Thelma and the Sleaze Back in 1977, Cheap Trick wrote a song called: Southern Girls. It’s an ode to the down and dirty rock and roll vixens occupying the space south of the Mason Dixon. 40 years later we have Thelma and the Sleaze making good on the promises Robin Zander made. Thelma and the Sleaze are a group of bad ass ladies with a penchant for Thin Lizzy and setting a good example of what can be accomplished if women unite under rock and roll. They did a stint opening for the Eagles of Death Metal, a more fitting group of road THELMA & THE SLEAZE warrior pairings I cannot imagine, and have been traversing the land making friends and enemies for several years now. Their NSFW video for the single, “Maria” has been making the rounds and is a statement as much about reclaimed female sexuality as it is about rock and roll. Seriously, no matter who you are if you don’t come away from that video a little steamy under the collar, the case could be made that you’re dead; or dying; or possibly a eunuch; the point is it’s hot stuff. While the band certainly champions femme badassery a’la the Runaways, Bikini Kill and L7, to name a few, they play rock and roll that’s catchy, bluesy and readily available to even the staunchest He-Man Woman Hater. However, Thelma and the Sleaze came to kick ass, not get all political. This is, after all a rock and roll band first. They have discussed being Beyoncé fans and had a role opening for Christina Aguilera on the show: Nashville; which is pretty refreshing for a band of Valkyries to be honest about all of their influences. Really though, if you exude rock and roll from your pores, what’s the point in pretending. That’s a lot of the problem with music these days; everyone preens and poses in order to be seen as something that they’re not. Forget that man, Thelma and the Sleaze don’t have to pretend and they don’t seem to care if you care. They’re not here to impress anyone with their looks (but, they aren’t exactly hard on the eyes) they came to kick your head in with hooks, a wide rock stance and loud riffing. Their newest offering is a cassingle called, Somebodies Doing Something with the title track of, Secretary; A ballad that bridges the divide of their influences. It’s got some shoe-gazey elements without losing any of the horn throwing rock n roll-ness that makes them such a fun live band. Why You Wanna Do That? Is the bluesy B-side soaked in sweat and even girl group harmonies reminiscent of wall of sound era Ronnie Spector. It’s a cornucopia of all of the stuff that makes rock and roll fun, sexy and ageless. “All you Southern Girls got a way with your words and you show it…” indeed, Robin Zander, indeed. Thelma and the Sleaze play March 3 at Respectable Street w. Killmama and The Water Colors Tickets $5, at door, 18+, 9pm and March 4 at Churchill’s w. Sonic Graffiti, Grey 8’s and Killmama. $8 advance, $10 at door. ~ Tim Moffatt
Pearl Earl, Karaoke Superstar Chances are, if you live outside of the greater Dallas, TX area, you may not have heard of Pearl Earl. We’re here to make the introduction. Members: Ariel Hartley, lead vocals/ guitar, Bailey Chapman, drums, Stefanie Lazcano, bass, Chelsea Danielle, keyboardist (who joined after meeting Hartley at Blue Thunder Sweat Lodge). Homebase: Denton, Texas. Style: psych-rock (although Lazcano points out that’s just the easiest way to categorize their evolving style). Spirit Animal: Pegasus. Favorite Part of Touring: Meeting PEARL EARL new people. Making new friends. Least Favorite Part of Touring: Deciding who’s going to be the designated driver. In 2014, Hartley had been playing in a band in Denton, TX, but she had also been writing songs and had a vision of forming her own band. After a fortuitous late-night drunken jam session with Hartley, Chapman, and Lazcano, Pearl Earl was formed. The psych-rock trio released their first EP to local