PUREHONEY 54

B.E. Easy Music Festival This year, attendees of the 2016 B.E. Easy Music Festival can look forward to a fine lineup of national touring bands like Keller (Williams) and the Keels, Michael Menert & The Pretty Fantastics, and a Beatles tribute

by The Heavy Pets. You’ll also be treated to the psychedelic funk fusion of Displace out of Tampa, The Funky Nuggets from Palm Beach, and Orlando’s Ancient Sun. Food trucks and vendors will be close at hand with vegetarian treats from Veggie Love, seafood from What’s the Catch out of Jacksonville, and more to satisfy any appetite.

Keller & The Keels

The B.E. Easy Musical Festival has been described by some as an unconventional outreach opportunity. Admid the awesome music and food trucks are a series of workshops and onsite licensed counselors ready to speak with anyone struggling with addiction.

The festival motto is ‘Open Dialogue Saves Lives.’ Festival and B.E. Easy Scholarship Fund founder Mary Jane Evans says, “If people talk about it, they’re more likely to seek help. And we want to be that resource.”

New to the B.E. Easy series of workshops will be explorations through songwriting, dance, and art therapy along with yoga and other healing activities.

All monies raised by the festival go to the B.E. Easy Scholarship Fund which helps young people struggling with addiction and mental health issues. They’re able to do that because the event is 100% volunteer run. Many of those are repeat volunteers and sponsors like Avalon Recovery or local companies like Elegant Parties who approached the festival with a donation rental of all the tents and tables.

“I never thought I would be doing anything like this,” Mary says, “But every year, we get people coming out of the woodwork saying ‘Yes, we need to be a part of this’.”

You can be a part of the B.E. Easy Music Festival starting at the Funky Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park, host of the kickoff party on January 22 with live music from 5-9pm along plus raffles and giveaways. The 4th Annual B.E. Easy Musical Festival takes place Saturday February 6, 11am-11pm at Bryant Park in Lake Worth.

Tickets are on presale now. GA: $30; VIP: $60. Tickets, full band lineup and workshop info are available at www.beeasymusicfestival.com . If you would like to volunteer, please visit the website or contact Mary at 561.789.5769. ~ Jessica Chesler

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Houndstooth Cottage Party HoundsToothCottage, a creative safe haven of Miami will be hosting a CD release party, this February 27. They will be presenting four albums from a few locals. Starting with InOculus - Silence is Deafening, the local punk/hardcore band. This being their first official release, it will melt your face.

The next album is Juju Pie - Welcome To Your Not Alone. This album was the product of hypnotic recording sessions that accurately captures the sounds in her head. With their unique blend of dream pop and noise, Juju Pie has a lot to offer.

The following album is the first solo album for Alex Merbouti - Echoes of the Invisible World (A World In My Head That Doesn’t Exist). He is most known for his work with a multitude of Miami bands but this is the first time people are going to hear this music. It is a change from the things he has done before and is an honest rendition of personal music.

The final album is by Pocket of Lollipops - Thanks Theo, the bands 5th. This band has been making interesting music for years now and for this album they pulled out all the stops. The band recorded the album over the past year, and it features their eerie posh punk plus a bit more of their mind boggling soundscapes.

Houndstooth Cottage began in 2013 and has been collaborating with a handful of local artist and musicians to create compilations, with the hopes to share local, and traveling acts through their DIY measures to get music recording, printed, and distributed. It is run by Miami based artist Maitejosune and Tony Kapel. husband and wife duo known as Pocket of Lollipops This series was produced at Houndstooth Cottage in Coconut Grove, throughout 2014 and 2015. the visiting bands session were titled per visit, since each session had a different approach, which can be heard throughout the albums. From alternating line-ups to missing bandmates these four albums truly capture a magical time period thats currently oozing out of this city.

