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Big D and the Kids Table “Big D was never a fortunate band during the times when ska-punk was fresh,” says David McWane. “We were and still are orphans of the scene. So it was always a challenge for us to pay for studio time, get a record out, buy a van, go on tour or play with bands we thought were the best. But while not having grand opportunities, or ‘hook-ups’ if you will, Big D always overcame those challenges with positive drive. Persistence is a gift. And I think every Big D member would say we are very proud to have overcome that kind of a challenge.”

McWane, the lone founding member of Boston’s Big D and the Kids Table knows those challenges well. With ska suffering the usual Big D and the Kids Table ups and downs of music genres, it would seem like the band was never destined to make it in the post-third wave world but with an honest tenacity and complete dedication to their craft, here they are, slightly over 20 years later. And there have been other challenges; with a revolving door of members that has seen some stability in the last six or seven years, McWane also had a bout with thyroid cancer back in late 2011 which he beat with surgery and radiation.

A strict adherence to the DIY ethos has helped too as well as remembering the “old school” ways of building a scene, especially in an American musical landscape that has been violently changed by technology and big business, a change that McWane felt at home, “Boston lost a lot of our important meeting places for musicians and other forms of artists. There are less places to go hide from society and meet with those who want to hide as well.”

But being deterred is not something Big D and the Kids Table does well. Having recently put their energies into re-releasing their back catalogue on vinyl has brought a resurgence of older songs into their set, giving this tour a great compilation edge to their long and varied career, an added bonus for a band that already puts on a great live performance.

“One, we aren’t looking to be famous; we are just hopelessly addicted musicians that can’t stop writing songs and then playing them on the road,” he explains. “It’s wonderful.

It’s our version of money, it’s our fancy car, it’s our religion if you will. And two, there is nothing better than playing a show where the audience is pretty sure they aren’t going to like you and you have to prove to them you’re the mother fucking best. When you play shows to an audience that already loves you, that’s more entertaining. I like proving myself.”

Big D and the Kids Table with Counterpunch, The Snails, The Sensible and Sandwich Club at 8 pm on Thursday, April 21 at Respectable Street Café, 518 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach. 18+, $12 advance, $15 at the door. ~ Abel Folgar

Buy now & Save big DON’T WAIT OR YOU’LL PAY MORE

5-day pass $

80

$16 a day / best value Duran Duran • Alabama Shakes • Meghan Trainor • Train Jason Derulo • Steve Aoki • Death Cab for Cutie • G-Eazy Slightly Stoopid • ZZ Top • Bastille • Walk the Moon The Roots • Fitz and The Tantrums • Capital Cities Evanescence • Flogging Molly • Andy Grammer Rick Springfield • Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox Salt N Pepa • Goldfinger • Shovels & Rope • Lukas Graham Butch Trucks & The Freight Train Band • The Joy Formidable Coleman Hell • Judah & The Lion • The Babys LunchMoney Lewis • Watch the Duck • Saint Asonia Drew Holcomb and The Neighbors • The Bright Light Social Hour Devon Baldwin • Jesse Royal • Dylan LeBlanc Bobby Lee Rodgers • Secret Weapons • Ria Mae • Cade Casaveda • Fireside Prophets • Half Deezy Matt Calderin Trio • Mike Mineo • NO TRAFFIK • Professor & The Jet Sets SONS OF MYSTRO • Tori Lynn • Trey Libra fka Jacob Izrael and WD-HAN!

Tickets online at sunfest.com or call 1-800-sunfest (786-3378)

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Whiskey on Beer: LOAD Whiskey on Beer is the name of a Load song and the title of the documentary about said band.

