PUREHONEY 40

VINTAGE TAP DELRAY The Atlantic Avenue strip east of Swinton Avenue has long been a destination for good times and chichi feasts, while the area directly west of Swinton, up through I-95, was mostly overlooked by party-goers.

The dynamics of partying on Atlantic Ave is shifting these days since live “juke joint” the Vintage Tap opened its doors in July.

Located five blocks west of Swinton, in an area where only fast food spot Checkers saw any action, the Vintage Tap and its proprietor Ryan O’Riordan, can be seen as trailblazers in this once blighted portion of Delray Beach. True to its vintage calling, this bar and live music venue occupies a historic building, built in the 1950s, that has housed two former neighborhood dives---Clearview Lounge, and Ted Teddy Bear’s before it.

With over 12 years construction experience, O’Riordan has managed to maintain the original charm and feel of the space, while giving it a much needed facelift. O’Riordan (who previously owned Hooligans in Boca Raton,) bought the locale directly from the family who owned Clearview Lounge, and decided to tactfully pay tribute to its past. “We wanted to celebrate the history of the building,” O’Riordan explained. He attempted to salvage as much memorabilia as he could while redoing the locale, keeping many ‘50s pin-up posters, the bar’s pinball machine, and, his prized find, the original ‘70s’ Rockola Mystic 478 juke box. This vintage juke, which still holds original ‘45s from the likes of Chuck Berry, James Brown, John Lee Hooker and Dionne Warwick, sits as the focal point in Vintage Tap’s cozy 1200-square-foot confines.

O’Riordan knew going into it that his venture would be a destination locale.

With a welcoming biergarten out back, live music offered every night of the week, a full liquor bar, and over 20 craft beers rotating on draught, Vintage Tap hasn’t had to twist too many arms to find a following. O’Riordan has big plans for the space, telling us he is going to take full advantage of the backyard which connects directly to Libby Wesley Park, which boasts its very own 200-seat amphitheater. He envisions many block parties, beer-sponsored events, and inviting national touring acts to perform, in the near future. In the three months it has been opened, Vintage Tap has already succeeded in convincing crowds to live a little, and explore the Atlantic Ave. unknown, where good times, great drinks and live jams can be found every day of the week. ~Alex Rendon

COLORING OUTSIDE THE LINES

Crayon Crayon’s “Brick Factory” sounds like the best ‘90s record you never heard. Give it two or three listens, and its lo-fi, occasionally off-key earworms will find permanent residence in your sense memory, not to mention your iPod and your record collection. So much so that you’ll wonder where it’s been all your life—particularly that time in your life when you were discovering your sexuality, hating school and sucking at sports.

Remembered primarily as the musical launching pad for Washington State musicians Sean Tollefson and Jeff Fell, who went on to form the seminal twee band Tullycraft, Crayon was a formidable act in its own right. The trio issued a selfreleased cassette, six 7-inch singles and its lone album, Brick Factory, in its four years of existence at the dawn of the 1990s. Today, the music sounds like lightning in a bottle, a singular yet familiar noise-pop brew that was utterly of its time, suggesting, at various points, Treepeople, Superchunk, the Dead Milkmen and Beat Happening.

The album has been out of print for most of the past 20 years, its reputation exceeding its availability. But in honor of its 20th anniversary, the venerable Happy Happy Birthday to Me label has released a limited-edition LP and bonus-track cassette with digital downloads; purchase both and you’ll get pretty much the entire Crayon discography.

At first, Tollefson, who played bass in Crayon, was apprehensive about releasing the reissue, because the band’s breakup still clouded his memories of it. But, he says, “when I finally sat down and listened to Brick Factory with fresh ears I thought, ‘Wow! Who are these kids? They’re crazy. It sounded surprisingly fresh to me. It felt like music being frantically made by passionate people I didn’t know. There are, of course, a couple points that make me cringe while listening to my younger self, but that’s to be expected. Honestly, I think the record actually stands up quite well.”

“I still don’t like my voice,” adds guitarist Brad Roberts, who split vocal duties with Tollefson. “And I wish the guitar sounded heavier on the album. There were some songs that definitely clicked, though. Jeff’s drumming is flawless throughout, and Sean had some great lyrics that still hold up.”

Part of the memorable tension in Brick Factory is its two divergent directions—the punk sensibility, which shone through on Roberts’ songs, and the proto-Tullycraft twee, which manifested in Tollefson’s.

