Stephen Shames
FAU: Community Justice Photography and moving imagery (i.e. film) deserve their status as artistic mediums without reservation but it is important to remember and uphold their humble documentarian beginnings. We’ll phrase it like that due to the consumerist byproduct of recent technological advancements. But that too, is harsh. There is no time or space to properly define categories but it is safe to assume that yesterday’s lunch, catalogued and killed by hashtag in either Pantheonic Instagram glory or the evanescent hyperbole of Snapchat, will not be treated as kind by the passage of time like Nicéphore Niépce’s View from the Window at Le Gras. Well, if anything, time will tell.
The capture of images is a powerful tool for humanity. It is tangible proof and though manipulation and/or creation of images can fadfaf occur, their archival is both reminder and guide for how civilization conducts itself. “The exhibition is a timely reminder of how activism and dissent can influence change in our society,” said Chris Robé, Ph.D., film scholar and associate professor in Florida Atlantic University’s School of Communication and Multimedia Studies. Robé’s expertise in social activist movements and radical media contributed to FAU’s exhibit Community Justice: The Black Panther Party and Other Civil Rights Movements. Hot on the heels of the US’s most polarizing modern election and the Dakota Access Pipeline standoff—the timing couldn’t be better for this poignant and unfortunately still relevant aide-mémoire of America’s Civil Rights history. Featuring photography, film/video, and vintage and digital print materials highlighting social movements of the 60’s and 70’s like the Black Panther Party and the American Indian Movement, this exhibit painfully shows how the educational, wellbeing, and nutritional concerns of yesteryear are still prevalent today but most importantly, it shows the effectiveness of these mediums and reteaches its power to a new generation of activists. Skillfully weaving a narrative of affordable resources and appropriation by these disenfranchised organizations, the exhibit culminates in a final act showcasing an era of ideological crosspollination and racial proactivity. Setting the base, if you will, of today’s socially-minded and responsible social media usage—the heir apparent of information sharing and dissemination. Culled from a large pool of private collections and different holdings, this exhibit also serves as a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Huey Newton’s founding of the Black Panther Movement in the fall of 1966. A series of mostly free supplemental public programs will run parallel to the exhibit with scholar, activist, and author Angela Davis headlining with a ticketed public lecture on Thursday, February 23. Community Justice: The Black Panther Party and Other Civil Rights Movements is free and open to the public and will run at FAU’s Ritter Art Gallery from January 20 through March 4. For times, information, and tickets call 561-297-2661 or visit fau.edu/galleries. ~ Abel Folgar
Crackerfarm
Avett Brothers On their soul-bearing ninth album “True Sadness,” the Avett Brothers conjure the full weight of tragedy, bleeding themes of profound loss, divorce and childhood cancer into a landscape of confessional roots-pop.
Nowhere is this truer than in the single “Satan Pulls the Strings,” a rollicking anthem about self-sufficiency by the North Carolina folk-rockers led by Seth and Scott Avett, with AVETT BROTHERS bassist Bob Crawford adding a snarky bassline that sounds like barely repressed rage. The rage is well-earned: Seth, heart on sleeve, is channeling the dissolution of his first marriage (he’s since married actress Jennifer Carpenter), while Crawford is striking a chord for his daughter, Hallie, who has endured chemotherapy, brain surgery and seizures since being diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2009 at age 2. (Hallie’s cancer even forced Crawford to take a brief hiatus in 2011.) As with every Avett Brothers album since their 2000 debut, Crawford is seeking therapy by fingering the scars of melancholy. “I look at every one