You do it. Your friends do it. Some of you are ashamed of it while others embrace it. It is the rhythmic art of dancing known as skanking: a circular formation of random skipping and hopping to bands that incorporate such odd instruments like trumpets and trombones. [...]]]> Mustard Plug
5/20/2011
Event Rating: ★★★★☆
Venue: Culture Room (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

You do it. Your friends do it. Some of you are ashamed of it while others embrace it. It is the rhythmic art of dancing known as skanking: a circular formation of random skipping and hopping to bands that incorporate such odd instruments like trumpets and trombones. And that is exactly what went down at the Culture Room on May 20 when Mustard Plug made their triumphant return to Fort Lauderdale pulling out all the stops with their SKA influences and “punktastic” stage show.

Mustard Plug has never been a household name, but one viewing of a live show, and you’ll find yourself quickly converted into a fan. The group has been around since the early 90s, and though they have gone through several lineup changes, it is obvious that they are still going strong.

An instant appeal of the band is their happy-go-lucky demeanor and high energy performances. It can be appreciated when a band goes the extra effort to entertain, and Mustard Plug does exactly that! Jump kicks, audience involvement, ever prevalent skanking; all these small extras that make for a good time.

The playlist was diverse and engaging. There were some oldies but goodies and some of the band’s more recent stuff from the 2007 album “In Black and White.” In regards to sound, the band sounded solid. Mustard Plug may not be a name you hear a lot, but if they ever make it to your town, check them out!

Reviewed by: Justin Roach

There are few people who when they enter any room instantly become the focal point. Zach Deputy is such an individual. During the opening band’s set, Deputy casually makes his way through the Culture Room, smiling and hugging anyone who asked him with a big smile on [...]]]> Zach Deputy
2/10/2011
Event Rating: ★★★★☆
Venue: Culture Room (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

There are few people who when they enter any room instantly become the focal point. Zach Deputy is such an individual. During the opening band’s set, Deputy casually makes his way through the Culture Room, smiling and hugging anyone who asked him with a big smile on his face.

Now, onto the performance!  Deputy has a larger-than-life presence and an astounding beard. He has turned himself into a one-man wrecking crew of a performer. The solo artist is truly a testament to the art of multi-tasking, as he is surrounded by a circular amphitheater of amps and speakers with several instruments sorted about for quick access. His main instrument, the guitar, rests peacefully on his lap as he introduces himself to the crowd.

Then it begins. His heavy hand glides across the guitar strings to begin a rampant night of dancing. From the beginning to the end, Deputy engaged the audience into what one could feel was a party, and everyone came to have a good time. I think that is one of the appeals with Deputy besides, the tunes. It is that you can totally see him being one of your friends, in the corner serenading the party with an ice cold beer in hand.

Also, to watch the man masterfully alternate between instruments and carry on with his soulful voice is quite entertaining. Deputy states that his “music is for the soul.” And, to some degree it shows. Often, his songs are so catchy and filled with so many hooks that one can’t help to feel it tethering on something ethereal. “Into the Morning” is a prime example. The chorus is something that you find yourself humming hours later. Zach puts on a show that is as entertaining as it is intimate, and with a hearty personality matched with an excellent voice, it made for a good time.

Reviewed by: Justin Roach

Adele is a daydreamer, a hurt soul, a slighted lover. But above all, she is a romantic. Her quixotic and amorous ballads on her newest album “21” are underscored by an odyssey of lyrical evolution and magnified by soulful mature vocals, powerfully laced with feelings of love, loss, [...]]]> Adele
Album: “21″
Rating: ★★★★½
Release (US): February 22, 2011

Adele is a daydreamer, a hurt soul, a slighted lover. But above all, she is a romantic. Her quixotic and amorous ballads on her newest album “21” are underscored by an odyssey of lyrical evolution and magnified by soulful mature vocals, powerfully laced with feelings of love, loss, anger and redemption. Adele wears her emotions on her sleeve.  She chronicles the tumult of young love that is lost, taking listeners on a journey of polar emotions, as she delivers number after number of heart-wrenching melancholy soul.

