Storm Large
Musician, actor, playwright, and author Storm Large, shot to national prominence as a contestant on the CBS show Rock Star: Supernova, where she built a fan base that continues to follow her around the world. Storm debuted with the band Pink Martini in 2011, singing four sold-out concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center and continues to tour internationally with the band and was featured on their album Get Happy. Storm’s musical memoir, Crazy Enough, played to packed houses in an unprecedented 21-week sold-out run and the book was named Oprah’s Book of the Week.
NOVEMBER 15 Abdo New River Room
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OCTOBER 4
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October 2019
Issue #88 PUBLISHERS Jay Skolnick Jay@SFLMusic.com
Gary Skolnick Gary@SFLMusic.com Brad Stevens Brad@SFLMusic.com
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EDITOR IN CHIEF Sean McCloskey Sean@SFLMusic.com SENIOR EDITOR Todd McFliker Todd@SFLMusic.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Gary Skolnick Gary@SFLMusic.com OPERATIONS MAGAGER Jessica Delgadillo Jessica@SFLMusic.com ADVERTISING Info@SFLMusic.com CONTRIBUTORS Ray Anton • Lori Smerilson Carson Tom Craig • Megan Garzone Aaron Gilbert Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro Alex Liscio • Janine Mangini Angel Melendez • Nathan Rose Romy Santos • David Shaw Darla Skolnick COVER PHOTO Tom Craig SFL Music Magazine is a community newspaper that is published monthly in Boca Raton, Florida. All contents are copyright 2019 by the AWG Group, LLC, and may not be reproduced without written permission of the publisher.
4. JOSE RAMIREZ BILLY COBHAM 10. BAD RELIGION | CRAVENS 12. SCOTT STAPP 14. GEORGE PORTER THE FLYERS 16. CONCERT DATES 21. BECK CAGE THE ELEPHANT 22. DAY OF THE DEAD 24. BERES HAMMOND 26. GEORGE CLINTON 28. SPOOON
30. TOM KEIFER 34. PETER FRAMPTON JASON BONHAM 38. THE WHO 40. VIBES FARM 42. MIAMI BEACH POP FESTIVAL 46. IBC FINALISTS 48. VANEESE THOMAS 49. FIFTY YEARS AGO... 50. BOURBON & BEYOND 52. LOUDER THAN LIFE 55. CLASSIFIEDS
Bad Religion | Revolution Live Photo: Jay Skolnick
The Cravens Crush| The | TheFunky Venu Biscuit Photo: Photo:Janine Jay Skolnick Mangini
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Friday, Oct. 25 ● Rap Caviar ad - fillmore Oct. 29 ● Bring Me The Horizon Friday, Nov. 1 ● Nina Pastori y Pitingo Saturday, Nov. 2 ● Fito Paez Nov. 6 ● Thievery Corporation Saturday, Nov. 9 ● Kany Garcia Nov. 19 ● BROCKHAMPTON Friday, Nov. 22 ● Jonathan Van Ness Saturday, Nov. 23 ● Lulu Santos Dec. 1 ● Kidz Bop - World Tour 2019 Dec. 4 ● Il Divo Dec. 11 ● SKI MASK THE SLUMP GOD Dec. 12 ● Aaron Lewis Feb. 13 ● Leoni Torres Saturday, Feb. 15 ● Rex Orange County Feb. 20 ● Dermot Kennedy Saturday, Apr. 18 ● RAIN - A Tribute to the Beatles FillmoreMB
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venu
GO SEE IT LIVE! October 1 / Tuesday Adam Ant – The Fillmore Godsmack – Coral Sky Amphitheatre Don Cohen Annual Memorial – Frank Ward – Funky Biscuit Jay Stollman & The Hemptones – Double Roads Tavern Bad Suns – Revolution Live
John Prine Birthday Celebration – Funky Biscuit Come Together Lennon Tribute – Seminole Casino Coconut Creek MOJO Band – Double Roads Tavern Nahko & Medicine For The People – Revolution Live October 10 / Thursday Stephen Page Trio (Bare Naked Ladies) – Broward Center Love & Theft / Maggie Baugh – Funky Biscuit Pam & Dave Westminster Trio – Double Roads Tavern Turnstiles – The Venu