If you missed seeing Load they were a powerhouse crew from South Florida with some of the best players in the game. Bobby was an unhinged maniac of a front man; Jeff Tucci was equal parts intense and talented when thrashing at his guitar; Fausto beat his drums mercilessly and no matter Tony or Ray on bass the ground shook when they held down the low end. Some believe that punk rock comes with Whiskey On Beer: LOAD Documentary a Mohawk and an attitude; and for them that may be true. The rest of us know that bad ass rock and roll is all ethos and passion. Load was all of that and then some. Tragically the extent of their excess proved to be their downfall; leaving a hole that can never be filled in the South Florida music scene. Sometimes you can be too close to a situation to really see it for what it is; in this case an epic story of a rock and roll brotherhood who really took the whole idea to its logical conclusion. It’s taken brothers from Connecticut to see the potential of the story of our boys in Load. Rick and Gary Ahmed stumbled upon Load through a friend from South Florida and were immediately caught in the snare of a powerhouse band that was so real it cost them everything. Rick and Gary are enamored with the legend of Load and have spent the last few years making Whiskey on Beer on their own. They have no backing, very few funds and the extent of their asking for help is a Go Fund Me with some of the best incentives of any Go Fund Me accounts around; it’s a 100%, D.I.Y labor of love for them. I asked Rick how the ball got rolling on the documentary, because, really how does one just start making a movie about people they don’t know in a band that has been defunct for nearly 20 years?

“First I messaged Tony, he was like, “Why us?” I had to convince him. A few weeks later I got a call from Fausto and we started moving forward. It was a really hard time because Jeff had just passed, but at the same time that lit a fire under our asses that this had to be done; 2/4 of the classic line-up had passed on. It wasn’t so much that we needed to make a movie, at first, but we had to know, what is up with this band?”

And so the brothers Ahmed embarked on a multi state mission to get the scoop on their favorite band, interviewing anyone they could get their hands on who had a little light to shed on the subject.

“That’s how you know this band and this story is so important.”

Gary said, “People’s eyes light up talking about over packed shows from 20 years ago. People have been so passionate to reach out and tell us their experiences. This meant something to them the way the MC5 did to folks in Detroit in the 60’s or the New York Dolls in NYC in the 70’s.”

On the D.I.Y aspect of the project Rick said, “I doubt we’ll see a dime, I’d be glad if we didn’t end up further in debt. I’d be psyched if we broke even! I brought a faulty EZ pass with us and am still getting $60 tickets in the mail. Gary is absolutely busting his balls to make this an amazing documentary; he’s been locked in his room staring at a computer screen for damn near 8 months!”

Whiskey on Beer is a bittersweet moment for South Florida music. We get to see some of our homegrown talent get their due, but some of them aren’t here to share in the glory. Both Bobby and Jeff have passed on due to complications of excessive living. Maybe that’s part of the legend; it might not be for everybody but for a band that’s 20 minutes from Miami where Vice is king, what else could you expect? South Florida has a Darwinian music scene: we eat our young; if you can’t stick it out, you won’t survive. Even the ones who do hang tough, don’t generally get the recognition that their due. We exist at the bottom of the country, tucked away under the shadows of WMC, ULTRA and Art Basel. But, we’ve been here; as a community we’ve always been here; whether at Churchill’s, Poorhouse, the Cameo, Garageland, Washington Square. There have always been people here trying to making things fun. Load, were some of those people; hopefully, their exposure can bring a little sunshine to the rest of us. ~ Tim Moffatt

The Cult, Hidden City Think of Ian Astbury, the selfdramatizing frontman for The Cult, as a slicker version of Glenn Danzig.

The bulldogging, unpretty Danzig version of rock-punk-boogie-goth is a notch sharper, and should wear better over the long haul, than The Cult’s more style-conscious type.

But for now it’s the worldy-sounding Astbury, not the misanthropic Danzig, who enjoys place of pride as vintage post-punk’s darkhearted luminary.

The Cult

Nowadays The Cult are making the gatekeeper-sanctioned rounds at events such as Coachella (2014) and SXSW (2012/2016). They will also get a cred-affirming cameo in auteur Terrence Malick’s next movie (working title Weightless) alongside actress Rooney Mara if their scenes survive the editing.

The Cult’s late-career stride owes mainly to output from three decades ago.

But these black-clad conjurers have also leveraged the affection for their ‘80s hybrid of rock swagger and goth atmosphere to produce new music.

