SunFest 2011 Lineup: Cee Lo Green, MGMT, Avett Brothers, and More

SunFest, the annual live music spectacle on the West Palm Beach waterfront, has announced its full lineup, and there’s some definite magnetism on this bill.Although you wouldn’t know it from the size of the text on the official lineup page, it’s monster news that the illustrious Cee Lo Green is…

Live: Bright Eyes at Fillmore Miami, March 2

Bright EyesWith CursiveFillmore Miami, Miami BeachWednesday, March 2, 2011In the middle of Bright Eyes’ set at Fillmore Miami, Conor Oberst acknowledged that spending six years away from Miami was too long. Judging by the bevy of tears dripping down elated faces in the crowd, even 24 hours without this wonder…

Apocalyptica’s Orchestral Take on Metallica at Culture Room

What began as a crafty gimmick on 1996’s Plays Metallica by Four Cellos — four classically trained cellists blasting out refined renditions of Metallica tunes — has evolved into serious business for the four Finnish dudes of Apocalyptica. Since then, the group’s rock concertos have received kudos from both the…

Secret French Kissing Society Re-forms for Propaganda Gig

Expect a night of nostalgia Thursday as Secret French Kissing Society reunites for its first one-off gig since 2009. Originally formed in 2003 when lead singer Stavros Polentas moved back to Boca Raton from Athens, Greece, the melodic, new-wave trio waxed a solid debut, First Blood, the next year. Polentas’…

John Mellencamp’s Americana to Reign at Broward Center

While some artists move toward the future, John Mellencamp seems to travel back in time — at least in terms of trumpeting his Middle American origins and blue-collar credo. It’s a transformation that could scarcely have been imagined when glam rocker wannabe Johnny Cougar reinvented himself decades ago as journeyman…

The Gallery Touting New EP at Respectable Street

West Palm Beach rootsy rock act the Gallery has a shot at joining the ranks of the Beatles, Madonna, Coldplay, and Aretha Franklin as a cover subject on an upcoming issue of Rolling Stone. But these guys probably owe the most rock ‘n’ roll debt to another legend, Tom Petty…

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Swagger Into Culture Room

Pushing up the mercury with a feverish series of provocative cries, blues-textured moans, and high-octane howls, Grace Potter and her roots-rocking Nocturnals get positively overheated “even though it’s the middle of winter” on “Hot Summer Night,” from the Vermont quintet’s eponymous, breakthrough 2010 album. Expect a similarly steamy performance at…

Pato Banton’s to Spread Infectious Reggae Positivity at Funky Buddha

Grammy-nominated English reggae artist Pato Banton has spent more than three decades spreading positivity through his music. Via pop collaborations with UB40 like “Baby Come Back,” a dub-inflected strain of work with producer Mad Professor, and recordings with Sting, his free-spirited flow carries a variety of messages for politicians, cocaine…

New York Dolls Coming to South Florida — but There’s a Catch

The spine-tingling energy of the godfathers of glam the New York Dolls has a local story line coming up in July. However, the just-announced gig at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood is not quite what you think.As you might gather from the photograph of Dolls’ frontman David Johansen flanked by…

Slideshow: Bruise Cruise 2011

Let’s see if Hipster Runoff has any thoughts about Ian Witlen’s gallery of shots from last weekend Bruise Cruise aboard the Carnival Imagination. After reading our coverage of Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3, here’s some more visual accompaniment for what occurred on the high seas with 400 hipsters…

Bruise Cruise Day Three: Open-Bar Barrage With Piano Chaser

Previously, the Bruise Cruise Kickoff Party, video of Miss Pussycat’s puppet show, Bruise Cruise Day One, and Bruise Cruise Day Two and The Black Lips Throw a Bass Into the Ocean.At all three Bruise Cruise-affiliated performances this past weekend, Thee Oh Sees’ John Dwyer and Brigid Dawson sang the unflappable…

Video: The Black Lips Throw a Bass Into the Ocean

Previously, the Bruise Cruise Kickoff Party, video of Miss Pussycat’s puppet show, and Bruise Cruise Day One and Bruise Cruise Day Two.Just when this past weekend’s Bruise Cruise started to hit a wholesome stride, the Black Lips decided to do something drastic about it. Up on the Verandah [sic] Deck…

Bruise Cruise Day Two: Worlds Collide at Señor Frogs

Previously, the Bruise Cruise Kickoff Party, video of Miss Pussycat’s puppet show, and Bruise Cruise Day One.The Vivian Girls are a shining example of everything the drunken high-seas indie rock adventure the Bruise Cruise should be. They imbibed in many cocktails with the rest of the bruisers, and bassist Katy…

Keller Williams at Revolution, February 25

​Keller Williams Revolution, Fort Lauderdale February 25, 2011 As he explained in his recent interview with County Grind, when Keller Williams hits the stage, his aim is to entertain. Those who have seen him multiple times — and there are many of those fans — know that he rarely, if ever,…

Backstage in South Florida: Never Open a Record Store

Music vet and New Times scribe Lee Zimmerman shares stories of memorable rock ‘n’ roll encounters that took place in our local environs. This week: the depressing realities of a business breakdown.Let’s start with some free advice. Never open a record store. Of course this may seem obvious now, especially…