Concert Review: Combichrist at Studio A

Combichrist Studio A August 3, 2007 Better Than: A double dose of spankings The Review: An assortment of mesh, vinyl and exposed genitalia gathered around Studio A on Friday night to await the coming of Combichrist, as well as to celebrate various kinds of alternative sexual fixations. The party was…

Last Night: Electroma Release Party at Studio A

Better Than: Paying $50 for popcorn and milk duds only to sit through an hour and 45 minutes of Lindsay Lohan’s greatest adventures. The Review: Electroma, the new film written by the Daft Punk wonder couple, Thomas Bangalter and Guy-Manuel De Homem-Christo, was first seen by the eyes of a…

Concert Preview – Lefty Perez at Club Mystiques

It’s a little past midnight inside the ballroom of a Sunny Isles Beach hotel, as the thinned out crowd seems oblivious to the salsa blaring from the speakers. Nothing the resident DJ standing atop the stage puts on the turntable during a one-hour span did little to arouse the gathering…

Last Night: Manson and Slayer at Sound Advice

Photo by Jeffrey Delannoy Marilyn Manson and Slayer Sound Advice Amphitheatre July 23, 2007 Better Than: A sacrifice Marilyn Manson and Slayer kicked off their “Reign in the Sun” tour at the South Florida Fairgrounds last night. Junior High age Goths in their black Marilyn Manson outfits sweat profusely as…

Top Songs of the Week

The Web site bigchampagne.com publishes a list of the top downloaded tracks in America. The cool thing about this list is that, unlike iTunes, it takes into account illegal downlaods. Here are the top ten downloaded songs from July 17 to July 24, 2007: Fergie – Big Girls Don’t Cry…

Last Night: The Format at Culture Room

The Format July 24, 2007 Culture Room Better Than: Watching a clip of The Format on My Super Sweet Sixteen. After arriving at the show moments before the door opened, I surveyed my surroundings to see if it met my expectations. Pimped out tour bus, a symbol of budding rock…

Concert Review: Willy Chirino at Dolphin Stadium

Willy Chirino July 21, 2007 Dolphin Stadum A downpour and several rounds of lightning three hours before the first pitch did nothing to deter a large contingent of Willy Chirino’s most loyal fans from heading out to Dolphin Stadium. Whether they are Cuban exiles that arrived in Miami 40 years…

Concert Preview – Vans Warped Tour

Vans Warped Tour July 21st, 2007 Bicentennial Park 11:00 a.m. Warped Tour is celebrating its 13th birthday this year. The main stages have been appropriately renamed to “Lucky” and “13” for the occasion. South Florida did hit some bad luck, though, with bands such as Alkaline Trio, Mxpx, and Valencia…

Concert Preview: Aymee Nuviola at Club Mystique

Aymee Nuviola will play Mystique on Saturday, July 14th. On more than one occasion Aymee Nuviola has emphasized her inability to socialize and vocal inclination as traumatic hurdles she encountered as an adolescent. “A raspy voice and lack of social skills will do that to you,” says Nuviola. “Let’s just…

Marc Anthony Comes Close, but is no Lavoe

Not even the shorest glimpse of the movie El Cantante is not necessary to understand Marc Anthony is no Hector Lavoe. Short on schooling but long on raw ability and bravado, Lavoe had a unique propensity – unlike Anthony whose antics at times seem forced – to grasp a stage…

Concert Preview: Rey Ruiz at Escape

A gravitating presence, charismatic flair and enchanting voice. Those are just a few of the traits Rey Ruiz devotees will be treated to when the Cuban salsero takes the stage at Escape (inside the Howard Johnson, Hialeah) on Saturday night. Ruiz hits Miami on Saturday Fresh off making the rounds…

Last Night: American Idols Live at BankAtlantic Center

American Idols Live July 6, 2007 BankAtlantic Center, Sunrise, FL Better than: Watching the show Photo by Lauren Papiernik Hours before the American Idols Live show at the BankAtlantic Center I was standing in the rain trying to find my way into the arena. At the last minute I found…

Alejandro Fernandez Continues to Blend Genres on Viento

Alejandro Fernandez Viento A Favor (Wind In My Favor) SONY BMG It’s a relatively different Alejandro Fernandez than what the masses have grown accustomed to after 15 solo albums and a career that has spanned the same number of years. But it also showcases a musically evolving and fresh sounding…

More Lincoln Road Restaurant Shuffling

Santo Restaurant & Lounge has just appointed Cory Smith, former sous chef at Pacific Time, to be their executive chef. The new menu will debut this Saturday, July 7th. The Back Story (maybe):A couple of weeks ago I met John Mariani, longtime food editor for Esquire Magazine, at Santo Restaurant…

Spanish Harlem Orchestra shines on United We Swing

Somewhere Hector Lavoe and Celia Celia – to name a few – are smiling and probably jamming as well. And Oscar Hernandez should no doubt feel a sense of accomplishment. Hernandez, the founder and pianist for salsa ensemble Spanish Harlem Orchestra, set out to maintain the charged fusions of Afro-Caribbean…

Last Night: Tony Orlando (Minus Dawn) at Hard Rock Live

Tony Orlando June 27, 2007 Hard Rock Live at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Better Than: An Elvis impersonator When you’re a singer whose career is based on hit songs you can count on one hand and your 15 minutes of fame lasted five years, it’s probably best…

Last Night: Whole Wheat Bread at Churchill’s

Whole Wheat Bread June 22, 2007 Churchill’s Pub Better Than: Being hit in the face with brass knuckles. Barely. With too few good punk bands to cleave to, I hoped this show would provide a miracle. Beginning with Ft. Lauderdale natives Skuff’d Shoes, a ska-reggae-punk hybrid, the night opened to…

Delgado Keeps Concert Details Quiet

Issac Delgado isn’t letting anybody in on what to expect tomorrow night when he performs in Miami for the first time since leaving Cuba late last year. About the only thing the multi-talented Cuban bandleader/sonero/songwriter is promising is ‘tremendo rumbon Cubano’ (‘one hell of a Cuban fest’) while adding that…

Issac Delgado: On the Front Page

Aptly titled En Primera Plana (“On the Front Page”) Issac Delgado’s first U.S.-produced album is a mix of old and new as the Cuban vocalist/bandleader rehashes longstanding classics in addition to puling all the right strings alongside a mega salsa star. “La Mujer Que Mas Me Duele” (“The Women That…

Ask the Food Critic: Design District Dining

Hi Lee, Hope you have been doing well. Memory jog – About a year ago, I read your “foie gras” story which changed my life. My husband Tony and I decided togo vegetarian. I wanted to update you on our progress: I have become quite the creative vegetarian cook, not…

Concert Preview: Chayanne at Hard Rock Live

Abuelitas, chongitas y mujeres muy ricas will all be in a state of seduction as soon as baby-faced Latin pop star Chayanne takes the stage Wednesday night at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood. Teeny-boppers will squeal, middle-aged hotties will squeal some more – maybe even hurl a thong or…

Last Night: Joss Stone at Revolution

Joss Stone June 16, 2007 Revolution Better Than: Her CDs, by far. No Opener: Just Raw Stone Joss Stone at Revolution Photo by Jamie Puntumkhul For a girl that hails from the white cliffs of Dover, England, Joss Stone is way into color – which made her magenta hair and…