of our records as encapsulating a part of our lives. We’ve been doing it that way for 16 years,” Crawford says. “My daughter had a brain tumor and was going through radiation, and Seth’s marriage was falling apart, so it was almost like, I could feel Seth’s pain and Seth could feel mine. My heart broke for him.” Still, if Seth and Scott Avett’s lyrics are confessional, they are also plaintive, restless and suffused with sentiment. The plucky bluegrass meditation “Divorce Separation Blues” hews closer to the Avett’s old-school acoustic ballads. And then there are cases of sonic boldness in the stomp-and-clap single “Ain’t No Man,” the product of a collaboration with decorated hip-hop producer Rick Rubin, who has helped steer the Avett’s evolution from roots-rockers to popsynth experimenters. “Got a whole lot of reasons to be mad/Let’s not pick one,” Seth sings on this latter song, which sounds like a plea for redemption amid personal grief. “‘True Sadness’ to me is the concept that we walk through life, feeling the sweetness of joy, the moments we have with our loved ones,” Crawford says. “We experience that while also suffering a little bit, feeling the pain and fragility of life.” The Avett Brothers will perform 8 pm Saturday, Feb. 4, at Pompano Beach Amphitheater, 1801 NE Sixth St. $64.50-$74.50, 954-519-5500 or TheAmpPompano.org. ~ Phillip Valys
Sting
STING
Sting needs no introduction; but what the heck let’s do it anyways. The Police were different from the punk bands crawling through the streets of London in the late 70’s. They were a little older, smarter and more savvy than the safety pinned punters looking to cause chaos and act out against a society that had shunned them. The Sting fronted band mixed the energy of punk with the grooves of ska, but, you know, played by white guys. However, these white guys are jazz aficionados whose ability influenced their sound. Anyone who has the seen the documentary on the band knows how contentious being in the Police could be.
By 1984, the band was done and everyone went on to do other things. This is generally when some folks fall off and others succeed, however in the case of the Police everyone went on to be successful in their own right. Andy Summers and Stuart Copeland have scored movies and continued playing on and off in bands. Only Sting went on to be in front of the movie camera, make music AND become a sexual super hero due to his interest in yoga and transcendental meditation. He is, apparently, the whole package and has been making hits ever since the Police disbanded. 57th and 9th, is Sting’s new album and his first rock album in thirteen years. He’s been playing more intimate shows in New York and recently in Paris at the Bataclan Theater; the sight of the shooting in November of 2015 that killed several audience members during an Eagles of Death Metal concert. The tour for 57th and 9th, has him touring with his son in his band Joe Sumner and The Last Bandoleros. This excursion has the bands playing not only arenas, but club and theater dates; which should prove to be very exciting for many people who have longed for the blonde, new-wave, yogi’s return to the stage. Appropriately, Sting is playing the Fillmore, which is probably the most intimate setting he is able to perform without keeping the dates a secret. The new album has more than a touch of alt-rock radio friendliness, which should prove to make some new fans out of people who were showing up to hear old hits. Sting plays Fillmore Miami Beach on February 25, Doors are 8pm. ~ Tim Moffatt
Next Time You Snap a Photo at a show TAG IT with #FillmoreMB
FillmoreMB.com
THRU MARCH 4
FAU RITTER ART GALLERY: Community Justice, The Black Panther Party & Other Civil Rights Movements
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1 DADA: Quax KILL YOUR IDOL: Afrobeta CWS: Crazy Fingers
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2 DADA: Verali
NORTH BCH BANDSHELL: Kurt Vile & The Violators KILL YOUR IDOL: Karaoke with Shelley Novak
RESPECTABLE STREET: WhisperWind
BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic O’MALLEY’S: Xotic Yeyo, Trustee Savings Bank, Del Pelson CHURCHILL’S PUB: Vivian K., Zeta CWS: Big Harvest & DJ Kelly Blanx TERRA FERMATA: JP Soars & the Red Hots THE RALEIGH: Hunters of the Alps
DADA: Craft Bazaar KILL YOUR IDOL: Karaoke with Shelley Novak
RESPECTABLE STREET: Black & Creme
BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic Night CULTURE ROOM: Yonder Mountain String Band
GRAMPS: Death Cease Fire/Give It Back Tour CWS: Future Prezidents & DJ Kelly Blanx TERRA FERMATA: Sumilan THE RALEIGH: Hongs
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10
FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Charlie Zaa, Los Tri-O DADA: Big Chief POMPANO AMP: Lynyrd Skynrd, The Outlaws & Blackfoot CWS: Solemark BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Bryce Allyn
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3
DADA: Antony Payne BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Treeswifts KILL YOUR IDOL: Baseline Miami
RESPECTABLE STREET: Afterlife, Stepdad, Sounds of the Rodeo, Incited, Cinderblock, Ikabod Veins, Dyneside, Bloodbather, Fame on Fire, Locusts & Liars CWS: J.L. Fulks Band CHURCHILL’S PUB: Askultura, Control This, The Gazms, The Goddamn Hustle, No Name Ska Band, Asymmetric Combat
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4
KELSEY THEATER: Bar Church: Love & Lager Edition
DADA: Sofilla
FEBRUARY 10-12
PROPAGANDA: Zoo Peculiar w. Peyote Coyote, Bleubird, The Grumps, Side Cirque Sideshow POMPANO AMP: The Avett Brothers
BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Duoplicity CWS: Chapter Soul CHURCHILL’S PUB: The Kitchen Club w. 16bit TERRA FERMATA: Morning Fatty, Jeff Fereshetian
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5
DADA: Brunch with Ella Herrera
TERRA FERMATA: Hackensaw Boys, String Assassins, Micah Scott WYNWOOD YARD: Snowmoon, Pans Permia, Meld
NORTH BCH BANDSHELL: GroundUp Fest ft. Snarky Puppy, David Crosby, Chris Thile, John Medeski, Banda Magda, Laura Mvula
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11
FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Excision: Paradox Tour RESPECTABLE STREET: Toridian, Oddly Strange, Hell & Holler DNTN FORT PIERCE: Bryan Jackson Music Festival
The Humdingers, Drone Country, Minus Turmoil, Oddessey, KELSEY THEATER: Kick Off at the Kelsey The Sweet Escape, Spred The Dub, The Helmsmen, CHURCHILL’S PUB: Coathangers, Killmama, Sandratz Snowmoon, Lavola, Cassady, Ghost Cat, Gravel Kings, Silent Disco, The CWS: Joey Tenduto Jr. Band REVOLUTION LIVE: August Burns Red TERRA FERMATA: Nikki Talley, Lily Thom
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7
DADA: Spoken Word Open Mic KILL YOUR IDOL: Open Mic
KELSEY THEATER: Mickey Avalon GRAMPS: Parquet Courts CULTURE ROOM: Grouplove, Swmrs
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Jake Miller
DADA: Mark Malmut KILL YOUR IDOL: Olde Time Religion STACHE: Ritz Glitz Revue CHURCHILL’S: INC: Darsombra, Otari Olivia Buadze, Gates, The Water Colors, Laboratory, Kyle Ryland Bryce, Chapman, kat Toledo, Bassudac, Forlatt, Andean Shrine, Shroud Eater, Jen Clay, Tête-à-Tête, Nefarious Grime, Nuit, Carlos Torres, Prison Warder, Academic, Friends Closer
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9
FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: The Mersey Beatles
Pub Reckers, Commonplace, Loosetight, Tyrannophobia, Ktm, Put To An End, Terrarium, Gargantua Tarantula, Break The Hero, Gallimimus, The Inverted, J Buzzi, Blind Sound, Eterna, Callitrice, Venoumous Fiction, Falseta, A Wolf In The City, Pathos, Pathos, Honestly Probably, In Motion, The Dsc Project, The Prescription, Stubbily Mug, Slofunkpump, Flint Blade, Christopher Aaron, Tristan Harvey, Tgtg, Cities, Jared Mancuso, James Parenti, Passersby, Ben Prestage, Big Pine, Ben Mejia, Scott Benge, J Bay, Ariel Rosario, Victoria Leigh, Wes Raffa, Deal James, The Alleys, Summer Gill The Nouveaux Honkies, Chris King, Ollie And The Poohs, Zack Jones, Manny Gage,Garrett Fogg, Brett Staska, Xander James, Ryan Owens, Max Patrick, Treeswifts, Kevin Mcloughlin, Myles Patrick DADA: Octo Gato KILL YOUR IDOL: Keep it Deep BANGIN’ BANJO BREWERY: Del Pelson BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Remerge Band