The release takes place February 27, 2016 at Jolt Radio from 6pm-10pm – the artists showcased will perform a selection from their albums. CDs and other band merch will be available at the event. Jolt Radio 3454 NW 7th Ave. Miami www.houndstoothcottage.com ~ Simon Rafet

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30

SUNSET COVE AMP: Southern Jam ft. Kris Kristofferson, Lucinda Williams, John Hiatt, Shawn Colvin NORTH BEACH BANDSHELL: Seaside Sessions ft.

DRKWAV (Medeski, Adam Deitch, DJ Skerik, Aroze Troubadou DADA: OLY & Lobo Marino

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Jason Soffer KILL YOUR IDOL: The Wire

RESPECTABLE STREET: Bonnie Riot, Killmama, SADA, Shotgun Betty, Deaf Poets PROPAGANDA: Homewrecker

FUNKY BISCUIT: John Kadlecik Band

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Ebi – Jane Javani World Tour DADA: Nightcasters

BAMBOO ROOM: Ghost Town Blues Band

KYI: Urban Sombrero SWAMPGRASS WILLYS: SADA CULTURE ROOM: Yonder Mountain String Band, Trout Steak Revival FUNKY BISCUIT: Frank Bang & Cook County Kings, JL Fulks HARBOURSIDE PLACE: Roots Shakedown

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Bias Culture

PROPAGANDA: Bands For Bernie Sanders Rally & Fundraiser JAZID: Zion’s Door, Lance-O, Kulcha Shok, War Bear, Galaxy, Mello D, Babylon Fall, Cornerstone CHURCHILLS PUB: Beatles Invasion Night, Frankie Midnight, Gravel Stein, Analog, Radio Stones, Manchild

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Jeff Panacloc DADA: Basement Jams

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9

DADA: Comedy Open Mic KYI: Acoustic Open Mic

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10 DADA: Justin Rosario

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11

RESPECTABLE STREET: Helmsmen, Raggy Monster PROPAGANDA: LFTD LVLS, Holidazed

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Bryson Tiller DADA: Craft Bazaar

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic Night KYI: Kraken & Karaoke BROWARD CENTER: Crystal Bowersox

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Madeon DADA: Big Chief

BAMBOO ROOM: Sauce Boss, Delta Moon

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Lobo Marino

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 DADA: Basement Jams

FEBRUARY 2-6

CHURCHILLS PUB: International Noise Conference

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2

DADA: Spoken Word Open Mic KYI: Acoustic Open Mic

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 DADA: Whiskey Wasps KYI: Gun Hoes

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4

RESPECTABLE STREET: Gravel Kings DADA: Jah Steve & The Counteract Crew

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic Night

KYI: Kraken & Karaoke PROPAGANDA: LFTD LVLS, Fireside Prophets

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: The Frontier Needs Heros DADA: Elastique Band

BAMBOO ROOM: Turnstiles (Billy Joel Tribute)

PROPAGANDA: Peep Show LUNA STAR CAFE: Jim Wurster Experience, The Charlie Pickett Band, Blue Sky Drive, Atomic Cowboys, The Fortune Tellers

PROPAGANDA: Que Lastima, James Leg, Bonnie Riot, The Zoo Peculiar

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: 747, Happy Hour Poker

GRAMPS: 6th Annual “Hated for Loving” Concert: Ordinary Boys, CULTURE ROOM: Shooter Jennings, Waymore’s Outlaws CHURCHILLS PUB: Pleasures, Must be the Holy Ghost, Dénudés, Soapbox Soliloquy

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13

PROPAGANDA: Agent Orange, In The Whale, The Muggles, Here To Nowhere DADA: The State Of

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Jason Soffer KYI: Keep It Deep

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Miami Symphony Orchestra – Your Valentine Date With Sinatra FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Rose Max Samba Party – Carnival 2016 FUNKY BISCUIT: Josh Smith & Kirk Fletcher CULTURE ROOM: Robert Randolph & The Family Band