The trio was listening to music ranging from ethereal Sarah Records pop to the skull-crushing heaviness of Big Black, and integrated all of it into the teenage angst of Crayon.

“Our influences along with our lack of musical ability were mixed together in a naive cauldron,” Tollefson says. “If we had been better musicians, I’m positive the music we made would have been terrible.

We were easily one of the more amateurish bands in [Bellingham, Washington], and we were also one of the most confident. At the time, I was convinced that we were one of the best bands in that local scene, but this sentiment wasn’t shared by most. We could headline and sell out the Middle East in Boston, but in Bellingham we were almost always the opening band for the opening band. It didn’t make any sense to us, and I think our songs benefited from this anxiety.”

Because the record never caught on in its time—the perennial fate of the cult classic—Crayon disbanded in 1994 with Roberts’ decision to leave.

“We had just gotten home from a six-week tour with The Softies, and we were about to go on another tour with Cub across Canada,” Tollefson recalls. “I don’t think Brad was having much fun being in the band and being on the road so much, so he decided to quit. At the time, I really wanted to continue, but in hindsight I think Crayon actually ended at the right point.”

“Part of me wonders, why was I so bummed out at the time?” Roberts says. “I was in a great band (pardon my delusions).” But, he says, “we were all very conscious of many people, especially local bar bands and indie-pop purists not liking us, and that gave us a bit of a chip on our shoulders. I think we were a very honest band that really tried to write good songs that would connect with people. I’m grateful that there are still some people who want to hear this record.”

Brick Factory is available now at www.hhbtm.com ~John Thomason

A MILLION MILES At the age of 16, Amy “Fiddler” Fleisher turned a fledgling folded 8½ by 11 fanzine in 1996 into one of the most preeminent indie punk rock labels of the time, Fiddler Records.

Striking gold by signing then unknown South Florida acts New Found Glory and Dashboard Confessional turned her into an overnight sensation in the punk rock scene. But alas youth will do as youth does and Fleisher’s empire ended a decade later, when exhausted and burnt by the experience, she returned to school to pursue her degree in advertising.

Proving that the same spirit that led her to pursue her heart’s desire in her youth, Fleisher has reinvented herself as a writer and has released her debut novel, A Million Miles, somewhat autobiographical as we found out, is “for girls aged 15-20 to read what I wrote and think “I could do that” and I want them to be able to identify with a strong female lead that is just as confused and flawed as every other male protagonist out there.”

Amy “Fiddler” Fleisher What’s your fondest memory of the South Florida music scene?

Fleisher: My fondest memories of the South Florida music scene are of Cheers and its owner, Gaye. I will never forget what it was like to work at such an amazing venue. I was living in Los Angeles when Gaye passed away, and I never really got to say goodbye. In my head, she’s still there; standing outside of her club on 17th Avenue on a rainy night, smoking and watching the traffic go by.

South Florida has always had a presence in the punk rock scene, but you helped define an era and sound that emerged from here, what was running a successful record label in your teens like?

To put it eloquently, it was nuts. I made so many decisions with my heart and not my head—and maybe that’s why things initially worked. I didn’t have the normal amount of adult fear in me—I was all youthful hope and wonder. Also, in the same respect, I suppose I had nothing to lose. I wasn’t worried about rent or providing for a family, I was just doing what I loved to do. It was pure.

Any regrets about the label? Anything you’d do differently or would consider doing again?

Hmm, regrets. I regret trusting so many people.

Maybe that’s part of the youthful hope thing I mentioned earlier. But, failure is a better teacher than success, so I’m grateful for everything I learned along the way. Scars are cool, right? And I am already sort of back in the game again with my new label, Animal Manufacturing Co. Writing is not new for you, before we discuss A Million Miles, tell us about your zine and how it came to be and what it did for you at the time.

Writing isn’t new for me, no, but writing something of this magnitude certainly is. When I was younger (you know, 20 years ago) I had a small fanzine called Fiddler Jones. I wrote articles about bands that I liked and reviewed records that labels sent to me. It was all very fun. It was my excuse to talk to bands and go to shows so often. Also, about ten years ago I started a magazine called Death + Taxes, but I only stayed with the company for a year.

You’ve said the book is like “Almost Famous but with a girl and in 1999.” Being a time period you lived and you are a girl, how much is based on experience?

