Perhaps that's why it's not unusual that this musical trio are such unapologetic fans of their current town of residence, Hollywood, Florida. Why would a band -- one that recently signed to Williamsburg's Kanine Records -- spending just about every other week touring the country and dropping its debut seven-inch next week, enjoy hanging out where your grandmother gets her hair done? Well, let them tell you.
"Miami has a lot of culture, but I feel like there's like a '50s warp here,' bassist Natalie says. "Everything is really old, and the architecture sticks to its time. Actually, I don't know what it was like in the '50s, but this is as close as we can get." Beyond that, they enjoy the mellow atmosphere, an oasis between two bustling tropical cities.
Kimmy, Nat, and Skyler were kind enough to show us their favorite Hollywood haunts to explain their romance with this unlikely spot. You may be surprised by their hideouts.
5. Their Backyard
These three musical roommates love their backyard, and there's a lot to love out there.
"It's like a jungle," Kimmy says, "There's snakes, there's lizards, there's huge iguanas at times. There's those huge grasshoppers; I love them."
There are also mushrooms growing there that we advised them not to eat.
Nat adds to her list of wildlife "and a playground and a trampoline." It's a wonderland of fun and a refuge. "It's just really quiet," Skyler notes. "After a long day or night, we come and just lay on the trampoline and listen to music. It's just peaceful."
(BTW, this is not an invitation for creeps to start chilling back there. Get your own Hollywood backyard.)
4. Smoothie Palace on Hollywood Beach
They call it the Smoothie Palace "4 life." What the joint is really named isn't clear. It's right on the beach and serves cold beverages and hot dogs. But to Beach Day, this is more than just a place to munch.
"We have our first single: Beach Day, parenthesis Smoothie Palace version, end parenthesis," jokes Kimmy. They claim to all work there and make the best smoothies.
"We dare you to come and find Smoothie Palace," Nat says defiantly.
3. Da Beach
"The Hollywood Broadwalk rocks," Kimmy exclaims. "There's so many freaks and also families and the beach. It's the best. It's clean, and the water is clear and crisp and warm."
"And there's not a bunch of college kids running around," Nat adds. "It's not infiltrated and congested." It's Beach Day's favorite people-watching locale, and it's a great place to crash some out-of-towners' volleyball game.
2. The Trolley?
Call it: The Trolley versus Beach Day. These three, though they have tried, have never caught the Hollywood trolley. "It's like the ghost trolley. We never seem to get on it, and we try so hard," laments Skyler. Trolley, all we are saying, is give Beach Day a chance.
1. Food Truck Roundup at Young Circle
"Everybody in Hollywood goes there, and they play late '80s and early '90s hip-hop," Skyler says of the Monday-night food-truck rendezvous at Young Circle. "It feels like New York in the '80s with food trucks," Kimmy adds. We doubted this claim until we walked up and heard Biggie blasting and b-boys (and b-men, if you will) striking poses while people around them munched on street meat. Granted, it's still Hollywood, but it's got things going on.
Skyler claims, "My favorite food truck is Monster Burgers," while Nat and Kimmy prefer a mobile unit you won't find on the circle. On the Slide is their favorite, but they don't participate in this Hollywood Circle meet-up. Owner Sandy told them in defiance, "Those trucks are from Dade." Either way, the event was populated by people who, like Beach Day, love their hometown of Hollywood.
Beach Day performs at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 14, at Sincerely Yours, Marty McFly at Gateway Cinema, 1820 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale. Its seven-inch release party is on Monday, July 16, at Radio-Active Records, 845 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale.
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