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: JL Fulks

BROWARD CENTER: The James Hunter Six

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Rosario

JAZID: Jah Steve & Counteract Crew, Lance-O, Kulcha Shok, Peppaboxx, Galaxy, New Sheriff, Freddie Seletor, Franco Alexander CHURCHILLS PUB: Moon River Cabaret present a Valentine’s Day Rock n Roll Burlesque Show

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15 DADA: Basement Jams

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16

DADA: Comedy Open Mic KYI: Acoustic Open Mic FUNKY BISCUIT: Jonathan Joseph Quartet BB&T CENTER: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17

DADA: Mentalist Lucas Handwerker KYI: Johnny Mile CHURCHILLS PUB: Mark Hosler

FEBRUARY 18-21

VIRGINIA KEY MIAMI: Virginia Key Grassroots Festival of Music & Dance

FUNKY BUDDHA: Sawgrass Express GRAMPS: Protomartyr, Spray Paint, Shark Valley Sisters CHURCHILLS PUB: 9th Annual Kryptonite Metal Festival

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Adult School of Rock

TERRA FERMATA: The Gravel Kings, Redleg Husky JAZID: InnaSense, Lance-O, Kulcha Shok, Exit Sounds, Galaxy

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 22 DADA: Basement Jams

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23

RESPECTABLE STREET: Last Chance for Sarah

DADA: Comedy Open Mic KYI: Acoustic Open Mic FUNKY BISCUIT: Roxy Roca CHURCHILLS PUB: All Folk’d Up Daniel Johnston Tribute with The Barely Damned, Bora, Kat Merkin, Miguel Motte Valentine

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic Night

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 18 DADA: The Holidazed

PROPAGANDA: LFTD LVLS FUNKY BUDDHA: El Dub CHURCHILLS PUB: Screaming J’s, Juke, Lone Wolf, Emily Sheila

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 19

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Gary Clark Jr DADA: JL Fulks

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Live Painting Craig McInnis & Anthony Burke, Zack Jones PROPAGANDA: Birthday Candles KYI: Kitchen Club FUNKY BISCUIT: Flow Tribe, Come Back Alice FUNKY BUDDHA: Funkin’ Grateful BROWARD CENTER: Chris Mann CULTURE ROOM: Zakk Wylde GUANABANAS: Roots Shakedown

DADA: Karina Sky

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25

RESPECTABLE STREET: Bonnie Riot DADA: Future Prezidents

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Open Mic Night, Artist Opening KYI: Kraken & Karaoke FUNKY BISCUIT: Tim Reynolds TR3 PROPAGANDA: LFTD LVLS GRAMPS: Mo’Booty Band, Mope Grooves CULTURE ROOM: Robert Delong SALTWATER BREWERY: Brett Staska PARKER PLAYHOUSE: The Zombies CHURCHILLS PUB: Mope Grooves, Plastic Pinks

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Subgroove, Happy Hour Poker DADA: Confidence Beyond Chaos KYI: Shameless Burlesque FUNKY BISCUIT: Turnstiles, Billy Joel Tribute PROPAGANDA: Creed Bratton (from The Office/Comedy) TEQUESTA BREWING COMPANY: Brett Staska CHURCHILLS PUB: Miami Rocks for Love

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27

COUNTESS DE HOERNLE THEATRE: An Evening of Dance to Honor Joan Miller DADA: Ba Roos

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Tahiti Band

KYI: The Wire: Hip Hop PROPAGANDA: DJ Needlez presents: Rock the Mic FUNKY BISCUIT: 7 Below, Phish Tribute FUNKY BUDDHA: Jon Stickley Trio CULTURE ROOM: Jack & Jack PARKER PLAYHOUSE: Rosanne Cash

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Nip & Tuck CULTURE ROOM: William Singe

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Patrick The Chinese Man

JAZID: Rhythmadix, Lance-O, Kulcha Shok, Galaxy, Mello D, Babylon Fall, Cornerstone

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29

DADA: Basement Jams CULTURE ROOM: Bag Raiders, Plastic Plates

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20

FILLMORE MIAMI BEACH: Bryan Adams: Get Up KYI: Breaks Yo!

