For those wanting to dip their toes in all the Art Basel hullabaloo that's going down in Miami over the next few days but not fully commit, Radio-Active Records is offering a viable solution. Instead of having to schlep past the Golden Glades Interchange, you can show up at Fort Lauderdale's venerable vinyl emporium, which is bringing in two notable indie bands that have scheduled performances at the popular Wynwood watering hole Gramps during this Miami Art Week.
Granted, Brooklyn's minimalistic electro duo Xeno & Oaklander and Danish postpunk rockers Iceage are scheduled to do only DJ sets at Radio-Active Records this Thursday. But fret not; the good times will be rolling. "This show will give those who can't make it to Miami a chance to hang out with the performers in an intimate setting and listen to some good tunes," explains Radio-Active co-owner Mikey Ramirez.
See also: Seven Things to Do in Fort Lauderdale During Art Basel 2014
Ramirez organized the event in cahoots with Gramps and Los Angeles performance space the Church on York. He's happy everything came together so brilliantly.
"Record stores do not do enough of these things," Ramirez says about the in-store.
It's really a win-win for all parties involved as both Xeno & Oaklander and Iceage just released new records -- Par Avion and Plowing Into the Field of Love, respectively, which are both for sale on-site. Par Avion is the third release for Xeno & Oaklander, its first on the Ghostly International label, and features more of the duo's deadpan boy-girl vocals and darkwave analog synthesizers. Plowing Into the Field of Love is also the third release for Iceage, but here the quartet tones down its signature artful punk angst in favor of a more expansive sound that's no less emotionally charged.
Ramirez tells us both records are easily on his year-end top ten lists. "I don't really get involved in these projects unless I have some passion for it," he admits. "It's like putting on a shoe that doesn't fit [otherwise]." Ramirez tells us he doesn't really know what to expect from the performers and says everything is fair game. "They are free to grab records off our shelves if they want to." The store will be offering lots of giveaways from the group's labels -- Ghostly International and Matador Records -- and those in attendance will have a chance to RSVP for reduced admission of $5 to the bands' upcoming shows at Gramps this week.
Xeno & Oaklander and Iceage
DJ sets. 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, December 4, at Radio-Active Records, 845 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale. Free Admission. Call 954-762-9488, or visit radio-active-records.com.
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