The just-released tenth album, Hidden City, finds Astbury and guitarist Billy Duffy back in their reliably testy sonic embrace: Astbury’s incantations and Duffy’s head-banging riffage, sometimes entangled and sometimes diverging, and always sounding unmistakably like The Cult.

Where the younger band reveled in its erotic savvy and rock-god supremacy on standouts such as She Sells Sanctuary and Love Removal Machine, The Cult in 2016 rocks hard but with a sense of reckoning.

“The stream of life is fading/These generations fading/Shadows with us falling/ Forever with you,” Astbury sings on “Hinterland,” in a mood and sentiment that permeate Hidden City. The libertines of 1989’s “Fire Woman” are now contemplating a world in flames.

It’s all a bit dire and pompous, but there’s also a defiant humanity at work that’s to The Cult’s eternal credit. “Every soul alive burns bright in this life,” Astbury wails on the bullish rocker, “Dark Energy,” signaling that his band may not be done with us yet.

The Cult perform 8:30pm Saturday, April 12, at the Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater, 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, 305-673-7300.

Tickets are $35 - $130 at concerts.livenation.com. ~Sean Piccoli

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

SUBCUTURE COFFEE: 2 Year Anniv w. Rivers, Novel, Ella Herrara

CULTURE ROOM: Of Montreal, Pillar Point DADA: Skinny Jimmy Stingray

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: 747

PROPAGANDA: 88 Fingers Louie, Allout Helter, Flag On Fire, Operative Me FUNKY BISCUIT: Biscuit Fest 5: The New Orleans Suspects ft Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett, Ron Holloway CHURCHILLS PUB: Brethren, All Hell Breaks Loose, Maldito, The Low Life, Guilty Conscience, Day By Day BAYFRONT PARK AMP: Duran Duran: The Paper Gods Tour GRAMPS: Madrina TRYST: Fat Mannequin

BOHEMIA AG: Skag Boy, RU God, Yung Tarzan, Jean Jacket. Art by Ibaki FUNKY BISCUIT: Walter Trout TRYST: Spidercherry CHURCHILLS PUB: Jacuzzi Boys, Wrong, Chaucer SUNRISE & MIAMI: Pearl Jam MAXI’S LINEUP: The Helmsmen Music Video Release Party TERRA FERMATA: The Legendary JC’s

SATURDAY, APRIL 2

PROPAGANDA: Shotgun Betty CD Release DADA: Altered States Band KYI: Urban Sombrero

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: JL Fulks, Art & Brews ft Terrapin

HAROLDS: Kris Copeland Book Signing FUNKY BISCUIT: Biscuit Fest 5: The New Orleans Suspects ft Paul Barrere & Fred Tackett, Ron Holloway TRYST: The Copper Tones CHURCHILLS PUB: MULTIPLE TAP USA feat. Hijokaidan, Jeff Carey, Hatis Noit, Optron(atsuhiro ito), Rat Bastard

SUNDAY, APRIL 3

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Damien Louviere

FUNKY BISCUIT: Biscuit Fest 5: Albert Castiglia, Matt Schofield, Mr. Sipp, Roosevelt Collier, Mark Telesca & FBAS CHURCHILLS PUB: The Breakfast Crew, Stowick GRAMPS: Miami Vice Episode: Caribbean Party BOCA MUSEUM OF ART: Junko Ohtsu & Irena Kofman

MONDAY, APRIL 4

DADA: Basement Jams Open Mic KYI: Drag Night w/ the Eye Dolls GRAMPS: Rakontur/Billy Corben Podcast

TUESDAY, APRIL 5

DADA: Spoken Word Open Mic KYI: Acoustic-Kill Open Jam CULTURE ROOM: Stick Figure, Fortunate Youth, Raging Fyah

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6

PROPAGANDA: Afroman, Fireside, Hood Hippys DADA: Whiskey Wasps KYI: The Hoy Polloy CULTURE ROOM: G. Love & Special Sauce CHURCHILLS PUB: Words and Wine Open Mic & Drum Circle

THURSDAY, APRIL 7

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic Night DADA: Lftd Lvls

RESPECTABLE STREET: Problem Child KYI: Karaoke & Kraken HAROLDS: Livin The Rhythm Drum Circle PROPAGANDA: LFTD LVLS

