Who would have guessed that in 2013, we’d still be writing about the guy who serenaded “I Believe I Can Fly” to Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan in the movie Space Jam? But R. Kelly’s career trajectory changed with his creation of the epic 33-chapter R&B opera “Trapped in The…
Tim Armstrong might have found riches producing and writing for big names such as Pink and Gwen Stefani, but his fame and respect came from his time singing and playing guitar for the Berkeley punk group Rancid. Formed out of the ashes of the hardcore Operation Ivy with fellow alumnus…
Donald Fagan and Walter Becker, the duo that make up the classic rock band Steely Dan, have a reputation for being a tough interview. When I took part in a teleconference with a dozen other reporters where Steely Dan was promoting their Summer/Fall tour Mood Swings 2013: 8 Miles To…
Throughout the 21st century, a common complaint for Miami Dolphins fans is that their team would too often settle for a field goal, with its near certain three points, rather than go for a touchdown and its far less certain seven points. With the Dolphins wallowing in mediocrity for much…
In a wonderful coincidence, two of the top leading ladies of song of the twentieth century in Loretta Lynn and Diana Ross will be performing at Hard Rock Live in the coming weeks. Their musical styles couldn’t be more different. Lynn is known as a plain-spoken, country-singing woman of the…
The fallout from Miley Cyrus’ performance at Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards has run the gamut from discomfort to laughter to accusations of racism and sexism. But only the Parents Television Council demands legislation result from her tasteless performance. According to its news release issued Monday, this Los Angeles-based…
Feminists are decrying the media for trashing Miley Cyrus for her embarrassing performance at Sunday night’s Video Music Awards while giving Robin Thicke a pass for his part in it (at the same time ignoring Kendrick Lamar’s and 2 Chainz’s contribution in tastelessness, but for the sake of this article,…
When the Cult performed recently at Revolution, the focus should have been on their heavy, head-rattling rock ‘n’ roll. But I can’t get the image out of my head of frontman Ian Astbury’s failed attempt to emulate Jim Morrison as the lead singer of the Doors in the 21st Century…
Scott Weiland Revolution Live, Fort Lauderdale August 24, 2013 Better than: Linkin Park. There was a sense of urgency at Revolution Live Saturday night. Many came to see Scott Weiland perform because they thought it might be the last time they would have the chance to see him live. The…
War isn’t funny. Neither are Planet Earth’s environmental woes. But this Veteran’s Day weekend on November 9 and 10, the Friends of Nature Music Festival (AKA FONFEST) will descend upon Virginia Key Beach Park in the hope of making Miami laugh and dance and be merry. That’s right — these…
The Beatles would have been the Beatles even with Pete Best behind the drum kit. The Yardbirds went from Eric Clapton to Jeff Beck to Jimmy Page without skipping a beat. Nobody can ever name the bassist. But if you change the lead singer, a band is transformed completely and…
Stone Temple Pilots entered our consciousness with authenticity problems. When they first hit it big in 1993, the quartet from San Diego were derided as biting off the success of Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains. It didn’t help matters that in STP’s second video for “Plush,” their lead singer…
Located in an unassuming strip mall, one might expect Tate’s Comics to just be some run-of-the-mill comic book shop with disorganized stacks of comics, a few toys, and an unhelpful clerk who regards you with distain as you interrupt him watching Japanimation. So, it’s always a surprise for a first-timer…
Exhibit A for why so many people born in the 1970s experimented with drugs is The Muppet Show. This primetime, half-hour variety show aimed at kids was possibly the most whacked out craziest bit of insanity to ever play on television. Running from 1976 to 1981, and starring Kermit the…
Considering he’s been dead for over two decades, it has been a busy year for Freddie Mercury, the late lead singer of Queen. Earlier this year, a stunning isolated vocal track of Mercury and David Bowie singing “Under Pressure” leaked onto the internet. Then last week Sacha Baron Cohen abandoned…
Aging and appearing on a terrible reality show have reshaped Ozzy Osbourne’s public image. Now seen as a lovable old coot, it’s hard to remember that in the 1980s, Ozzy was one of the two scariest boogeymen lurking in popular culture. And while kids were pretty certain that the other…
Seu Jorge Hollywood ArtsPark, Hollywood July 27 You can’t knock the intentions of the good people of the Rhythm Foundation. Their free series at Hollywood ArtsPark provides the community with an evening of music and culture from distant lands. Last time out, they had 7,500 people present to celebrate the…
Few inanimate objects draw a crowd. The Mona Lisa brings a few people out to Paris, and summers at Sequoia National Park attract onlookers to see the General Sherman Tree, but paintings and trees don’t bring the wide smiles a trophy can. Wednesday night at Whiskey Tango in Hollywood, the…
The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou might be the weak link in Wes Anderson movies, but it did allow viewers to hear old songs in a new way. Throughout the movie, Brazilian singer Seu Jorge had random interludes in which he picked up his guitar and sang David Bowie songs…
It’s a cold day in Miami Beach when we first meet Ray Barboni. So cold, the radio says it might reach 34 degrees. Barboni walks over to Chili Palmer (played by John Travolta) and cracks himself up saying, “It’s chilly outside and Chili inside.” That opening scene of Get Shorty…
Seeing a line-up of 311, Sublime With Rome, Cypress Hill, G. Love & Special Sauce, and Pennywise on a Sunday in July in 2013 would be like going to a concert in 1993 headlined by War, Grand Funk Railroad, and Three Dog Night. The 311 Unity Tour is a nineties-centric…
Want to feel old? This Saturday, July 20, is the 20th anniversary of the release of Cypress Hill’s Black Sunday. Opening at number one, it was the fastest selling rap album ever, at that point. When the album reaches the ripe old age of 20 years and one day old,…
