Alex Broadwell

When Jason Joshua Hernandez-Rodriguez sings, you listen. It's science. The man with four names is best known for pouring energy all over the stage as Ketchy Shuby's frontman during gigs up and down South Florida. The band's signature brand of 'downtown soul' makes for a high energy show, because under all of Jason's amazing hair, there's a guy who loves making music and never half-asses it. If it's got his name on it, you can bank on a good tune.

See also: Ketchy Shuby's Sound Is "All About Love!

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Tom Gorrio is no longer a resident of South Florida, but for the time that he was, this humble narrator and scribe was eternally conscribed into his army for the various opportunities that he afforded me to make a simple buck off his numerous recordings.

Tom Gorrio does not produce hip-hop tracks, he does not fuel the Heat; he makes simple rock and roll that can't even be considered a racket. He makes sweet pop noise for discerning ears. If tweens were smart, they'd drop their hard-earned monies on his wares.

Bottom line is as follows: Tom Gorrio is one of South Florida's unheralded sons but not one to buckle from that, he continues to strive forward in California, making good music for good people.

Are you a good person? You might just enjoy what his current act Radar Vs. Wolf has in stock for you. Sit back and relax. This is only part one.

See also:
- Baby Calendar
- Q&A with Tom Gorrio and James Bratton of Radar vs. Wolf; Playing at Sweat Records on Saturday
- Local Motion

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Jolly Badfellow Facebook page

"From the heart, we're punk rock. Some, though, would call us a type of dirty, dirty, dirty, dirty, DIRTY pop punk band," explains Fort Lauderdale band Jolly Badfellow's bassist Shaun Meyer. "But when we say pop punk, we mean the good stuff, like old-school Green Day -- meaning as far back as when they played shows with Operation Ivy -- Teenage Bottle Rocket, and such."

The act is influenced by, Meyer notes, "good ol' fashion punk rock 'n roll," along with "skating, drinking, having a good, and lousy time, with friends, girls, cops, or junkies. Their Facebook site claims Jolly Badfellow "makes Ted Nugent sound like Ted Nugent." Meyer clarifies that this is not really the case. "We don't really have a love for Ted Nugent, I just came up with that on the spot because I was drunk and thought it was funny."

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Brendan Eldom

Tony Turbo teaching at DRUMS

The word "drums" doesn't just stand for those round things you hit to make noise in a circle under the full moon, anymore. Not in Fort Lauderdale, at least. Nope. Nowadays, DRUMS indicates "Dancers Raw Underground Music Session," a free dance class that incorporates percussive elements, worldwide cultural moves and sounds, and your body. DRUMS offers every kind of movement you can think of, from Zumba to yoga, to capoeira to dancehall.

Each class starts with a half hour of proper instruction, then continues to freestyle dancing, where you can bust any move, pop, lock, whatever. "The concept of this half hour class is to expose different ideas of movement, as well as open the minds of our youth and give them positive outlets for expression," says Brendan Eldom, founder of the Oceans Deep music label and, this, the House of DRUMS.

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Pedro Leon with SkYp3r Photography

Thousands of years ago, ancient Celtic and Germanic civilizations celebrated the first day of May -- a month eventually named for Roman fertility goddess Maia - with dancing, drinking, and general merriment. Christians came along and kind of ruined the whole pagan thing, but the tradition of May Day festivities survived.

Fast forward about fifteen centuries to 2013, and we're still getting down and dirty to usher in the warmer days of Springtime. Even though May Day has officially passed, Hypnotic Productions happily announced their eighth-annual Maydaze event at Club Cinema. Bass, lasers, and dancing beauties will all honor yet another joyous season of fertility.
They know that it's the fans that make their party dreams come true, and in order to please them, they must continually top each prior party with more lights, more sounds, and more energy.

"We always try to bring something unique and different to the table," said organizer and headliner Danny "DJ Xta-C" Colica.

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youheardthatnew.com

It's been 10 years in the making, but rappers Bishop and MeRCY have finally delivered a collaborative project. The two best friends released a full-length, My Brother's Keeper, in April. What was originally intended to be only a mixtape, resulted in 14 clean tracks with an addictive old school sound.

New Times spoke with the two about their friendship, how they keep each other in check, and who's the better rapper.

New Times: How good of friends are you two?
Bishop: We've known each other for 11 years, and I would say our friendship is significant. MeRCY is probably my best friend.

Mercy: The way we first met was college. It was some type of elective class, probably public speaking. I was writing raps. I see Bishop behind me, I didn't know at the time, but he was writing raps at the same time. So I turned around and said, "Yo, you rap nigga?" The same way he was writing his raps was similar to mine. Ever since then that's where it started.

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Punk is back, suckas!

While mainstream punk may be sleeping or in a deep coma, it is the underground scene that is still poppin'. A prime example of that thriving undergrowth is Fort Lauderdale band the 707's, composed of Casidy Moser, Josh Young, Shaun Meyer, and DC. The 707's play what they describe as "fast punk rock 'n' roll." And what you hear on their recent EP, 9 to 5, out on Hated for Trying Records, is fast and punk and rock 'n' roll.

"Our influences are all over the fucking place," says Moser on the topic of their sound, pinpointing early '80s Southern California bands. And what gets Moser's pen to paper? "Definitely living down here in South Florida, working shitty jobs, and getting drunk with all our friends," he readily admits.

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Juke not only has an incredibly solid musical name, it also creates soulful, countrified blues with an international twist. And their music works everywhere, from the Lowes Hotel on South Beach to the home of Fort Lauderdale rock, Poor House. They even just returned from playing at the humongous Wanee Music Festival in Northern Florida. Frontman Eric Garcia's ability to get nuts on the harmonica makes all feet tap and every head sway. Garcia, who also works as the booking agent at Will Call Miami, talked to us about writing songs about lunch and how he's the weakest musician in the band.

See also
- PHOTOS: Wanee Music Festival 2013 at Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park

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A couple of years ago, Casey Schumacher's momentum was gaining. The 22-year-old, also known as Case Windu, released albums The Munchies and Best Case Scenario and toured with Curren$y.

After graduating from Full Sail University in Orlando and dropping Acquired Taste in February 2012, Windu's presence seemed to have diminished, releasing no new material since then and performing at local clubs like Speakeasy Lounge and Green Room only on occasion.

"Aside from getting my work done with school, that and music were all I had to worry about," said Windu. "I'm not in a position right now where I'm able to create as much as I'd like to, and it drives me nuts, man. It really sucks."

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RMB Photography

April 28 is a huge day for up-and-coming country singer Ciara Rae. Not only will her new social media sites be updated and her music available on iTunes but this local star will be performing at Davie's finest, Cowboys.

This University of Miami-educated songstress will be wearing custom-made duds created by Straight Southern, Joe Curtis and Tyler Stampler's clothing line from right here in Broward County.

We sat down with Rae to uncover more about her and her band's sound, the local country scene, and her favorite Willie Nelson song.

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