Miami Music Guide
This guide is curated by William Alton, the man behind the @beachedwilly Twitter feed and the bottle of beer missing from your fridge. The guide is in reverse-chronological order and every date is a link (you’ll figure it out). To submit a listing to the Miami Music Guide for approval, fill out the MMG submission form.
Thursday, February 7
Headline: FUSIK
Where: Blackbird Ordinary
Cost: FREE
Ages: 21+
Event Page: HERE
Notes: “From the cultural melting pot of South Florida comes FUSIK: a funk band that embraces, explores and imparts multiple elements of music into their sound. Keyboard wizard Charles Gardner pushes out layer after layer of classic tones, from spiritual organ to fat disco synth as he and blues/rock guitarist & gritty soul singer Anton ‘Sanchez’ Rivera create melodies from every and any genre…latin soul, blues, jazz, rock..they play it all…add the stone cold pocket grooves laid down by drummer Daniel ‘Felix’ Garcia, the BIG boom of bassist Mack Henry Moore III and super conguero Danny ‘Quinto’ Naval, and you have the complete recipe for the body moving, ever groovin’ FUSIK sound.”*
Wednesday, January 30
Headline: Pigeon Trap
Where: Blackbird Ordinary
Cost: FREE
Ages: 21+
Event Page: HERE
Notes: “Roots Rock Wednesdays presents Pigeon Trap, live! Featuring Tony Laurencio and Cuci Amador of Afrobeta, along with drummer Omar Tavarez. Pigeon Trap’s debut performance! Sounds by Haitian Hillbilly.”*
Friday, January 25
Headline: Plains, Ex-Norwegian, Sound Sleeper, and Leading the Heroes
Where: Churchill’s
Cost: ?
Event Page: HERE
Saturday, January 19
Headline: Big Head Todd & the Monsters
Where: Culture Room
Cost: $25
Ages: 18+
Event Page: HERE
Friday, January 18
Headline: Yonder Mountain String Band
Where: Culture Room
Cost: $22.50
Ages: 18+
Event Page: HERE
Thursday, January 17
Headline: Poolside
Where: Bardot
Cost: ?
Ages: 21+
Event Page: HERE
Wednesday, January 16
Headline: Ellie Goulding with St. Lucia
Where: Fillmore Miami Beach
Cost: $28
Ages: ALL
Event Page: HERE
Sunday, January 13
Headline: Femi Kuti & Positive Force
Where: Grand Central
Cost: $30 (advance)
Event Page: HERE
Friday, January 11
Headline: Bobby McFerrin, Chick Corea, Dave Grusin, and more
Where: Adrienne Arsht Center
Cost: $25-$150 (all sold out except $120 Orchestra Circle seating)
Ages: ALL
Event Page: HERE
Sunday, January 6
Headline: Jam Cruise 11 Pre-Cruise Showwith Martin, Medeski & Wood
Where: Revolution
Cost: $29
Ages: 18+
Event Page: HERE
Friday, January 4
Headline: Harry Merry, Tamara Woestenburg, Dino Felipe, Boils and Goyles, Milk Spot
Where: Churchill’s
Cost: FREE
Event Page: HERE
Thursday, January 3
Headline: Holy Ship!! Pre-Party with A-Trak, Jack Beats, 12th Planet, Alvin Risk, and The Knocks
Where: Revolution
Cost: $30
Ages: 18+
Event Page: HERE
Monday, December 31
Headline: Claude Vonstroke with Justin Miller, Kill Frenzy, and J. Phlip
Where: Grand Central
Cost: $49 (sold out), $75 (includes open bar from 9 p.m. – midnight)
Event Page: HERE
***
Headline: Psychic Mirrors and The Miami Players Club
Where: Electric Pickle
Cost: $20
Event Page: HERE
Sunday, December 30
Headline: The Bright Light Social Hour
Where: Culture Room
Cost: $12.50
Ages: 18+
Event Page: HERE
Saturday, December 29
Headline: Arboles Libres with Deaf Poets, Bambery, and Bellows
Where: Churchill’s
Cost:$5
Ages: ?
