On his new disc, veteran Senegalese singer-songwriter Youssou N'Dour continues to contemplate issues of freedom and religious bliss over a musical template blending African and Western pop. Among Rokku Mi Rokka's highlights is "4-44-44," which celebrates the joys of everyday life, and such gifts of nature as the Sun and the air we breathe. The lyrics also pay tribute to those who fought for the independence of their lands. A brass section enriches the African percussive instruments, giving the tune an extra-funky vibe. Fans of N'Dour's 1994 hit with Neneh Cherry, "7 Seconds," will appreciate "Wake Up, It's Africa Calling," a hip-hop-inspired track that features Cherry in a duet. Listen also to "Pullo Àrdo," a beautiful ballad that speaks of a shepherd who shares his years of wisdom "with all those who come his way."
On Rokku Mi Rokka, N'Dour shows that he has lost neither charm nor youthful energy. The rhythmically rich music works like a frame around his high-pitched voice, and the music is able to captivate even the most jaded listener, world music fan or otherwise. -- Ernest Barteldes
When it comes to playing Southern blues, some musicians have a stronger ear for it than others. If you really want to play it, you need an inherent ability to hear the music. When it comes to the banjo-picking and drum-thumping skills of Ben Prestage, he's got an advantage that other musicians wish they had. He's blind. OK, not really, but his great-grandmother was a vaudeville musician who toured with Al Jolson back in the day, and his aunt was a pianist who specialized in Delta boogie blues. That's a solid musical jumpstart if there ever was one, since he maintains that the only type of music played in his household when he was growing up was the blues. It's no wonder that Prestage has decided to pick up on the family trade and tour the country with his unique gutbucket-meets-Beale Street style of bluesgrass. He doesn't dive into the backwater swamp-funk that you might expect from a kid with roots in Mississippi and Central Florida, but rather he creates his own rhythms, playing the drums and banjo at the same time. He's got the gritty backwoods appeal that blues lovers, well, love. So check him out, and see what blues heritage looks like up close and personal. Ben Prestage performs Thursday, November 29, at the Bamboo Room, 25 S. J St., Lake Worth. The show starts at 9 p.m., and admission is free. Visit www.bambooroom.com, or call 561 585-BLUE.
-- Jonathan Cunningham
Imitation, it is said, is the sincerest form of flattery. But what do you call an exact replication? A tribute, of course. It’s a musical one in the case of Australian Pink Floyd, the world's finest tribute band to, well, Pink Floyd. Starting way back in '88, five Aussie musicians from Adelaide began playing their favorite band’s songs. And the group kept growing, to include four back-up chick singers and a saxophonist as they expanded from local gigs to international tours. They're so good, in fact, that they performed at Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour's 50th birthday party, and have played at the Royal Albert Hall.
@body:But it's not just the flawless, note-for-note reproductions of "Dark Side of the Moon" and "Wish You Were Here" that have drawn sold-out crowds. These psychedelic lads have gone all out in also replicating the light shows that Floyd used in their '87 and '94 world tours. Remember that big round screen, with the computerized light system around the perimeter with the lasers? If that doesn't make you put fresh water in your bong, what will?
The show runs over two hours, and can include songs from "The Wall" up to "The Division Bell" and even the late Syd Barett's compositions. So get comfortably numb and run like hell for a ticket. – Dave Gurney
Australian Pink Floyd performs Saturday, December 1 at the Fillmore Miami Beach, 1700 Washington Ave, Miami Beach. The show starts at 8:00 p.m., and tickets are $35 to $45.50. Visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Frequent New Times contributor Sire Esq has just dropped a new digital mixtape that's worth checking out. It's got a solid mix of local and national hip-hop bangers that you need in your life so check it out as links for listening to it and a full tracklist are below:
And this is just a reminder to all the local DJ's out there and artists that if you've got a hot mix that folks need to hear, hit us up at CrossFade as we're all about supporting local artists and spreading good music.