The main character, Maddy, is essentially me when I was 19, but the story is totally fiction. I took bits and pieces of every band I’ve ever known and squished them all together to create a mega-band for Maddy to go on tour with. All of the feelings that Maddy has though, those are real.

There’s been a surge in punk rock writers aiming at the YA (Young Adult) market, books can be read by anyone but who was your target audience while writing it?

I had no idea I was apart of a surge, I will have to get out and find some punk rock writer comrades! So, I wouldn’t call it targeting per se, because that’s what I do at my day job… But, I’d love for girls aged 15-20 to read what I wrote and think “I could do that” and I want them to be able to identify with a strong female lead that is just as confused and flawed as every other male protagonist out there. There weren’t a lot of women in music that were accessible to me when I was younger, and I’d love for that to change for future generations.

How was the writing and revision process like for you?

It was nuts. Wait, I already said that. See, it was like that. When you revise you realize you say the same thing over and over and over. It was the most introspective I’ve ever been—it’s a wonder that manuscript ever made it out the door. If you ever want to get to know yourself, to find out what you’re really made of, try writing.

When will you be touring, I mean, getting on the book circuit to promote it?

Soon! January seems like the perfect time to run around the country with some friends and some acoustic guitars. You can check my website for “tour/book” date at amillionmilesbook.com. ~Abel Folgar

SNOB ROCK “Snobbery” doesn’t carry the same weight for Ben Wash, a native of Greenville, South Carolina who moved to Miami to pursue his electronic music dreams on his own terms, as it does to others. His new album, Snob Rock would tell otherwise but as he puts it “Whether the term does or doesn’t raise flags, it’s not too much of a concern of mine. The imagery and music will speak for the album. But there is a certain meaning behind ‘Snob Rock.’ I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to properly define it and perhaps it would be best that way. It’s better for others to take it the way they imagine it. I wouldn’t be so arrogant to say that I’m trying to start a new genre or scene, and that’s why I’d like for listeners to make what they want out of it.”

Hot on the release of his first full-length as an artist and for his fledgling label, King’s Head Records, the single title track single, is a violent number, but violent in a good way. It has energy and gumption but it is good natured and not off-putting. “I started the album thinking it was going to be filled with bangers from start to finish.

That didn’t necessarily happen. I’m constantly Ben Wash influenced by a wide variety of music on a daily basis. It’s almost overwhelming. I wanted Snob Rock to show that... without being too sporadic when crossing from one track to the next.” This has given the album, a collection of new material with some older stuff thrown in for good measure, an even aural balance.

But the young artist is not afraid to show that he’s undergoing some growing pains when asked about the scope of the project and what it’ll mean for the label, “Well, I don’t know what to expect. There’s a lot we still have ahead of us here at King’s Head. This album is just one stepping stone, but an important one. We’ve learned a lot from putting this project together. What I take the most from this album is learning how all of us at the label work together to put out a big release and the experience behind it,” going on to explain, “everyone has been extremely dedicated and I couldn’t be happier with each of them. I’m not sure how rare it is to have a group of people willing to treat a project like this as their own. It is special when you do have that and it’s something to hold on to.”

With the full involvement of the King’s Head crew, Wash is confident that future releases will benefit from the same, boutique touch that is helping propel this album onto the electronic music scene, one he’s wary of in its current state, but offers a guarded, if not political statement, “To me, it’s so hard to place electronic music in one category. How does one really define electronic music? A vast amount of artists from so many different scenes have elements of electronic music in their songs. So in all honesty, I can’t put a handle on such a broad subject.”

With album dropped, Wash and King’s Head are looking to promote it with tours to LA and NYC, cities the musician considered before weighing Miami’s current “it” status and Chicago. Not yet halfway out of his ‘20s, Wash has a long path ahead of himself. He has taken the first steps in the right direction and will be an interesting artist to watch for the temperance of development. For now, Snob Rock is his opening salvo unto a very large genre that continuously seeks innovation. ~Abel Folgar

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29

RESPECTABLE STREET: Aces High Music Festival: Everymen, Darling Sweets, Que Lastima, Sunnyvale, Gallimimus, Old Habits, Sweet Nothings, Judge Holden, Sounds of the Rodeo

VINTAGE TAP: The Marc Telesca Band DADA: Bruja KYI: Hoy Polloy TERRA FERMATA: Slip & the Spinouts STONZEK THEATRE at LW PLAYHOUSE: Cabernet Cabaret presents “The Beginning Is Near” SWAMPGRASS WILLYS: The Helmsmen

