, Dubble James, The Big Sound Band, JL Folks, Juke, Jason K and Signal fire, Talitha Ferri, Nicole and Kirstyn, Chris Blakely, Tony V, Jordan Laurenti, Tom Carr DADA: Mylo Ranger
JUMP THE SHARK: Benefit for Thom: Surfer Blood, Minimalist Blasphemist, Dooms de Pop
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CHURCHILLS PUB: Vermin, Hellmass, Antifaces, Crud BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Greg Hanson
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REVOLUTION LIVE: Failure, HUM, Torche
RESPECTABLE STREET: Fk Cancer Benefit: Gunfight, Every Passing Dream, The Muggles, The Meyers Trilogy, Old Habits, Sweet Nothings, Recoil, Cocaine Blues
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2
OLYMPIA THEATER: The Jesus and Mary Chain PROPAGANDA: Peep Show-Burlesque DADA: Satori Kings KYI: Bearhead BREWHOUSE GALLERY: String Assassins PERFECT VODKA AMP: Oddball Comedy Festival
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3
OLD SCHOOL SQUARE DELRAY: 9th Annual Stitch Rock, Indie Craft Fair RESPECTABLE STREET: Bombtoberfest PROPAGANDA: DJ Needlez presents Rock The Mic
FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Lila Downs
DADA: Uncommon Sense KYI: Mi Casa/Keep It Deep CHURCHILLS PUB: Voodoo Glow Skulls, Phenomenauts, Pinata Protest, Shakers BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Slip and the Spin Outs VINTAGE TAP: Jangle Leg
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4
CHURCHILLS PUB: Monstrosity, Hellwitch, Cemetery Filth JAZID: Ashaman, Jah Steve & the Counter Culture Crew
MONDAY, OCTOBER 5 DADA: Basement Jams KYI: Glitterbox
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6
FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: D’Angelo DADA: Comedy Open Mic
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7
PROPAGANDA: Artoberfest Day 2: Go!Zilla! from Firenza Italy!, Space Coast Ghosts, JC Dwyer and the Blackhawks, The Psymatics, The Metropolitan, The Holidazed, Mylo Ranger, LFTD LVLS, Closer To The Ocean, C…Monsters, Finkle Is Einhorn, Alligator Wine, Johnny Raincloud, 84 Sheepdog, Jangle Leg, Zoo Peculiar, Goddamn Hustle, Maurice Frank and Friends, Jazz Jam, Eric Meredith, John Hall and Alan Gross, Josh Miles, Justin Rossario, Christian Olsen
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
REVOLUTION LIVE: The Get Up Kids, Braid, The Weaks GRAND CENTRAL: Autechre BBAD: GOLDEN Art and Music Fest GUANABANAS: Lance-O, Inner Circle, Boxelder, New Kingston, Moska Project, Jahfe, Ellameno Beat, The Helmsmen, Victoria Leigh JAZID: Addis Pablo, Sons of Dub, Revolutionary Rockers & more!
