Blogs

via Flickr user Guy McCullough

Hey look! It's a concert announcement that has nothing to do with jam bands, '80s hair metal, or sugary pop-punk acts! Don't worry, they'll be back next week. For today, let's focus on Brandi Carlile's announcement that she'll be coming to Culture Room on February 20. The folk-pop star released her third album, Give Up The Ghost, came out a couple months ago and shot up the Billboard charts. There's a reason: she's amazing. Her voice soars above sparce instrumentation. Oh and having Rick Rubin as your producer and Elton John as a collaborator doesn't hurt either. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster.

We're happy to announce a punk rock act that doesn't have pop or power in front of it. No, if Dropkick Murphys have to be pigeonholed, it would be as celtic-punk. This Boston (well Quincy technically, but it's close enough) based punk rock act has one of the most rabid followings in modern punk thanks to their non-stop touring, high energy shows, and love of the drinking song. Revolution Live will play host on March 6, close enough to St. Patty's Day to ensure a mini apocalypse will occur on the dancefloor. Tickets go on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster.

Music fans around town are likely already familiar with Herbieman. He's been making a name for himself both around town and abroad since 2003.  An Argentine-born singer-songwriter with a penchant for composition, Herbieman's sound is at times straight rock, at others more folky, but always heartfelt. His MySpace actually draws the comparison in the 'sounds like' line, "early Lenny Kravitz meets John Mayer on acid." Having never personally had the pleasure of hanging out with John Mayer and tripping acid, I can neither confirm nor deny that.

You definitely want to take advantage of this one last opportunity to catch Herbieman and his band live this year. He won't be gigging again until next. And who knows, once you see them live and direct, you may be the next Herbiemanite.

...okay, that's not a real word. Yet. But once it becomes one, you remember I coined it.

Herbieman performs live at Wallflower Gallery (10 NE 3rd ST) this Saturday, November 21 at 10pm. Cover is $5.

via Flickr user Linzera

A couple of shows chalk full of pop-punk are coming to Culture Room. First up is the West Palm Beach-based Hey Monday, who are on the verge of being pop-punk's next big thing. Sure pop-punk bands are a dime-a-trillion, but this local act has a beautiful female lead singer (in appearance and vocally) and a sound custom made the kids to love and bitter bloggers to scoff at. Unwarranted negativity aside, they've signed to Decaydance and just two years after going full time, they'll be headlining a tour which also stars Versa Emerge, Go Radio, and Take The Town. Tickets for the December 27 show go on sale Friday via Ticketmaster.

Hit the jump see Hey Monday's How You Love Me Now video and read about a '90s revival.

via Flickr user qnibert00

Ladies and Gentlemen, if you're going to head out to a single concert in 2010, this is it. Bon Jovi is bringing his perfect hair, golden pipes, and a plethora of iconic riffs to BankAtlantic Center on April 18. Bon Jovi released The Circle, his 10th studio album, last week to surprisingly good reviews. But if you're going to the show, you're going to want to hear at least some of the old stuff sprinkled between the new power ballads. Good news: your wish should be granted. Tickets start at $29.50 and are on sale now.

The Culture Room is welcoming a slightly less well known singer songwriter at the end of the year. On December 30, Edwin McCain will bring his alterna-rocking to the Fort Lauderdale club. If the name sounds familiar, you're probably a fan of Hootie and the Blowfish, who would often take Edwin along on their tours as an opening act. Tickets go on sale this Friday for the show. Hit the jump to preview the goods.

via Flickr user NRK P3

A couple strangely grouped show announcements today. First, the jam train continues to roll through Broward with The Subdudes scheduled to play Culture Room on January 30. The NOLA based bluesy funk rockers have been together for 22 years (with the occasional hiatus for side projects) and have put out 12 albums together, most recently this year's Flower Petals. Tickets for the show are on sale now through Ticketmaster.

In slightly bigger news, the biggest thing in hip-hop, if not modern music, Jay-Z is officially making a stop in South Florida. Hip-hop's closest thing to royalty is on tour promoting his 11th number one album, The Blueprint 3. This fall, Jay-Z  has mostly played at college arenas, but starting next year he's back to the big stages. The BankAtlantic Center will host Jay-Z on February 20, meaning we might actually be able to get tickets. If you're a Citi Card carrying member, you can nab your tickets starting today at 10 a.m. through the Citi Private Pass Program. For those of us trying to avoid swimming in debt, Ticketmaster will be selling the rest of the tickets starting this Friday at 10 a.m. Tickets range from $39.50 up to $129.50 plus fees. Hit the jump to see videos of both artists.