JUMP THE SHARK: BEACON GRAND OPENING TRANSMISSION: Sand Ratz, The Astrea Corporation, Gallimimus, Dooms de Pop, Wolfcat, The Goddamn Hustle, Scarecrow Jenkins Brimstone Jamboree, Astari Nite, Malcontext, Haochi Waves, Wastelands, Return the Favor, Chris Horgan (Sweet Bronco), Dan Bonebrake, Rizzletron, Montage SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Medicine Hat

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30

PROPAGANDA: Acoustic Showcase / Open Mic TERRA FERMATA: The Mark Telesca Band CHURCHILL’S PUB: Triple Feature Horror Movie Night REVOLUTION LIVE: The Ghost Inside, Every Time I Die, Architects UK, Hundreth, BackTrack DANIA BCH BAR & GRILL: Joel DaSilva & the Midnight Howl SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Kimi and Regi

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1

PROPAGANDA: Karaoke Night Hosted by Chris Martin REVOLUTION LIVE: French Montana, Jeremih

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2

PROPAGANDA: Wise Tuesdays – College Night RAW PROJECT: Psychic Mirrors ORIGINAL FAT CATS: Joel DaSilva Acoustic CHURCHILL’S PUB: Rat Bastard, Steve Five, Snakehole, Jellyfish Brothers, Andy Ortmann, Silvia Kastel, JuJu Pie, Fritz Welch, Tatsuya Nakatani & Russel Mofsky, Drooids, Kenny Millions, Tom Borax SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Mark Telesca Band REVOLUTION LIVE: Crowbar, Unearth, Black Crown Initiate

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3

ELECTRIC PICKLE: Tremends, Grey 8′s, The Moon Caravan, Palatte Town, Bleujay, Hunters of the Alps VINTAGE TAP: Scott Becker PROPAGANDA: HIP HOP PARTY feat. CROOSH! DADA: Thomas Wiley Experience GRAMPS: OFWGKTA, Left Brain, Mike G PRIME CIGAR AND WINE BAR: Joel DaSilva Acoustic SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: George Manosis LITTLE HAITI THRIFT: Richard Kennedy

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4

VINTAGE TAP: Chloe Dolandis Duo PROPAGANDA: Fireside Prophets & LFTD LVLS DADA: Paul Anthony & The Reggae Souljahs BAR STACHE: The Old Fashioned YOUNGARTS TENT: FKA Twigs, Clams Casino SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Anni Piper Band GRAND CENTRAL: Dixon, Bob Moses, Recondite, Mind Against, Thugfucker, Vaal, DJ Tennis

MACYS ON LINCOLN: Bluejay CONGRESS HOTEL: Tremends, The Moon Caravan FUNKY BUDDHA: Aaron Lebos Reality GRAMPS: Ice Age, Trash Talk, Ukiah Drag, Snakehole, Antwon, Lust for Youth, Bassa Nova Civic Club: Jacques Renault, Marcos Cabral, Aurora Halal

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5

SUITE 206 MIAMI: Audio Junkie’s 4th annual Art

Basel Distraction: Videoing, The Jellyfish Brothers, Glockabelle, Friend Roulette, Winstons, The Gun Hoes, White Mystery, Plastic Pinks, Pariah, Liberal Dads, Ben Katzman’s DeGreaser, Archaic Interest, The Ukiah Drag, Pocket of Lollipops, Cretin Girls, Kenny Millions VINTAGE TAP: JP Soars & the Red Hots

LITTLE HAITI THRIFT: Krisp, Millionyoung

YOUNGARTS TENT: James Blake PROPAGANDA: Dharmata, Elisium DADA: Red Seven Depot GRAMPS: Quintron & Miss Pussycat, Xeno & Oaklander, Pictureplane TIM FINNEGAN’S PUB: Joel DaSilva Acoustic SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: The Thrillingtons FUNKY BUDDHA: Gravy

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 6

RESPECTABLE STREET: Toys for Tots Benefit w.

Bullet to Blade, SADA, Bloomfield & more!

