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In this age of laptop-toting faux live electronic dance music acts, an actual band employing actual live instrumentation and vocals is a rare thing, especially when said band is delivering funked-out dancefloor bangers like 2020Soundsystem. The musical brainchild of Leeds-based DJ and esteemed 2020Vision label owner Ralph Lawson, the Soundsystem was formed in 2003 as a means of interweaving live electronics with his DJ sets and transcending the tried-and-true record-jockeying formula at the clubs.

Originally a duo comprising Lawson and percussionist Danny "Dubble D" Ward, the project became a quartet when Argentine transplants Fernando Pulichino and Julian Sanza where invited to join on bass and keyboards, respectively. Furthermore, the band began to experiment with guest vocalists, including an early collaboration with singer Diane Charlemagne, of Goldie's "Inner City Life" fame, although Pulichino himself has since taken up lead vocal duties.

The band has enjoyed increasing recognition since 2005, when they closed the Sonar music festival in Barcelona to an audience of 10,000 people, the live recording of which became disc 2 of their first album, No Order. The Live at Sonar disc is now widely regarded as a seminal work of live electronica and DJ/musician collaboration, and gave the band's sound more cohesion as they worked towards the completion of sophomore album, Falling, released in September 2009. Crossfade had a chance to catch up with DJ Ralph Lawson on the cusp of 2020Soundsystem's live performance at LIV on Saturday night and ask him what they're all about.

2020Soundsystem at LIV. Saturday, November 7. Doors open at 10:30 p.m. $25 cover. 4441 Collins Ave. (Fontainebleau Hotel) Miami Beach. 305-674-4680.

Read the full Q&A after the jump.

Girls who rock...plus Johnny.

Alright, if you're not headed up to FLIFF tonight to catch Radioboxer at Cinema Paradiso, but you are in the mood for a little local rocking this weekend, there's a simple solution. It involves floors covered in a perpetual sheen of freshly spilt beer, a haze of cigarette smoke so thick it makes the eyes water and a bathroom where at least seven new infections as yet unknown to man are no doubt being cultured at this very moment. That's right, I'm talking about Churchill's. Where else would you find such a decidedly rock 'n' roll element in Miami?

And tomorrow night they've got a pretty sick lineup waiting to make a hell of a lot of noise. They've got Guilty Fingers (but who doesn't?), Sector 11 and Eztorbo Social. And Guerrilleros de Nadie. The three-piece band, comprised of guitarist/vocalist Michi, bassist Twan and drummer Johnny, play loud, and they play fast. And they're music is really, really aggressive. Plus, they kick ass bilingually, which is like getting a beatdown with the SAP turned on. If you want to rock hard, Guerrilleros' thrash punk is your ticket.

Guerrilleros de Nadie perform at Churchill's Pub (5501 NE 2nd Ave.) on Saturday, November 7.

William Murderface, Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Nathan Explosion, Pickles, and Toki Wartooth

Late Generation X'ers and Gen Y blasted the notion that cartoons are only for kids. Maybe we didn't want to grow up, or maybe we just didn't want to trade creativity and imagination for the drudgery of every-day adulthood. Either way mature themes have been mainstream on animated series since MTV's Liquid Television or The Simpsons. Adult Swim, seemingly run by a bunch of stoner geniuses, has since picked up the torch for the late-night set, and its series Metalocalypse is quite possibly the most violent (translate awesome) show on television.

If you haven't seen it, Metalocalypse follows the misadventures of Dethklok, a melodic-death-metal fivesome who are as much genre cliches as they are hilarious. The show subtly injects (if you can call mass slaughter subtle) social commentary about society's obsession with celebrity. But at its gory core, it's mostly just epic and fun.

Yet the music is no joke. Show co-creator Brendon Small is a Berklee College of Music grad, writes all the music, and plays all the punishing riffs as the lead guitarist. He's also the gut behind lead singer Nathan Explosion's growl. to his credit, Dethklok's first album debuted at No. 21 on the Billboard 200 and, because it was a limited release, will run you at least $500 if you can find it. The band's latest, Dethalbum II, debuted at 15, making it the highest charting death-metal record ever. The band is currently on tour with Converge and Grammy-nominated heavy-metal group Mastodon. The tour will stop by Pompano Beach Amphitheatre Sunday. Brendon Small recently spoke with New Times about scoring drum-god Gene Hoglan, the lack of females in metal subculture, why This is Spinal Tap rules, and why Metalocalypse had to distance itself from the glorious film.

