Photo by Ian Witlen

​If you didn't read yesterday's Q&A with Anthrax's Scott Ian, check it out here. The guy gnashes into people who illegally download music, and 54 comments (and counting) continue the debate today. In Ian's words: "You still can't steal a ticket to come see us. That side of it is still there for us, because you can't replicate a live show. I don't care how many videos you watch on YouTube, it's not the same as being there. Thank God for that." And Ian Witlen's photography does much to further Scott Ian's argument.More >>

Photo by Ian Witlen

​The madness of the Kiss Kruise's maiden voyage, which took place October 13-17 aboard the Carnival Destiny, is still ringing in our ears, and the salty air is still in our nostrils. And, thanks to the hard work of photographer Ian Witlen -- and the support of Sixthman -- there are lots of visuals that will never be forgotten. The four days at sea are carefully documented in our Kiss Kruise slideshow, which assembles 45 indelible images (and we have lots more) from the weekend.

More >>

Photo by Sayre Berman

​Lil Wayne brought the I Am Still Music Tour back to South Florida last night, and though he's reportedly staying sober, there was a different type of purp on everyone's mind during his performance. Weezy paid homage to Prince with a tee bearing one of the Purple Rain mastermind's greatest compositions, "Raspberry Beret."

We did not hang with the legions of hip-hop fans gathered at Cruzan Amphitheatre last night, but photographer Sayre Berman did. Here are some choice selections from the slideshow from last night, also featuring Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Lloyd, Far East Movement, and Porcelain Black.

More >>

Photo by Ian Witlen

Professional surfers/partiers.

​Let's see if Hipster Runoff has any thoughts about Ian Witlen's gallery of shots from last weekend Bruise Cruise aboard the Carnival Imagination. After reading our coverage of Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3, here's some more visual accompaniment for what occurred on the high seas with 400 hipsters trapped on a big, buoyant piece of metal.

Ex-MTV personality John Norris was there, by the way. So was this guy who knew how to play the inflatable guitar. Also, can you spot the County Grind blogger in this photo?

More >>

Photo by Alex Markow

Don't make Mike Mineo turn this Econoline around.

​In January, area singer/songwriter fella Mike Mineo went mobile to really tap into his soulful side up in Nashville. Photographer Alex Markow hopped in the van with Mineo and his brother Johnny for the excursion.

The resulting product was a four-track EP, titled B Is the Key, created specially for U.K. label Fulfill Records.

More >>

Photo by Stephanie Colaianni

Kiss it out. No one is judging you tonight.

​The toilers here at County Grind got emails from our mothers on New Year's Eve. Their pleading was reminiscent of numerous protective parents on the eve in which many drunk and dangerous drivers are on the road: "Park your butt somewhere for the night and don't move until morning."

Photo by Monica McGivern

Zitfest, in sum.

​The final piece of County Grind's coverage of Zitfest, a two-day musical engorgement on the forehead of South Florida that proved impossible to ignore, is this collection of photographs lovingly compiled by Monica McGivern. This welcome introduction of 19 bands to Lake Park's Orange Door -- facilitated in part by the Jameses, and peopled by several artists who created the Top 10 South Florida Releases -- will hopefully be the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Read reviews of Day 1 here, and Day 2 here.

More >>

Photo by Sayre Berman

Where's the mistletoe at?

​Saturday's Y100 Jingle Ball at the BankAtlantic Center was a night of amazing hits, and even more amazing pants -- or no pants, in the case of Katy Perry. Photographer Sayre Berman got a load of great shots throughout the night, and the full 41-photo slideshow is here. And her review of the concert is here.

County Grind could not personally attend, but we're intimately familiar with the lineup. What follows is some extremely useful commentary based upon the night's best shots.More >>

Photo by Kristian Andrew

​R&B-funk-rap collective Michael Franti & Spearhead and piano songstress Sara Bareilles were the two biggest draws for Saturday's free No Snow Ball show on WRMF 97.9's dime in Boca Raton. At the right, Bareilles looks more than comfortable with a guitar in her hands, but it's that pick in her right hand that seems to be the part giving her some anxiety. The show proved to be a night of collaborations, and plenty of dancing with Franti at the end.

Click here to see Kristian Andrew's slideshow from the event.

Photo by Alex Markow

​Photographer Alex Markow was on the scene for the second day of Lake Worth's Halloween Street Scene & Soul Parade festivities. Belly dancing for even the littlest of angels, and a whole lot of homegrown rock. As it turns out, Surfer Blood's performance would be the first of two on area stages (the band later set up at Respectable Street as part of Moonfest). In both, singer J.P. Pitts made for a pretty convincing nun. The gorgeous "ladies" of B-Liminal played earlier, as well as the Spam All-Stars, the Jacob Jeffries Band, Franscene, and Ladies & Gentlemen.

More >>