Sunday, December 9
Headline: Dan Hosker Memorial Fest, Day 2
Where: Churchill’s
Cost: $5 suggested donation
Event Page: HERE
Notes: On what would have been Dan Hosker’s 47th birthday, Churchill’s will unveil a permanent memorial to the former Holy Terror. Performing the second night of Hosker’s memorial show are Rat Bastard, Kenny Millions, Curious Hair, Ed Wilcox, Xela Zaid, Nondor, Jameson Williams, Steve Bristol, HOSKA, Body Garden.
***
Headline: George Clinton
Where: Bardot
Cost: $23-$27
Ages: 21+
Event Page: HERE
Tuesday, December 4
Headline: Young Guru vs. Just Blaze
Where: Bardot
Cost: $20 (early bird sold out)
Ages: 21+
Event Page: HERE
***
Headline: Anti-Art Becomes Art
Where: Churchill’s
Cost: FREE
Event Page: HERE
Notes: An underground celebration of marginalized experimentalists featuring Kenny Millions, Fritz Welch (Glasgow UK), Nic Tammens (Melbourne, Australia), Andy Ortmann (Chicago) and Rat Bastard, Diamond Hymen (Tampa), Crutial Taunt, Dim Past, Body Garden, Sharlyn Evertsz, and Chrome Dick
Saturday, December 8
Headline: Dan Deacon + Tanlines + Animal Collective (DJ Set) + Hundred Waters
Where: Grand Central
Cost: $20 (advance)
Ages: 18+
Event Page: HERE
Notes: Flying Lotus was also on the bill, but cancelled.
Headline: Dan Hosker Memorial Fest, Day 1
Where: Churchill’s
Cost: $5 suggested donation
Event Page: HERE
Notes: In honor of one of South Florida’s most accomplished and prolific musicians, Dan Hosker Fest aims to keep a versatile music spirit alive with friends, comrades, family, and loud fucking music. Hosker, who died in August at the age of 46 after spending three months in a coma following a car wreck, spearheaded The Holy Terrors (whose drummer, Sam Fogarino, eventually moved on to play for Interpol), Harry Pussy, The Laundry Room Squelchers, and, most recently, Boise Bob and His Backyard Band. Those wishing Hosker a fond afterlife will be Gerrie Brand & Daniel Heinze, Russell Mofsky, Scarecrow Jenkins, Brian Franklin, Mark Dubin, Rene Alvarez, Jim Camacho, To Be Hated, Shaved Hamster, Mr Entertainment & the Pookiesmackers, Boise Bob & His Backyard Band, Charlie Pickett & Friends, Humbert, Joe (Hosker) O’Brien & the Terrible Three, Ant Lunch Music Collective (featuring performances by Postface, Tongues of the Heartworm, Wolfboy & the Fantods, Boxcar Timmy), and Mike Hoska.
***
Headline: Basel Castle
Where: 41 N.W. 20th Street
Cost: Free with RSVP is no longer available.
Event Page: HERE
Notes: This Basel weekend capper returns again, continuing its trajectory of steady expansion. Again, the Overthrow crew will open the gates of its headquarters at the Castle, on the very southeastern border of Wynwood, for an all-night, music-art-and-booze bash. This time around, though, it’s not just the castle they’re overthrowing, but the surrounding city blocks as well. This year’s fete features live art by Buff Monster, Anthony Lister, L’Amour Supreme, and Greg Mike, as well as a pop-up gallery curated by TOTT Global. Then, of course, there’s the music, spanning two stages and including sets by live acts Jacuzzi Boys, Purity Ring, Teengirl Fantasy, and Twin Shadow, and DJ sets by Brenmar, Tamara Sky, and others. This event will fill to capacity, so show up early. — by Arielle Castillo
Friday, December 7
Headline: Daniel Johnston Live Performance + Art Show
Where: Grand Central
Cost: $20 (advance)
Ages: 21+
Event Page: HERE
Notes: Legendary tortured-genius Daniel Johnston is beloved by his rabid following of fans for both his visual art and music. The former got its first big commercial boost when the aforementioned Kurt Cobain sported a T-shirt of one of Johnston’s most famous images, a cartoonish frogish creature from the cover of Johnston’s 1983 album, Hi, How Are You. Johnston’s musical output, meanwhile, spans some 30 years and more than 20 full-length albums ranging from lo-fi sketches to fully realized folk masterpieces. Since Johnston lives with both bipolar and schizophrenia (a challenge documented in the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston), his live performances are rare, making his debut Miami performance at Grand Central a must-see. Ditto for the exhibition of Johnston’s work that will accompany the show. — by Arielle Castillo
Headline: Tilly and the Wall
Where: The Stage
Cost: $15
Ages: 21+
Event Page: HERE
***
Headline: Neon Indian, Solange Knowles, Chris Taylor (Grizzly Bear), Jacques Renault, Justin Miller, and Corrin Roddick (Purity Ring)
Where: Bardot
Cost: $22-$30
Ages: 21+
Event Page: HERE
***
Headline: ANR and Bells
Where: The Vagabond
Cost: $10
Ages: 18+
Event Page: HERE
Notes: Based in Oakland, California, Bells is a self-described Afro-Indie Soul quartet whose sound draws on a wide range of genres, including Highlife, Hip Hop, Samba, R&B, and Indie Pop. The band features Nigerian-American artist Sandra Lawson-Ndu on vocals, Doug Stuart on bass, Derek Barber on guitar, and long-time Miami resident Geneva Harrison, whom locals may recognize as the drummer/percussionist from many past Rachel Goodrich shows. With their debut album due out in the spring, Bells brought their soulful sound to Miami for a series of local gigs, including this one alongside one of Miami’s best, electro-rock trio ANR.
