Steve Hackett is an overachiever. Forget the fact that he’s dabbled in practically every musical form, be it prog, blues, folk, classical, world, jazz, or, yes, plain old rock ‘n’ roll. There’s also that band Genesis, for which he made key contributions through much of the ’70s. Never mind that…
Just over two years into their professional relationship, Muddy Magnolias’ Kallie North and Jessy Wilson are already that couple finishing each other’s sentences. Their paths first crossed in Nashville, both searching for that big break, and their instant connection set everything in motion. North’s Southern roots meshed seamlessly with Wilson’s…
This coming weekend is all about the beach, beer, babes, and of course, America. Fort Lauderdale’s annual Tortuga Music Festival successfully sets the stage for good times and great music to be enjoyed right in our backyard. This perfect combination of Corona Light, sunshine, and good ol’ country tunes puts…
Sam Hunt is the kind of 31-year-old Southern charmer you bring home to your mom. At his first-ever Grammys red carpet this past year, he donned a tailored, baby-pink suit that hugged his six-foot-four former athlete’s frame, his thick brown hair slicked back into a modest pompadour in the style…
The big names need no introduction: Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, and Tim McGraw will draw the biggest crowds of Tortuga 2016. But it’s the little guys, the wildcard acts at the massive, annual country-music beach party, that will provide the surprise thrills. Though most are relative newcomers, several of the…
After a 20-year hiatus from playing South Florida, Pearl Jam returned to the BB&T Center Friday night at 8 p.m. to kick off their latest North American tour. The arena was invaded by a decidedly middle-aged demographic, several fans donning band tees, graying ponytails, and throwback goatees. One even sported…
You won’t have worry about getting sand in your cowboy boots while trekking to Tortuga Music Festival this weekend. This year, Water Taxi is introducing express routes that will provide all-day service to Fort Lauderdale Beach during the country, roots and rock extravaganza, which will feature headlining artists Blake Shelton,…
Ah, Pearl Jam. The band founded in Seattle just over 25 years ago and long-associated with that city’s grunge scene of the early-’90s has continued to inspire as much fandom as it has vitriol in the music community. Outspoken activists with strong political leanings, their well-publicized battle with Ticketmaster cemented them as…
Tommy Castro is one of those intrepid road warriors whose devotion to the blues has been both unwavering and somewhat challenging. His new album, the appropriately titled Method to My Madness, is no exception. “I wanted to get back to basics,” Castro says. “I wasn’t trying to reinvent the wheel…
“First off, it’s bigger than the last Alligator Alley on Commercial Boulevard by about 50% at least,” says local bar owner and musician Carl “Kilmo Doome” Pacillo. “With high ceilings, which is great for live music. The front of house is L-shaped, so if you want to sit at the…
Margate is about to get a little more groove and flavor with a new party, Bump Thursdays. Launching this week at O’Malley’s Sports Bar, Bump will serve up a good dose of local culture with visual artists and DJs from around South Florida, as well as monthly events featuring sponsors…
“I first heard reggae music while I was on vacation with my family down in the Florida Keys,” says Badda Skat. “I was probably 9 years old or so at the time. I remember it fully captivating me, and I had to learn more… Once I heard the word ‘Rastafari’…
Tortuga 2016 is around the corner, and as one of South Florida’s fastest-growing music festivals, it has a lot to prove for its fourth time around. After selling out last year’s two-day Fort Lauderdale Beach event, Tortuga has added on a third day and kept fans hyped with a lineup…
Tonight is Taco Tuesday, but none of your friends extended an invite this time, since last week you ended up flicking spoonfuls of guac across the bar after a few 2-for-1s. So you’re on the couch watching reruns of Law and Order: SVU instead, swiping left, left…and left again, through…
Game of Thrones returns for a sixth season April 24, but if you’ve missed seeing your favorite characters in the flesh — or parts of them, anyway — you may want to jot down another premiere on your calendars. The performers of Cupcake Burlesque will put on “A Song of…
“One of my favorite quotes that I think — well, I know I made it up — is that it is absolutely impossible for you to become rich by working 40 hours a week,” says the Melvins’ guitarist, Roger Osborne. “You have to work a hell of a lot harder than…
There comes a day in your life when you find yourself either too old or too uncool to have an LSD hookup. Most evenings, that’s fine. You have Netflix to entertain you. But when of Montreal comes in town, it’s a small tragedy. What the Merry Pranksters set in motion…
The 1987 hit film Dirty Dancing was the first movie to sell more than a million copies on home video — no surprise as the film emerged as a cult classic since Eleanor Bergstein first brought it to life. Bergstein adapted the movie (based on her real-life story) for the…
Hype has been slowly building for a new documentary film that promises to shed light on pioneering South Florida punk legends, Load. Made up of drummer Fausto Figueredo, guitarist Jeff Tucci, and singer Bobby “Load” Johnston, Load was “a wrecking ball disguised as a brakeless 18-wheeler handing out candy to unsuspecting children,…
Most people know Big Boi as one-half of the Grammy Award-winning Dirty South hip-hop duo, Outkast. As a solo artist, though, the Atlanta native has achieved similar notoriety, producing numerous albums and hits out on his own, as well as collaborating with everyone from Gucci Mane and George Clinton to…
One group that often misses out on props for both its longevity and iconic status is the Commodores, originally formed when its members met at Tuskegee University and began playing the local club and college circuit. That was 1968. A year later, the band’s drummer and current singer, Walter “Clyde”…
Pioneering can be a difficult cross to bear, especially in the music business. Being the first to try something new within a genre is a daunting task. Especially when it comes to hard rock, a genre dominated by larger-than-life personalities, image is everything. Living Colour bucked the trend of hard…