October 2 / Wednesday Gregg Karukas– Funky Biscuit String Assassins – Double Roads Tavern October 3 / Thursday Chris Duarte Group – Funky Biscuit The Talbott Bros – Broward Center Pam & Dave Westminster Trio – Double Roads Tavern It Takes a Village Tour – Kelsey Theatre October 4 / Friday Anders Osborne & Albert Castiglia – Funky Biscuit The Whispers & Stephanie Mills – Broward Center Leafy Greens / 56 Ace – Double Roads Tavern Sabaton – Revolution Live Tribute to Donna Summer & Diana Ross– The Venu Selwynn Birchwood – Arts Garage October 5 / Saturday Berry Oakley’s Indigenous Suspects–
OCTOBER 8 BLACK LABEL SOCIETY REVOLUTION LIVE Funky Biscuit Randy Langione – Broward Center Blues & Booze – Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Across the Universe (Beatles Tribute) – Double Roads Tavern Tribute to Nirvana – Revolution Live Wildfire / Crazy Latin Nites– The Venu Through the Roots – Culture Room Completely Unchained & Kiss Alive Tributes – Kelsey Theatre October 6 / Sunday Jazz Jam – Double Roads Tavern The Wolfpack Band – Arts Garage
October 11 / Friday Bluestone –Music of David Shelley – Funky Biscuit Arthur Hanlon – Broward Center Zombie Fun Run – Coral Sky Amphitheatre Lil’ Ed & Vinny Cacciatore – Double Roads Tavern Taking Back Sunday – Revolution Live Pure Heart – The Venu Steel Panther – The Culture Room October 12 / Saturday The Wildfire Band – Funky Biscuit Chris Stapleton – Coral Sky Amphitheatre Stereotomy Rocks - Double Roads Tavern Roll The Stones – The Venu The Pauses – Culture Room Taking Back Sunday – Revolution Live
October 7 / Monday Biscuit Jam – Jimi Fiano Acoustic Jam – Double Roads Tavern
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October 8 / Tuesday Rachelle Coba – Funky Biscuit Jay Stollman & The Hemptones – Double Roads Tavern Black Label Society – Revolution Live CEO Connection – Brewhouse Gallery October 9 / Wednesday
OCTOBER 10 MAGGIE BAUGH THE FUNKY BISCUIT
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October 13 / Sunday Jazz Jam – Double Roads Tavern October 14 / Monday Biscuit Jam – Bobby Nathan Band Brew Hoppers Band Live – The Brewhouse Gallery October 15 / Tuesday Chris O’Leary Band – Funky Biscuit Symphony of Americas – Broward Center Jay Stollman & The Hemptones – Double Roads Tavern October 16 / Wednesday Trevor Ohlsen – Double Roads Tavern The Long Run – Sunset Cove Amp
October 19 / Saturday Zac Brown Band – Coral Sky Amp Jeff Scott Soto & Jason Bieler – Funky Biscuit Geo. Lilly/Chris O’Leary –Double Roads Tavern The DeadBeats – Sunset Cove Amp BANKS – The Fillmore The Family Band – Culture Room United Way Battle of the Bands – Kelsey Theatre October 20 / Sunday Dana Fuchs – Funky Biscuit ZZ Top – Coral Sky Amphitheatre October 21 / Monday Biscuit Jam – Crystal Shawanda Post Malone – BB&T Center October 22 / Tuesday Toro Jones – Funky Biscuit Logic – AAA The Ambassadors – Revolution Live Jay Stollman & The Hemptones – Double Roads Tavern October 23 / Wednesday Travers Brothership – Funky Biscuit The Slamm Allen Band – Double Roads Tavern October 24 / Thursday Gary Hoey w/Shaw Davis – Funky Biscuit
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October 25 / Friday Maroon 5-Grand Opening Hard Rock - Hollywood JP Soars & The Red Hots – Funky Biscuit Ellis Paul – Broward Center Sirci / Crazy Train – Double Roads Tavern Bobby Nathan’s Boogie Shoes – The Venue Tribal Seeds – The Culture Room October 26 / Saturday Canned Heat – Funky Biscuit Halloween Party – Double Roads Tavern Halloween – Billion Dollar Babie$ The Venu Cade Gotthardt – The Culture Room A 90’s Rock Tribute – Kelsey Theatre October 27 / Sunday Allman Betts Band – Charles F Dodge Center-Miramar October 28 / Monday Biscuit Jam – Eliza Neals Kiss Country 99.9 / Stars & Guitars – Broward Center Clairo – Revolution Live October 29 / Tuesday 3 Guitars Jam – Funky Biscuit Bring Me The Horizon – The Fillmore
