1. Hire better hosts and hostesses, meaning those who can do more than smile and offer rote salutations. When gauging hospitality skills, Danny Meyer of New York’s Union Square Cafe and Gramercy Tavern looks for five traits in his employees: “1)extremely nice; 2)intelligent; 3)infused with an extraordinary work ethic; 4)empathetic;…
While we’re on the subject of the Freestyle Invasion II concert this Saturday, we put together a play list of some of the best songs by the artists performing. Enjoy.Oh yeah – there’s also another HUGE freestyle show coming up, the Freestyle Extravaganza on June 27 at the AAA. That…
Word around town is that an air date has finally been set for Miami’s latest reality series (being billed as a “docu-drama”). Details from Bravo TV’s Miami Social have been flooding the beach, and we hear that the show is supposed to be hitting airwaves July 7.Speculated cast member, and…
The local fivesome the Mission Veo specializes in a dripping-black variety of dance-rock, shot through with tribal drumbeats, minor-key melodies, and darkwave keyboard stabs. And, sure, plenty of bands these days attempt this kind of dark dancefloor psychedelia, but the Mission Veo’s got another serious weapon in its arsenal: frontman…
Today’s MP3 of the day relates to the serious meaning behind Memorial Day, and comes courtesy of local troubadour Matthew Sabatella. He’s one of the most unique solo performers in town, as he’s dedicated his work lately to preserving American folk traditions. But not folk like the festival in Newport,…
A bunch of cats are being killed down there in South-Dade, but luckily are own Magic City Kitty has escaped the murder’s open legs. John Wall went to Kentucky, while Robert Marve picked purdue. Adam Lambert is a secret chonga, which maybe explains why he did so well in Florida. Not well…
30 Rock and The Office have ended their seasons, leaving my sad little Thursday night television habit left with only The Fashion Show, but hey, at least it’s getting better. Kind of. On last nights episode host Isaac Mizrahi revealed he’s grown tired of clothes that just simply cloth you. I mean damn it,…
My Spanish language dictionary defines lanzallamas as a mechanism designed to project a stream of fire in a controlled, prolonged stream. In other words, a flamethrower. It’s also a truly kickass local band, who have chosen a rather apt name.Lanzallamas Monofonica wield a powerful weapon of their own, an unending…
Florida Comprehensive Assessment test scores came out last night and they stunk. Particularly in Miami-Dade. Yeah, the Herald made a big deal about Liberty City Elementary improving. And over the years, we have improved. I thank Jeb Bush for that. Lawton Chiles gets a C and Charlie Crist an F…
RotagillaSeason For Leavin’ (self-released)You’d think it was 1970 again, for Chrissakes, what with the way the guys of Rotagilla let out their inner Led Zep. Granted, there’s no hint of a Robert Plant or Jimmy Page lurking among this lot. However, in recycling the old school power trio format and…
We’re going with a sushi theme this week, with a couple of seafood-related ha-ha’s thrown in because, as it turns out, very few people have ever written or said anything funny about raw fish. If you’ve heard any good nigiri jokes, please feel free to share ’em with us.I never…
This week’s New Times includes a feature on Jim Jonsin, the Coral Springs resident who’s quickly become a super-producer and is blowing up the hip-hop and pop charts. (You’ve doubtless heard one of his recent hits, any number of synth-driven tracks like Soulja Boy’s “Kiss Me Through the Phone,” T.I.’s…
Notes from the Soundboard is a new column appearing weekly on Crossfade, focused on pop music’s history and ongoing evolution. Lee Zimmerman shares insights and observations on how music continues to connect with the weirdness of the world. Click here to read past installments. I try not to spend too…
Last night America found out the results in what many were too quick to paint as the next battle of the culture wars: American Idol’s Adam Lambert vs Kris Allen. Possibly gay, probable chonga, California-bred Lambert came into the final as the Favorite against the young, Christian, non-threatening Allen from Arkansas. Pundits, including ol’…
Yesterday we recommended tonight’s show at Churchill’s, which features local acts Ex Norwegian and the Jean Marie, opening for Nashville quartet Mother/Father. Here’s a free taster from the headliners, a song called “Youngest Gods.” While the band’s other songs are full of swirly, reverb-laden production, this one is relatively stripped…
Hint on how to avoid bad Miami restaurants: Take a look at the dessert menu before taking a seat. If it’s a compilation of Key lime pie, tiramisu, molten chocolate cake, and the other ubiquitous treats, politely excuse yourself and go somewhere else to eat. After all, there are hundreds…
The Great Native American Debate Those kids stink: Gus Garcia-Roberts’s May 14 story, “Renegade Road,” has much more information than the Miami Herald. I am shocked with the police records that describe the occupants of the car with the four Indians. No wonder they weren’t speaking. They were trying to…
In a large cylindrical cage, a tiny Asian dancer named April attempts to swing from a black plastic chain. But her red painted toes clumsily catch on the plush, pink carpeting, and she stumbles. As a result, her blond wig shifts to an extremely unnatural position. Flustered, she dangles the…
Twenty one years ago on South Beach Club Nu threw a Rambo III Premier Party. They flew down 3 skaters from LA. That same week they had a ladies’ night, a model search, advertised the world’s most expensive vodka, got sponsored by Robert’s Western Wear, and featured performances by The…
Besides being a metal head and a member of the semi-slumbering Miami-based rock juggernaut Humbert, Rimsky Pons makes his own sweet music, self described as “power-pop for the working class.” For those of you familiar with Humbert’s body of work, and Mr Pons’s place in it, you are already expecting…
Tonight, America will make its most important collective decision since we elected Obama. We take to the phones to text in our choice for the next American Idol. The choice is between lil’ miss glamour puss Adam Lambert and generically good looking, non-threatening, Christian boy Kris Allen. Well, officially it is,…
Out of the countless towns he’s played during his band’s national tours, Sammy Gonzalez, bassist of local trio Jacob’s Ladder, still prefers the tiny Frankenmuth, Michigan. An obscure, German-theme tourist destination billed as “Michigan’s Little Bavaria,” Frankenmuth is home to one “amazing promoter,” Jacobs says. “He throws shows at a…