BREWHOUSE GALLERY: Custom Bicycle Show, String Assassins FUNKY BISCUIT: Four80East PROPAGANDA: Everymen, Sunnyvale, Gravel Kings GUANABANAS: Brett Staska

MARCH 3-6

SUNSHINE GROVE: Okeechobee Music Festival ft.

Mumford & Sons, Kendrick Lamar, Skrillex, Bassnectar, Robert Plant And The Sensational, Daryl Hall & John Oates, The Avett Brothers, Ween, Youth Lagoon, Deer Tick, Hundred Waters, Givers, White Denim, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Booker T. Jones, The Supervillains, Roadkill Ghost Choir, Swimm, Sunbears! and More!

Okeechobee Music Festival His first concert was Michael Jackson. His first festival was Phish.

And when live music producer Paul Peck grew up and got his own chance to put on big events, that genre-jumping mix of experiences stayed with him.

Peck is a core member of the team behind the inaugural Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival, which is set for March 4-6 on a spread of more than 800 acres near the Florida town and lake of the same name.

Givers From Mumford & Sons to Kendrick Lamar, from Skrillex to Hall & Oates, from Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant to “Trap Queen” rhymer Fetty Wap, the Okeechobee festival promises the kind of cosmic, borderless diversity in programming that Peck mastered in his previous work with the annual Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tennessee.

As enthused as Peck sounded in an interview with PureHoney about the festival setting — an inland tropical oasis that he called “a nature paradise” — he was downright boyish on the subject of the lineup and, within it, the prospect of rare and unforgettable on-stage pairings.

“I love those moments so much I go out of my way to produce them,” said Peck, who produced the “SuperJam” concerts that were a focal point of Bonnaroo — one-night supergroups made up of disparate talent not likely to ever be reassembled.

At Bonnaroo in 2013, a rock and soul SuperJam featured members of My Morning Jacket and Sly & the Family Stone, with surprise appearances by Billy Idol, Brittany Howard of Roadkill Ghost Choir Alabama Shakes and R. Kelly. The next year, Peck put an all-star live band around the DJ and producer Skrillex.

Okeechobee will have its own summit, called “PoWow!” which is billed on the festival’s Web site as “a once-in-a-lifetime collaborative concert” where “anything can happen and anyone can walk on stage.”

Peck said the mix-and-match impulse is partly a product of his teen-aged obsession with catching great live shows. That bug — wanting to be in the room when something awesome happens — bit him in his hometown of Hartford, Conn., and followed him to college at Tulane University in New Orleans.

“Even before the term ‘fomo’ was invented,” he said, referencing “fear of missing out” in the now-standard acronym form, “I wanted to see these great shows. I wanted to experience them so much I started producing them myself in clubs in New Orleans.”

Sunbears!

Peck was with Bonnaroo at its inception in 2002 as a jam-band conclave on a patch of Tennessee farmland, and he stayed on, through the 2014 edition, as it grew into a veritable city-state, with a lineup of dozens and three-day attendance approaching 100,000 people.

Those same years saw the rise of major music festivals across the United States — Bonnaroo in the South, Coachella out west, Ultra in Miami — and efforts to build new music encampments in other parts of the country.

The U.S. festival map has so many points of interest today, from Governor’s Ball in New York to Hangout in Alabama to Sasquatch! in the Pacific Northwest, observers fear it’s saturated. Last fall the dwindling fortunes of SFX, a once-massive concert promoter with a big festival portfolio, became news.