October 17 / Thursday Australian Bee Gees Show – Funky Biscuit Celebrating the Big Bands of Modern Jazz – Broward Center Pam & Dave Westminster Trio – Double Roads Tavern October 18 / Friday Anthony Gomes & Paul DesLauriers – Funky Biscuit Zac Brown Band – Coral Sky Amphitheatre Eve & Paparo Shareholders – Double Roads Tavern The Original Studio 54 – The Venu Face to Face – The Culture Room
The Chainsmokers & 5 Seconds of Summer - AAA RapCaviar Live – The Fillmore Pam & Dave Westminster Trio – Double Roads Tavern
October 30 / Wednesday The Shakers – Double Roads Tavern
OCTOBER 25 MAROON 5 HARD ROCK LIVE
October 31 / Thursday Halloween Monster Bash – Funky Biscuit Jake Walden / Big Vince & Phat Cats – Double Roads Tavern Emo & Pop Punk Tribute – Revolution Live
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Cage the Elephant | Coral Sky Amphitheater Photo: Jay Skolnick
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Day of the Dead
November 2 | Downtown Fort Lauderdale
Photos: Tom Craig 22 | www.SFLMusic.com
Celebrate the Day of the Dead with one of the biggest street parties in South Florida on Saturday, November 2nd in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. From regional artists to live music, the festival has blown up in the last few years. What began as 750 attendees in 2010 grew into more than 19,000 in 2018. The Day of the Dead will take place in three locations along the Riverwalk in Fort Lauderdale. The Skeleton Processional, featuring 60 puppets and more than 1,000 skeletons will trail mariachi musicians along the Riverwalk. Guests will see more than 100 altars of remembrance, sugar-skull paintings, and mariachi bands, on seven stages. The soiree will end at Revolution Live with music and a huge fiesta. On a mission to maintain and respect the cultural essence of the Day of the Dead tradition, participants of all ages can look forward to the Day of the Dead every November 2nd. It interjects a modern aesthetic as envisioned by regional artists. Additionally, skeleton-themed workshops, and exhibitions shall be
created each September and October to offer the community an 8-week series of entertainment. The first of the three exciting events is the “100th Ofrenda Exhibition” at the New River Inn. It will feature altars or “ofrendas” covered in photos, handpainted paper mache skeletons, sugar skulls, marigolds, and food for the dead. The “Casa Calavera” exhibition will feature the exquisite paintings of Heather Calderon, sometimes known as the “Day of the Dead Artist.” Her paintings are inspired by a fascination with skeletons and an exploration of childhood and heritage. Led by renowned artist Linda Quakenbush, the interactive “In Memoriam” exhibition will offer guests multiple opportunities to create impromptu memorials for loved ones. The final products will be displayed during the Florida Day of the Dead Celebration in a pop-up exhibition. It will be an exciting time leading up to The Day of the Dead Celebration in Fort Lauderdale. That evening, Fort Lauderdale is turning Day to Night on November 2nd with
the returning festival featuring Unlimited Devotion & Crazy Fingers- plus an authentic Dia De Muertos experience including mariachi, activities for all ages and more at this Revolution Street Party! Honor the tradition of DOTD while celebrating the positive energy of the Grateful Dead, sharing music with fans young & old. Tickets for Night of the Dead are available at www.JoinTheRevolution.net
Beres Hammond | Broward Center Photo: Tom Craig
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ABDO NEW RIVER ROOM SERIES Enjoy your favorite artists and shows up close in our most intimate performance space.