VINTAGE TAP: Gladwell Lane, The Whiskey Wasps DADA: Lake Worth Long Shots

SUITE 206 MIAMI: Audio Junkie’s 4th annual Art Basel Distraction: Period Bomb, Bleeh, KC Toimil, Bishop Sleeve, FTMF, Sweet Bronco, Juju Pie, Haochi Waves, Landica, Sonic Graffiti, Kazoots, Secrets Society Of Secrets, the band in Heaven, Bruiser, Treasure teeth, Selectric, Kenny Millions KYI: Art Basel Weekend GRAMPS: Dave Maclean, Psychic Mirrors SMOKE INN: Joel DaSilva Acoustic FUNKY BISCUIT: Funkin’ Grateful SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: 900 Seconds FUNKY BUDDHA: Comedy Show

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7

PROPAGANDA: Veara, Bad Luck, Sunnyvale, Stillframe, Ghost Cat, My Sweet Symphony, The Calm TATE’S COMICS, Lauderhill: Ugly Sweater Sunday RAILROAD BLUES: Funkin’ Grateful GRAND CENTRAL: Death, Obituary, Massacre, Hellwitch SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: The Sawgrass Kin

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8

PROPAGANDA: Karaoke Night Hosted by Chris Martin

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9

PROPAGANDA: Famous Last Words, For All I am, Kingdom of Giants, Whether I, We Are Reason & Forever Taken FUNKY BISCUIT: The Funky Nuggets SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Mark Telesca Band

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10

VINTAGE TAP: Mike Mineo PROPAGANDA: DJ Needlez Presents. Rock The Mic REVOLUTION LIVE: Circa Survive, Title Fight, Pianos Become the Teeth SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Vincent Cerniglia FUNKY BISCUIT: Consider The Source LIVE FROM AURA: Pink Talking Fish DADA: 33 Years

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11

RESPECTABLE STREET: The Old Fashioned VINTAGE TAP: Natty Bo’s PROPAGANDA: Nappy Roots TERRA FERMATA: Joel DaSilva & the Midnight Howl SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Brent Byrd FUNKY BISCUIT: Sol Driven Train GUANABANAS:Pink Talking Fish FUNKY BUDDHA: Stratolites DADA: Sol Republic Band

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12

RESPECTABLE STREET: Ethan Parker Band, The Groove Orient, The Kinnected DADA: Camel Toe

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PROPAGANDA: The Pathetique, Rivers, Mike Mineo, Smith Sundy REVOLUTION LIVE: Issues, I Killed the Prom Queen, Ghost Town, Nightmares VINTAGE TAP: The Wreckly J’s, The High Ministers DANIA BCH BAR & GRILL; Joel DaSilva & the Midnight Howl SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Mylo Ranger FUNKY BISCUIT: Pink Talking Fish, The Hip Abduction FUNKY BUDDHA: El Dub

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13

RESPECTABLE STREET: Cupcake Burlesque: Dead Celebrities

PROPAGANDA: Que Lastima CD Release feat. The Royal Tinfoil, Jangle Leg VINTAGE TAP: Cash O’Riley, The Gladezmen DADA: Off Orbit UNIT1: Ketchy Shuby, Milkspot KYI: Flashback Saturday BOUGAINVILLEA’S: Joel DaSilva & the Midnight Howl SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: The Bobby Nathan Band FUNKY BUDDHA: Sea and Space

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14

PROPAGANDA: Acoustic Showcase / Open Mic TATE’S COMICS, Lauderhill: Substitute Santa DOWNTOWN HOLLYWOOD: Hollywood Holiday Market SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: The Cravens

MONDAY, DECEMBER 15

PROPAGANDA: Karaoke Night Hosted by Chris Martin BB&T: Black Keys, St. Vincent REVOLUTION LIVE: Digitour: Slay Bells

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16

PROPAGANDA: Wise Tuesdays – College Night SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Mark Telesca Band FUNKY BISCUIT: Aaron Lebos Reality

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 17

VINTAGE TAP: Sean Hanley DADA: Whiskey Wasps PRIME CIGAR & WINE BAR: Joel DaSilva Acoustic SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Steven Vincent

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18

VINTAGE TAP: Jacob Jeffries PROPAGANDA: Saving Abel DADA: Craft Bazaar & Art Show w/ C’Day SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Mark Telesca Band FUNKY BUDDHA: Singer Songwriter Night

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19

RESPECTABLE STREET: Hurly Burly Ruins Christmas DADA: Behind The Houses

KRAVIS CENTER | PEAK: Abraham in Motion, Pavement BB&T: Fleetwood Mac VINTAGE TAP: Octo Gato, Sand Ratz PROPAGANDA: DJ Needlez Presents. Rock The Mic SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: The Mobile Homies FUNKY BUDDHA: Jon Greco Band