acclaim. “Karaoke Superstar” was nominated for “Best EP” in 2015 in the Dallas Observer Music Awards. Now, they are looking forward to touring with their newest member keyboardist Chelsea Danielle and the May release of their first full-length self-titled album, recorded at Elmwood Recordings in Dallas. In two years, Pearl Earl has had about ten, month-long tours all self-booked. On their way to Tulsa to perform at a Valentine’s Bash, Hartley shared how they transitioned from playing local gigs to touring throughout the southeast as well as on the west coast. “Basically you just have to reach out.” Hartley says, “You have to look at yourself and be organized. All of our tours, we booked it ourselves. We basically just drew out on a map what we wanted to do, and then we contacted people that we knew in other bands.” Chapman added, “Helping out other touring bands that come through Denton, giving them a place to stay or playing at the show. If you help them out, they will help you out.” Pearl Earl invites you to come out for the music, stay for the party March 11 when they perform with Dénudés, Pocket of Lollipops, Chaucer and Tete a Tete at Respectable Street in West Palm Beach. Entry to the show is $5. Doors 9pm. Learn more about the band at PearlEarl.com ~ Jessica Chesler
Pretenders Play Fillmore The Pretenders- a name that has ricocheted through Europe and the states over the last 40 years are still ticking with board topping hits. The transatlantic band, heeded by the rough and tough, triple threat, seductive and fearsome Chrissie Hynde, polished a UK Punk Rock sound wheezing as it sputtered across the finish line of 1979 and into the 80s. Clearly notable for their “blistering tempos (Rock and Roll Hall of fame)” and “Brute force of Punk,” with songs like “Tattooed Love Boy”, The Pretenders landed themselves in Rock and Roll history; however, capable of paralleling the abstract ties to The Clash with melodic, subtly suggestive THE PRETENDERS’ CHRISSIE HYNDE songs like “Brass in Pocket.” The unfortunate misunderstanding of their progressive sound has birthed them a title of Pop Punk, but nothing could be farther from the truth. More accurately, The Pretenders timeline began with “Stop Your Sobbing,” a Kinks cover which in turn launched their career. The Pretenders jumped right ahead into what would become modern day alternative rock; surging forward on a collective tidal of success from peers and collaborators in Patti Smith, Blondie, and Squeeze. Pretenders established themselves firmly- and almost too early, as pioneers of what would become an alternative sound. Chrissie Hynde is an image of badass, raw, feminine empowerment driven by a powerhouse of talent. Always leading an entirely male band, Hynde took the strife of the years, the almost loss recognition and recreated it into the 1995, “I’ll Stand by You,” that left original fans, mothers, children, and new fans eager for more. It isn’t an often occurrence to see a woman in a leather jacket, leading a group of men, and rocking the socks off the crowd. Even more, it isn’t often you go to a show and are filled with angst, aggression, melancholy, joy, and shear rhythmic pleasure- a whirlwind of emotion for sure. The opportunity to relive past experiences with The Pretenders or create new ones comes this spring season at the Jackie Gleason Theater, Fillmore Miami Beach on March 22 at 9pm, a concert for the times- past and present, will commence and it’d be a shame and a disservice to oneself to not attend. www.thepretenders.com ~ Savannah Sheehan
Andrew Paynter
Tortoise at the Bandshell It’s been 13 years since the instrumental indie rock band Tortoise played Miami, at the Polish American Club. They finally return for a second Miami show to play the North Beach Bandshell in Miami Beach, and percussionist Dan Bitney assures the band is prepared to deliver for its absence over the years.