As it happens, Okeechobee is the same weekend as another Florida bash, the seventh annual Aura Music & Arts Festival, almost 300 miles to the north in Live Oak. Peck said he does not view the two as competitors, and he may have a case since Aura does incline more toward the jam-band, gathering-of-the-tribes vibe of early Bonnaroos, where Okeechobee is more chockablock.

The idea for Peck and his partners is to promote chance encounters in an idyllic, immersive setting of grassland, forest and waterfront, where hip-hop partisans who love Kendrick Lamar can have epiphanies watching iconic rocker Robert Plant, or fans of Mumford & Sons’ artisanal acoustic music are unexpectedly blown away by the electronica of Skrillex.

This festival, like others before it, will offer diversions large and small, with main-stage sets giving way to overnight raves on the outskirts or, for those who need it, quiet refuges from the audiovisual torrent. “I can’t wait to open SWIMM the gates and the property and show people what this world is going to be all about,” said Peck, adding that he hopes this will be the first of many.

The first Okeechobee Music and Arts Festival is March 4-6 at Sunshine Grove. Visit http://okeechobeefest.com for tickets and information. ~ Sean Piccoli

Jay Critchley Incorporated Ever since Jay Critchley came out as a gay “born-again artist” thirty-five years ago, he has been inciting audiences and provoking mainstream media with his art by founding mock corporations to structure his work. The Provincetown, Massachusetts-based activistartist addresses governmental power and corporate greed by using the tactics of marketing specialists — logos, trademarks, press releases, media conferences, newspaper ads, public appearances and billboards — to call attention to the environment, sexuality, and the theater of contemporary life.

Jay Critchley, Miss Tampon Liberty Credit: Vincent DeWitt

“Jay Critchley, Incorporated” brings together over 125 multi-media works that span his long career, including sculptures, installations, photographs, videos, posters, and performance art. The exhibition will also present new collaborative installations co-created by Critchley and FAU faculty and students in cooperation with the departments of music, visual arts and art history, and theater and dance.

The exhibition presents over twenty of Jay Critchley’s long-term projects, along with the attention they have garnered via print and broadcast media. Those projects include: “Theatre in the Ground at Septic Space” (1993), a project inspired by his hometown backyard septic tank performance venue; “Old Glory Condom Corporation” (1989), a project created to promote safe sex and AIDS awareness via sculpture, press conference video, and corporate “promotional materials”; and the environmentally political “Nuclear Recycling Consultants [NRC]” (1983), a project formed to repurpose abandoned nuclear power facilities like the Three Mile Island Historic Nuclear Park and Planned Community Planned Community, with Luxury Seaside Radiation Cottages, Meltdown Mall, BTU Bar, and Half Life Jogging Track.

The public is invited to the free opening reception of “Jay Critchley, Inc.”, Thursday, February 4, from 6:30 to 8:30pm, in the Schmidt Center Gallery. The reception will feature a full collaborative program by Jay Critchley with members of the Florida Atlantic community, including world premier electro-acoustic musical compositions

by Duo Gillis Cunningham, and a short dramatic adaptation of his fictional memoir, Uncle Jay, written by Desmond Gallant, and directed by Elizabeth Price.

Jay Critichley will also present select readings from Uncle Jay on Friday, February 5, beginning at 7pm. All events at the Schmidt Center Gallery, FAU, Boca Raton campus are free and open to the public. The exhibition will be on view February 5 to April 2, 2016. For more information, visit www.fau.edu/galleries. ~ Erica Ando

Gouge Away Hardcore can be formulaic and tired at times; same breakdowns, same throaty vocals, same topics of conversation, whatever.

Bands like Gouge Away keep the scene evolving into a different sort of monster all together. The band has been working hard over the last few years to spread the good word about the South Florida music scene and consistently deliver electrifying shows. They Gouge Away just got back from what looked to be an amazing set at the Fest 14 and are set to release their new full length, “, dies.”