See interview after the jump:

photo by Ben Thacker

Lanzallamas Monofonica play the Rhythm Foundation stage.

Sleepless Night returns this Saturday to Miami Beach. Staying up all night there is nothing new, but the event is way more high-falutin', asking you to stay awake for things like opera and experimental dance. That can seem like a tall order in this town, but the last edition was surprisingly well-attended, and it's nice to at least say you did something cultural, no? (You can read a general explanation of it here.)

via myspace.com/ycentertainment

Peaches has, among other things, a (relatively) new LP (I Feel Cream), a new clip (for the song "Take You On"), a new band (the Berlin-based Sweet Machines), and a new tour. That last one brings her to Revolution this Friday, November 6. It also gave New Times a chance to play a quick game of "Either/Or" with the electroclash superstar when we chatted with her recently. Read a longer account of that chat here, and check out how the game played out, below.

New Times: ESG or L'Trimm?

Peaches: That is so hard but I have to take ESG. I mean I love ESG so much. Their early stuff is just perfect. And I've seen them lately too and it's just amazing that they're carrying on the tradition with their daughters. I love ESG so much.

MIA or Santigold?

I've got to pick MIA.

Lady Gaga or Pink?

Next question.

Welsh DJ/producer Sasha (born Alexander Paul Coe) is that rare breed of artist that has managed to balance massive commercial success and notoriety with artistic integrity throughout his long-standing career. I won't go into too many details about his myriad accolades through the years, which include over a decade of consecutive top 10 votes on the DJ Mag polls and various international awards and nominations at the WMC, Grammy and DJ Awards. Needless to say, and as most of you know, the man is one of the most highly-acclaimed figures in electronic dance music and one of its most recognizable names.

Yet unlike many of his peers who share a monolithic stature in the EDM history books (I'm looking at you, Paul Oakenfold) Sasha hasn't really sold out or compromised the innovative edge of his musical output. He continues to experiment with the possibilities of sound and genre, while pushing the envelope both in the studio and onstage, where he applies the latest and most cutting-edge audio technologies (some of which he has co-developed himself.)

A child of the British acid house explosion and Manchester's legendary club Haienda, Sasha's sound has evolved from the upbeat tribal rhythms of early rave house and the epic sweeping progressive house of his Northern Exposure days with John Digweed, to an energetic and mind-bending signature blend of electro-infused tech house, trance, and breaks. Don't miss out on this rare opportunity to see the legendary world-class DJ perform outside of the usual tumult of WMC and in a considerably intimate setting when he stops by club SET this Sunday night. Sasha will be joined by Hallucination Limited's DJ Three, another house and techno specialist and cutting-edge tastemaker with a finger on the pulse of contemporary underground dance music.

Click here to get your pre-sale tickets.

Sasha at SET. Sunday, November 8, 11 p.m.-5 a.m. 320 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach. 

Check out this killer guitar solo from Radio Galaxy's performance at the Wednesday night blues jam at Titanic Brewery by the University of Miami in Coral Gables.

Click here for Radio Galaxy's myspace.

Like blues music? Check out the jam tonight from 9 p.m. to midnight with an open blues jam hosted by Chris Cosner.

The bar is running specials with $2 Triple Screws, and it's also Mug Club night. So, check it out, kick back some microbrews, bring your guitar, harmonica, voice, or whatever, and bang out your wang dang doodle.

Titanic Brewery and Restaurant, 5813 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Coral Gables. 305-668-1742

A joint project by FUNDarte and the Miami Light Project, the Global Cuba Fest returns for its third annual edition this weekend. But where last year it was a multiple-day, stand-alone event with daily concerts that weren't cheap, organizers have wised up this year. It's now being mounted in one evening, as part of the Sleepless Night art shebang all-nighter this Saturday on Miami Beach. The line-up has a definite jazz bent this year, a genre sorely under-represented in Miami's current musical landscape. Best of all, admission is free, and the music happens in a full-on, legit venue -- the Fillmore Miami Beach! This is likely the only time you'll get into the place gratis, so pay attention.

Here's a run-down of the entertainers on the bill, which kicks off at 6 p.m.

6 - 9 p.m.: DJ Snowhite

Big up the female DJs! Snowhite is a Miami staple who has specialized in crossing cultural boundaries with her mixes. She even won Miami New Times' Readers Choice poll for Best DJ in 2003. She'll get the evening started off by spinning in the Fillmore lobby before and between the live sets.