Talking via phone from his Chicago home, Bitney notes that the band, which features fellow drummers John Herndon and John McEntire as well as bassist TORTOISE Doug McCombs and guitarist Jeff Parker, is at its tightest it has been for a while. Last year alone -- since the release of their seventh album, 2016’s The Catastrophist -- they have performed 117 shows. Bitney admits that he’s happy that the band now has a larger catalog to pull from. He says it allows for variety from show to show. Some band members will get tired of a song, so they drop it to freshen up the setlist. He adds that he can admire a band that consistently follows a setlist from show to show, but he wouldn’t want Tortoise to do it any other way. “Sometimes you see a band, and you can tell they know their setlist. Sometimes I get jealous of that. I think that’s kinda cool, you know what I mean? That’s almost like the art of working a set, where you kinda just figure it out. But I like the way we do it, too, because it kinda changes, and we have that variation, so it’s nice.” Asked if the band has any vintage surprises for their Miami show, he says, “Well, we don’t play a lot of the old super hits, but we do play stuff from each record pretty much. The good thing about this new record too is that -- usually there’s about three things on a record that there’s no way we can play them, like physically, you know what I mean? But with this record we can play everything, so I think that’s a good thing. “ Tortoise at The North Beach Bandshell, 7275 Collins Ave., Miami Beach, Sunday, March 19, at 7pm. Tickets are general admission. $27.50 advance, $35 at the door. Purchase here: http://www.seetickets.us/event/Tortoise/339633. ~ Hans Morgenstern | The Independent Ethos (indieethos.com)
MARCH 2-4
OKEECHOBEE MUSIC FEST 2017: Kings of Leon,
Usher & The Roots, Bassnectar, The Lumineers, Flume, Wiz Khalifa, Pretty Lights, Solange, Rae Sremmurd, Young The Giant, Porter Robinson, Anderson .Paak & The Free Nationals, Griz, Cold War Kids, Mike Posner, D.R.A.M, Bleachers, SOJA, The Revivalists, Snails, Mac Demarco, Waka Flocka Flame, Sleigh Bells, Snakehips, Louis The Child, The Growlers, Moon Taxi, The Knocks, Gallant, Russ, Joey Purp, PoWow!, BADBADNOTGOOD, Joy Wave, Allen Stone, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic, FKJ, Galactic, The Japanese House, Lewis Del Mar, Bipolar Sunshine, Tennyson, Jacob Collier, Haywyre, Whethan, Louis Futon, Okeechobee Gospel Soul Experience: Blind Boys of Alabama, Allen Stone, Khruangbin, Con Brio, Nightmares on Wax, OTT, DVS1, Kaiydo, Futurebirds, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Jacob Banks, TAUK, Ryan Elliott, Perpetual Groove, Rob Garza, Escort, Jacuzzi Boys, Cereus Bright, Merchandise, VHS Collection, Donna Missal, Gaudi, Sebastian Mullaert a.k.a. Minilogue Live, Julio, WYK, CBDB
MONDAY, MARCH 6
DADA: Open Mic KILL YOUR IDOL: Shelley Novak Awards CHURCHILL’S: Miami Jazz Jam
TUESDAY, MARCH 7
DADA: Spoken Word KILL YOUR IDOL: Open Mic REVOLUTION LIVE: Dropkick Murphys TERRA FERMATA: Devon Allman, The Nouveaux Honkies CHURCHILL’S: Sparky Quano, Freaks & Ghosts, Velocity Gospel, Ceramic Hammer
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1
DADA: Jordan Laurenti CWS: Crazy Fingers, Soundproof TERRA FERMATA: That 1 Guy, Monster Teeth CHURCHILL’S: Experimental Open Mic
THURSDAY, MARCH 2
DADA: Flower City Conspiracy
RESPECTABLE STREET: Peyote Coyote
TERRA FERMATA: Paleface, Joe & Vicky Price CWS: Big Harvest PROPAGANDA: ARTikal Sound System BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic Night GRAMPS: Wreckless Eric, Rick Fantasies, Rat Bastard CHURCHILL’S: IRA, Antifaces, Zeta, Menudo Death Squad, Pena Maxima, Despierta! Dispara!