For those not in the know Gouge Away are a female fronted, tough as nails hardcore band from Fort Lauderdale. The best way to describe them would be focused and unhinged all at the same time; a swirling maelstrom of controlled chaos with a sound that’s got some of the best elements of both 80’s and 90’s hardcore. It’s clear from their music and their esthetic that they are driven by their passions. In what seems to be a very quant idea these days, they have morals and stances on topics. Most people just ape the hardcore look and never really get into what the whole scene has been about. Hardcore and punk rock isn’t JUST about wrecking shit in the pit; it’s an ethos that can be whatever you want it to be. However, some people have forgotten that it’s also about having opinions, sticking to your guns on ideals and never giving in to the oppression of others. Joe Strummer knew that, Ian Mackaye knows it and a whole generation lived it. These kids get it and do it right, preferring all ages shows; writing songs about real issues that concern the band and generally being about, what they talk about.

Gouge Away are celebrating their new record with an upcoming East Coast tour. However, before they leave our fair state for the wonderful wilds of the North; they are playing a record release show at O’Malley’s in Margate with a stacked line-up of fantastic bands: Wrong, Guilty Conscious, Insignificant Other and Woolbright round out the bill to a night that will be as equally positive as it is sweaty and deranged.

Gouge Away play O’Malley’s in Margate; Saturday, February 13. Show starts at 6pm, $10 at the door, all ages. ~ Tim Moffatt

Festival of Trees Celebration The Festival of Trees is a magical celebration of the environment and of sustainable practices put to use in our neighborhoods. It will be held at the Cultural Plaza at 414 Lake Ave in Downtown Lake Worth on February 13th from 9am-4pm. Organized by the Lake Worth Tree Board, the festival celebrates everything trees have to offer. To encourage people to come to the event in a tree-friendly fashion, Bill Bones Bike Law has sponsored a bike valet service.

Jump on your bikes, ride to the Cultural Plaza and valet them.

Then, pick up information and pamphlets from local environmental organizations, and listen to informative talks in the Annex building. Starting at 10am, a number of Lindsey Mills venerable speakers will present on topics such as Butterfly Gardening, the Lake Worth Lagoon Restoration, and Proper Tree Pruning. But that is not all. There will be a Vegan Food Court organized by Bean Scene, Yoga at 9am, Kid’s Music & Story Time at 10am, a dance performance from Downtown Dance and live music from local favorites Chaucer, Lindsey Mills and John Ralston!

Not to mention, there will also be an elementary art exhibit in the City Hall Annex building. Lake Worth students created paintings that reminded them of their favorite memory with trees: whether it be picnicking under them, swinging from them, or observing the ants, squirrels and birds who live in them. The students were encouraged to think about the value of trees to themselves as well as to their immediate environment.

This event promises to be a family fun day and a great way to experience the culture and feel of our own “little” Lake Worth!

Come down and spend the day. ~ Christine Sylvain

Soundtrack to the Rat Opera Have you ever been at a comedy show hearing jokes and everyone in the audience is laughing and then another joke and you laugh and then realize you didn’t get the joke and don’t even know why you’re laughing? Yeah, me neither, but that’s the essence of the most recent permutation of the protracted collaboration between singer-songwriter-frontmen Brian Franklin and Rob Elba, first staged in 2009 as “Hearing Damage: The Rat Opera.”

Cover by Juan Montoya Now we get a studio version that provides a fulgent rock-and-roll companion to “The Marriage of Figaro” or “The Magic Flute.” Mozart himself receives a shout-out in “A Boy Called Rat” when the maternal Mrs. Falestra character – via the roar of Diane Ward’s vocals -worries about the audio tapes beneath the bed and voices in the head of her little Rat Bastard boy.

At that point in the libretto – the second of seventeen sections – our protagonist is a child, his glorious fate only hinted at in the previous track, “Wings & Parts 1,” which preludes Francis “Frank” Falestra’s future as an airport ramp rat and backbone of South Florida’s original-music world. From takeoff we’re in the realm of metaphor and obscurantism: the lyric “Live and shave” is one example -- Frank/Rat was part of Tom Smith’s Noise act “To Live and Shave in L.A.” years ago.