SATURDAY, APRIL 9

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: String Assassins DADA: Hot Whiskey

NORTH BEACH BANDSHELL: TransAtlantic Festival, Night 2- EMEFE, Psychic Mirrors, Chantil Dukart, Rajesh Bhandari KYI: Keep it Deep HAROLDS: Northwood Village Art X Art Walk Gallery Tour

BRYANT PARK LW: Reggae Fest Day 2: Black Uhuru, Tomorrows Bad Seeds, Sammy J, Josh Heinrichs, Spred The Dub, The Badda Skat Band, Roots Shakedown, LFTD LVLS PROPAGANDA: TPUS, Space Coast Ghosts CHURCHILLS PUB: Death to Miami Fest IV with Abdomen, Canvas, And The Kingdom Fell, FAETHOM, Koroidia, Inferion, Mindscar, Murder Suicide, Sapraemia, Glorious Death SUNRISE & MIAMI: Pearl Jam FUNKY BISCUIT: Tommy Castro & The Painkillers FUNKY BUDDHA: Unlimited Devotion

APRIL 11 GUANABANAS: Hope From Harrison Giveback ft. Resolvers MONDAY, DADA: Basement Jams Open Mic CHURCHILLS PUB: Nevermind: Tribute to Nirvana with Dorothy’s KYI: Drag Night w/ The Eye Dolls Surrender, Burnouts, Drawing Bored, Armada BOSTON’S: The Resolvers CULTURE ROOM: Napalm Death, Melvins, Melt-Banana

FRIDAY, APRIL 8

TUESDAY, APRIL 12

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Joel FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Lewis Black

DADA: Comedy Open Mic KYI: Acoustic-Kill Open Jam

NORTH BEACH BANDSHELL: TransAtlantic Festival, Night 1- Beirut, Troker, Kazoots

DADA: Jonathan Auerbach KYI: Sluberjack

DADA: Big Chief

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13

KYI: Kitchen Club

THURSDAY, APRIL 14

KELSEY THEATER: Mike Lawrence Comedy BRYANT PARK LW: Reggae Fest Day 1: Matisyahu, The Hip Abduction, The Ellameno Beat PROPAGANDA: Rude Hecklers, Making Faces, Holidazed

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic Night DADA: Craft Bazaar

RESPECTABLE STREET: Killmama KYI: Karaoke & Kraken

HAROLDS: Livin The Rhythm Drum Circle PROPAGANDA: LFTD LVLS PARKER PLAYHOUSE: Steve Hackett SPIRIT OF THE SUWANEE: Wanee Festival 2016

FRIDAY, APRIL 15

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: El Dub DADA: The Metropolitan KYI: Bermuda Beach

KELSEY THEATER: Ron Feingold Comedy

HAROLDS: Lyrical Ink Open Mic PROPAGANDA: Armageddon Man, Moguera BROWARD CENTER: Amy Helm & The Handsome Strangers CHURCHILLS PUB: Immortal Bird, Pyrrhon, Orbweaver, Sapraemia, Wrists Grow Cold FUNKY BISCUIT: Commander Cody Band

SATURDAY, APRIL 23

RESPECTABLE STREET: Johnny Raincloud Album Release w. Peyote Coyote, Celebratorrrrrr BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Twisted Tapestry DADA: Mandy Moon KYI: The Wire

KELSEY THEATER: Raggy Monster, Rivers

PROPAGANDA: Beating Arts CULTURE ROOM: Skindred, Soil FUNKY BISCUIT: The Wildfire Band CHURCHILLS PUB: Laramie Dean, FTMF BOCA MUSEUM OF ART: Charles McGill: Pearl City Play Through

SUNDAY, APRIL 24

SATURDAY, APRIL 16

KYI: Comedy Night GRAMPS: Double Stubble CHURCHILLS PUB: Magrudergrind, Yautja, Implosive Disgorgence

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: The Cult

MONDAY, APRIL 25

DADA: Octo Gato KYI: Breaks Yo!