FRIDAY, MARCH 3
RESPECTABLE STREET: PureHoney presents Thelma & the Sleaze, Killmama, The Water Colors DADA: Jamie Craig & the Postcards KILL YOUR IDOL: CHEW REVOLUTION LIVE: Jacob Sartorius CWS: The Flyers PROPAGANDA: Weird At First, Here To Nowhere BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Ryan Owens CHURCHILL’S: Inquisition, Kult Ov Azazel, Fin TERRA FERMATA: Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, El Dub, Jeff Fereshetian
SATURDAY, MARCH 4 DADA: Diamond Aces
POMPANO AMP: Willie Nelson, Dwight Yoakam JENSEN BEACH HS PERFORMING ARTS CENTER: BOOKMANIA! 12 authors in multiple panel discussions
THURSDAY, MARCH 9
HARD ROCK LIVE SEMINOLE: Bryan Ferry DADA: Craft Bazaar
RESPECTABLE STREET: Oddly Strange
BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic Night KELSEY THEATER: Create Day REVOLUTION LIVE: Badfish, a Tribute to Sublime CWS: Future Prezidents TERRA FERMATA: Samantha Fish, The Nighthawks CHURCHILL’S: Flatfoot 56, Mickey Rickshaw, West Lindy, The Attack, Spred The Dub, The GAZMS, The No Name Ska Band, Unity Rise, Dori Cameron, Dylan Walshe , Osso Buko, DJ Rudeboi Shuffle
FRIDAY, MARCH 10
FILLMORE: Maluma DADA: Eternal Boner
RESPECTABLE STREET: Saved by the Bell Dance Party STACHE: The Anchor Collective, Del Pelson CWS: The Holidazed, Tasty Vibrations TERRA FERMATA: Jeff Jensen, Reverend Ron CHURCHILL’S: The Real McKenzies, Riot Agents, Armageddon Man, Lizard Gutz
including Health and Wellness, Historical Fiction, Young Adult and the Discover Great New Writers panel.
SATURDAY, MARCH 11
GRAMPS: Bloodshot Bill with The Wildtones BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Twisted Tapestry PROPAGANDA: Eric Biddines CHURCHILL’S: Thelma and The Sleaze, Sonic Graffiti, Grey 8’s, Killmama CWS: Periphyton feat. Buffalo Brown TERRA FERMATA: Cas Haley, Bryce Allyn Band, Victoria Leigh
DADA: Jason Grillo KILL YOUR IDOL: Keep it Deep CWS: JL Fulks Band BREWHOUSE GALLERY: String Assassins
FILLMORE: Melendi
SUNDAY, MARCH 5
FILLMORE: George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic
RESPECTABLE STREET: PureHoney presents Pearl Earl, Denudes, Pocket of Lollipops, Chaucer, Tete a Tete
KISMET VINTAGE: Kismet Vintage 9th Anniversary and $9 Sale
TERRA FERMATA: Steppin Stones, Jumbo Shrimp Inc, Jeff Fereshetian CHURCHILL’S: The Kitchen Club with 16bit, AstariNite, Lamebot, Faden the Papaya Slayer
LEAH ARTS DISTRICT: Official 305 Day Block Party CWS: Joe Tenuto Jr. Band SUNDAY, MARCH 12 CHURCHILL’S: Personal & The Pizzas CWS: Joe Tenuto Jr. Band KELSEY THEATER: Damien Louviere TERRA FERMATA: Expanders, Moska Project, Jonnie Morgan Band TERRA FERMATA: NRBQ, Joel DaSilva, Ben Prestage
MONDAY, MARCH 13
DADA: Open Mic GRAMPS: Hockey Dad, Red Nectar, Kid Lore KELSEY THEATER: Miss Palm Beach Pride Pageant CHURCHILL’S: Miami Jazz Jam
TUESDAY, MARCH 14
DADA: Comedy Open Mic KILL YOUR IDOL: Open Mic TERRA FERMATA: Deltaphonics, The Nouveaux Honkies CHURCHILL’S: Night Demon, Reapermanser, Thrash or Die, Wool
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15
DADA: Syntext TERRA FERMATA: Tropidelic, Crabby Shaka CHURCHILL’S: All Get Out NORTH BEACH BANDSHELL: Nouvelle Vague, Liset Alea
THURSDAY, MARCH 16
DADA: Fireside Prophets
RESPECTABLE STREET: Flower City Conspiracy
CULTURE ROOM: Get the Led Out PROPAGANDA: Booze Brothers BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic KREEPY TIKI: Florence & Normandie, Woolbright, Goalkeeper, Honestly Probably, Nightjar CWS: Jon Zeeman Reggae TERRA FERMATA: SoFlow, Solseed CHURCHILL’S: Blend The Femme
MARCH 17-19
FAT VILLAGE: The Nerve Performance Art Festival
FRIDAY, MARCH 17
FILLMORE: ZZ Top DADA: Ghost Cat
RESPECTABLE STREET: Anti-St. Paddy’s Day Party
PROPAGANDA: Punk Rock Patty’s Day, 84 Sheepdog, Clockouts POMPANO AMP: Billy Ocean, Taylor Dayne CWS: Similar Prisoners BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Jodi Gains KELSEY THEATER: The McCartney Project TERRA FERMATA: The Greyhounds, Eddie Jelley, Silent Disco CHURCHILL’S: Voodoo Glow Skulls, Askultura, Octo Gato
SATURDAY, MARCH 18
FILLMORE: Ella Baila Sola, Amistades Peligrosas DADA: Black & Creme KILL YOUR IDOL: Breaks Yo!