This 22 year-old British singer and song-writer recently penetrated the fame bubble in America, spreading her emotionally charged music all over the nation. The release of her newest album makes the beginning of a new wave of activity for the neo soul singer as she begins her North American Tour in May.

“Rolling in the Deep” headlines “21” as a bracing start to a stirring musical soliloquy. “There’s a fire starting in my heart reaching a fever pitch and it’s bringing me out the dark.”

Adele’s robust voice takes a listener by surprise. Her powerful vocals are matched by the steady poignant drumming in this first number that is then electrically charged with a climax of cymbal crashing and background chanting. “You’re gonna wish you, never had met me.” It is clear that Adele’s emotions are at the pinnacle of a fixation with unpredictable love, a theme that remains as this perpetual culmination of passion continues.

Over the course of the 11 track album, she covers a range of emotions, starting with anger and accusatory harangues to feelings of suppression and emotional defeat, from pathetic pleas for reciprocated yearning, to finally settling in with a resolved melancholy of a love lost forever.

Her vocals are unmatched in quality and forcefulness and the way in which she conveys herself through these brilliant lyrics, as bipolar as they may be, speaks to her maturity as a writer and her development into adulthood.  The fact of the matter is, she is a 22 year-old, singing about her experiences. The subtle genius of it all is that she thrusts herself so far deep into the feelings of a hopeless lover, the listener can feel them as if they were her own. Her lyrics have the power to pierce through emotional walls to the divide between the mind and heart. Her voice has the stamina to knock over those walls with a flood of sincerity, witty sass, and tainted soul.

These are not overly dramatic ballads filled with questionable situations that move listeners to debate the validity of the emotion behind the music. Adele’s tracks are musically mature. They are legitimate. When she delivers them with her convincing and freeing voice, you can’t help but join in her mourning.

Her delivery is a transforming one. Her performance on her previous album, “19,” debuted her soulful class. That soul has now evolved. This newest album, “21,” exhibits tenacious and solid vocals that are speckled with moments of fragility and innocence. Her voice has a new cultivated richness, lending itself to an almost gospel quality.

Her most poignantly stimulating song displays this unique balance of both strength and also vulnerability, underlined with a presence of somber regret, plaintive pleas, a journey towards resolved understanding, and a hope of a future stability in the absence of this lost love.  “Someone Like You,” describes Adele at her lowest point during a break-up. At this level of unending woe, she pictures herself 20 years in the future speaking to this former love. She imagines that she still is emotionally invested in this lover, yet he has moved on. She abandons feelings of anger and drama present in some of the previous tracks and replaces them with a mournful maturity that still somehow believes in the unrealistic. She wrestles with her emotions in the song, acknowledging that he has moved on, but still asking to be remembered. At this point, once the dramatic dust of the initial break-up has settled, she recognizes the qualities of love that she needs and comes to grips with reality. For a 22 year-old to chronicle the depths of such an emotionally volatile and transforming relationship is impressive.

Her tumultuous journey of “21” is sure to make anyone a hopeless romantic, even if the anguish of loosing love is insufferable, as Adele so poignantly says “sometimes it lasts in love and sometimes it hurts instead.”

Reviewed by: Alex Roland

Image taken from: adele.tv

Jimmy Eat World has been around for what one could call a long time. The band formed in 1993 in Mesa, Arizona, and hasn’t looked back since. With hit after hit, the band has amassed a huge following that seemed to make [...]]]> Jimmy Eat World
2/3/2011
Event Rating: ★★★½☆
Venue: Revolution Live (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Presented by: Live Nation

Jimmy Eat World has been around for what one could call a long time. The band formed in 1993 in Mesa, Arizona, and hasn’t looked back since. With hit after hit, the band has amassed a huge following that seemed to make its presence known at Revolution Live on February 3; a show that one could call decent.

They opened up with “Bleed American,” which was a good fast-paced start to really generate crowd interest. The audience was responsive, emotionally singing along to their favorites. All the big singles were accounted for including   “Pain” and “Sweetness,” the band’s more signature songs and ending with the megahit “In the Middle” during the encore.