RESPECTABLE STREET: The Prescription, Falsetto, Ether, Eterna BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Acoustic Soul KELSEY THEATER: Being As An Ocean, Capsize, Listener, The Thieving Hand, Fall As Villains HAROLDS: Book Signing “The Evolution of Angie” Victoria M. Howard BROWARD CENTER: Florence K CHURCHILLS PUB: Record Store Day with Shabazz Palaces 3RD & 3RD: Royale Majestique

SUNDAY, APRIL 17

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Tori Kelly BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Nip & Tuck

FUNKY BISCUIT: Devon Allman, The Nouveaux Honkies CHURCHILLS PUB: Cyborg Sundays with Skinny Hendrix

MONDAY, APRIL 18

DADA: Basement Jams Open Mic KYI: Drag Night w/ The Eye Dolls

TUESDAY, APRIL 19

PROPAGANDA: PH presents Heligoats, Sweet Bronco, Lindsey Mills, Fat Sun, Johnny Raincloud, Keith Welsh DADA: Comedy Open Mic

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Iggy Pop, Jacuzzi Boys KYI: Acoustic-Kill Open Jam FUNKY BISCUIT: Jeff & Mike of The Heavy Pets

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20

DADA: Lucas Handwerker PARKER PLAYHOUSE: Jesse Cook CHURCHILLS PUB: Massive Ideas Presents 420 FEST

THURSDAY, APRIL 21

RESPECTABLE STREET: Big D and the Kids Table, Counterpunch, The Snails, The Sensibles, Sandwich Club DADA: The Holidazed KYI: Karaoke & Kraken

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic Night KELSEY THEATER: Live & Local Showcase

HAROLDS: Livin The Rhythm Drum Circle PROPAGANDA: LFTD LVLS FUNKY BISCUIT: Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, Uproot Hootenanny BOCA MUSEUM OF ART: Charles McGill: Front Line, Back Nine

FRIDAY, APRIL 22

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Bush

PARKER PLAYHOUSE: One Night of Queen

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Jangle Leg DADA: Indigo The Band

KELSEY THEATER: New Years Day

PROPAGANDA: Gunfight, The Muggles, Sweet Nothings, Right Through, Seven Serpents

TRYST: 7 Year Anniversary Party

FUNKY BISCUIT: Grandpa’s Cough Medicine, Uproot Hootenanny

DADA: Basement Jams Open Mic KYI: Drag Night / The Eye Dolls HAROLDS: A Latte’ Of Laughs Comedy Show

TUESDAY, APRIL 26

DADA: Comedy Open Mic KYI: Acoust-Kill Open Jam FUNKY BISCUIT: Jeff & Mike of The Heavy Pets

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27

SUNFEST: Duran Duran, Secret Weapons, Cade, Lukas Graham, Meghan Trainor BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Think & Drink Trivia DADA: Chloe Dolandis KYI: Rachael Rage and the Magic City Mad Men

THURSDAY, APRIL 28

RESPECTABLE STREET: Flaunt 11 Year Anniv w/ Chaucer SUNFEST: Train, Mike Mineo, Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, Jason Derulo, LunchMoney Lewis, Tori Lynn DADA: Kristo CULTURE ROOM: Tokyo Police Club, From Indian Lakes PROPAGANDA: LFTD LVLS

FRIDAY, APRIL 29

SUNFEST: Death Cab For Cutie, Steve Aoki, Watch the Duck, Professor & the Jet Sets, The Bright Light Social Hour, WD-HAN, Bastille, The Joy Formidable, Casaveda DADA: Micah Scott Project KYI: Shameless Burlesque REVOLUTION LIVE: Ra Ra Riot, TBD, Millionyoung

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: NMBR11, Vintage Iron Motorcycle Night KELSEY THEATER: John Rothbone Comedy CULTURE ROOM: Pennywise