DADA: Craft Bazaar
MONDAY, OCTOBER 12
KYI: Kraken & Karaoke
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13
RESPECTABLE STREET: Industrial Grade Wednesday DADA: Whiskey Wasps CHURCHILLS PUB: Kylesa, Inter Arma, Indian Handcrafts, Irata
RESPECTABLE STREET: Sweet Bronco CONCRETE BEACH BREWERY: Meet & Greet Talking off the Wall Featured Artist of the month: Nate Dee CHURCHILLS PUB: Bands For Bernie: Mere Quantun Noise, I Died a Hero, Black Cousins, Trash Humpers, Dizzy Stash, Zen PROPAGANDA: LFTD LVLS POMPANO BEACH AMP: Blood Sweat & Tears, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad
DADA: Basement Jams Open Mic KYI: Glitterbox
FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Walk the Moon BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Lucas Handwerker
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
DADA: JBAY TERRA FERMATA: Ben Prestage
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
RESPECTABLE STREET: Jangle Leg
PROPAGANDA: LFTD LVLS DADA: Chucka Riddim KYI: Club De Surf SALTWATER BREWERY: Jamie Craig & The Postcards HARD ROCK LIVE HOLLYWOOD: Buddy Guy
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16
PROPAGANDA: BOYTOY, Suede Dudes, Chaucer, Kremlin FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Korn, Suicide Silence, Islander DADA: Equinox KYI: Urban Sombrero CHURCHILLS PUB: O Inimigo, Wrong, Prayer Chain, Bruiser, Obey The Giant BAYFRONT PARK AMP: Zedd TERRA FERMATA: Albert Castiglia BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Gary Frost
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17
DADA: Jangle Leg KYI: Dark Water Rebellion MUSE CENTER: Cohen Robinson, Nick Aquilino, Johnny Rez, Aaron Marcus Payne TERRA FERMATA: Bushwood SWAMPGRASS WILLYS: Marcus Soflo, Morning Fatty GRAMPS: BOYTOY, Party Flag, Plastic Pinks, Olde Time Religion, Viceroi, Grey 8’s, Similar Prisoners, Other Body BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Christian Olsen, Bicycle Show GIRLS CLUB: Art Fallout
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18
JAZID: Ras Kokay & Rhythmadix Band, Red Lyte, War Beezy, Lance-O, Kulcha Shok BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Zack Jones
MONDAY, OCTOBER 19
DADA: Basement Jams Open Mic KYI: Glitterbox
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20
TERRA FERMATA: Tab Benoit
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21
DADA: Jesse Lopez CHURCHILLS PUB: Serious Jorge, Human Fluid Rot, Male Model TERRA FERMATA: Lauris Vidal
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22
RESPECTABLE STREET: Last Chance for Sarah, Octo Gato
DADA: Redlyte,The Sound Movement Band
FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Warren Haynes KYI: Kraken & Karaoke PROPAGANDA: LFTD LVLS HARD ROCK LIVE HOLLYWOOD: Cheap Trick
OCTOBER 23-25
BRYANT PARK LW: Florida Flow Fest
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23
RESPECTABLE STREET: God Module, Voicecoil, Die Sektor, Mordacious PROPAGANDA: Everymen
FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Zeca Pagodinho
DADA: Stratolites CHURCHILLS PUB: The Toasters, The Talking Dogs, The Freecoasters, Party Flag HARD ROCK LIVE HOLLYWOOD: Rob Thomas BREWHOUSE GALLERY: The Helmsmen
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 24
PROPAGANDA: Fortunate Youth DADA: Tahiti TERRA FERMATA: Gravel Kings MUSE CENTER: Bianca Jade, Cisca, Elizabeth Garrard, Sarah Walker BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Jon Greco
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25
TERRA FERMATA: Chillakaya JAZID: InnaSense, J Shepard, DJ Red I, Lance-O, Kulcha Shok
MONDAY, OCTOBER 26
DADA: Basement Jams Open Mic KYI: Glitterbox
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 27
DADA: Comedy Open Mic CHURCHILLS PUB: Boss’ Daughter, Überyou, Reluctance, MC1, Talking Dogs
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28 DADA: Chris Michaud
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29
CULTURE ROOM: Gang of Four RESPECTABLE STREET: Symbols, Boxwood CHURCHILLS PUB: Old Wounds & Gatherers
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30
CLEMATIS STREET DNTN WPB: Zombie Crawl
PROPAGANDA: Viva Le Vox, Dirty Kid Discount, Bonnie Riot CHURCHILLS PUB: Mean Jeans, Kepi Ghoulie, Party Flag, Necrophiles, Pre-Tenses, Wastelands, DJ Peligro DADA: Nightcasters BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Jangle Leg REVOLUTION LIVE: Lagwagon TERRA FERMATA: Bloody Jug Band, Didges Christ SuperDrum SWAMPGRASS WILLYS: Sowflo BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Jangle Leg, Vintage Iron Motorcycle Show
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31