The band’s energy was solid, supported by an array different stage lights and hues. The ambiance and mood were definitely set by the solid production value. The band’s overall sound was clear and concise, though I feel lead vocalist Jim Adkin’s microphone could have used a little boost as his vocals seemed to be lessened by the instrumentals.

It’s hard to gauge if bands are not much for fan interaction or they simply wish to fill in their set with as music as possible to appease the fans who want specific songs. Jimmy Eat World seemed to focus on the latter. There wasn’t much interaction between the band and audience aside from a random “Thank You” here and there. This can sometimes cause the audience to become disengaged, but it worked for the band.

Jimmy Eat World put on a solid show.  There wasn’t much in the way of “bells and whistles” during the show, or with the band, but that’s what Jimmy Eat World is about. They’ve been around the independent scene since the beginning, and even with mainstream success, they remain rooted to the former. The band focused on the music and performed a solid headlining gig. No more, no less.

Reviewed by: Justin Roach

Photos by: Kari Klein

With anything from blue hair to black lipstick, fans decked out in LP t-shirts arrived in droves at the Bank Atlantic Center as rock band Linkin Park kicked off its “A Thousand Suns” North American tour in Sunrise, [...]]]> Linkin Park- “A Thousand Suns” North American Tour
1/20/2011
Event Rating: ★★★★☆
Venue: Bank Atlantic Center (Sunrise, FL)
Presented by: Live Nation

With anything from blue hair to black lipstick, fans decked out in LP t-shirts arrived in droves at the Bank Atlantic Center as rock band Linkin Park kicked off its “A Thousand Suns” North American tour in Sunrise, Florida.

The audience was pumped well before the show began. Pumped enough to urinate on themselves? Yes. Alarming, but yes.

An excited and apparently wet man was escorted out of his seat section before Linkin Park even appeared on stage. His exit was followed by a “bio hazard” clean-up crew of two staff members with spray bottles and paper towels.

The attention was quickly focused elsewhere as the second opening act, Pendulum, closed and Linkin Park prepared to take the stage. Excited tension filled the air as the crowd internalized their high expectations, releasing them as screams when the arena went dark and the foreboding stage lights cased the stage.

The almost packed audience was barely visible except for dancing camera flashes and swaying cell phone lights moving through the various sections. Waving arms, collective screams and a joint freaking out moment welcomed the band members to the stage. And so began the “A Thousand Suns” North American tour.

Linkin Park responded with even more energy, feeding off momentum from the crowd like a parasitic relationship. The crowd gave and LP took. Linkin Park threw back and the fans roared.

The playlist featured rhythmic spats from Mike Shinoda and created a steady hip-hop undertone, a perfect compliment to the dominant rock beats LP is so famous for. The band featured several tracks from its most recent album, “Thousand Suns (2010),” including “Waiting for the End,” “The Radiance,” and “Iridescent.”

The crowd went wild during the opening notes of “Numb” (2003),  “In the End “(2000), and “What I’ve Done” (2007).  A nostalgic audience reacted to the remembrances of LP’s previous albums, “Hybrid Theory” (2000), “Meteora” (2003) and “Minutes to Midnight” (2007). At this point fans were taking the head banging to a whole other level.

The rock surge was specked with a few interesting harmonies which coupled with some of the moving and dramatic lyrics, brought a welcomed gravity to the performance.

Not all of it was raging. Lead singer Chester Bennington finished “Breaking the Habit (2003) with an acapella refrain. After Bennington’s voice echoed the line “I’m breaking the habit” three times, he left it to the audience to finish the last word. The crowd responded with a unified “tonight!”

The band really displayed how multifaceted it is. LP transverses musical tastes because of its many layers and multiple dimensions. Fans left the concert wired and satisfied, a promising start to Linkin Park’s 24 city North American tour.

Reviewed by: Alex Roland

“Hi. We are Does it Offend You, Yeah? and we’re from England,” front man James Rushent yelled from the stage of the Bank Atlantic Center on January 20.

The rising electronic [...]]]> Does it Offend You, Yeah? and Pendulum (Opening acts for “A Thousand Suns” Linkin Park Tour)
1/20/2011
Event Rating: ★★★½☆
Venue: Bank Atlantic Center (Sunrise, FL)
Presented by: Live Nation

“Hi. We are Does it Offend You, Yeah? and we’re from England,” front man James Rushent yelled from the stage of the Bank Atlantic Center on January 20.