RESPECTABLE STREET: Subculture Coffee Children’s Benefit
POMPANO AMP: Charlie Daniels Band, Marshall Tucker Band REVOLUTION LIVE: City and Colour BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Bryce Allyn KELSEY THEATER: Chris MacDonald’s Memories of Elvis CWS: Ella Herrera, Nyne2Five TERRA FERMATA: Alex Meixner, Passersby, Crazy Fingers CHURCHILL’S: 10th Annual Femme Fest
SUNDAY, MARCH 19
REVOLUTION LIVE: Simple Plan, Set It Off CWS: Joe Tenuto Jr. Band PROPAGANDA: Open Mic BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Nip & Tuck CHURCHILL’S: Michale Graves TERRA FERMATA: Resinated, NoNeed
MONDAY, MARCH 20
DADA: Open Mic CHURCHILL’S: Miami Jazz Jam
TUESDAY, MARCH 21
DADA: Comedy Open Mic KILL YOUR IDOL: Open Mic CULTURE ROOM: JoJo TERRA FERMATA: Shane Smith & the Saints, Nouveaux Honkies
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22
FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Pretenders DADA: Alex Coldwell TERRA FERMATA: Aaron Burdett Duo
THURSDAY, MARCH 23
RESPECTABLE STREET: High Waisted, Casey Hopkins DADA: Pocket of Lollipops CWS: ARTIKaL Sound System BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic TERRA FERMATA: Adam Ezra Group CHURCHILL’S: Iron Reagan, Nightbirds, Wrong, No Dice, Screaming Daggers
FRIDAY, MARCH 24
DADA: Peoplewatch KILL YOUR IDOL: So Lifted w/ Kevin Kevin, Todd Terry, Roland Clark
RESPECTABLE STREET: Emo Night Brooklyn KISMET VINTAGE: High Waisted
PROPAGANDA: Femme Fatale, Yardij, Puddle Jumper BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Josh Miles KELSEY THEATER: Ballyhoo!, Kash’d Out, Bumpin Uglies SONS & DAUGHTERS WINERY: The Copper Tones REVOLUTION LIVE: William Singe CWS: Bobby Lee Rodgers Trio, Victoria Cardona TERRA FERMATA: Blink 180True, American Idiot, Jeff Fereshetian CHURCHILL’S: The Slackers, The Duppies, The Sensibles
SATURDAY, MARCH 25
FILLMORE: Diego Verdaguer y Amanda Miguel
BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Duoplicity PROPAGANDA: Bubba SparXXX KELSEY THEATER: Rocky Horror Picture Show CULTURE ROOM: Menzingers, Jeff Rosenstock, Rozwell Kid BANGIN’ BANJO BREWING: The Copper Tones CWS: Peyote Coyote TERRA FERMATA: Daniel O’Rouke
SUNDAY, MARCH 26
DADA: Steve Pomeranz Band KILL YOUR IDOL: Breaks Yo! ACCOMPLICE CIDERWORKS: Art, Bark & Brunch: Big Dog Ranch Rescue Benefit CWS: Joe Tenuto Jr. Band TERRA FERMATA: Big Pine
TUESDAY, MARCH 28
DADA: Comedy Open Mic KILL YOUR IDOL: Open Mic TERRA FERMATA: The Nouveaux Honkies, TGTG CHURCHILL’S: All Folk’d Up Tribute to Leonard Cohen
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29
CULTURE ROOM: Dinosaur Jr.
