Mucho Camacho

Before the straw-haired singer-songwriter Jim Camacho was one of South Florida’s acoustic darlings, he fronted one of the most exciting South Florida bands, the Goods, during one of the most exciting eras of South Florida music, the early ’90s. Delivering melody-driven garage rock, the band developed a rabid fanbase almost immediately and came seriously close to major-label success, first with Columbia, then with Joan Jett’s record company Blackheart. Billboard magazine called the Goods the ultimate local band. Marilyn Manson & the Spooky Kids’ first gig was opening for them at Churchill’s in 1990.

Things didn’t quite pan out with the Goods. But ten years later, Camacho is still delivering his own brand of carefully-crafted alternative rock. He still works with former bandmates, two of whom will be supporting him at Alligator Alley Saturday night at 10 for the release of his fourth and latest effort, Beachfront Defeat. From the urgency of the single “Marie” to the infectious “Cowboy Jim,” Camacho’s signature allegiance to straightforward melodies is the backbone of Beachfront. But notably, Jim’s accessible tunes don’t come at the expense of astute and poignant lyricism; perhaps best demonstrated by the smooth poetics found on “Who Knows,” a song which blends funny angst (“I want to shave my head and go to bed / I want to dress up like my mom and walk around town and then I’ll be alright”) with a subtle anxiety about the future summed up perfectly in one phrase: “Who knows?”

Camacho’s show at Alligator Alley (1321 E. Commercial Blvd., Oakland Park) marks the second of a mini-tour of Florida. He’ll be joined by Charlie Pickett (another highly-celebrated South Florida rock ’n’ roller who made his mark about a decade before Camacho, and who Camacho names as an inspiration), the Fur Eels, and Tribal Rage. Admission costs $5, and the show starts at 10. For more information call 954-772-7474, or visit alligatoralleyflorida.com.
Sat., July 4, 10 p.m., 2009