Photo from myspace.com/raffaandrainer

Raffa and Rainer

That John Belushi "College" poster on your wall is not art. Neither is that stark black and white Scarface/Pulp Fiction poster. Or the Periodic Table of Mixology that hangs in your kitchen, no matter how convenient it's proven from party to party. But we understand: Art isn't cheap. That is, unless you participate in the art scavenger hunt November 28.

In its ninth year, the annual hunt is organized by local artist Stephen Sticht and invites the public to search the downtown area for free works by artists such as Skot Olsen, Coma Girl, and Francesco LoCastro, to name a few. This year's event is dedicated to late local artist Peter Giovenco, who died in August after a battle with brain cancer.

The hunt starts at Maguire's Hill 16 at 8 p.m. There is a limit of two works per person, and participants will receive a map to help them find the pieces. The Bubble will host the afterparty, where artists will be waiting to sign their work. Scott Putesky, folk duo Raffa and Rainer, and Mr. Entertainment will perform.

Why does aging Cali club kid Steve Aoki always seem to be everywhere all the time? He's like some kind of superhuman funhouse mirror, multiplying his slick indie-slouch image a million and one times throughout the mediated universe. It's kinda creepy ... Wherever I look (music mags, dark alleys, The Cobra Snake, etc.) there's Mr. Kid Millionaire reflecting himself right back at me. 

via theagencygroup.com

Well, this kind of steals the thunder of the band's big Miami debut tomorrow night at Poplife. But we just got word that the band is playing a free show at Radio-Active Records in Fort Lauderdale tonight. Actually, we heard about it before, but since it was billed as just an "appearance" it seemed kind of murky if they were actually going to play a full set or not.

Well, they're playing, but word is it's going to be a truncated set to satiate the all-ages crowd while not stepping on too many promotion toes. The Poplife gig tomorrow is of course for the 21+ folks, and as it'll be inside a sweaty, packed Miami dance club, the vibe will be totally different at both shows.

So, if you're out in Lauderdale tonight, we recommend checking out the show at Radio-Active -- weirdly, the Broward punk staples the Shakers also play -- and then, if you're of age, heading over to the revamped Heat_R party at Exit 66. If you're out in Miami tomorrow night, do the Wynwood Second Saturdays art walk, then go see YACHT at Poplife.

Ask any salsa lover worth his salt (or white powder of more dubious origin) which is the hardest hitting, most hip swinging salsa track of all time and a heated debate is likely to ensue. But you can bet your ass that Joe Arroyo's "Rebelion" would be in the mix. The lyric may seem racy in these oh so PC times, but any time it drops in any club or party, people seem compelled to sing along at the top of their lungs, "no me pegues la negra!" Also worth throwing into the mix would be "En Barranquilla Me Quedo," another frenetic, conga-heavy salsa jammy jam.

Which is to say, Joe Arroyo is the shit. I'm not saying he's harder than the Cuban salseros, or some of the Nuyorican salsa pimps, but he's most definitely in the mix. Want to see people dancing in the aisles at the Fillmore? Go catch Joe Arroyo live. You may even be one of those people dancing in the aisles.

Joe Arroyo performs at the Fillmore Miami Beach on Wednesday, November 25 at 8p.m. Tickets run $51.50 to $66.50.

via Flickr user pauldevoto

Alterna-rock band State Radio is on tour and has just announced a February 10 date at Culture Room. The Boston based band released their third album, Let it Go, at the end of September and continued their progression toward heavy guitar driven music and strong political views. The coolest thing about State Radio is the fact they actually follow up on their message, rather than just singing about it. They're becoming known for launching charity events and service projects in the wake of their tours and started Calling All Crows, which has garnered thousands of volunteers to "inspire public service and promote human rights." Tickets for the show go on sale November 20 through Ticketmaster.

Quite possibly the most talented and beloved bluegrass band currently play, The Yonder Mountain String Band, also just announced a February 12 date at Revolution Live. Hit the jump to hear what they're all about, or just pick up your tickets through Ticketmaster and enjoy some of the fasted banjo picking you'll ever hear.