-- Jonathan Cunningham
It was just a few weeks ago that we covered the story on Cash Money CEO and artist Birdman’s migration to Miami, and just last week we told you about his highly appreciated pre-Thanksgiving turkey giveaway. But as of last night Bryan “Birdman” Williams became a fowl of a different feather--a jailbird. According to initial reports by MTV, the RV that Williams, his wife, brother and co-CEO Slim, and 13 other Cash Money employees were riding in was pulled over after “an improper lane change.” While questioning the driver of the vehicle, the officer smelled “burnt and raw” ganja - probably some fiyah if he could smell it from outside - and ordered the vehicle evacuated. Once officers searched the RV they found a pound of weed and a couple of guns, and Birdman and his crew were escorted to Tennessee’s Sullivan County Jail. He and his crew have since been released on various bond amounts reported to be around $1,500 a piece.
Just a couple of hours ago, Birdman, who also goes by the name Baby, spoke with Shaheem Reid of MTV and gave his side of the story. He maintains that he is not married, didn't have illegal guns (according to Birdman, they were licensed to carry weapons and those weapons were eventually returned by the police) and much of this has been blown out of proportion. It's not known what will come of this situation, but as soon as we get more info, you will too.
- Raina McLeod
One of the coolest music venues in Delray Beach, City Limits, is having a blowout music event over the next four days to celebrate their one-year anniversary. It's actually their second one-year anniversary, but that's a story that's briefly explained below.
This should be a rocking good time for anyone that loves to support good local music and good music venues, both of which, typically aren't appreciated enough.
The press release is below:
NOVEMBER 28-DECEMBER 1, 2007
CITY LIMITS ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY WEEK!
For the 2nd time in our ten year history... CITY LIMITS is turning ONE!
This time, however, it’s in our new building/location.
Please join us all week long for great live music, dancing, 2 for 1 specials & more!
ONE YEAR DRINK SPECIALS:
2 FOR 1 WELL DRINKS, $5 ABSOLUT VODKA DRINKS, $3 DOMESTIC BEERS + NITELY SHOT SPECIALS! Doors open 8pm!
Wednesday, November 28: ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY KICKOFF PARTY!
LADIES NITE!-WEDNESDAYS NICE! Free drinks for Ladies 8-10pm JAH CULTURE SOUND SYSTEM + THE RESOLVERS 21+, 8PM, NO COVER!
Thursday, November 29: MEDICINE HAT + SLIP & THE SPINOUTS 21+, 8PM, NO COVER!
Friday, November 30: THE LEGENDARY JC's 21+, 8PM, $10
The Legendary JC's (commonly The JC's) started flooring Central Florida crowds with their brand of soulful rocking blues in 2000. Founding members Eugene Snowden and Brian Chodorcoff started out with a band of roving musicians but always delivered quality high-energy rock n' roll performances. Part of the magic of a JC's show is never knowing who is going to show up.
http://www.myspace.com/thelegendaryjcs
Saturday, December 1: RUFFHOUSE 21+, 8PM, NO COVER!
It's hard to stay in a somber mood when you've got Iggy Pop in your life. The lean and lanky rocker is actually coming back to South Florida to perform in a couple of weeks with the Stooges, and though it probably won't be as big and bombast of a concert as the one below, it should still be a good time. We'll hit you with more info on the Stooges upcoming concert shortly, but in the meantime, check out this footage from Paris circa 1991 as Iggy lets us know that he's still got a Lust for Life.
-Jonathan Cunningham
Today has certainly started out on a somber note with the unexpected passing of Miami's star football player Sean Taylor. It's hard to wrap your brain around a situation that's so "senseless" but for those of us that did wake up this morning, it's just a reminder not to take a single day for granted.
I've been flipping through some YouTube clips this morning as usual since it's Tuesday...trying to get my mind right, and landed on the song "Changes (That's Just the way it is)" from 2Pac. There's something about the melody of this song and the original Bruce Hornsby version that hits home this morning so I'm throwing it out there. It's hard to understand why Taylor, a former U-M football star and Washington Redskin, was taken at just 24, but music has always helped me get through tough times so hopefully, hearing some music right now will help anyone else out there that needs it.
-Jonathan Cunningham
Outkast has been keeping 10 the Hard Way (most likely dropping in 2009 now, according to this) and next year’s solo effort from Big Boi on the down low. While you’re waiting for info, here’s something new from the duo courtesy of Spine Magazine. “Da Art of Storytellin’ Part 4” feature’s Floetry’s Marsha Ambrosius and will appear on DJ Drama’s Gangsta Grillz: The Album, out next week.
