Magic Giant Brings West Coast Vibes to Miami Beach

When you go to summer camp as an adult, it’s already pretty clear that you’ve refused to grow up. So, naturally, you’ve got to have theme music to accompany your fairytale life. That’s where Magic Giant comes in. For the last two summers, Magic Giant has played private concerts for…

Twin Shadow on His Dominican Heritage and Embracing Criticism

By the sound of it, George Lewis Jr. has just woken up. He’s on the West Coast, meaning the relatively early scheduled interview might be cutting into his sleep. “Hey, what’s up?” he says after a long sigh. It’s not that Lewis is being rude. For the next 15 minutes,…

Live at Sweat Gives Locals a Chance to Know Miami Musicians

“We enjoy the tradition of record-shop in-stores,” Lauren Reskin, owner of Sweat Records, says. “We wanted to honor that and take it up a notch.” After receiving a grant from the Knight Foundation in December 2012 and ensuring that the sale of Churchill’s Pub would not cause their shop to…

Sufjan Stevens Makes His First Miami Show a Memorable One

Sufjan Stevens loves themes. Over the years he’s made two albums about states (Michigan and Illinois), two box sets of Christmas music (Songs for Christmas, vol. 1-5 and Silver & Gold, vol. 6-10), an ode to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway (The BQE), and two albums centered around the Chinese zodiac and the…

Kid Lore Releases an EP Made For Those Who Can’t Dance

There is a point in time for some bands where the attitude behind the music shifts. It is a defining moment that changes their perspective from a bunch of punks just jamming together to a group of individuals acknowledging their own talent and striving to make it as far as…

Brazilian Girls Share a Joint With Miami to Fight Off the Jet Lag

Just last week Sabina Sciubba, lead singer of Brazilian Girls, announced she had a supporting role in Zach Galifianakis’ new TV show Baskets. And during her show at the North Beach Bandshell on Friday night she put forth maximum effort to prove that she had the theatrical and comedic chops…

Miami’s Five Best Concerts This Week

Diplo’s Mad Decent Bon Voyage Party and Birthday Celebration. Tuesday, November 10, 11 p.m. E11even Miami, 29 NE 11th St., Miami; 305-305-6611; 11miami.com. Tickets cost $30 to $50 plus fees via 11miami.com. Ages 21 and up. Diplo has a lot to celebrate this week — his birthday on November 10 and his Mad Decent…

Jazz Legend Dee Dee Bridgewater Comes to Coral Gables

Dee Dee Bridgewater could be considered a renaissance woman. Born Denise Eileen Garrett, she’s gained fame on Broadway, in concert, and on vinyl, winning three Grammys and a Tony in the process. She hosts her own radio show on PBS, JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater, and serves as a United…

Through Hard Times, Surfer Blood Charges Forward

When the founding members of Surfer Blood first decided to be a band, they hit the road hard. Within their first five months, they’d already done four tours. Before long the band had built a buzz that stretched between SXSW, CMJ, and beyond. Their DIY debut LP, Astro Coast, was…

Miami’s Ten Under $10 Weekend Party Guide

No Work Fest 2015. Starting at 6 p.m. on Friday, November 6 with Holly Hunt, Bishop Sleeve, Treasure Teeth, and GWAND at Sweat Records, 5505 NE 2nd Ave., Miami; 786-693-9309; sweatrecordsmiami.com. The party continues at 8 p.m. with Black Mayonnaise, Rat Bastard, the Jellyfish Brothers, Hellmass, Human Fluid Rot, Bruiser, Sponge, Menudo Death Squad, and…

Cafeina Launches Wynwood Piano Bar Pop-Up Through November

Local piano bar fans who are in a deep depression over Magnum Lounge closing a couple weeks back have a new reason to keep on living. Every Friday night this November from 6 to 10 p.m., Cafeina will transform into the Wynwood Piano Bar, where former Magnum Lounge piano man…

Sufjan Stevens Makes Long-Awaited Miami Debut

Singer-songwriter Sufjan Stevens’ catalog of sound stretches far — from the electro-based The Age of Adz to the detail-laden Come On Feel the Illinoise. He’s been creating something near orchestral with each album for more than a decade. Now, finally, Miami will get to experience the live melancholia of Stevens…

Police Reportedly Seize Items From Lil Wayne’s Art Collection in Raid

Yesterday, Miami-Dade police broke into Lil Wayne’s Miami Beach mansion after a judge granted a “break order,” which basically allowed officers to enter the rapper’s house with force if necessary. The reason for the order: Wayne owed $2 million to a company — the Miami-based Signature Group — for a…

Bakermat on the Rise of Tropical House

Lodewijk Fluttert didn’t set out to become a DJ. Indeed, the young Dutch producer who records and performs internationally as Bakermat (including an upcoming set this Thursday night at LIV) didn’t set out to do anything beyond finding himself. “I was a psychology student in Holland. I took a semester off…

Miami Rapper Stitches Says He Fought Cancer and Won

Just over a year ago we profiled the Miami-born-and-bred viral sensation known as Stitches. Despite hours in his company, the rapper remained an enigma. Conversations with his friends, his foes, and his relatives depicted an individual as mutable and vague as he was self-assured. Though, whether his persona is genuine…

Becky G Talks Empire, YouTube, and Meeting Her Idol Jennifer Lopez

One minute, you’re posting covers of your favorite artists on YouTube. The next moment, you’re sharing the stage with them at the American Airlines Arena. Instances like this are a rarity, but such was the case for Becky G.  At only age 18, the Mexican-American pop star from Southern California…

Police Raid Lil Wayne’s Miami Beach Mansion

Miami-Dade Police officers busted down the doors of Lil’ Wayne’s La Gorce Island mansion this afternoon, and then rolled out dollies loaded with the rappers possessions. The mass repo operation was ordered by a county judge on Friday, court records show — all because Wayne wasn’t paying the bills on…