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The Miami-based, 26-year-old Rico Love is quietly becoming one of the industry's most sought-after R&B and pop arrangers and songwriters. Starting out in his early 20s as a rapper in Atlanta, he got his real boost when, as a performer, Usher signed him to his J Records imprint. And while working on his debut album, Rico penned a little tune for his mentor as an experiment. That song was Usher's "Throwback," one of the standout tunes on the singer's 2004 album Confessions.

After some time in Atlanta and L.A., Rico Love moved to Miami about a year and a half ago to work with locally born and bred hit-maker Jim Jonsin. And so I met him last night, at the studio he shares with Jonsin, to discuss the various projects he's got in the works. Rico Love is about to blow up -- last night he was awaiting the arrival of Kelly Rowland, so they could work on a number of vocals for her next solo album. Next week he'll be working on Nelly's comeback, he wrote about half of the next Usher album, and to name a random track, you can currently hear him on Fat Joe's "Aloha," which also features Pleasure P.

Check back on Crossfade over the next couple of weeks for a better introduction to Rico Love. But, OMG, what I want to talk about right now is that he's also responsible for the latest Leighton Meester single, "Somebody to Love," which features Robin Thicke, above. It's a sleazy-sexy, Madonna-style electro dance number.

Is it just me or does it seem like there's a whole lot going on this weekend? This time of year always gets a bit crazy, I suppose. Thanksgiving (and Black Friday) is just a couple weeks away. Holidays and holiday parties right around the corner after that. Art Basel is fast approaching too... the list goes on and on. Competing for your affections this weekend, Sleepless Night, and FLIFF.

That's right, the 24th annual Fort Lauderdale Film Festival is already upon us, the festivities having kicked off yesterday on October 23rd. But tomorrow, there's a special treat you won't want to miss, and it doesn't compete with Sleepless Night at all! It's going down in the Paradiso Patio Courtyard at Cinema Paradiso--the Florida Filmmaker Party and Auteur Explosion, featuring a performance by one of Miami's most buzzed about bands, Radioboxer. If you haven't caught them live for yourself, you're seriously missing out on a hell of a live performance. And what better opportunity than this, in which you can support the arts across the board, and impress your friends and coworkers, saying, "Oh, tonight? Just going to support the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival." It'll make you seem classy. Unless you were already planning on going there, in which case, carry on.

Te event cost is a mere $5, unless you attend the A Taste of Florida Film screening just prior in which case it's free. Score!

The Florida Filmmaker Party and Auteur Explosion takes place at Cinema Paradiso (503 SE 6th Street, Fort Lauderdale) on Friday, November 7 at 10:30p.m.and Radioboxer is expected to play at 11. The event is preceded by A Taste of Florida Film.

So Sleepless Night is back. No, not your coke-addled ex-roommate .That guy's still in jail. You know, the (nearly) annual citywide event that takes over Miami Beach, chock full of extreme awesomeness, where you can stay up until seven in the morning and still never take in all the myriad arts and entertainment events scattered around the city? But it sure as hell is fun trying. There are art exhibits, installations and performances, museum admissions, theatre, film, poetry and spoken word, and of course music. Plus many other things that I honestly don't even know what the proper names are. A few listed on SN's site include spontaneous animation and invisible architecture, which could conceivably become a headache, if you're not careful where you walk.

Well, Rhythm Foundation is getting in on the act for this Saturday, presenting one more happening to make you wish you could split yourself in 93 this year. Their 22nd Street Beach Stage is offering a killer lineup, kicking things off with some Samba courtesy of Grupo Embalo. The Jacob Jeffries Band follows their set. And always a good time, Lanzallamas Monofonica is on the lineup next after that. And to close the evening out, none other than the Spam Allstars.

So there you have it, a good reason to stay in one place from 8pm to 1am. Now, if you could just decide what to do with the other eight hours of Sleepless Night....

The upcoming national outing headlined by New Found Glory and Dashboard Confessional was going to be a showcase of '90s Broward and Palm Beach County heroes made good. But this past Friday, Dashboard had to suddenly drop off the tour, which was scheduled to land locally at Pompano Beach Amphitheater on November 27. And with Dashboard off, the whole tour -- which was also to feature much younger acts like Never Shout Never, Meg & Dia, and Single File -- is also off. Here's a statement from the band:

"Due to a family situation that is beyond our control, we have to cancel our upcoming tour with New Found Glory, Never Shout Never, Meg & Dia and Single File. We don't take this lightly but family has to come first. As this is a last minute development, we are still figuring out what we will do- as soon as we know, you will know. We apologize to everyone who planned on coming to the shows. We will find a way to make it up to you." Chris, John, Scott, Mike / Dashboard Confessional.

The band does plan, right now, to reschedule the tour for some time in 2010. Refunds are available at point of purchase.