KELSEY THEATER: Smells Like Grunge Nirvana Tribute: MTV Live & Loud
CWS: Bluejay TERRA FERMATA: Jarekus Singleton, Ben & Johnny Debt Prestage
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12
DADA: Brunch with Lil Chief
KILL YOUR IDOL: Shameless Burlesque CWS: Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Rogue Theory TERRA FERMATA: Donna The Buffalo, Dr. Bacon, Abby Owens
POMPANO AMP: Yes TWO GEORGES DEERFIELD: River Brunicardi CHURCHILL’S PUB: Lunatics CWS: Joey Tenduto Jr. Band BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Don Capi & Jacob Takos Duo TERRA FERMATA: Ladies of Soul
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14
DADA: Tete A Tete, Denudes
DADA: Comedy Open Mic KILL YOUR IDOL: Open Mic BREWHOUSE GALLERY: The Vagina Monologues
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 DADA: Summer Gill
KILL YOUR IDOL: Local Love 1 Year Anniv. w The Deadly Blank, Dyslexic Postcards REVOLUTION LIVE: Dashboard Confessional CULTURE ROOM: Record Company, Jamestown Revival CHURCHILL’S PUB: Ten Ton Hammer
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16
FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Sting: 57th & 9th Tour NORTH BCH BANDSHELL: Devendra Banhart KILL YOUR IDOL: The Wire Hip Hop Party
RESPECTABLE STREET: Cupcake Burlesque V
CWS: Aaron Lebos Reality, Juke Joint Swingers, Ella Herrera CHURCHILL’S PUB: Sick of It All, Murphy’s Law RIPTIDE BREWING: Paleface INKWELL PUB: Goalkeepr, Attic Salt, Iron Buddha, Water Colors, Narvee
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26
DADA: Brunch with Lil Chief CWS: Joey Tenduto Jr. Band REVOLUTION LIVE: Less Than Jake, Pepper
DADA: The Holidazed KILL YOUR IDOL: Karaoke with Shelley Novak
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28
CULTURE ROOM: Gaelic Storm BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic Night CWS: Reggae Force & DJ Kelly Blanx TERRA FERMATA: The Dave Hardin Band, Late Bloomers THE RALEIGH: Korea
FEBRUARY 21-28
RESPECTABLE STREET: Tete A Tete
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17
DADA: Micah Scott Band MICKEL PARK: Grindstone CWS: Wilkes Oswald & Victoria Cardona KREEPY TIKI: Fat Sun, The Water Colors REVOLUTION LIVE: JJ Grey and Mofro CHURCHILL’S PUB: Jucifer, Holly Hunt, CRUD, Ian Iachimoe, Erratix
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18
TERRA FERMATA: TR3, Nouveaux Honkies
VIRGINIA KEY: Virginia Key Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance: 33 Years, Aaron Lebos Reality, Afrobeta,
Astro Hawk, The Baboons, Bachaco, Big Mean Sound Machine, The Blind Spots, Bluejay, Brendan O’Hara, Chantil & the Dukes of Art, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Cleveland Jones, Cortadito, Danay Suarez, Diali Cissokho & Kaira Ba, Donna The Buffalo, Driftwood, Elastic Bond, Electric Piquete, Ephniko, FABI, The Family Stone, Greg Humphreys Electric Trio, Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Jim Lauderdale, Jody Gaskin Stories, JUke, Keith Frank & The Solieau Zydeco Band, Keith Secola & His Wild Band of Indians, Ketchy Shuby, Laila Belle, Locos Por Juana, Locust Honey, Nag Champayons, Nativos Jammin Orquestra, The Osceola Brothers, Paleface, Preston Frank, Richie Stearns & Rosie Newton, Rockwood Ferry, School of Rock, Scythian, Spam Allstars, Suénalo, Tamboka, Telekinetic Walrus, The Wood Brothers, Uma Galera, Whistlin’ Dyl, Zona De Bomba
DADA: The State Of PROPAGANDA: Askultura Album Release w. The No Name Ska Band, The Goddamn’ Hustle, The Sensibles, Milk Spot AMATURO THEATRE: Colin Hay MARCH 2-4 CWS: The Resolvers, Uproot Hootenanny, Franscene, Mike OKEECHOBEE MUSIC FEST 2017: Kings of Leon, Usher Mineo Band, Alex Di Leo & The Roots, Bassnectar, The Lumineers, Flume, Wiz Khalifa, TERRA FERMATA: Walter Trout, Jay Stollman Band, Wes Raffa LEAH ARTS DISTRICT: #HIALEAHNOW: Crate Mates DJ Throwdown Pretty Lights, Solange, Rae Sremmurd, Young The Giant, Porter Robinson, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Griz, Cold War Kids, Blood Orange, Mike Posner, D.R.A.M, Bleachers, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19 SOJA, The Revivalists, Snails, Mac Demarco, Waka Flocka DADA: Brunch with Ella