DJ Drama (feat. Outkast and Marsha Ambrosius): “Da Art of Storytellin’ Part 4” MP3
In case you missed Otto von Schirach's awesome performance last week at Studio A, now you can at least check it out in shaky video. (And in case you missed the Miami New Times' recent article on Otto, click here.)
The other acts were Juan Montoya of Torche and Chris Maggio of Coliseum in an opening instrumental, improvised set, and the illustrious Melt Banana, of Japan. In short, one of the most awesome lineups ever -- especially for a Monday night.
Although this only captures Otto in his first nerdlike getup (he later changed into a sort of black Superman type outfit), it sort of sums up the mood of the ensuing set: chaos, in the best way. Check the random creepy barnyard noises, pukey-burpy accents, thudding Rotterdam-style bass, and the gaping-mouthed, alternately confused, terrified, and entranced audience.
Introducing the song (the surefire crowd-pleaser "Teabagging the Dead") is Miami's Notorious Nastie, who with Otto produces those occasional, fake-blood-drenched zombie-theme parties, as well as a host of other infamous shows and events. (He also now has his own weekly local-theme radio show on WVUM 90.5, Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.) -- Arielle Castillo
In the past, Avenged Sevenfold's meathead simplicity pretty much excused all its bad behavior and even worse musical choices. It was as if the five members picked up, pored over and appropriated the Metal Band Rulebook before ever learning a single guitar chord. But that's what California metal is all about: Look good first, hone chops later. On its new self-titled opus (a sure sign these guys want to be taken seriously as artists), A7X not only produces itself, it also hauls everything from string section to children's choir into the studio to help secure its vision. And while the results can be muddled, overcooked and just plain clunky, you gotta hand it to anyone who has the balls to unleash an eight-minute song called "A Little Piece of Heaven" that includes ethnic horns, Orange County ska-punk and a flapper-era dance groove — all before the chorus even kicks in. -- Michael Gallucci
Details: Avenged Sevenfold performs with Operator, the Confession, and Black Tide Sunday, November 25 at Revolution, 200 W Broward Blvd, Ft Lauderdale. The show starts a 7:00 p.m., and tickets are $26. All ages are welcome. Visit www.jointherevolution.net or www.ticketmaster.com.
You’re probably excited this week to accumulate more fat cells in places you don’t want them to be. But on November 23rd, the boys from the Autonomous Bassheads, in conjunction with Voodoo lounge and Culture Productions, will be presenting the 2nd Battle of the Bass showdown against Dade County and West Palm Beach. So aside from anticipating the participation of gluttony over a holiday that celebrates Native American genocide, you can also anticipate bassline madness.
To those of you who attended the first Battle of the Bass, against Dade and Broward, this party will intensify the latter’s degree of bad-assedness, and yes, that is not a real word, but the party was so killer that I had to make one up. For those of you bass girls and boys who could not attend the previous battle, you’ll want to attend this one. The first day of promotion already gathered 50 people on the list. So if you want to ensure your free entrance before midnight, log onto myspace.com/theautonomousbassheads and get your name on that list. The Autonomous bassheads duo, have been busily producing new and original tracks for an expected 2008 record. This means that you’ll probably hear some of that so-fresh-and-so-clean-clean stuff on Friday night, but there’s more. The headlining act, aside from the Autonomous Bassheads duo, will be Scratch D of Dynamix II, representing for West Palm. He will be battling against Teknik of the Sound Chasers. As for the Autonomous Bassheads, they will be going up against The Underground Technicians. Now if you know break-beats, you know Dynamix II, as one of the biggest pioneers of electro and bass music. And if you know that, then you know missing out on this party would be lame. So remember to tell your friends.
-- Lucy Orozco
Compared with other holidays, Thanksgiving hasn't inspired bards overmuch. There are no traditional hymns, no instantly identifiable music associated with the day save possibly various football broadcast bumpers.
Nevertheless, here and there we find certain songs that -- in lyric or in spirit -- fit the theme of the day. For the first installment of a new, recurring blog feature, we hunted down five such songs for your Thanksgiving listening pleasure.
We plan to do a similarly-themed post once a month or so, with songs about different themes and events during the year. Use the comments to talk about the songs, or to suggest your own potential additions to the list.