Tony Dez, performing at ULMC 2009

Do you swoon like a schoolgirl at the mere mention of Wisin y Yandel's names (even though you're not one)? Are you anxiously awaiting Aventura's upcoming Miami show with your Romeo T-shirt already ironed? Can you frequently be seen driving around town with your windows down, blasting the latest Don Omar track? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this bit of news is just for you. And if you answered yes to the last one, I beg you: close your damned windows. You're interfering with my enjoyment of NPR. Now, curmudgeoning old man schtick aside, on to the low down...

This week SoFla hosts the 2009 Urban Latin Music Conference, where all kinds of industry types will convene to share ideas and info in the name of music. Unless you are an industry type, or are hoping to meet some industry types with that latest reggaeton demo you recorded in your Tio Chicho's guest bathroom tucked faithfully beneath your arm, this may not interest you much. Yet. But here's where it gets good--the conference is a one-day affair, taking place on Saturday, November 7 at the Hilton Downtown, and includes various panels and such. But the real fun comes via various parties and showcases from Friday through Sunday.

Showcases and festivities include Kukaramakara on Friday, with performances by The Group, GURU and Tony Dez, conference after party on Saturday at Karu & Y featuring Alejo 305 and DJ X, and another party Sunday at La Covacha. The conference on Saturday will also feature a pair of showcases and a cocktail. For more info and registration, hit them up here.

photo by Alex Rendon

The Alligator Alley Allstars played the bar's send-off party on Friday night.

Alligator Alley was one of the most distinctive venues we had in South Florida. Where else could you munch on savory gator ribs, sip on a crisp microbrew, and listen to funky New Orleans zydeco all at once?  Sadly, it is no more -- after a weekend-long send-off, Alligator Alley shuttered its doors last Sunday.

And although it looks like there'll be no more po' boys in proprietor and veteran bass player Carl "Kilmo" Pacillo's future, there is a silver lining. The charismatic owner promises a larger, music-only version of Alligator Alley will open next spring. "Food has never been the main part of my business, despite winning many accolades," Kilmo said. "It's two to three percent of the profits and ninety percent of the headaches."

The venue lasted seven-and-a-half years at its Commercial Boulevard location. But a new $2000 tax on alcohol sales after midnight, levied by the City of Oakland Park on October 1, was straw that broke the camel's back. "The city wanted the money right away and was not accommodating," Kilmo says. "I simply couldn't afford it."

The late Spanish singer and actress Rocio Jurado wasn't known as "La Mas Grande" ("The Greatest") for nothing. From the mid sixties until only a few years ago, Jurado was, and likely still is, considered one of the motherland's most beloved performers of all time. The quintessential diva, her command of the stage, whether in concert or the silver screen, proved incomparable. She appeared in numerous films and put out more than 30 records over 40 years, beginning with her eponymous debut in 1969 and ending with s Sony-released compilation in 2006 titled Rocio Siempre (which, I guess, technically she didn't really release).

To say that she's befitting of a musical commemorating her life and career seems a bit superfluous. So I'll just feed you the skinny. Rocio No Habita En El Olvido is directed by cubiche Tony Acevedo and stars Ada Linares as Jurado. It opens in the Manuel Artime Theater (900 SW First St., Miami) this Wednesday, October 28 and will run nightly at 8pm through Saturday, October 31. Tix go for $35 or $20 for the cheap seats.

So long.

You never appreciate what you have until its gone. Sorry to report that downtown Miami dive bar/lounge PS14 (28 NE 14th Street) will be graduating from its 14th Street locale after October 31. But it's not because of any financial troubles, the owners have simply decided not to renew the lease on the space.

Co-owner Barbara Basti, of Poplife, explains that it was just time and the place has run its course. "PS14 became the step-kid in comparison to our other projects."

Those other projects include the Poplife at Electric Pickle, Dirty Hairy at LIV and Disco-Net at Shore Club parties, as well as Ecco restaurant and lounge in downtown. Basti also admits that they are working on another project which will hopefully happen "sooner rather than later."

"I've had so much fun [at PS14], I feel pretty nostalgic about it," adds Basti.

Photo by Rebecca Smeyne

Surfer Blood

Every day, RollingStone.com publishes news on the music industry as part of its Rock and Roll Daily blog. Each day averages about 25 stories. And yesterday, between "Led Zepplin II Turns 40" and "Lenny Kravitz: I Want to Work With Jack White," the site's Hype Monitor recommended West Palm Beach's Surfer Blood and listed song "Swim" as its "Key Track."

The band has kept an extremely busy tour schedule lately. (They're playing two shows today, and three tomorrow in New York City.) But they will be back for Moonfest in West Palm for Halloween, which will be the last time to catch them before they head out on the road again immediately. They won't be back until at least December. Read what RollingStone.com wrote here.

Photo by Rebecca Smeyne

Surfer Blood performing Tuesday afternoon at Cake Shop.

CMJ is in the full swing in New York and reports are already coming back from our sister paper, the Village Voice. Zach Baron, in particular, reports on Surfer Blood's performance at Cake Shop. Unfortunately, the West Palm Beach band seems to be getting some heat for accepting so many invitations to perform during the week. Barson muses, "By Saturday, they'll be an entirely different band, if they don't break up before then." Good luck, guys! Prove 'em wrong.