DADA: Micah Scott PROPAGANDA: Weedeater, ASG TERRA FERMATA: Adwela & the Uprising, Something Like Seduction
THURSDAY, MARCH 30
FILLMORE: Tango Lovers DADA: King Complex
RESPECTABLE STREET: The Citadel
CWS: Reggae Force BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Artist Opening, Open Mic TERRA FERMATA: Joel DaSilva & the Midnight Howl CHURCHILL’S: Glue
FRIDAY, MARCH 31
DADA: James Wolf and the Electric Mud KILL YOUR IDOL: Shameless Burlesque CWS: Fusik, Kendra Erika BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Chick & Danger TERRA FERMATA: Cha Wa, SoulMark CHURCHILL’S: SunGhosts, Denudes, Cave of Swimmers, Yardij
Knight Arts Challenge “Great ideas can come from anywhere, and the Challenge helps find those ideas and provide the seed funding to turn them into reality.” With its Knight Arts Challenge, The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has been providing millions of dollars to artists and arts organizations hoping to realize their projects in Miami and other cities across the U.S. In recent years the organization has expanded beyond the Magic City to support projects in Broward County, Key West and even Palm Beach County. The foundation has granted awards to a few Palm Beach winners over the years, including Arts Garage and the Palm Beach Poetry Festival. Now, Knight wants to reach more working artists in Palm Beach by hosting a Community Conversation there for the first time. LINDSEY MILLS
Adam Ganuza, an arts program officer for Knight, will be at the conversation. He says, “Not only is Palm Beach one of the 26 communities where the Knight brothers had newspapers and where Knight Foundation invests, it is part of the larger, interdependent metropolis of Southeast Florida. There are myriad connections between Palm Beach, Broward, Dade, and Monroe. The challenge is just one more.” During the meeting, artists and organizers of art events can expect an overview of the challenge and its timeline. Even more important is the access to the staff that, Ganuza says will provide tips to help give applicants an edge in their application. “I’ll also stay after in case anyone has individual questions or wants to talk about their projects,” he offers. It’s a conscious effort by the foundation to reach more artists. Of course, the foundation is continuing these conversation in Miami-Dade, as well. “The Knight Arts Challenge supports artists and art organizations from Palm Beach down to the Keys,” says Ganuza. Each Community Conversation will have former Knight Arts Challenge winners as panelists to provide insight and guidance into the process. For specifics on all the convesations, visit KnightArts.org. The West Palm Knight Conversation hosted by PureHoney Magazine will take place Thursday, April 6, from 6:30-8pm, at Respectable Street, 518 Clematis St, West Palm Beach with live music by Lindsey Mills and an art display, live design and booth set up by Jesse Kunerth of DoseCreative.com ~ Hans Morgenstern | The Independent Ethos (indieethos.com)
Levi Walton
Dinosaur Jr. at Culture Room If there was any question J Mascis and Dinosaur Jr. would lose any stride after reconstituting a decade ago, they come bearing a loud, insistent answer with “Give a Glimpse of What Yer Not,” the grunge-rock giants’ new album.