Herrera Flame, Sleigh Bells, Snakehips, Louis The Child, The Growlers, CWS: Joey Tenduto Jr. Band Moon Taxi, The Knocks, Gallant, Russ, Joey Purp, PoWow!, BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Nate Ginnetty Live BADBADNOTGOOD, Joy Wave, Allen Stone, George Clinton CHURCHILL’S PUB: Spirit of Sound and Parliament Funkadelic, FKJ, Galactic, The Japanese House, Lewis Del Mar, Bipolar Sunshine, Tennyson, Jacob Collier, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Haywyre, Whethan, Louis Futon, Okeechobee Gospel Soul TERRA FERMATA: Paleface, Nouveaux Honkies Experience: Blind Boys of Alabama, Allen Stone, Khruangbin, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Con Brio, Nightmares on Wax, OTT, DVS1, Kaiydo, Futurebirds, DADA: Daylen Brinkley Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Jacob Banks, TAUK, Ryan Elliott, KILL YOUR IDOL: The Hoy Polloy Perpetual Groove, Rob Garza, Escort, Jacuzzi Boys, Cereus Bright, Merchandise, VHS Collection, Donna Missal, Gaudi, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Sebastian Mullaert a.k.a. Minilogue Live, Julio, WYK, CBDB CWS: ARTIKal Soundsystem & DJ Kelly Blanx DADA: Redlyte Reggae SATURDAY, MARCH 4 BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Artist Opening, Open Mic Night JENSEN BEACH HS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: KELSEY THEATER: The Stranger BOOKMANIA! The most prestigious literary event on the RESPECTABLE STREET: Peyote Coyote Treasure Coast will feature 12 authors in multiple panel REVOLUTION LIVE: Save Ferris discussions including Health and Wellness, Historical Fiction, TERRA FERMATA: Dr. Bacon Young Adult and the Discover Great New Writers panel presented THE RALEIGH: Grey 8’s by Barnes & Noble. The Young Adult panel is sponsored in part by the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. BookMania! PROPAGANDA: Agent Orange, Guttermouth, is free and underwritten through the generosity of donors of The Library Foundation of Martin County. Tickets are not required. To The Queers, Atom Age check out books, visit https://www.martin.fl.us/Libraries. RESPECTABLE STREET: Goalkeepr, The Pyros,
Florence & Normandie
Okeechobee Music Festival The Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival is better than it has any right to be. Fests this ambitious, this large, and this new, typically run aground fairly quickly after launch. This recent entrant into the heated battle over where we spend our music festival dollars is coming up on only its second year and yet for anyone who attended in 2016, OMF already feels like a mandatory vacation. There was so much to like about Okeechobee’s debut, but we must begin with the PoWoW! that brought together the unlikeliest of collaborators onto one stage: Arcade Fire’s Win Butler, Miguel, Hall & Oates’ John Oates, Mumford & Sons, Skrillex, Mac Miller, Preservation Hall Jazz Band and more. It sounds like a bizarre, random collection of musicians that realistically should never work. But it did. Magnificently. It’s a concept OMF borrowed from Bonnaroo’s Superjam and indeed, it’s one of several qualities it shares with its summer counterpart. Truth be told, OMF is Florida’s Bonnaroo, but before Bonnaroo became a massive cultural phenomenon. SOLANGE
This iteration of Okeechobee, March 2nd through the 5th, will once again feature the PoWoW! (with artists yet to be named) and expands upon that idea with the Okeechobee Gospel Soul Experience featuring Blind Boys of Alabama, Allen Stone, and more. It’s yet another wrinkle that bucks the standard formula of most music festivals. If festival goers learned anything about OMF last year, is that it’s a fest fraught with opportunity; it almost seems purposely designed to encourage the unexpected. The headliners – Kings of Leon, MERCHANDISE The Lumineers, Bassnectar, Wiz Khalifa – are all fine and dandy and certain to be great. What we really should look forward to and be excited about are the unknown quantities. The serendipity of it all! Straightaway, Usher pairing up with The Roots is an attention grabber. Long before they were Jimmy Fallon’s house band, The Roots established themselves as one of