MOONFEST ON CLEMATIS STREET The Romantics, Raggy Monster, Gravel Kings, Lavola, Catalogues, Rivers, Jumbo Shrimp, The Band in Heaven, Stratolites, Riot Act, Cog Nomen, Miracle Men, Lftd Lvls, Fusik, PRIZM, Lo-IQ?, Dj Xta-C, James Boucher, Phat Rabbit, ONE3, Dani Fortune, Lance-O/ Kulcha Shok, Beat Thief, Dj Menace, Seizure Machine, CLVB DRVGS, ENOC, SHARK Anthony, Guilty Verdict PROPAGANDA: Hell of a Party feat. The Muggles
DNTN LW CULTURAL PLAZA: Hallowscream
DADA: Viva le Vox & Halloween Night Sideshow CHURCHILLS PUB: Holly Hunt, Snakehole, Shroud Eater, Expecting Mummies, Rat Bastard TERRA FERMATA: Charlie and the Foxtrots, Strung Like a Horse BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Halloween Bash
Moonfest 23, Clematis Street Billed as the biggest Halloween party in the country during which 30,000 “souls collide,” Palm Beach’s Moonfest has evolved into a proper October tradition for South Florida’s droves of party-zombies, assorted festive ghoulies, and music fans alike. While the costumes of the crowds and libations are certainly enough to make Moonfest a blast, the musical performances are the real draw here, and this year’s lineup brings the goods for just about everyone! So, while time is running out for you to figure out/construct/ purchase a mind-blowingly good costume, we’ll take the guesswork out of this year’s Moonfest musical lineup with a primer on some of the notable acts performing. Headlining the event on the 500 Block Stage of Moonfest is sorely unsung power-pop band The Romantics, whom you will immediately recognize via their inescapable, ubiquitous gift to ‘80s party montage clips, television commercials, high school dances, and grocery store satellite radio programmers, “What I Like About By Kyle Smile You”. The uninitiated will also recognize this Detroit-bred group -- perhaps less immediately -from its less massive, though still quite gigantic hit, “Talking In Your Sleep”. Any fan of perfect power-pop songwriting (We’re talking to you, Big Star worshippers!) should take the time to dig beyond the Romantics’ big hits and get acquainted with one of the most underrated groups of the ‘80s. We suggest starting with the album Strictly Personal and spending some time with In Heat as well! Moonfest is, above all, a chiefly local event that focuses on our community and the hometown musical heroes this year’s lineup has on tap displays the very best of what the region’s eclectic music scene has to offer. Three groups I’d make sure to see perform are Raggy Monster, the Band in Heaven, and the Riot Act. The orchestrally-infused art-rock of Palm Beach’s Raggy Monster is difficult to compare to much of anything, however, we’ve rarely heard the band discussed in anything less than near hyperbolic terms. The shoegazing-indie sect is well-represented by the Band in Heaven, whose music should appeal to anyone with a taste for the languid psych-rock of the mid ‘60s, and the fiery traditional rock ‘n’ roll of Fort Lauderdale-based duo, the Riot Act, will undoubtedly get the place shaking with the fury of Little Richard and the grit of The Cramps. $1000 Costume Contest and more! Moonfest kicks off at 6pm, October 31 on Clematis Street in Dntn West Palm Beach. The Romantics, Raggy Monster, Gravel Kings, Lavola, Catalogues, Rivers, Jumbo Shrimp, The Band in Heaven, Stratolites, Riot Act, Cog Nomen, Miracle Men, Lftd Lvls, Fusik, PRIZM, Lo-IQ?, Dj Xta-C, James Boucher, Phat Rabbit, ONE3, Dani Fortune, Lance-O/Kulcha Shok, Beat Thief, Dj Menace, Seizure Machine, CLVB DRVGS, ENOC, SHARK Anthony, Guilty Verdict. Strictly 21+. Tickets $10 advance and $15 day of. VIP is $55 advance and $75 day of. Get yours TODAY: http://www. moonfest.me ~ Von Bader
Go!Zilla, Italian Psych/Fuzz Now entering its 5th iteration, ARToberFest -- put on by Lake Worth’s Propaganda -- has grown into a major event curated with arts and music to suit the taste of just about anyone! More a sonic marathon than a music festival, over 50 bands will perform over the course of ARTober Fest’s 2 days! One band we’re personally very excited about on this year’s bill is Italian garagepsych upstarts, Go!Zilla, a band which has made some serious Go!Zilla waves stateside and will no-doubt be a name to watch in the ever-growing international garage and psych scene. We caught up with Go!Zilla’s frontman and guitarist, Luca Landi, to learn a little more about his group. PH: What’s the rock ‘n’ roll scene like where the band is from in Italy? LL: We come from Florence, which is not a real rock ‘n’ roll town nowadays. In the ‘80s, it was famous for its contributions to the new wave movement, but now it’s a bit less inspired. We have people booking shows at 2 or 3 small venues there these days, and we’ve thrown shows for bands like Dead Meadow, KKBBQ, the Gories, and we have a lot