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

SUNFEST: Fitz & the Tantrums, Capital Cities, Ethan Parker Band, ZZ Top, Butch Trucks & the Freight Train Band, G-Eazy, Devon Baldwin, Half Deezy, Flogging Molly, Goldfinger, Fireside Prophets, Bobby Lee Rodgers, Rick Springfield, The Babys, Matt Calderin Trio, The Roots, Salt N Pepa, Trey Libra fka Jacob Izrael DADA: Shotgun Betty

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Twisted Tapestry KELSEY THEATER: The Pure Zeppelin Experience HAROLDS: Hip Hop Silent Disco Shakir Joseph Events PROPAGANDA: DJ Needlez presents Rock the Mic GRAMPS: Southernmost Soul, Zeitgeist

SUNDAY, MAY 1

SUNFEST: Alabama Shakes, Shovels & Rope, Evanescence, No Traffik, Walk the Moon, Coleman Hell, Postmodern Jukebox, Sons of Mystro, Jesse Royal

Next Time You Snap a Photo at a show TAG IT with #FillmoreMB

FillmoreMB.com

What is a Heligoat?

Heligoats

It turned into records.”

The first thing that comes to mind when listening to the Heligoats might be, “WTF is a heligoat?” Just like every everything else, the answer is ever evolving. A little over ten years ago, heligoats were a characters in a comic book about a movie theater that employed animals (and yes it is a half goat/half helicopter). Heligoats then became a group of friends who came together to jam for one night in Chicago, but as singer/songwriter Chris Opteka (also of Troubled Hubble who PH booked a few times years back at Dada) says, “It was supposed to just be one show, and it turned into hundreds.

After the curiosity surrounding the band’s name is satisfied, the second thing that comes to mind while actually listening to the music is, in strange way, Beyoncé. Her music commands utter attention, while Opteka’s stream-of-consciousness indie folk rock subtlely piques our interest. When Beyoncé sings “I want everyone to feel like this, tonight”--- the amygdala and hippocampus can hardly refuse. For a few moments, we really do feel like Queen Bey. But where Beyoncé tell us how to feel, The Heligoats open doors into a dream world of our own emotion--tapping into every breakup, every unrequited desire, every maddeningly quiet frustration, and fleeting moments of happiness.

Opteka admits he likes “doing a lot with a little.” In fact, The Heligoats will hand you a seemingly simple song then surprise you with lyrical twists and turns deserving of a second listen. Like any good book, their songs make you nostalgic for whatever place it was you just experienced.

For the past six years, Opteka has been in a long distance relationship with The Heligoats. He lived in Oregon while the rest were in Chicago, but they have recorded and toured together every year. On April 15th, their latest record Back to the Lake will be released, and Opteka has returned to Chicago just in time for the band to go on tour again.

While the records have always been larger collaborative efforts, The Heligoats have been touring for the past three years with Opteka, guitarist Steve Mitchell, bassist Dave James, and drummer Moo Haygood.

Four days later, the Heligoats will be at Propaganda in Lake Worth on April 19 along with Sweet Bronco, Lindsey Mills, Fat Sun, Johnny Raincloud, Keith Welsh. Doors open at 8pm. Follow the evolution of The Heligoats on Facebook or at TheHeligoats.com. ~Jessica Chesler

Beirut, TransAtlantic Festival Miami is a big city made up of small neighborhoods.

This reality can make it very hard to think of the city as, well, a big city. However, the truth is that Miami is a multi-cultural hub to the rest of the world. The Transatlantic Festival, which is sponsored by the City of Miami and the Rhythm Foundation, has been taking place in the Magic City for 14 seasons to prove just that point. It’s a multicultural Beirut affair that has attracted diverse artists from all over the world, such as: David Byrne, Arcade Fire, Seu Jorge, Caetano Veloso, Manu Chao and Fela Kuti, to name a few. The event happens at different locations all over the city, in order to shine a light on the different neighborhoods that make up Miami. On Friday, April 8, Beirut (who is from Santa Fe, New Mexico) storms the stage at the North Beach Band Shell on Miami Beach.