music’s most innovative outfits fusing hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and rock into a truly unique sound. Meanwhile, Usher is only one of the top-selling solo artists of all time. This team-up first appeared last summer with further performances sprinkled sporadically throughout 2016, but Okeechobee will be their first major music festival and it’s guaranteed they are bound to create something special. Other top picks we dare not skip this March include sleek British vocalist Bipolar Sunshine; Grammy-award nominated singer / songwriter Sturgill Simpson; Solange, who may arguably have released the best album of 2016; and the incredibly gifted Anderson .Paak, who as a producer / rapper/ vocalist, wears more hats than a middle-aged man hiding his bald spot.
SLEIGH BELLS
outdo their own recordings.
Some of the best live bands will also be on hand. Young the Giant, Bleachers, Sleigh Bells, Galactic, The Revivalists, Cold War Kids, The Growlers, SOJA, Moon Taxi and many others are all so brilliant in concert, they may actually
Beyond the music, the atmosphere at Okeechobee is one of harmony. Morning meditation and yoga is available to anyone willing to work through the hangovers. If personal, spiritual cleanliness isn’t enough to soothe the soul, OMF is also dedicated to having as small an impact on the surrounding environment as possible. In a press release for this year’s event, they write, “Each year the festival will make progress towards the eventual goal of being a carbon neutral event while utilizing as many biodegradable, repurposed, recycled & sustainable materials as possible.” In addition to being picturesque in its own Florida sort of way, both swampy and seductive, the vibe at OMF last year was one of community and exploration. Outside of the three main stages, there was the ChobeeWobee Village that encompassed several smaller areas, each with its own special function. For its part, the heart of ChobeeWobee had several vendors selling festival paraphernalia, a giant metal, firebreathing snowman, and an igloo hideaway with smaller igloos and drum circles. THE JAPANESE BREAKFAST
Aquachobee was a man-made lake with sandy shores next to several bars and a stage for local artists and DJs. Each day, dozens of people laid out to tan or jumped into the water with either floaties to chill or with soap to bathe. Jungle 51 was an alien-themed rave hidden in a secluded forest area that kept the party going until sunrise and beyond. Like many of its larger counterparts, OMF also had a Ferris wheel that afforded the riders a comprehensive view of the entire fest or at the very least, a few minutes of peace and a break from all the non-stop fun. All of that returns and then some. For most of us that live in the surrounding areas, Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival is about a two-hour drive. After taxes and cost of delivery, the tickets hover around $300. However, that distance is short and the cost of entry is more than fair considering that these are the means to a worthwhile end. Sunshine Grove, the 600-acre plot of land the festival rests upon, is a combination of natural and man-made beauty. Once the stages are set up, the lakeside village is constructed, the dazzling lights are flicked on, and the music begins, what used to be a horse ranch transforms into a pocket dimension that exists solely as an escape from all stress and all worry. For full lineup, tickets and more visit http://okeechobeefest.com ~ Angel Melendez
Devendra Banhart Moses Berkson
Released just this past September, “Ape in Pink Marble” is Devendra Banhart’s ninth full-length album, the second with Nonesuch Records, and continues his long time collaborations with musicians and producers Noah Georgeson and Josiah Steinbrick. The thirteen new tracks are a succession of the trippy psychedelic folk rock we’ve come to expect from Banhart -- some funkier than others, some more easily interpreted than others-- but all equally at home in a sparsely merchandised, over priced pop-up shop or playing through a bluetooth speaker as you travel through this “New Weird America” in a van out of which you are living.
