Despite his penchant for easy, engaging acoustic melodies and a cheery blend of pop, folk, soul and a jam band aesthetic, things haven’t always been so sublime for Dave Matthews, His albums have sold millions of copies and made him a populist hero of sorts, but his personal life has…
Some people reading that headline will probably think they’ve stumbled upon the ultimate pop song. (Especially Grammy voters.) Yes, Train is back with a brand-new invention, “Drive-By,” and it should be nearly as beguiling as their comeback single “Hey Soul Sister” was a couple years ago. Unfortunately, this rings out…
Simply stated, Elvis Aaron Presley was the greatest rock star of all time. He was also the first artist that could be considered a legitimate, mass appeal star when it came to the realms of rock ‘n’ roll. He set the standard all those that followed aspired too; everyone from…
Born January 7, 1948, Kenny Loggins became the poster child for soft rock radio back in the ’70s, both as a solo artist and as a member of the million-selling duo Loggins and Messina. While he never was the hippest performer, his songs still made him a mainstay on the…
Everyone around South Florida is feeling the big temperature drop right now, and Glimpses of the South Florida scene alums the Goddamn Hustle’s new song is exactly the type of melody that might make cuddling for warmth a reality. One of their most polished recordings to date, the song was…
At age 58, Malcolm Young is rocking as hard as ever. Born January 6, 1953, the Scottish-born guitarist remains the key component behind one of the world’s most indelible institutions, Australia’s AC/DC. He may not have the swagger of the band’s present vocalist, Brian Johnson, or the zany aging-schoolboy image…
Glimpses of the South Florida Scene is a column devoted to the artists thriving within Broward and Palm Beach counties featuring interviews with the folks making it happen. This week, the Gun Hoes.The Gun Hoes, at first glance: a punchy pun of the classic term “gung-ho,” which at its root…
Gary Richards is a superbusy dude. He is a professional party planner. He is a gigging DJ known by the name Destructo. Plus he’s the mastermind behind the nationally touring Hard electronic music festival. This Friday, Richards and his Hard series will hit the high seas aboard the inaugural Holy…
Here reside the finest South Florida releases of the past 12 months, compiled with the help of our resourceful and brainy staff of freelancers. Capturing the myriad styles that reside comfortably at the beach, in the warehouse, at the Snooze Theatre, on the Florida Turnpike, and all of the above…
Michael Stipe helped define the sound of college radio’s first big star, the now-retired R.E.M., with a vocal approach that was often all but incomprehensible and decidedly detached. Although he turns 51 today (January 4) and later refined his style somewhat as his lyrics became more socially and politically attuned,…
Creed frontman and Boca resident Scott Stapp has decided to do a massive amount of purging for 2012 and is liquidating a ridiculous collection of studio gear. (This comes not long after his “White Christmas” showing in Delray Beach.) Owning a piece of equipment that has been at least near,…
Most people know John Baldwin — or, rather, his pseudonym, John Paul Jones — as the bassist for Led Zeppelin. Of course, it’s easy to typecast certain individuals, particularly musicians, but Baldwin… err, Jones… has proven himself a man of remarkable diversity and instrumental dexterity. Since Zeppelin’s demise, he’s performed…
Born December 30, 1946, Jeff Lynne is many things – an award winning producer, singer and songwriter, the leader and prime mover of ELO, one of the lynchpins in the Traveling Wilburys, and an unabashed Beatles fan. While that fact is immediately evident in listening to any of ELO’s early…
Patti Smith, born Patricia Lee Smith on December 30, 1946, grew up as an all-American girl whose fascination with rock ‘n’ roll and early affair with artist Robert Mapplethorpe helped her assume the title of high priestess of punk in the mid-’70s. Her 1975 debut album, Horses, is still recognized…
“I don’t believe in the Mayan apocalypse,” says Devin Peralta, bassist and lead vocalist for anthemic pop-punk trio Cobra Skulls. “Although,” he adds, “I do fear the legitimacy of the Mayan calendar.” While many around the world will mark the transition from 2011 to 2012 by feeding into global paranoia…
Sean Murdock’s most recent artwork is loud, flashy, fashionable, and in your face. He is not. On the contrary, the artist is soft-spoken, compassionate, and describes himself as introspective. The work features line art depictions of sexy fashion models he has photographed against bold, neon backgrounds — a reflection of…
Update: Click here for a slideshow of the Is Anyone Up? New Year’s Celebration at the Speakeasy Lounge Dude is the word Hunter Moore says most in a bro-riffic tone during our 40-minute phone conversation regarding his revenge porn website Is Anyone Up? Over the past year, this smutty portal…
William Alexander Chilton, otherwise known simply as Alex Chilton, was born December 28, 1950, and died unexpectedly on March 17, 2010, only a few days prior to a scheduled appearance at SXSW. Although he wasn’t always appreciated or even recognized by the masses, he became one of the seminal figures…
Born on December 26, 1939, Phillip Harvey Spector, better known to the world as Phil Spector, boasts a reputation as one of the greatest pop producers of all time. He’s also known as one of the flat-out weirdest and wildest men to ever inhabit the rock and roll realms. The…
Has materialism and excess overtaken what the holiday spirit is really about? Perhaps we will feel better after enjoying a few extra-spiked eggnogs with friends and family around the Christmas tree — or Hanukkah bush or whichever kind of spiritual shrubbery you chose — but for now we’d like to…
It seems hard to believe that Eddie Vedder turns 47 today. After all, for the past 20 years or so, he’s maintained a young, vibrant image as one of the most successful veterans of Seattle’s fabled grunge scene, a musician who’s successfully transitioned from those insurgent environs into rock’s mainstream…
In the minds of many, Luther “Luke” Campbell, born 51 years ago today, seems to court controversy. Despite his many guises — performer, entrepreneur, promoter, opinion-maker, politico — his chief role seems to be that of firebrand who’s never backed off when confronting authority. Best known from early on as the…