Beirut, for the uninitiated, is an Indie Rock band, not unlike Arcade Fire; but, whose passions lie in world music. Their sound is at once new and unique but reminiscent of a familiar time not too long ago. Initially, the band was a solo project for band leader Zach Condon; however, like all great plans, that didn’t last. When asked about the name Zach says that he thought Beirut was catchy, “I haven’t been to Beirut, but I imagine it as this chic urban city surrounded by the ancient Muslim world; the place where things collide.”

The band defies genres, but defines itself as a mixture of: Balkan folk, world, indie folk, baroque pop and electronica. That mixture makes them perfect for a festival rooted in world traditions, music and bringing the idea that Miami is the epicenter of the Americas and European culture to the diverse people that make up the lower half of the tri-county area.

Alt-folk stars Beirut long awaited Miami debut with Mexican funk septet Troker and Haitian indie group Kazoots at the North Beach Band Shell on Miami Beach on Friday, April 8th. Show starts at 7pm, tickets range from $43.19 - $53.74. Night two features Electro-Afrobeat sextet EMEFE, Boogie supergroup Psychic Mirrors, Chanteuse Chantil Dukart and Sunset raga by Rajesh Bhandari on the Beatles mandala, acroyoga in the park The North Beach Band Shell is located at: 7275 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, Fl 33141 ~ Tim Moffatt

Iggy Pop, Post Pop Depression The list of casualties rock ‘n’ roll has endured over the past few months is as heavy as it is long, and it seems as if it just will not stop growing. It’s not simply the fact that influential musicians are dying in droves that hurts, it’s that the heaviest of the heavies -- world-changing, genredefining, status-quo-shattering creative godheads like David Bowie are among the fallen! And at a time when the state of popular music is as grim as it’s ever been -dull, corporate-funded, computerassisted party drivel -- it’s become Iggy Pop & Co. | Credit: Andreas Neumann extremely easy to feel deflated. Is rock ‘n’ roll dying with its elders? No, probably not. The cliche that rock ‘n’ roll will truly never die holds true, but it is certainly a scary time for the form. Iggy Pop -- the godfather of punk rock (for those just tuning in) and one of the last rockers expected to outlive any of his peers -- has seen the time left on the clock and felt its chill, motivating the Miami resident to create what he believes may be his final musical statement, Post Pop Depression.

Pop’s musical career has been marked by plenty of heavyweight collaborations and for his potential last artistic words the man reached out to arguably the heaviest (and realest) of all contemporary rockers, Queens Of The Stone Age’s creative linchpin and frontman Josh Homme, to operate as a foil and creative confidant. The album was tracked at Homme and Co’s famed desert recording compound Rancho De La Luna and the band that backs Pop on his could-be swan song includes QOTSA’s own Troy Van Leeuwen and Dean Fertita (also of the Dead Weather), as well as Arctic Monkey’s drummer Matt Helders, making the Post Pop Depression album a creation of an extremely super supergroup. But unlike most supergroups, the album truly stands on its own as an Iggy Pop statement, one that presents a vulnerable man in what is undoubtedly not his first staring match with his own mortality, and an exceptionally honest and connective one that reminds us why Iggy Pop, beyond the antics with the Stooges and the charisma, is one of the most disarming artists of his generation.

Pop and Co are taking the album on the road with a US tour billed as “one night only and one time only” and the powers that be have graced Miami with a performance at the plush Fillmore Miami Beach, and what’s more, Pop has invited his friends and Miami-bred garage-rockers, The Jacuzzi Boys to open the show!

April 19 with Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age at The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater is at 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach, Fl, Doors open at 8pm. Admission is $60-$150 per ticket. ~ Von Bader

TICKETS ON SALE NOW AT: THEKELSEYTHEATER.COM

Being As An Ocean Sweet, harmonic riffs, coupled with perfectly-timed bursts of aggression have earned Being As An Ocean the title as one of the most important bands in today’s melodic hardcore scene.

Emerging in 2011 from California, the band was formed when Joel Quartuccio (singer), Tyler Ross (guitarist), Ralph Sica (bassist), and Shad Hamawe (drummer) left their previous band — Vanguard, a mix of symphonic deathcore and Christian metal — to pursue a new sound.