Is the music itself extraordinary? Not necessarily, but it does seem to be extraordinarily insightful when it comes to describing life’s weird little moments. Are you lying alone on a mattress on the floor of your Brooklyn apartment after the departure of your lover and wondering if they miss you the way you’re missing them? Try out “Fig in Leather” for size. DEVENDRA BANHART
Finally getting over a break up, accepting that you have to go out and live again when your ex wants to hang out again? Then “Saturday Night” will make much sense as Banhart moans “Please don’t love me because you’re through hating you.” Are you waiting to be seated at a local fusion cuisine restaurant to celebrate your cousin’s graduation while your grandmother wonders what in the world she will eat at this place and your grandfather complains to the hostess about his diabetes? Devendra will provide the perfect background music--inoffensive to the ears of your older relatives yet conducive to a poetic mental escape. You might not understand it, but if you want to take a trip, you have to be ready to go wherever the trip takes you. We can thank Rhythm Foundation for bringing Banhart--and many other international artists-- to Miami. The nonprofit is in its 29th season of sponsoring performances and organizing community-based programs. As of 2015, Rhythm Foundation has been managing the North Beach Bandshell, where Banhart will enchant South Floridians at one of three stops in the Sunshine State on a North American tour before heading to Europe in April. Banhart will perform at the historic North Beach Bandshell Saturday, Feb. 25. Doors open at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $27.50 + fees online or $35 at the door. Call (305) 6725202 or visit www.northbeachbandshell.com for more info. ~ Jessica Chesler
Death FAFAFDA
Detroit may be the most rock and roll city in America. Let’s look at the pedigree of its royalty: Iggy Pop and the Stooges, Jack White, Bob Seger, Mick Collins, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Alice Cooper, the MC5 and countless others from rock and soul to Hip-hop have been forged in the shadows of the once prolific car factories that dominated the city. Much like the factories of Birmingham influenced the direction of Black Sabbath and produced the sound of doom metal; Detroit imparted a sound that oozed grittiness while holding down a backbeat. Most importantly: Detroit birthed Death.
Before the Bad Brains massacred the New York punk scene, before there was a New York punk scene; there was Death. Like so many of their contemporaries the brothers: David, Bobby and Dannis Hackney saw the Beatles in 1964 on Ed Sullivan and the music bug had its hooks in them. In 1971 the band that had been formerly been known as Rock Funk Express, saw the Who and it changed their outlook, attitude and name. The concept was to spin the negative into a positive and Death rose from the ashes of Rock Funk Express with a hard rock vibe, mostly unparalleled by other bands from the time. DEATH
Clive Davis, the Atlantic Records mogul that broke Led Zeppelin, was a huge fan of the band and helped fund recording time. He did not see the band’s name in such a positive light though and implored the brothers to change the name to something more palatable to public tastes. They did not; he stopped being so supportive and as many of these stories tend to do, the band imploded. The brothers continued making music but nothing in the vein of their previous band. In 2000 David Hackney succumbed to lung cancer. However, 9 years later Drag City Records re-released Death’s unreleased session on CD and LP, thanks in part to a new generation of Hackney’s playing old Hackney tunes. This prompted the band to re-visit their raucous past with a new guitar player from their reggae band: Lambsbread. The reinvigoration lead to the now notorious documentary: A Band Called: Death; which opened up the band to a whole new generation of punks, rockers and purveyors of good taste and bad times with seedy people. Death are back and they’re touring for their new record, NEW, on Drag City Records; quite frankly you’re not ready. Now would be a good time to bone up on their discography before the band descends on Gramps in Miami and blows the doors off the place as only a band from legendary Detroit Rock City can do. Death plays Gramps in Wynwood, Thursday, February 9 with the Jacuzzi Boys. Doors are at 8pm, tickets are $15 and it’s 21 and up. ~ Tim Moffatt
Local Love Live Vol. 1 Local Love Live is a brand new monthly party hosted by Aimee from SHAKE 108. We asked her a few questions about the party and her radio show:
AIMEE | LOCAL LOVE LIVE
How did you get involved with Shake 108? I started working with Shake 108 shortly after they launched, I sent in music suggestions and a majority of them ended up in rotation. Eventually, I started underwriting ads for local events, businesses and nonprofits. Last year, on Valentine’s Day, I launched the Local Love Live Show. I always wanted to be a radio DJ. I have some DJ and production experience and am a musician myself, so being able to produce and host Local Love Live here in Miami, especially right now, has been an amazing opportunity.
