This Little Underground

FMF RELAUNCH

The Florida Music Festival had an unmatched 18-year run as Orlando’s flagship music festival and conference. Then after its 2018 edition, the major event just up and French-exited. But now, just as unexpectedly, it’s coming back. Sort of.

Although the same FMF minds are behind it, the event will actually debut as the Florida Music Conference. As the name indicates, this music industry gathering will lean more on the conference aspect. Also noteworthy is FMC’s distinctly local angle. The keynote conversations will feature natives who’ve enjoyed breakout success, like songwriterproducer Brock Berryhill, folk-pop group the 502s and pop singer John K.

Although not the SXSW-esque downtown takeover that FMF was, FMC will still have a concert component with two stages of live showcases. Apart from headliners like the 502s and John K, the rest of the lineups are still open and could include you or your band. If interested in performing, go to flamusicconf.live and apply before May 27.

The Florida Music Conference takes place June 24-25 at Ace Cafe.

LOCAL RELEASES

Florida and stupid headlines are famous bedmates. Recently, the culture wars have given the ding-dong state enough spotlight to go full monty with the ugly American bit. In the führer — oops, furor — over official idiocy like “Don’t Say Gay,” many of us are absolutely apoplectic right now.

Orlando punk band Call in Dead are responding with their on-time new single, “Patriarchy.” A one-minute punk-rock torrent that hits back at toxic masculinity, it’s old-school hardcore that’s refreshingly liberated from the tired-ass tough-guy bullshit. When a song ends with “Fuck your gender norms,” the message is point-blank. When that line comes from your new female singer, Ripley Eldridge, it lands with extra weight.

“Patriarchy” is a timely counter-message from the burning heart of Florida that loudly shouts that not all of us here are like those Tallahassee assholes. Fuck them to hell. Also, midterm elections are coming up. The single now streams everywhere.

Orlando punk band Call in Dead have just released new single “Patriarchy,” a oneminute punk-rock torrent that hits back at toxic masculinity. It’s old-school hardcore refreshingly liberated from the tired-ass tough-guy bullshit

CONCERT PICKS THIS WEEK

This week, some notable Orlando expats make big homecomings.

Laney Jones: Although now Nashvillebased, Laney is truly an O-grown product, going from young folk revivalist to budding indie-pop starlet here on these streets. Now, her horizon’s about to widen even more with Stories Up High, her first new album in six years. To properly celebrate, she’s coming home for a release show on the eve of the big record drop. In addition to indie-folk openers Someday River (whose Melrose in the Mix session will air on WUCF-TV at 8:30 p.m. that same night), Laney tells me she’ll have some special local guests sit in for kicks. (8 p.m. Thursday, May 19, Will’s Pub, $12$15)

Gasoline Heart, Joseph Bradshaw &

the Florida Four: While it’s been years since Gasoline Heart bandleader Louis DeFabrizio relocated to NYC, he made his name here in the 407 going back to the early 2000s in bands like the Kick and Gasoline Heart. As one of the best pure rock & roll bands to emerge from here, Gasoline Heart has made a mark enduring enough to make each homecoming a big local deal. This time will be particularly historical because it’ll feature the original Orlando lineup, which reconvened to make 2020 album Big Trouble. The last time they recorded together resulted in an absolute Orlando classic, 2006’s You Know Who You Are. Now, they’re finally getting to play the new material live. The event also doubles as a solo release party for GH member Joseph Bradshaw. (8 p.m. Friday, May 20, Stardust Video & Coffee, $10)

Dion Pride: This one’s a little out of the usual way, but surely an hour’s drive is worth it to keep live company with country music royalty. Dion’s the son of recently departed legend Charley Pride, the most accomplished Black country artist of all time and simply one of the genre’s greatest voices ever. Dion is known to perform good covers from the classic American country and pop songbooks, including some of his father’s gems. (7 p.m. Saturday, May 21, Orange Blossom Opry, $30-$42)

BY BAO LE-HUU

CALL IN DEAD | PHOTO BY JAMIE CHASE

baolehuu@orlandoweekly.com orlandoweekly.com ● MAY 18-24, 2022 ● ORLANDO WEEKLY 41