of fun! We’ve been lucky to share the stage with great bands from our town, like the Vickers -- which is really a great band you should definitely check out! PH: How did you get into playing what is essentially American garage-psych? How did you discover this sound? LL: The music we loves comes more from the US than say, England, but I think that nowadays every country has their own characteristic garage sounds! I think there’s a bit of Italian western in our music as well, you just have to know what to listen for. PH: You guys have been doing some really big things lately, like playing Levitation France and catching some airplay on KEXP! How does that feel? LL: In Europe, things are going pretty well! We’re playing almost everywhere around the continent. KEXP was a great surprise! I just mailed Cheryl Waters and she replied straight away telling us she loved the band, so we got on the air in a natural way. We’re waiting to see if it’s possible for us to play in the studio, which would be the best! The FREE, All ages 5th Annual ARToberFest Block Party with 52 bands on 4 stages plus 60+ vendors takes place October 10 & 11 at Propaganda, Bamboo Room, Common Grounds. ~ Von Bader
Boytoy, Grackle BOYTOY, embody the space that exists between jangly, dream pop and the feeling of having a few beers with friends after an exhausting day at the beach while staring out at the stars and enjoying a satisfying breeze. The Brooklyn based trio have an edge, but just enough to almost break the skin; you know, so you know they aren’t playing with you. In reality, this trio is a honed garage-y, rock band with a penchant for bright sounds drenching their fuzzy tones and harmonies that call back the 90’s alt rock explosion. Think Matthew Sweet meets the Black Lips via Beach Day.
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Saara Untracht-Oakner and Glenn Van Dyke started what would become BOYTOY in 2013 finding common ground through a mutual love of surfing, skating and making music. The duo became a trio around the time that the group was to release their first e.p. titled BOYTOY. Drummer, Matthew Gregory Aidala, brings a whole new groove to the otherwise more aggressive take on surfy, rock and roll.
“Grackle” the groups’ new long player about to drop on Burger Records and PaperCup Records is an amalgamation of all three. Saara had this to say about the recoding process: “This record is full-on collaboration. Some songs came together just through jamming. Others we brought to the group individually to be fleshed out, writing our own individual parts. Everyone sings on this record, which is cool; ultimately, making a diverse record of different styles.” The name came from a bird that the group became aware of at SXSW Festival in Austin; a bird that nearly outnumbers people there. The Grackle has a very distinct chittering and almost conversational bird call. The band also credits Mexican folklore of the bird, called Zanate in Spanish, with the name of the record. “Having no voice of its own, the grackle stole its seven distinct songs from the wise and knowing sea turtle. You can hear the Zanate’s vocals as the Seven Passions (Love, Hate, Fear, Courage, Joy, Sadness, and Anger) of life.” Much of “Grackle” has to do with unrequited love and chasing away the feelings of despair that accompany it. One would be hard pressed not to find the company of such a fun and compelling band damn near infectious. BOYTOY hit Propaganda in Lake Worth with Suede Dudes, Chaucer, Kremlin on October 16 and Gramps on October 17. ~Tim Moffatt
Fresh Scares at Fright Nights “I started in ‘02 as a scare actor and set painter. As years passed, positions were opening up and in ‘05 I was given the chance to create my own haunted house,” says Fright Nights Creative Director Craig McInnis. “This was a big challenge as it involves, concept, design, characters, set design, decoration, wardrobe, sound, props, and lighting just to name a few. After a successful ‘05 and ‘06 my haunt design partner Alex Rodriguez and I were given the chance to run all three haunted houses. This open door blossomed into my position and Fright Nights him being head of Operations.” Originally drawn to South Florida for schooling, McInnis holds a degree in Advertising Design and has been a freelance artist for the last 18 years. Fright Nights at the South Florida Fairgrounds has been a fall staple for many years now, with each passing Halloween bringing newer and better scares from McInnis and crew. Unlike other holidays, Halloween’s pagan lore and otherworldly appeal has seduced thrill seekers and scare junkies for eons. Modern times however, call for modernized scares. No longer do witches and goblins and things that go bump in the