But that’s the job of opera, to evoke, not explain, emotions. Of course, to bring a legend to ground for artistic examination requires some literalism: Rat Bastard’s own Noise collective is eponymously and lyrically saluted in “Squelcher.” Also sonically celebrated are his award from Spin for “Worst Band in America” (Scraping Teeth) and his work as a record producer (“Asleep at the Board”).

That last is especially touching as a wannabe rock star character flails and wails at the altar of the great Rat, who dozes happily oblivious to the wants and wonts of wannabe rock stars.

With help from former members of Quit and a former Elba cohort in the Holy Terrors, plus an all-star chorus and a couple of female singers (apparently the castrati thing has gone out of style) Elba and Franklin have created an album good enough for even Rat Bastard’s imprimatur. Whether he gives it is up to him.

You can obtain the CD and digital download as well as all production details and story points at HYPERLINK http://www.ratopera.com www.ratopera.com or facebook.com/Rat Opera. Videos illustrating a few tracks are also available there or at youtube.com. ~ Rob Elba & Brian Franklin

ABCNT, Bands for Bernie Art, in particular street art, has long held a tangible connection with the political machines of its environment outside of the US. Not until Obama’s 2008 campaign and Shepard Fairey’s “Hope” poster, an iconic and instantly recognizable memento of the 44th President’s victory did this even enter the national subconscious.

“There’s a giant gap,” says artist ABCNT concerning politics and art, “and it’s been a source of frustration and inspiration at the same time.” As the Republican and Democratic parties rally to settle their would-be presidential candidates, ABCNT has lent his artistic Bernie Poster courtesy of ABCNT support to Vermont’s Bernie Sanders, long believed to be the sole voice of reason in modern American Credit: shelzeye politics.

ABCNT is an LA-based street/sticker artist, DJ and political activist. After reading Vice’s article concerning the connections between Sanders’ and Burlington’s beloved punk/youth club 242 Main, he joined the unofficial visual effort to get Sanders in front of the Democratic Party with his image of the candidate, spiky-haired, leather-clad and snarling into a microphone. “Bernie has been on my radar long before he started running for president,” he explains. “He’s always been consistent as an independent. I read (the Vice article) last year and it all came together in my head that Bernie’s the lead singer of a punk band.”

Sanders’ politics to date are representative of the subversion and animosity felt by many towards the policies of a certain party seriously considering a candidate best known for his hair, catch phrases and marriages. ABCNT sees a connection between the potential darkening of the American political panorama and contemporary art, “look at this current ‘street art’ trend towards these giant legal murals and see if any address any kind of social issue. How are they relevant to what’s going on in the world and I don’t think you will find many that speak beyond some art school tricks.”

Locally, another believer in Sanders is promoter Jon Jordan, who has already successfully held rallies in support of Sanders’ run in the prelims. “Consistency,” he says, has been the most appealing aspect of the candidate. “Bernie is one of the few whose voting record is consistent with the things he says and how he has voted and continues to vote.”

Approaching this benefit as he did previously, the Bands for Bernie Sanders Block Party will use the same formula of attracting music lovers from numerous demographics in order to rally support and awareness for the gentleman from Vermont’s politics.

Both Jordan and ABCNT are individual but influential factions hoping to bring Sanders’ political vision to the US Presidency and their task is monumental as the age group that they are ideally suited to target often proves to be the toughest.

As Jordan explains, “many younger people believe the system to be rigged and in a way that is the message Bernie Sanders is preaching and ultimately shouting. That’s the reason as to why there has to be a political revolution.”

Bands for Bernie Block Party! 28 Bands - 3 Stages on January 28, 1pm-2am at Propaganda and Common Grounds on J Street in Lake Worth. ~Abel Folgar