What sort of response are you getting from the local community? The local artists are extremely grateful and supportive of each other by way of sharing posts and tuning in to hear their friends on the air. The venues have been receptive as well and since LLL is mobile, we can broadcast from various events, studios and venues. Why did Shake choose to minimize the large corporate commercial aspect? We are a community radio station and we are here to serve locals, not the corporate conglomerates that own almost every other station. By not catering to them, we leave room for locals to get affordable (and in some cases free) advertising. How do you choose bands? I choose bands that are gigging around town and many times based on their release schedules. More bands are reaching out to let us know when they have important events and are happy to mention them if we can’t get them on the air. Shakes plans for 2017? We are working hard on our 2nd Annual Music & Comedy Festival to be held early March (our 3 year anniversary). It will feature local and national musicians, DJ’s, comedians and local non-profits. We are also excited to announce the first monthly Local Love Live Showcase! The first and LLL’s one year party will be at Kill Your Idol w. The Deadly Blank and Dyslexic Postcards. Each one will be held at different venues and feature different artists. Beyond that, we are focused on adding more programs to the weekly line up and collaborating with the community, in business, print and music across all genres. Our goal is to be the best and most inclusive community radio station in South Florida! Come celebrate SHAKE 108’s Local Love Live 1st Anniv on Wed, Feb 15 at Kill Your Idol with The Deadly Blank and Dyslexic Postcards. This Showcase is in collaboration with Cheap Miami Records and the party starts at 8pm with an on air Q&A and attendees are encouraged to get on the air with Aimee and ask a few questions, send a shout out or just say Hi to Miami)! The full event will be broadcast live from Kill Your Idol! This is a free show and ladies drink free from 10pm to 2am.
Marina Chavez
Kurt Vile The talented multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Kurt Vile returns to Miami for his first-ever show at the North Beach Bandshell on February 2. He’s still on the road “pretty pimpin’” his 2015 album b’lieve i’m goin down... But, as usual, it takes a while to make it down to South Florida. Good thing this album, like much of Vile’s catalog, has staying power. By the time Vile takes the stage, fans will surely be more than revved up to hear Vile and his backing band, The Violators, amble through their breezy, rockin’ catalog.
Over the course of six albums, Vile has evolved his low-fi home recordings into sprawling nuanced gems of purist rock ‘n’ roll. Neil Young will always remain a clear influence in the drawl of his voice. But he also knows how to absorb New Wave songs like that of Gary KURT VILE Numan’s “Are Friends Electric.” Think of that rhythm of electronics in that song while listening to similar effects in “Air Bud” from Vile’s 2013 album Wakin’ on a Pretty Daze. When I spoke to the Philadelphia musician and noted the similarity he declared, “Aw, sick!” as if it was some little secret. After talking about how he pulled it off technically, he spoke about the power of osmosis of his affection for a variety of musicians and his own songwriting. Vile’s varied influences give him a progressive, countrified (he learned guitar on a banjo when we was 14 and apparently Keith Urban’s a fan) sound. Last time he was in the area, he gave the crowd a loud, bombastic show at the now defunct Grand Central, in Miami. He kicked it off with an oldie but goodie, the driving, dreamy “Freeway.” According to recent setlists, he now starts with the mellow yet still upbeat track “Dust Bunnies,” off his latest album. It’s up tempo enough to wake the audience up for what is anticipated to be a dreamy show. Outdoors, near the breeze of the ocean, the atmosphere should fit Vile’s music well. Kurt Vile & The Violators at The North Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, Thursday, Feb. 2, at 7pm. Tickets are general admission and are $25-30. All Ages. Purchase from Ticket Fly. ~ Hans Morgenstern | The Independent Ethos (indieethos.com)