BAAO Credit: ShervinLainez

Being As An Ocean quickly gained a solid fan base, signed with InVogue Records, and in 2012 released their debut album, Dear G-d. Afterwards, Jacob Prest came on board as rhythm guitarist and together they toured in more than 20 countries across North America and Europe, including Canada, Germany, and the UK. Since then, the band has parted ways with their original drummer and rhythm guitarist, replacing them with Connor Denis (drummer) of the hardcore punk band Sleep Patterns, and Michael McGough (guitarist/clean vocals) formerly with post-hardcore band The Elijah.

McGough’s soft, majestic voice paired perfectly with Quartuccio’s jarring vocals, allowing them to adopt a scream-sing approach on their emotionally-charged sophomore album, How We Both Wondrously Perish, released in 2014.

Their second album introduced the band’s use of spoken-word, a lyrical device that’s helped them stand above the rest of their hardcore brethren. How We Both Wondrously Perish gave Being As An Ocean their first spot on the U.S. Billboard 200, ranking in at number 57 and coming in at number 2 on that year’s list of Top Hard Rock Albums.

In June of 2015, the band released a self-titled album with the lead single “Little Richie” — a song inspired by Quartuccio’s friend whom he described to InVogue Records as having “[grown] up in an extremely abusive household and yet still grew up to forgive his abuser and strives to live a life of love and compassion.” Last month, the band announced that they have signed with Equal Vision Records and introduced Jesse Shelley as their new drummer.

Being As An Ocean is playing an all-ages show at The Kelsey Theater in Lake Park, Saturday, April 16 with Capsize, Listener, Movements, The Thieving Hand, and Fall As Villains. Doors open at 6pm and tickets are on sale for $14 at www.holdmyticket.com. ~ Iris Estrada

The Prescription Jensen Beach, a popular destination for sea turtles and home to a happening Pineapple Festival is more than just a sleepy community in northeastern Martin County with a quaint welcome arch on Dixie. “Jensen Beach has a very small and tightly knit scene of musicians,” explains Billy Doom.

“Very eclectic in fact. Many of us have known each other since grade school or shortly after. Seeing as it’s so small, our community has to work together closely to get The Prescription things done.” Doom, the guitarist and vocalist for Jensen outfit The Prescription, cuts an impressive figure onstage – a wiry frame made astringent by a maniacal glare and nasally punk rock sneer.

The band, described as a “modern rock” trio takes its cues from the realm of punk and hardcore with Doom further expounding, “we use the newest information, methods, and technology available to make innovative rock music. We all know what guitar, bass, and drums sound like. Let’s make those things do something else,” which further emphasizes the punk rock ethos. The band, rounded out by the rhythm section of Keith Peters and Anthony Martone on bass/vocals and drums respectively, will fall into any of the “post” categories.

Which is fine because the band seems a little unfazed by getting pigeon-holed into a category. They’re humble but they’re no pushovers – the kind of balls you grow when you’ve been nurtured by a community that’s got your back. Speaking of Jensen, so as there’s no question of it, Doom states, “we’ve seen a rise in venues wanting to showcase more diverse local talent, helping the visibility of the scene, which in turn gets new people involved and creates a flourishing environment for artists.”

Now with a freshly-minted debut album, Between Sight & Sound, physically available at shows or online at theprescription.bigcartel.com, and through digital sources like Spotify and iTunes, the band’s looking to hit the road this whole year in support. The old-school way but keeping a running catalogue of new work which they’ll be looking to release before the second quarter of 2017.

Ambitious and ballsy; hallmarks of rock and roll, The Prescription has a bright future in aural pharmaceuticals. Doom’s a believer in their better living through chemistry, “our concept of creating a musical vessel that disperses the thoughts and ideas that we think are the real panacea or ‘prescription’ for the human condition. We specifically hand pick the subject matter that we write about to fit this mission statement.” Whether they achieve their goals or not, will be a matter of time. For now, their racket is righteous enough for a good time.

The Prescription with Eterna, Ether, and Falseta at 8pm on Saturday, April 16 at Respectable Street Café, 518 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach. 21+, $5. ~ Abel Folgar