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George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic’s One Nation Under a Groove Revolution Live
Despite The Rolling Stones in Miami and Beck in West Palm Beach On August 30th, it was George Clinton and Fishbone’s groovy performances that brought the funk to South Florida. Concertgoers put their hurricane preparations on hold to joyfully sing and dance to George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic’s One Nation Under a Groove farewell tour at Revolution Live in Fort Lauderdale. Middleaged spectators spent hours jamming to Dr. Funkenstein’s greatest hits and assorted cuts from the Seventies, as well as Fishbone’s psychedelic soul. Parliament Funkadelic’s 100-minute set kicked off with an animated instrumental. The 78-year-old Lifetime Achievement Grammy winner wore a glittering black hat over his bald head, along with sunglasses, a gold cloak, and a black Red Hot Chili Peppers tee. The crowded stage was packed with a baker’s dozen or so artists, including Garrett Shider on guitar, bassist Lige Curry and George’s grandson, rapper Tra’zae. There were three seductive women singing backup with choreographed dance moves, including the lady in a psychedelic pink leotard, a lilac light attached to her head, and a digital necklace with the scrolling message ‘I Love You.’ Assorted hype men included a shirtless guy in rodeo panting walking around on his hands and performing acrobatics. Another pimp strolled around in a feather coat and a giant plastic nose. A singer in colorful braids had no discretion and wore a sarong hanging over his thong underwear. Everybody took turns sharing the spotlight. It was a circus of funk, and it was awesome. The vigorous set-list included a festive “One Nation Under a Groove,” the fun singalong “Flash Light” and the slow-boiling instrumental “Maggot Brain” with a 10-minute guitar solo. George told
everybody in Fort Lauderdale to get off our butts and move along to spirited cuts, including “Super Stupid” and “Pole Power.” Old school numbers, like “Flashlight” and “Knee Deep” got everyone hyped. Of course, the highlight was the timeless “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker).” Everybody was waving their arms and chanting the familiar chorus, “We need the funk. We gotta have that funk.” Winding down with “Atomic Dog,” George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic are truly wonderful entertainers. LA punkers Fishbone was amazing. Dressed in a suit covered with graffiti, suspenders and Converse Chucks, the energetic vocalist and saxophonist Angelo Moore was amazing. Onstage, the 53-year-old continually interacted with the audience. The man even walked along the VIP– section’s tabletop and crowd surfed from one end of the room to the other. The people loved it. Fishbone wound things down with Angelo swinging a giant white flag reading “Fuck Racism.” Beforehand, George made a surprise appearance with Miss Velvet & The Blue Wolf, and viewers enjoyed The Main Squeeze’s dynamic jam sessions. “Having last seen Fishbone in 1996, I expected them to deliver an excellent show, but was completely mesmerized seeing that they continue to rock as hard as they did over 20 years ago,” said Shannon Butler, a Business Analyst from Hollywood, FL. “Hearing Fishbone perform songs like ‘Hide Behind My Glasses,’ ‘Everyday Sunshine’ and ‘Freddie’s Dead,’ as well as Angelo crowd surfing to ‘Alcoholic,’ and closing the show out with ‘Party at Ground Zero’ made me feel like I was 15 again.” - By Todd McFliker, Photos by Tom Craig
Spoon open | Coral Sky Amphitheater Photo: Jay Skolnick
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By: Lori Smerilson Carson Starting his career over thirty years ago with Cinderella’s Platinum debut album Night Songs in 1986, Lead Vocalist/Songwriter/Guitarist Tom Keifer continues his climb of success with his second solo album Rise, which reached the top 10 Billboard charts within its first week of release on September 13th. Touring is continuing as well. Catching up with Keifer just prior to this new leg of the tour, he revealed how he and bandmates Vocalist/Percussionist/Pianist Savannah Keifer, Lead and Rhythm Guitarist/Vocalist Tony Higbee, Bassist/Vocalist Billy Mercer, Vocalist/Percussionist Kendra Chantelle, Drummer Jarred Pope, and Keyboardist/ Vocalist Kory Myers came together as a band, the music writing approach and how important their live performances are to them.
since. I mean, kind of relentlessly, because we really love what we do and our chemistry is great on and off stage so. We get along well and just really love what we do, so we’ve just been out there playing shows until the end of last year when we felt like you know, time to make a new record. This record (Rise) was made with this band. The band that I’ve been touring with, and really the goal was to come straight off the road, I mean we barely took a breath, and went straight into the studio, set up and really went for live performances on this. Much of what you hear on the record is really live right off the tracking, even some of my vocals.
