Langerado Lives!!

South Florida's beloved and beleaguered music festival, Langerado, is back.

Two years after the popular festival closed up shop, promoters announced that Langerado will re-appear this fall as a two-day festival.  The October 8th & 9th musical festival will return to the location of its best days at Markham Park in Sunrise, Florida.

Promoters are promising a "diverse collection of artists from indie rock to electronica to modern roots" encompassing 22 acts.  The first line-up announcement is set for June 1st.  Special "on faith" tickets are $75 for two-days of undetermined music.  After the acts are announced, the advanced tickets go up to a throat-clearing $150 for the two-day festival.  This will be the first autumn dates for the festival, which usually ran during the March spring breaks.

The festival left Markham Park after the 2007 event when Broward County received numerous complaints about lax drug law enforcement at the show.  The 2008 event was moved to the remote Seminole Big Cypress Indian Reservation in the Everglades. The 2009 festival was planned for downtown Miami, but was quickly cancelled due to poor ticket sales.

After Hours HQ is cautiously optimistic and thinking about getting new concert chairs.

Band You Should Know: Sam Friend

Photo by Jorge Velasquez

In an age where music has been whittled down to invisible bits and bytes, Miami singer-songwriter Sam Friend builds his pop-infused Americana with the skill of a master carpenter.  


Crafting captivating songs about love and loss, Friend uses a variety of instruments from classical strings to a mandolin. His voice is reminiscent of early Conor Oberst and James Mercer of the Shins with a touch of Thom Yorke.  Friend is bound to be a player in the anti-folk scene for years to come. 


Friend will be performing Saturday, April 12th at the Art Walk in the cooler-than-cool Miami Design District.  Friend, who is currently recording in NYC, will be performing at The Garden Lounge, 191-A NE 40th Street, Miami. Music starts at 7:30 p.m. 


The Miami/Dade native took some time from recording to discuss with After Hours his new album, finding the right sounds and the liberal return policy at Radio Shack. 


AFTER HOURS: I guess one of the obvious questions is, “How does a University of Miami jazz student become an indie folkster?”

SAM FRIEND: Simplest answer is I always basically was, way before I knew about the term. And still am, an indie folkster. I’m totally cool with that. Jazz was the thing that you did during school hours. I was never one of those people who placed jazz above all music. It’s super hard on all levels, no question, but there have been great players in all genres. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re any good. I connect with music at the source. And that has little to do with perfection and execution. That stuff can help, of course. Oh man though, jazz can say so much when it’s working. 

  

AH: You open your latest album, Lady Madly, with the "environmental" recording of a street scene and end the album with a recording of you singing in what sounds like a separate room.  What is the attraction for you of these non-traditional recordings?

SF: A lot of that’s the Seattle thing. There’s a real sense out there that music should be honest and gimmicks are transparent. There’s emphasis placed on finding time to let things develop at their natural pace, easing in. That and all those ambient infused moments on records I listened to growing up were a big influence. Especially on mindset and approach when giving Lady Madly her parenthesis. In retrospect, they act as a reminder that these songs came out of real things. Things like people reading this article right now even. I guess that be boring though, to hear someone reading, unless you’re John Cage. The beginning of Lady Madly is a reception outside the Henry Art Gallery at UW. One girl says, “I feel like she wants to.” That’s where it starts. For the finale, I bought a tape recorder at Radio Shack, walked home, recorded a live take in a bathroom, walked back to Radio Shack and returned the recorder.

AH: Your music welds together many different types of musical genres and beats. It is not unusual to hear a rock guitar riff, strings, and pop harmonies over an Americana stroll that gives a nod to a reggae beat.  Is this a conscious decision to expand the vocabulary of your music or is it an organic evolution? 