The rising electronic rock group from Reading really didn’t need much more of an introduction. Their sound spoke for itself. The focus was noise; very loud, heart pumping, energy infused, brilliant noise.

Actual lyrics were barely audible and the vastness of the venue and distance of the stage made it difficult to see the faces of the band members, but the mood Does it Offend You, Yeah? set was definitely not hard to feel.

In fact the raging chaos emanating from the stage ended too quickly. The band started on time at 8 p.m. and wrapped up its last song at around 8:25 p.m.

For an opening band, Does it Offend You Yeah, did its job, giving the intensely anxious and excited crowd some head banging practice and pumping the crowd full of hot energy just in time for the highly anticipated Linkin Park.

But before that, Australian/British band, Pendulum, had a go at keeping the arena of the Bank Atlantic Center ablaze with more fierce electronic rock.

Sandwiched between Does it Offend You, Yeah? and Linkin Park, however, put Pendulum at a slight disadvantage. After Pendulum’s first few numbers, the crowd seemed a tinge more restless and less focused on the performance.

Nevertheless, Pendulum still brought it. The group definitely placed more emphasis on identifiable instrumental sounds, specifically fostering a strong drum presence. This, coupled with beyond incredible lighting effects, created a fierce atmospheric balance of intensity and legitimacy. As their set list progressed, however, Pendulum moved toward a slight techno sound, allowing for a little less stimulating energy.

The vibe coming from both bands is definitely a promising one. Kudos to Linkin Park for choosing awesome framers to set the tone for the first leg of their “A Thousand Suns” North American tour.

*Stay tuned for reviews on Does it Offend You, Yeah? and Pendulum’s latest albums.

Reviewed by: Alex Roland

Thick bass lines, funky in your face guitars strums, calculated jazzy drums. Quirky little instruments you haven’t seen since you were a kid. These things are what make up the classic Cake sound, not to mention the gestural front man John [...]]]> An Evening with Cake
1/14/2011
Event Rating: ★★★½☆
Venue: Sunset Cove (Boca Raton, FL)
Presented by: AEG Live

Thick bass lines, funky in your face guitars strums, calculated jazzy drums. Quirky little instruments you haven’t seen since you were a kid. These things are what make up the classic Cake sound, not to mention the gestural front man John McCrea, his cool voice, fun lyrics and pleasurable delivery.

Cake’s members (John McCrea, Vince DiFore, Xan McCurdy, Gabe Nelson, Paulo Baldi) are five musicians who each played their instruments with complete dedication and great talent. Each member and his individualized role seemed entertainingly self sufficient, but really, each one was integral to the entire sound of the band.

As for crowd interaction, no one was left out. McCrea made it a point to have as much crowd participation as possible from all, even dividing the audience in to two groups that then competed as background singers.

The band even gave away a free tree. And by free they meant a few strings were attached. The fortunate fan had to guess what kind of tree it was and then promise to send Cake subsequent photos chronicling the tree’s progress.

Cake contributed to the chill vibe by performing without a playlist. They simply felt the crowd and gave fans the opportunity to request songs. “Give ‘em what they want”. What else can you ask for?

The name said it all. A true “evening with Cake,” just hanging out and having a good time.

Reviewed by: Ruben Gihoul

Gaelic Storm came prepared. Spoon solos, bagpipe chimes, accordion drones, harmonica hums, guitar strums, and fiddle bows filled the intimate space of the Culture Room on January 12.

Brewing with anticipation well before the first act even left the stage, the crowd was ready too. With cup-fulls of [...]]]> Gaelic Storm
1/12/2011
Event Rating: ★★★★☆
Venue: Culture Room (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

Gaelic Storm came prepared. Spoon solos, bagpipe chimes, accordion drones, harmonica hums, guitar strums, and fiddle bows filled the intimate space of the Culture Room on January 12.

Brewing with anticipation well before the first act even left the stage, the crowd was ready too. With cup-fulls of Guinness they welcomed the down-to-earth Celtic rock band to the stage.