night cut it for scare tactics. “There is so much imagery and media out there it can be daunting to try and cover new ground. First and foremost we are always striving to bring out the best in each other as a creative team,” explains McInnis. “We have a great group of designers that come to the table with fresh ideas every season. But, let it be said that we are also in the business of re-imagining existing elements that are tried and true.” While the entire grounds are devoted to scaring attendees, it is the haunted houses that are the main focus of the four week event. With intricate designs, intricately-developed almost-theatrical plots populated with enthusiastic actors and a keen sense for timing and ambience, the creative team is behind some of the most fully-realized haunting experiences out there. This year they’ve upped the bar with the addition of a fourth house for a well-rounded fright. Gothic horror will be explored in “Memento Mori” while man and beast collide in “Animal Farm,” an acid-blotter take on the Island of Dr. Moreau. Purists will delight in the ghostly etherealness of “Beyond the Gates” and those looking for the horrors hidden in everyday life will enjoy the Lynchian overtones of an Umbrella Corporation-like environment in “Meadow Lakes.” “Our houses attack all of your senses and you will feel like you do not know which way you are going a lot of the time,” says McInnis, clearly satisfied with his team’s work. “There is a frantic energy in the air from all of the adrenaline and fear that is being experienced by everyone simultaneously. We pay close attention to detail to immerse our fans in our sets. You will feel like you have stepped into another world.” And he does have something to be proud of. Though Halloween has become another commercialized ploy to sell stuff, McInnis has an honest fascination with it. “There is still something so raw about being scared and that is our main focus at Fright Nights. We care about the scare!” Behind-the-Scenes Tour on Oct. 8, 2015 - get a glimpse of all 4 haunts before they open! Includes a promotional ticket for opening night. Haunts begin Oct. 9 and run Thursday thru Sunday during the month of October. Monster Bash takes place Oct. 25! More info: http://www.myfrightnights.com ~ Abel Folgar
IS Projects Turns One Immersed in a digital world, we still find enclaves of folks in search of something less ephemeral and more tangible. One year ago, Ingrid Schindall was printing posters in gold ink celebrating the grand opening of IS Projects, a collaborative print and book arts studio located in the FATVillage Arts District. IS Projects provides printing services for everything from wedding invitations to business cards, but it also offers a place for artists, printmakers, and the community to learn and collaborate. What comes out of these collaborations are works that require slow consumption and thoughtful consideration as opposed to the scrolling and skimming to which many of us have become accustomed. Lara Stephenson | Wider Lens Photography
While corporate publishers are doing runs of 250,000 for their hopeful next bestseller and self-publishers are making millions selling e-books on A----n, Schindall sees her work as “liberating book media from the burden of mass production.” The inability to churn out tens of thousands of copies at once makes each project expensive in both time and money, but it also makes each project special. IS Projects is also home to Nocturnal Press, the boutique press and bindery founded by Schindall in Baltimore where she studied printmaking and book arts at the Maryland Institute College of Art. The letterpress printing creates color and texture that can’t be replicated with digital printing. The words and images are handset into a chase with vintage lead or wood type. The pages are hand-sewn into books that feel like something ancient and sacred between your hands. It’s the connection between the object, its creator, and the consumer that remains intact when we choose not to mass produce--and it’s what many try to recreate through marketing. But IS Projects preserves this connection by providing a space and following a process that demands artistry and collaboration. IS Projects will celebrate its one-year anniversary during the FATVillage ArtWalk on Saturday September 26, 6pm-11pm in the studio space at 15 NW 5th Street in Fort Lauderdale. Schindall has been stashing paper confetti made years ago for just such an occasion, and you’ll be able to grab a letterpress party hat if you arrive early enough. Special edition anniversary posters will also be available for purchase. Learn more about IS Projects or sign up for a workshop at http://www.is-projectsfl.com ~ Jessica Chesler