SF: Mostly organic. Not to say I don’t think about what I’m doing. I’m a thinker. But the vast majority of what I write that makes it into my shows and on my records are ideas that happen when the thinking stops. Not on purpose, just fleeting creative energy that happens when it happens. And so if something works, it works. I don’t know how people write in one style all the time. My attention drifts. I like the idea of making songs that reflect an entire record in each song. Not in the way of changing things abruptly as to confuse, but to take the listener through various ideas without them noticing the shift until they’re already there.

AH: Growing up and living in Miami-Dade, does the exile nature of the residents (snowbirds, refugees, retirees and fortune-seekers) and the multiple cultures of the area influence your music?  

SF: Sure. But not the way you might expect. As a young guy, I spent time in West Virginia, where my mother’s from. So that seed was planted early. And growing up in Miami, I felt an attraction to the idea of music that I couldn’t touch. Like British rock and American folk. It was difficult for me to identify with a lot of the Latin influences in music that are prevalent in the area, so I think it kind of intensified my connection to the music I was into. And it was hard to find at record stores, so that probably added to the allure. But I have to say, recently I’ve come around and learned to really get into all the unique convergences of cultures down here and the music that comes out of all the vibrancies.

AH: You have been recently recording in NYC, are you preparing a new album? EP? single?  With the continual flux of music business, how does an artist move forward in this uncertain environment for the music industry. 

SF: I think that’s a good question. For me, it’s about putting myself in a position to continue creating. And this music industry allows that. I got into this game because I was moved by the power of music early on. And I felt a kinship with the people who made it. So far, I’ve been able to continue making music and continue learning how to do it. To answer your question, it’s going to be a document of style including songs I’ve been writing since my last release, and I’m calling it Spirit Mirror.

AH: What was the best show you saw last year?

SF: Chris Thile and Michael Daves at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City. Both these guys are the real deal. I had just got in from Chicago, and was playing the same venue days later. It wasn’t too cold yet, and Max Fish was still open. It was interesting to catch that rural associated sound in the most major of metropolises. The whole crowd was right there. The room’s energy really resonated to the rafters. I was buzzing. 



Sam Friend - Part of the Show from Adam Fairholm on Vimeo.


"Part of the Show" - iTunes

Avetts, Cee-Lo and MGMT to Play SunFest; New Music Night Dies a Quiet Death

Rumors confirmed and so much more.

The Avett Brothers, Cee-Lo and MGMT (say what?) are the announced headliners for the 2011 SunFest in West Palm. The festival line-up has a little something for everyone - perhaps one "must see" and at least a couple "check outs" for the discerning music fan.  It is a worthy lineup.

Today announcement also marks the end of  New Music Night at SunFest.  This noble, but inconsistent, programming experiment brought several great, young bands through the area to the attention of few.  I'll classify it a success for the sole reason on providing the introduction to The Whigs.

More to come on the music as the festival approaches.  However, it should be noted that After Hours HQ is happy to see the return of Ziggy and is thinking that Gregg Allman's set may be something special.

More SunFest Acts Leaked: Toad & Fire on Saturday

Two mainstream, feel-good bands, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Earth, Wind & Fire, are the latest to announce their appearance in the upcoming SunFest in West Palm Beach.

I have always had a soft spot for the laid-back pop harmonies of Toad. The late 80s/early 90s radio stalwarts will take up the 2:30 p.m. slot on SunFest Saturday, April 30th, where beach chairs will be de rigueur.

Venerable Earth, Wind and Fire are Rock and Roll Hall of Famers and you need to check them off your all-time list.  They will also be performing SunFest Saturday.  

It is expected that SunFest will release a partial lineup soon.  It appears the festival is waiting to see how the rest of the festival lineups shake out before making any announcements.


“Walk On The Ocean” by Toad the Wet Sprocket (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

Jeff Beck To Play SunFest!