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21

PROPAGANDA: Acoustic Showcase / Open Mic TATE’S COMICS, Lauderhill: Substitute Santa REVOLUTION LIVE: Blue October SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: The Old Hippies

MONDAY, DECEMBER 22

PROPAGANDA: Karaoke Night Hosted by Chris Martin

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23

PROPAGANDA: Wise Tuesdays – College Night SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Mark Telesca Band

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26

VINTAGE TAP: Joel DaSilva & the Midnight Howl SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Equinox

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27 KYI: Cog Nomen

VINTAGE TAP: Have Gun Will Travel DADA: Shotgun Betty PROPAGANDA: Astrea Corp, Bleubird, JABRJAW, KABODVEINS RAILROAD BLUES: Joel DaSilva & the Midnight Howl SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: The Natty Bo’s FUNKY BUDDHA: Fireside Prophets CD Release

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28

PROPAGANDA: Acoustic Showcase / Open Mic TATE’S COMICS, Lauderhill: Substitute Santa REVOLUTION LIVE: Blue October SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: The Sawgrass Kin

MONDAY, DECEMBER 29

PROPAGANDA: Karaoke Night Hosted by Chris Martin BLUE JEAN BLUES: Joel DaSilva Acoustic

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30

PROPAGANDA: Wise Tuesdays – College Night SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Mark Telesca Band

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31

PROPAGANDA: 3rd Annual NYE J. STREET BLOCK PARTY ft. Scratch-D of Dynamix II, Hyde of Jackal & Hyde, Whole Wheat Bread, Everymen, Raggy Monster, Commonwealth, The Drip Effect, Mylo Ranger, The Romantix, Lftd Lvls, Fuzzhound, The Sawgrass Kin, First Last & Always, Rats Mouth, Innerlight, Big DWM, Joseph Calderon BAR STACHE: Joel DaSilva & the Midnight Howl SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: NYE Gala CONCHY JOES: Spred the Dub WILL CALL: The Heavy Pets, The Main Squeeze

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 31-JANUARY 3 AMERICANAIRLINES ARENA: Phish

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2

SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Joel DaSilva & the Midnight Howl GRAND CENTRAL: Dopapod, New Mastersounds

SATURDAY, JANUARY 3

THE BRASS TAP: Joel DaSilva Acoustic GRAND CENTRAL: Dopapod, New Mastersounds RAILROAD BLUES: The Motet, Kung Fu

RESPECTABLE STREET: Raggy Monster & Lavola Album Release w. Johnny Raincloud & the Downers, The Psymatics

SUNDAY, JANUARY 4

KRAVIS CENTER | PEAK: Abraham in Motion, Pavement

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10

TATE’S COMICS, Lauderhill: Substitute Santa

DADA: Gladezmen KYI: Violet West CULTURE ROOM: The Heavy Pets, Roosevelt Collier, Greenhouse Lounge, The Funky Nuggets PROPAGANDA: XXXmas Party VINTAGE TAP: The Number 13′s, The Bellringers SOUTH SHORES TAVERN: Bluesy Dan Allstar Band FUNKY BUDDHA: Comedy Show

FUNKY BISCUIT: Jam Cruise Pre-Party ft Dragon Smoke

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7

MAX’S GRILL: Joel DaSilva Acoustic

BOTTOM’S UP: BRYAN JACKSON MUSIC FESTIVAL: Cerveza, Sweet Bronco, Gravel Kings, Ghost Cat, Wake Up, StrangeWave, The Alleys, Church Girls, Beartoe, Cody & the Qualified, The Inverted, Break the Hero, The Prescription, In Motion, Minus Turmoil, Hidden Tree Houses, Spicoli, OSF, Church & State, Flying Sharks, The Pub Reckers, Down Coyote

DOUBLE TROUBLE Two bands, Raggy Monster and Lavola, seem to have found a rhythm with each other - both dropping new albums, honing in their sound, and solidifying their lineups to round out their 2014 year.

