Candyland Celebrates its 13th Year at Soho Studios, Dec. 27

As the name of this event, and the fact that it’s followed by a numeral, might suggest, the epic December party Candyland started out in the golden age of the Florida rave scene. In the Nineties, it was a guaranteed good-time on the party calendar, one of several large-scale annual…

Locos Por Juana

Most music lovers who enjoy Miami’s multicultural sound know by now about local jam-masters Locos Por Juana. And at this very moment, we can also add the Grammys to their long list of admirers. The local heroes were just nominated “Best Latin Rock or Alternative” for the 2009 awards. It’s…

Tab Benoit With Mike Zito

Alternative rock killed the guitar hero, that axe man who lived on fretboard histrionics. For Louisiana’s Tab Benoit, hot-stuff six-string slinging is all he knows. At 41, Benoit combines two regional styles near and dear to his heart — the incendiary sting of Texas blues with the more laid-back, sultry,…

Seth Walker

Bluesman Seth Walker sings like a man who’s had his heart broken one too many times. Since his genre of choice calls for a bit of misfortune, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It doesn’t hurt to listen to his songs if you’re going through a breakup — or wish…

Tonight: Spam All-Stars at Mansion, Common at Louis

‘Tis the season, ya’ll! And the Opium Group wants you to open your wallets, er, for charity of course! It goes without saying, we are all hurting a bit financially this season, but there still are a lot people worse off than you. So if aren’t aware already of all…

Studio A Shooter Charged With First-Degree Murder

(Photo by Ivon David Rojas)The Herald reported yesterday a small item following up on this past April’s shooting at the now-defunct Studio A. A 22-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of his 24-year-old alleged victim. The shooting took place on Sunday, April 14, during the…

Tab Benoit Performs With Mike Zito Sat. at City Limits, Delray

With the establishment of so-called alternative rock, the concept of a “guitar hero” is now passé, for better and worse. While tedious fretboard histrionics have (rightly) gone out of style, there should be room for hot-stuff six-string slingers matching flash with creativity. Blues music impacted less by trendiness and more…

Steve Aoki at B.E.D. at December 26

As far as DJs we’re dying to see, we’ll admit that Dim Mak/Cinespace founder Steve Aoki is pretty low on our list. It’s not that Aoki isn’t entertaining, he is, but at times he seems to be more about the showmanship than the music. But love him or hate him…

Joachim Garraud, David Guetta’s Co-Producer, at Mansion This Sat.

Like fellow Frenchman Laurent Garnier, house DJ Joachim Garraud cut his teeth at Paris nightclub Boy, ground zero for the country’s techno scene. Unlike most DJs, however, he came in with a fully rounded musical background, having spent seven years training at the French Academy of Music Percussion and Piano…

Plies’ New Album, Da Realist, in Stores Today

For those that don’t already know, Plies’ highly anticipated second album of the year, Da Realist, is available in stores today. It’s not common for artists, especially rappers, to release multiple albums in one year, but Plies, who was born and raised in Fort Myers, seems determined to prove something…

Live Kreyol Hip Hop

Buggah D. Govanah, president of On Point Entertainment and Marketing  is sick of bootleg rap shows with bad sound and no production value. He’s set out to change that through a benefit for Haiti that’s creating a platform for Caribbean artists and artists of Caribbean descent to get together on…

Saturday Night: Holy Ghost! at The Vagabond

Holy Ghost Saturday, December 13, 2008 The Vagabond, Miami Better than: 100% of the godless ultra-commercial dance crap polluting the Beach.  It’s past midnight and I’m at the Vagabond sipping my whiskey straight and waiting for Holy Ghost! to start their DJ set in the main room. It’s my first…

Saturday Night: David Byrne at The Fillmore Miami Beach

David Byrne Saturday December 13, 2008 The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theatre Better Than: Just about any show you’ve ever been to. Really. I’ve gotta apologize to David Byrne, because every time his acrobatic sidekick Lily Baldwin took the stage during last night’s dynamite Fillmore Gleason show, I…

Jazmine Sullivan to Perform at Cafe Iguana December 21st

I just got word yesterday that R&B’s newest sensation, Jazmine Sullivan is going to be in Pembroke Pines on December 21st. She’ll be at Cafe Iguana (who seem to be booking a lot better shows lately) performing songs off of her solid debut album, Fearless. Most people only know Sullivan…

Partying at Buck 15’s Electric Lounge

A few weeks ago,as woman named Doris with a thick French accent called me at the office (305-571-72).  “I have been in America for six months,” she said. “I am a DJ from Europe and I am throwing a party at Buck 15.” She then told me that she had…

Q&A With Keyshia Cole, Performing at AAA on Sunday

She’s landed four Grammy nominations, seven number-one singles, and two platinum-selling albums, all in only three years. Thus, it’s safe to say Keyshia Cole deserves a place in that illustrious echelon of female artists known as Divas, though she may not realize it yet. But not the “get me my…