Although West Palm's SunFest has been mum on its 2011 musical lineup, the acts are starting to make their own announcements for the five-day waterfront festival. 
UK Rock God Jeff Beck will be helping close out SunFest by performing Sunday, May 1.  The time and the stage of Beck's guitar pyrotechnics have yet to be set.  
With less than 9 weeks before the 29th annual music and art festival, SunFest has yet to release any names. The rumored Avett Brothers's appearance during the festival's opening night on April 27th has not been confirmed but the date remains open on the brothers' website.  Still have a good feeling about that one. 

Paleface Interview Before Florida Tour

Photo by Staton Carter

As the North Carolina-based duo begins its five-date Florida tour, Paleface, the duo and its namesake guitarist, continues its push from the perimeter of the music scene to a spotlight.  

Probably best known for his associations - such as learning songwriting from Daniel Johnston, influencing Beck and Kimya Dawson, helping create the anti-folk scene and writing for the Avett Brothers -  the high-energy Paleface with drummer/partner Monica "Mo" Samalot is drawing well-deserved attention with their latest album, One Big Party. The album is joyous neo-folk being drawn through a classic rock filter.  The catchy-as-hell shuffle, "Rock N Roll' (featured below) will leave you blithely humming for days.  

Before heading to Florida, Paleface gave After Hours a few moments to discuss music, touring and the popularity of duos:

AFTER HOURS: You have been most closely associated with the “anti-folk” label, what does that term mean to you?  How would you classify your music?

PALEFACE: Anti-folk was a term jokingly used by folk musicians in New York who were into punk and couldn't get gigs at the established folk clubs in the city who just wanted Baez and Seeger re-runs. Because it was the new folk music, it ended up taking over and those old clubs that didn't adapt closed. I see that music everywhere - its really just folk music that knows the past but wants to do something itself that's new. M

y music is just my art so I don't really need to classify it in general. If people can feel something or be moved by it then I'm happy.

How your approach to music or the music business changes with the digitalization of music?  Has touring become more important during this time when the music business is in such upheaval?

Touring is the most important thing. It's the only way to earn a living doing music at the moment. Some are lucky enough to get money from advertisers which can really help supplement.  20 years ago that would have been unthinkable - the kiss of death for any band or "serious" artist. Now it's commonplace. 

It's weird when something you grew up with disappears in front of your eyes.The rock star dream is still out there but its pretty limited to the american idol wanna-be types now. Probably not anymore Kurt Cobains to be heard from. And not too many people underneath that make a great living either. It's kinda all or nothing these days - like the rest of the country - fewer and fewer people are getting the pot of gold. But things could change when you least expect them to so- Who Knows!?!

Your new album is more upbeat, having more of a classic rock foundation with pop overtones, than your previous work.  What brought about this direction

I thought of the last 3 records as kind of a trilogy. A Different Story was kinda of like an indie-americana album and The Show Is On The Road  was like a DIY folk record....One Big Party just kinda happened that way - an american classic rock goodbye if you will - i tried to picture the songs going out over a large audience and how they would sound to the person in the parking lot. Would they be able to recognize the song from there? Would it travel that far? I think that's one of the reasons classic rock has lasted so long - it traveled through the air well. 

With your second album as a duo, do you have an explanation on the current popularity of man/woman duets  such as She & Him, Jenny and Johnny, Mates of State, etc.?

ECONOMICS! 

You have been on tour since October in support of One Big Party, do you travel well together?

We are both thankful to be doing what we are doing. It gets hard sometimes with the long drives but it comes with the territory - its accepted and expected that its not all going to be roses and parade rides.

Thank you for coming to Florida.  At times, we feel like we are off the beaten path with regards to seeing quality bands live. What can people expect when they come out to see you in Florida?

We'll try to have as much fun as possible playing and hopefully people will join in with us. 

2011 Florida Tour

Joining Paleface through the Sunshine State will be After Hours favorite Lauris Vidal.