Raggy Monster has spent the last three months in and out of Tony Bongiovi’s Power Station Recording Studio in Pompano compiling Raggy Monster their sophomore album “As the Thorn Lures the Widow’s Lip, it Seeks No Wisdom from the Wicker Flies” due to drop December 16. “We found our sound with the second album” says Billy Schmidt, founding member of Raggy. Working long hours with wife and longtime bandmate Rachel DuVall, they together wrote the foundation for the new album. “A lot of times it was really late nights of he and I writing. He would write the music, I would write the lyrics, and I would be like, “Oh dude this is so good!” and next thing we know it’s seven am and we’re walking out of our rehearsal studio” says Rachel.

Billy is anxious to get the band on the road with the new album, with loose plans for a Florida tour early 2015, and perhaps crossing state lines later in the year. “It honestly seems like the bigger the show the better we sound. We need that big feeling. We need the grand, you know... I don’t use the word “epic” very often, but we need that epic feeling to go with the music” says Billy.

Raggy is packing an impressive classically trained arsenal of Monsters to back that “epic” up with substance beyond their disarming stage personas. Billy trained on keys with a Masters in Music Business in the works, and front woman Rachel DuVall has a background in opera. The album was recorded with their new drummer Sage Duvall (Leading The Heroes), and they have since picked up guitarist Mike Guido (The Flyers) and bassist Oren Gross (Fireside Prophets).

Personal pride in their most recent release This Book is My Cowardice, and in response to a demand from fans over the years, Lavola is releasing a 12” vinyl in tandem with Raggy Monster’s new album release.

Julian Cires (founder of Lavola) has watched his share of what he Lavola identifies as “a revolving cast of musicians and friends” pass through his project. TBIMC is the first installment featuring Cires’ girlfriend Emily Dwyer on violin and in a vital collaborative role alongside Cires. “With this album I wanted to push it more towards what I thought Lavola was… elements of it have matured and evolved in different directions and I think this album as a whole sounds a lot more mature.” Deviating from his usual solo-effort in composing Lavola’s sound, Cires admits this is the first time he has opened the door to his creative process.

Crediting the success and growth with the new album to this collaboration, Julian says it has “made it into something I could not have done by myself.”

The Raggy Monster album release and Lavola vinyl release show takes place December 20 at Respectable Street with Johnny Raincloud & the Downers and The Psymatics. ~Danielle Romanowski

SHEN WEI An experience in art is coming to the Freedom Tower in Miami like nothing the 90-year-old building has ever hosted. The highly acclaimed choreographer, director, dancer, painter and designer Shen Wei, winner of the MacArthur Genius Grant and a host of other accolades, was inspired by the grand interior of the building to create a site-specific dance with paintings. “Shen Wei - In Black, White and Gray” opens during Art Basel Miami Beach with five performances by Shen Wei Dance Arts among large-scale paintings

by Shen.

Shen Wei. No.10-3/6 “This is an exciting venture that Miami gets to be part of,” declares Kathryn Garcia, executive director of MDC Live Arts. “Miami gets to see this convergence of his visual arts life with his dance life.”

Jeremy Mikolajczak, executive director of the MDC Museum of Art + Design describes seeing the art and choreography together as an immersive experience.

He explains, “You are really actively participating so that you are able to form that relationship between movement and form and how it relates both in the physical sense in front of you and also to what you’re seeing on a canvas.”

Since arriving at MDC Live Arts, Garcia had hoped to bring Shen back to Miami (MDC Live Arts hosted his “Rite of Spring” in 2003). She says when she brought Shen to Miami to consider the Freedom Tower as a venue, the artist immediately fell in love with the space. “He got so excited about it that it became the number one thing on his calendar, which was a real honor for us. He was giving us priority over all these performances in Russia and China and Europe. He was a hundred percent focused on Freedom Tower Miami.”

After the dancers have left, his paintings will remain on the walls through Feb. 1, 2015. Garcia calls the paintings “extremely dramatic and beautiful.” Mikolajczak explains that on their own, they stand as another kind of experience. “I think the paintings themselves really become kind of the record of movement and motion and really, relate to the choreography further,” he says. “It’s just a different way of presenting the material because, I think overall, his work is rooted as one. I don’t think there’s any sort of definition or division between his two artistic practices, so I think his paintings sort of exude the same qualities as his dance portrays as well, that sort of striking movement, that motion.” www.shenweidancearts.org

~Hans Morgenstern | The Independent Ethos | http://indieethos.wordpress.com/

Metal Head, Tim Okamura Oil, collage and mixed media on canvas, 60 x 82 inches, 2014 courtesy of the artist Love, Strength, and Soul, work by Tim Okamura November 22, 2014 - January 10, 2015

ROLANDO CHANG BARRERO GALLERY There are galleries that play it on the safe side, displaying a lot of similar styles of work, and then there are galleries that break boundaries of thinking and creating.