The show began with oldie but goodie “Johnny Jump Up” off of Gaelic Storm’s first album in 1998. Lead singer Patrick Murphy shined as a striking and theatrical storyteller, framing an Irish country music atmosphere in the venue, highlighted by playful folk undertones.

“This is a sexy song, more sexier than Ricky Martin,” Murphy said as he introduced the next number, “Born to be a Bachelor.” This second tract heightened the already jovial tenor of the performance.

Prepping the audience before each number with an anecdotal explanation of the song’s origin, Murphy even prompted the crowd to join along in singing the familiar notes.

Fans definitely responded, erupting in bursts of hurrah during “Rum Runner,” “Raised on Black and Tans,” and the crowd favorite, “The Night I Punched Russell Crowe.”

Gaelic Storm evened the night out with tunes from their latest album, “Cabbage,” released in August of 2010. Cabbage, their eighth album, reached the number nine spot on the iTunes charts.

Reviewed by Alex Roland

This seven-man South Florida based bluegrass group definitely brought hope to the stage. Whether that hope was realized, is another story.

Speckled with harmonies gone bad and a few pitch misunderstandings, the performance certainly had its lows. The band basically showcased its talent during numbers [...]]]> The Short Straw Pickers
1/12/2011
Event Rating: ★★½☆☆
Venue: Culture Room (Fort Lauderdale, FL)

This seven-man South Florida based bluegrass group definitely brought hope to the stage. Whether that hope was realized, is another story.

Speckled with harmonies gone bad and a few pitch misunderstandings, the performance certainly had its lows. The band basically showcased its talent during numbers with large gaps in vocal accompaniment.

The fiddle solos, however, were incredible. Leading the way into crescendos and decrescendos, fiddler, Carl Schmid, built up enough musical tension for the audience to hang on every note. And they did, but only until after his solos were done. His fortissimo and piano moments definitely lit up the stage and his wild adrenalized bowing made the crowd stop and stare and then clap and cheer.

Corey Dwyer added nice contrast with his soft sweet notes on the mandolin and his quiet rustic voice on one of their last numbers.

The audience was polite, but seemed a bit unresponsive at times. Whether it was because of the band’s lack of notoriety among the crowd or built up anticipation for the main act (Gaelic Storm,) the audience just wasn’t feeling it, for the most part.

An A for effort and enthusiasm. As for transfer of that energy from the stage to the crowd, let’s just say that the audience wasn’t on the receiving end.

Reviewed by Alex and Gabbi Roland

Everyone has heard of the Beach Boys. Known for their refreshing yet familiar harmonies, their cool tones and toe tapping chill surf numbers, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honorees [...]]]> The Beach Boys with special guest John Stamos
12/31/2010
Event Rating: ★★★★☆
Venue: Hard Rock Live (Hollywood, FL)
Presented by: Hard Rock Live (Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino)

Everyone has heard of the Beach Boys. Known for their refreshing yet familiar harmonies, their cool tones and toe tapping chill surf numbers, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honorees left their mark on American music history with the swag that made them the bee’s knees back in the day.

Fast forward 50 years to Hard Rock Live. New Years Eve 2010.  The Beach Boys revisited.

The age of doo wop and California cool seemed to come alive again as the nostalgic crowd cheered for the familiar tunes and jumped up for the all time favorites. Beach balls and balloons littered the audience and spent the night crowd surfing among the excited yet moderately calm crowd, ready to bring in the new year, Beach Boys style.

The Boys reverted to favorites such as “Be True to Your School,” (1963) “409,” (1962) “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” (1964) and “So Young” (1965) an original song by the Students recorded in 1960 which apparently was one of the songs that initially spurred the band’s interest in making music.

The relatively older crowd and the somewhat lack of motion on stage did not facilitate the most dynamic atmosphere, yet the band, singer Mike Love and part time drummer John “Johnny” Stamos, adequately compensated with animated band/audience interaction.  Potent drum rolls, some intermittent jokes, and helpful song history before most numbers made for a well-rounded show even a 20 year old could enjoy.

Reviewed by: Alex Roland