Feb. 17: DeLand, FL @ Nest

Feb. 18: Gainesville, FL @ Durty Nelly's

Feb. 19: Tampa, FL @ Ella's Folk Art Cafe 

Feb. 20: Orlando, FL @ Will's Pub

Feb. 24: Delray Beach, FL @ Dada

Feb. 25: Fort Lauderdale, FL @ The Monterey Club

Paleface - "Rock N Roll" from DUKE STREET on Vimeo.

“Rock N Roll” by Paleface (mp3)(iTunes)(Paleface Online)

South Florida Concert Outlook: Bright Eyes Return to Miami

In one of the more anticipated concerts at After Hours HQ, Bright Eyes returns to Miami this spring in what may be Conor Oberst's last turn with the ocular moniker.  The prolific songwriter has indicated that this may be the last going around for this musical formation.

Bright Eyes and Oberst have been a favorite since I saw the band in 2003 in a theater in Little Havana, Miami. The show was a revelation.  Oberst sang his clever and heart-breaking lyrics with his trademark lament.  Also, the boy could rock.  Simply, a great show.

Looking forward to seeing the boys again 8 years later and possibly for the last time. Although Conor will continue recording with his own name and with other groupings of musicians, it will be nice to see Oberst's original sobriquet one more time.  Bright Eyes is touring to support their album, "The People's Key" which is a return to Oberst's original weird folk-punk sound.  The album is currently streaming on NPR.

“Shell Games” by Bright Eyes (mp3)(iTunes)(Amazon)

The concert schedule for the first half of 2011 is looking better than many recent months in SoFla.  We are seeing some After Hours favs, such Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, play larger venues as their careers move forward.  Others are happy there is a casino nearby.

Whatever your preference, go see a show.  It is definitely worth it.

2/10 - Zach Deputy - Culture Room
2/11 - Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers - Revolution
2/12 - Broken Social Scene - Revolution
2/12 - Flogging Molly - The Fillmore
2/12 - Indigo Girls - Culture Room
2/18 - Sister Hazel - Revolution
2/19 - Johnny Winter - Culture Room
2/20 - Ozzy Osbourne - BankAtlantic Center
2/24 - Paleface and Lauris Vidal - Dada, Delray Beach
2/25 - Keller Williams - Revolution
2/25 - Paleface and Lauris Vidal - The Monterey Club, Fort Lauderdale
2/26 - Miami Blues Festival (Bobby "Blue" Bland) - James L. Knight Center
2/26 - Leon Russell - Culture Room
2/28 - Gipsy Kings - Hard Rock Live
3/2 - The Expendables - Culture Room
3/2 - Bright Eyes with Cursive - The Fillmore
3/3 - John Mellencamp - Broward Center for Performing Arts
3/4 - Lynyrd Skynyrd - Hard Rock Live
3/5 - Grace Potter & the Nocturnals - Culture Room
3/7 - Ra Ra Riot - Culture Room
3/8 - Kid Rock - Hard Rock Live
3/9 - Streetlight Manifesto - Culture Room
3/17 - Corey Smith - Culture Room
3/17 - Kiss - Hard Rock Live
3/18 - Colin Hay - Broward Center for Performing Arts
3/20 - Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings - The Fillmore
3/24 - Citizen Cope - Culture Room
3/27 - Peter Murphy (Bauhaus) - Culture Room
3/31 - Rush - BankAtlantic Center
4/5 - moe. - Culture Room
4/6 - FURTHER with Phil Lesh & Bob Weir - Mizner Park Amphitheater
4/8 & 4/9 - The Radiators - Revolution Live
4/9 - Robert Cray Band - Parker Playhouse
4/10 - Jerry Garcia Band - Revolution
4/13 - Boz Scaggs - Kravis Center
4/13 - Lady Gaga - AmericanAirlines Arena
4/14 - Robert Plant - Hard Rock Live
4/16 - Bill Frisell - Colony Theater, Miami Beach
4/23 - Jimmy Buffet - Cruzan Amphitheater

4/29 - Interpol - The Fillmore
5/17 - My Chemical Romance - Revolution (Sold Out)
6/11 - Katy Perry - BankAtlantic Center
6/29 - U2 - Sun Life Stadium
7/15 - Sade - BankAtlantic Center

Lauris Vidal's Cross-Country Adventure

There is an incredible purity with Lauris Vidal.  A purity in his passion for music and his commitment to music made in Florida.  