Artist Rolando Barrero introduces a new concept for a gallery that is non-traditional explaining that, “I want to push the envelope with art that people don’t experience everyday.”

Located Rolando Chang Barrero right in the heart of downtown Lake Worth at 711 Lucerne Ave is the Rolando Chang Barrero Gallery. This is Barrero’s third gallery opening following his ActivstArtistA Gallery in Boynton Beach, and Level Gallery in Miami.

A ribbon cutting ceremony took place for the official opening of Barrero’s gallery on November 21st. The gallery houses an outstanding collection of work ranging with everything from couture dresses to “upcycled” painted Whole Foods bags. It is an awakening experience to walk into an exhibition showcasing art that brings forth a new gallery aesthetic. The facility features a variety of artists whom Barrero describes as “The best of West Palm Beach and Miami.” Some of the artists include Carlos Alves, Nazare Feliciano, Amanda Johnson, Erin Fromkes, and fashion designers Aidana Baldassarre and Juan Erman Gonzalez.

After meeting with Rolando Barrero in person, I was inspired by his dedicated talent and effervescent personality. For one, Barrero has four jobs: as a galleriest, art therapist, studio artist, and full time art promoter. He has tremendous focus and is heavily involved in South Florida’s art scene, especially with Art Synergy.

Craig McInnis and Barrero are the founders of the organization Art Synergy, and through this ongoing project they are able to promote the talents of local artists within the community.

When I asked Barrero how he has seen the art community evolve he responded, “It is cyclical. Right now we are leaning away from this idea of ‘sugar skulls’ and as our economy gets better the greater the demand for higher end art.” Things are taking shape for the art community in Lake Worth. If you were not able to get in on all the action at the opening ceremony, please do yourself a favor and go now! Do not miss out on visiting a gallery that is an outstanding addition to our arts community. ~Brittany Curtis

BASEL BRIEFS Art Basel has done amazing things for Miami. It’s more than about the economic boost from tourists and art buyers visiting from around the world. It has also challenged the Miami art scene to step up its game. During Art Basel Miami Beach 2014 (Dec. 2 - 7) there are more local art galleries than ever offering innovative and edgy work from local artists. Below are just some highlights.

One reliable gallery has always been Primary Projects (151 NE 7th St., Downtown Miami). The inspiration for this year’s “International Friendship Exhibition” (Dec. 3 – Jan. 30; Basel reception Dec. 3 at 5pm) comes from Kim Jong-il’s gift pavilion. The irony of the oppressive, autocratic regime of North Korea displaying gifts to the Kim family from other despots as an exhibit is the tip of the iceberg. A total of 19 local artists present their own works informed by irony, like Gavin Perry’s rainbow made of rebar. His partner and collaborator in the sludge metal-inspired band Holly Hunt Beatriz Monteavaro also has a piece in Tim Okamura the exhibit. Other artists include Autumn Casey, Jim Drain, Asif Farooq, Magnus Sodamin, Cole Sternberg, Cody Hudson, and Michael Vasquez.

Butter Gallery (2930 NW 7th Ave., Allapattah/Wynwood West, Miami) has “Departure” (Now – Jan. 8; Basel Reception: Dec. 2 at 7pm), a solo show by Miami photographer Yuri Tuma. These are not ordinary snapshots taken via cell phone, they are a way for the young artist to calm his OCD. Tuma re-imagines images into geometrically symmetrical patterns that appear like mirror images using mobile aps. It’s a kind of purity of form that speaks to an almost literal sense of finding “inner beauty” of everyday buildings and objects both manmade and natural.

But Miami’s art scene is more than Wynwood and the Design District. Head over to Little Haiti and visit Yeelen Gallery (294 NW 54th St., Miami ) for contemporary urban art on the fringe. Currently, Tim Okamura’s “Love, Strength, and Soul” (Now – Jan. 10; Fade to Black /Black Basel: Dec. 6 at 10pm) decorates its 10,000-square-foot space. The Brooklyn-based portrait artist’s large-scale, hyper-realistic paintings of African-American women features new pieces alongside more familiar works and are truly a sight to behold.

~Hans Morgenstern | The Independent Ethos | http://indieethos.wordpress.com/