Still chugging and crunching and drenched in guitar feedback like classics “Feel the Pain” and “Freak Scene” before them, the songs on DINOSAUR JR Dinosaur’s 11th record stick to well-trodden paths in the band’s output. The hallmarks are all there, as unstoppable as Mascis’ forever gray, Dumbledore-like hair: the frontman’s lazy, world-weary drawl, the pained gloom of discarded friends and lost loves, and the guitar solos so scorching they could sear steaks. It’s a noisy, brash formula that has worked for Mascis, bassist-singer Lou Barlow and drummer Murph for 33 years, and it’s one that continues with the album’s opener “Goin’ Down,” which roars to life with whining feedback and ends the same way. Reformed ‘80s bands rarely work and endure this long, and this original trio could’ve lost their sludgy edge in the four albums since Mascis buried the hatchet with his bandmates in 2005. (He had an infamous falling out with Barlow in 1989 and, if recent interviews are to be believed, still rarely speaks to him on tour.) But Dinosaur Jr., since 2005’s “Beyond,” has found unity in the discord. The Barlow-written single “Love Is…” is a sublime showcase for the sometimes Sebadoh frontman’s vocals, and the despairing lyrics form a counterpoint to the fuzzy, tempestuous guitar that swirls around them. Mascis, of course, holds his own, especially with the prickly “I Walk For Miles,” a blaze of hair metal-like riffs paired with the singer’s rapsy wails of tired loneliness. Another standout is “Mirror,” yet another song about pining brokenheartedness and being socially inept, two attributes that are the bread and butter of many Mascis-written tracks. Dinosaur Jr. rarely tinkers with the fuzzy noise that distinguishes its newer albums. Not that they should: Recent setlists lean heavily on “Give a Glimpse,” whose tracks are sandwiched between the best Dinosaur droppings (“Start Choppin’,” “The Lung”). Not much has changed sonically for the band these last three decades, and Mascis certainly aims to keep it that way. Dinosaur Jr. will perform 8pm March 29 at the Culture Room, 3045 N. Federal Highway, in Fort Lauderdale. Tickets are $25. Call 954-564-1074 or go to CultureRoom.net. ~ Phillip Valys
Willie Nelson at The Amp Johnny Cash represents the spirited, punk, in outlaw country music, but Willie Nelson is the good natured, Hippie of the lot. He bucked the conservative Nashville music seen in the 70’s, after having been a part of it, and introduced marijuana to rednecks. By doing that he changed the musical landscape of Austin, Texas making it, arguably, the one spot in a giant, conservative state where liberal thought can be tolerated. Willie was never afraid to experiment with his music, often times introducing jazz and folk influences to his songs. It was this adherence to music, not style that helped to rejuvenate his career with a string of influential albums that bucked country music trends; such as, Phases and Stages, and The Red Headed Stranger. This string of concept records connected with audiences ready for new innovation in an arguably tired sound. Willie had already had a somewhat successful career at the Grand Ol’ Opry when he retired in 1970, but Austin does not allow talent to grow moss. Willie was persuaded to return from his retirement due to the bustling music scene that evolved in the city. It’s most likely the city of Austin itself that is responsible for the singer’s second act and most important career highlights. It would be easy to argue that since he wasn’t constricted by the drive to, “make it.” He was free to do whatever he wanted. That freedom has propelled him ever since and has seen him excel with projects such as the early 1990’s outlaw country super group: The Highwaymen, doing beforehand un-heard of duets with latin music’s, heart-throb crooner Julio Iglesias and using his status and celebrity to further several causes near and dear to his heart. WILLIE NELSON
There are so many acts; twists and turns in Willie’s life and career, that focusing on one thing would prove to be a feat in and of itself. Yeah, there’s the Farm Aid stuff; there’s the weed stuff; there’s the bio-diesel activism; solar-power activism; and his long time support of LGBTQ rights. At 83 you wouldn’t be wrong for assuming that Willie would be slowing down, however, in this case you would be mistaken. Willie has continued performing, recording and touring and has announced that he will be opening his own marijuana dispensaries called: Willie’s Reserve, in every state that legalizes marijuana. The man is a machine with a huge heart, and forward thinking ideas. Willie Nelson plays Pompano Beach Amphitheater, Saturday, March 4. Doors at 7:30, tickets start at $39.50. ~Tim Moffatt
William Thoren Photography
George Clinton, Fat Tuesday You could spend Fat Tuesday the way many people do: hop on a plane to New Orleans, get trashed on Bourbon Street and have an hours-long hangover. However, the music gods would probably want you to wait til March 5, when funk mastermind George Clinton hits the Fillmore Miami Beach at The Jackie Gleason Theater, the last stop on his Mardi Gras Madness Tour.