Then there is the pure jubilance that emanates from the Florida local and After Hours hero Vidal when he plays.  He is frantic, soulful and extremely talented. He is also full of joy.  You can feel it when you meet the man.  

It was that evident joy which turned the WMNF studio in Tampa into a great living room party.  Vidal closed out the final Wednesday Sonic Detour with AH contributor Duncan Strauss with five rollicking in-studio songs from his latest EP, Better Part.  It was a musical highlight of the year.

As part of his commitment to the great music being made in the Sunshine State, Vidal is taking his annual Citrus Circuit Tour on the road through Florida before heading across the deep south and across the country and back.  Vidal will be sharing the bill with Ricky Kendall and Michael Claytor, both veterans of Gainesville's growing scene.  All three are playing in support of new albums.

After the rapid fire tour through the country, Vidal and his good friend and musician Kelley McRae will be performing at Talking Animals festival on April 3rd in Lowry Park in Tampa. 

Do yourself a favor and go and see Lauris Vidal.  Good times are guaranteed.   

“Killing Fields (Live)” by Lauris Vidal, live at the WMNF studio, 12/29/10 (mp3)

CITRUS CIRCUIT TOUR DATES

**with DEVON STUART of the TAKERS

FRI 1/14** ORLANDO, FL      MCRANEY’S TAVERN

SAT 1/15** TAMPA, FL      NEW WORLD BREWERY

SUN 1/16 VALDOSTA, GA      TBA

MON 1/17 TALLAHASSEE,FL     MOCKINGBIRD CAFE

TUE 1/18 BILOXI, MS      TBA

WED 1/19 NEW ORLEANS,LA    REDEEMER HOUSE CONCERT

THU 1/ 20 BATON ROUGE, LA   THE HAVEN ART GALLERY

FRI 1/ 21 HOUSTON, TX       SUPER HAPPY FUN LAND

SAT 1/22 AUSTIN, TX     ROBBIE CARROLL’S HOUSE PARTY PARTII

SUN 1/23 SAN ANTONIO, TX     TBA

MON 1/24 SAN ANTONIO,TX      TBA

TUE 1/25 AUSTIN, TX                CAROUSEL LOUNGE

WED 1/26 AUSTIN, TX       CHEER UP CHARLIE’S

THU 1/27 OKLAHOMA CITY, OK  THE BLUE NOTE

FRI 1/28 LITTLE ROCK, AR     TBA

SAT 1/29 LAMAR, MO       CURLESS HOUSE CONCERT

SUN 1/30 KANSAS CITY,MO   TBA

MON 1/31 TBA                     TBA

TUE 2/1 GREENVILLE, MO    GREENVILLE COLLEGE- THE BLACK ROOM

WED 2/2 ST LOUIS, MO     TBA

LAURIS VIDAL & RICKY KENDALL

THU 2/3  INDIANAPOLIS, IN  HOUSE SHOW TBA

FRI 2/4  CHICAGO, IL  TBA

SAT 2/5  ANN ARBOR, MI TBA

SUN 2/6 YOUNGSTOWN, OH  LEMON GROVE CAFE

MON 2/7 BALTIMORE, MD HOUSE SHOW TBA

TUE 2/8 NEW YORK, NY  ROCKWOOD MUSIC HALL

WED 2/9 BROOKLYN, NY ROOTS CAFE

THU 2/10 WASHINGTON, DC KAUFMAN HOUSE SHOW

FRI 2/11       SAVANNAH, GA SWEET MELISSA’S

SAT 2/12 ORLANDO, FL BACKBOOTH