Headline: Chromatics and Prince Rama
Where: The Olympia Theatre at the Gusman Center for Performing Arts
Cost: $20
Ages: ALL
Event Page: HERE
Notes: In May, the Portland-based Chromatics released Kill For Love, their fourth full-length LP and first since 2007. The electro-pop foursome also released a stripped down version of the album (read: no drums) for free, which you can download HERE. The show at the Gusman will be their Miami debut.
Prince Rama, the psychedelic sister duo raised on a Hare Krishna commune in central Florida, are gearing up to release Top Ten Hits of the End of the World, the band’s fifth album and second on Animal Collective’s label, Paw Tracks. Tickets for the show can be purchased online for $20 (HERE).
Headline: Merchandise, TEEPEE, Lil Daggers, Band In Heaven
Where: Churchill’s
Cost: $8
Event Page: HERE
Wednesday, December 5
Headline: THEESatisfaction, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and Zynzelay with visuals by Mochilla
Where: The Stage
Cost: $15 (advance), $20 (door)
Ages: 21+
Event Page: HERE
Notes: Only the second rap group ever signed by Sub Pop Records (right after Shabazz Palaces), THEESatisfaction fits snugly on a label that famously introduced the 90s discontented youth to the mainstream. The black female duo of Cat Harris-White and Stasia Irons shuns modern gimmicks (evident in the opening line of the new song “Queen”: “Check your face at the door/turn off your swag”) and instead blasts stark social commentary over a neo-psychedelic bedding. Georgia Anne Muldrow, whose father was a jazz guitarist who played regularly with the Staples Singers, has one foot planted firmly in ’70s soul and the other in neo-psychedelic spirituality.
Headline: Danny Brown with visual DJ set from Shepard Fairey
Where: Bardot
Cost: $20
Ages: 21+
Event Page: HERE
Thursday, December 6
Headline: Merchandise and Psychic TV
Where: The Vagabond
Cost: $10 (advance)
Ages: 18+
Event Page: HERE
Notes: Psychic TV was on the bill, but cancelled.
***
Headline: Nicolas Jaar
Where: Bardot
Cost: $27-$40 (online tickets sold out)
Ages: 21+
Event Page: HERE
***
Headline: Metric
Where: 110 NE 36th St. (Midtown)
Cost: INVITE ONLY
Event Page: HERE
***
Headline: ‘Kurt’ featuring Thurston Moore performance
Where: The Olympia Theatre at the Gusman Center for Performing Arts
Cost: $25-$50
Event Page: HERE
Notes: As ’90s nostalgia hits a fever pitch and a younger generation discovers Nirvana, it makes sense to commemorate Kurt Cobain (again). This multidisciplinary show at the beautiful Gusman Center should bring out the obsessives for a night of work in different genres, all centered around, yes, Kurt. The program features a dance work choreographed by Ryan Heffington, a short film by Adarsha Benjamin, and a musical performance by none other than Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore (pictured above in a Wikimedia Commons photo by Seth Tisue). Thurston in Miami? Go ahead and freak out! — by Arielle Castillo