5. Adam Sandler -- The Thanksgiving Song
Before Adam Sandler's magnum opus about Hannukah, there was his fractured effort about Turkey Day. Performed on "Saturday Night Live" with a brief assist from Kevin Nealon, Sandler's silly song may be the first holiday hymn to mention both Mike Tyson and venereal disease -- though hopefully not the last.
(Due to NBC's video fascism, you can't see the original version, but this live version has the same feel. Note to the Peacock: Information wants to be free, tough guy.)
4. William Burroughs -- A Thanksgiving Prayer
Feeling thankful? Got a warm sensation of fellowship with other human beings? Smiling after watching the Sandler video? William S. Burroughs can take care of that for you. Okay, it's a spoken-word piece and not a song. If Kurt Cobain had lived longer, I'm sure he'd have performed musical accompaniment to this the way he did Burroughs' "The Priest They Called Him." Sadly, Cobain killed himself, possibly after listening to this concentrated burst of depressing.
3. Spencer the Gardener -- The Gobble Song
From scathing social commentary to sweet and endearing testaments to food, this catchy tune from indie roots group Spencer the Gardener is a non-ironic celebration of Thankgiving's central component: the meal. The down-home feel of the song makes it possibly the only tune on this list indisputably suitable for mixed company. Warning: earworm potential.
2. The Dead Milkmen -- The Best Thanksgiving Ever (live)
Available on the band's 1992 "If I Had a Gun" EP, this live introduction to the band's classic "Bitchin' Camaro" is the story of young Timmy and, as the title suggests, his Best Thanksgiving Ever. But as you'd expect from the Milkmen, this tale is twisted, and Timmy is not actually the hero. The hero is invisible to the human eye. To say more would be unseemly, and unfortunately there are no video or audio representations of this song available on the Internets so far as I am aware. Seek it out. It's worth it. Until then, read the lyrics here.
1. Arlo Guthrie -- Alice's Restaurant
Guthrie's Vietnam-era chestnut is rambling, surreal narrative that is simultaneously folk art, political criticism, and communal performance project. It found its way onto the entire 'A' side of a record, into a film, and into our collective culture. And it all began two Thanksgivings ago (or was it 40?). Watch a live performance here. The lyrics are here.
So we at CrossFade just got hip to the fact that beatboxer extraordinaire and hip-hop jokester Biz Markie is coming to town for a couple of shows. He'll be DJing for free at 11 pm at Nectar Lounge in Seminole Casino Coconut Creek this Wednesday, Nov 21. So go gamble and listen to the Biz free!
Nectar at the Seminole Casino — Coconut Creek
5550 NW 40th St.
Coconut Creek
954-977-6700
For folks who live further south, he'll be rocking the mic at Karu&Y in Miami with Stone Love soundsystem on Thanksgiving night. We all know turkey will make you tired but this show will definitely wake that ass up.
71 NW 14th Street-Downtown Miami
(3 blocks from the Performing Arts Center)
For VIP table Info: 786.390.3580 Dinner RSVP: 305.403.7850
Email/Guestlist: pbahmg@yahoo.com
For more information log on to: www.myspace.com/headlinermarketgroup
Although the roots and tradition of Tango hails from the streets and concert halls of Buenos Aires, its influence has been felt throughout the world thanks to the dedicated efforts of musicians like Astor Piazzola, who developed the genre and conquered audiences wherever he performed. On this newest Putumayo release, Tango Around the World you see the results of that from “Dimba,” the opening track from Senegal's Ousmane Touré, who sings the beautiful melody in his native Wolof. Electronic sounds and Portuguese instruments are the basis for Lisbon-based singer Liana on “Estrela da Tarde” (Afternoon Star). In addition to that, her dramatic vocal style gives added poignancy to the lyrics, which speak of a torrid afternoon affair that might have tragic consequences.
Fortuna's “Tango Idishe” is probably the strangest mix on this disc – it is sung in Yiddish with a klezmer-like feel, but the group surprisingly does not hail from Israel. Instead, they come from southern Brazil, where there is a strong Jewish and Eastern European presence. Traditionalists will appreciate “Pena,” sung by Argentina's Federico Aubele, and of course Hugo Díaz' beautiful rendition of “Mi Buenos Aires Querido (My Darling Buenos Aires), a favorite tune popularized by Carlos Gardel.
Overall, this is an enjoyable disc proving that tango, though a property of Argentineans, can also be transformed and adapted wherever you go. --- Ernest Barteldes