Since the founding of Parliament and Funkadelic in the late 1960s, the Godfather of Funk has not stopped making music or performing. In a December 2016 interview with Rolling Stone he expressed his desire to stay relevant, and that doesn’t seem to be an issue for him. He’s still active in the festival circuit, hitting Miami Beach one day after storming the Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival. His recent collaborations with artists such as producer Flying Lotus, whose Brainfeeder label will release Clinton’s upcoming album, and rapper Kendrick Lamar on 2015’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” have confirmed his ability to adapt to young music trends. In 2015 he released a live album from the Metropolis GEORGE CLINTON Records studio, which despite the quieter acoustics still sounded like a powerhouse recording. He even released a 33-track triple album, “First Ya Gotta Shake the Gate,” with Funkadelic in 2014. Every time he hits a stage, Clinton gives off the vibe of an alien funk lord who has come to Earth to put us all under his dancing spell. He’ll be expected to pull out all the stops once his tour begins Feb. 16 in Pittsburgh. Famously known for his multicolored wigs, he’ll most definitely be bringing along his Mothership structure along with a colorful cast of musicians. When they all get together, it’ll be more than some artists jamming out and having a ball. Performers of every genre from rap to rock will be busting out their talents for an unforgettable night. Although Clinton has hit 75, it is clear that atomic dogs and flashlights are not all that he has to offer the world. As someone who famously quipped “Tear the roof off the sucka,” he’s not about to put down his guitar anytime soon. In that sense, age is just a number, baby. George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic will perform 8pm Sunday, March 5 at the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater. 1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach. $30.50. georgeclinton.com. ~ Olivia Feldman
Bryan Ferry at Hard Rock Live Arrangements are the apparel of songwriting. How a collection of chords, rhythms, words and melodic lines is draped and fitted with voices and instruments can decide, or doom, the finished song’s prospects with the listening public. It’s no surprise, then, that a sartorial icon like Bryan Ferry would also be a keen arranger. From his beginnings with the psych-rock cabaret of Roxy Music through his evolution into an alt-pop romantic, Ferry, 71, has made the tailoring of his artfully crooned songs as critical to their reception as the underlying notes. And he’s never been a minimalist. A Bryan Ferry song has layers. Even the basic reggae bump of Love Is The Drug — Roxy Music’s first U.S. single, from 1976 — gives way to a vaulting guitar break and a swoon of a refrain. Those early orchestral maneuvers BRYAN FERRY presaged Ferry deploying actual strings on later recordings such as Roxy Music’s 1982 swan song, Avalon, and the quintessential Ferry solo album, 1985’s Boys and Girls. “It’s generally quite cinematic, what I do,” Ferry said in a 1994 interview with the British pirate-radio pioneer Robin Ross. For Ferry, this is a language of love — conjoined acoustic and electric instruments, from strings to synths, around a framework of guitar, bass and drums, and a variety of other sonic accents. Ferry is a detail man, and has to be, considering the lavish accompaniment he likes for his expressive flutter of a voice. In the same interview, Ferry described himself as “a bit particular” in his album-making habits. On his latest, 2014’s Avonmore, Ferry emerges from whatever obsessive labor went into the production projecting his usual confidence as a dapper gentleman bandleader. The sensibility he has fashioned out of his supermodel album covers and sophisticated, often tender songs amounts to a beau ideal of either male privilege or masculine grace, or some combination of both. “People think I wake up in the morning and put on a tuxedo,” Ferry told the British tabloid Daily Mail in 2009, “but I can assure you I don’t.” But he’ll always sound like he does. Bryan Ferry begins a North American tour on Thursday, March 9 at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood FL. Tickets are $40 - $85 at Ticketmaster. ~ Sean Piccoli