SFL Music: How did this band come together?
SFL Music: So, was it all recorded in the studio or was some live?
Tom Keifer: It came together to tour and support of The Way Life Goes, because that record was not made with the band. That’s a record that Savannah and I produced in our studio, and just kind of recording, not even with the idea of it being a record in the beginning. We were just recording songs that we were writing, and songs that we liked, and we were using session players. We did it over a long period of time and eventually it started feeling like it was a record. Eventually got a record deal for it, and then it was time to go support it, and we looked at each other and thought, oh we need a band,” he chuckled. “That record was released in 2013 and we put this band together then to go on the road to support that record, and you know from the beginning, also part of the show is doing some Cinderella stuff, obviously. So, that’s when the band came together, and it’s just had a great chemistry and energy from day one, and we’ve just been out touring ever
Keifer: They’re all studio tracks I mean, none of them are recorded at live shows, but we approached it from the stand point of setting up in a room together. A fairly tight studio room, you know, head phones on, look each other in the eye and lets really go for a performance, and then obviously you know, later you evaluate that and decide if you want to fix anything or overdub an additional thing, but I would say that this records probably the least amount of overdubbing I did after the tracking. A lot of it is we really preserved that initial performance and that energy, and then just played the songs so they felt like a performance. Which, a lot of records in the past I’ve been involved with have been produced kind of from the ground up with a lot of overdubs and certainly The Way Life Goes was done that way. There’s nothing wrong with that, but being that we’ve toured so much and have that chemistry and we’re fresh off the road of like six years of re-
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lentless touring, we felt that was the approach we wanted to take on this, because the band really locks together so well, so it was easy to accomplish that. SFL Music: The video for “The Death of Me” shows what you are talking about. Where did the idea for that song come from? It’s very inspirational. Keifer: The initial inspiration for that song came from Savannah. She wrote that lyric a couple years back actually. She had an inspiration one day and jotted those lyrics down and handed them to me and I loved them instantly, but we were touring and I’m not always in a place where you want to sit down and finish or write a song, and she’s the same way too. Sometimes I have an idea, and you don’t really get around to completing it right away, but if it’s a good one, we store it. Right?” he lightly chuckled, “So, I remember reading the lyrics that day and I said, this is amazing! I’m putting this in a folder and when it’s time to make a record, I’m pulling this out and we’ll finish it. We’ll do the music and we’ll finish up the little bit of lyrics that were left. She had most of them done. That was her inspiration, and I instantly kind of heard it as being a heavy dark song. I write from the same place. It’s always lyrics first and the lyric kind of dictates. The lyric essentially is an emotion. So, then it almost immediately tells you what the music should sound like. So, “The Death of Me,” those lyrics were screaming this needs to be a heavy, dark riff track. So that’s what we created around it, starting with the writing of the music, and then also that we go into the studio to find that heaviness and that angst, within the track when we recorded with the band; but that all starts with the lyrics. SFL Music: Was there a theme to this album Rise or was it just a compilation of different ideas? Keifer: Yeah, I mean it turns out that there is a common thread through a good bit of the songs on the record, which is that kind of finding strength in your adversity. I would say “Touching the Divine” has a bit of that. Going from the dark place to a better place as the lyric says, definitely certainly is an anthem for overcoming anything that’s failing you or holding you down. As is the title track “Rise”. So yeah, and “Life Was Here” I think is. So, there’s a hand full of songs that have that theme, and the track “Rise” seemed to kind of summed that up, and it’s something that we felt strongly about being the title track for that reason; but there’s other themes on the record too. “Waiting on the Demons” is another one about overcoming things that keep you down. SFL Music: They are great songs that capture your signature sounds, that bluesy, rock, heavy metal. In the early Cinderella days, we talked about blues, but what would you say are your musical inspirations? Keifer: Well, initially you know, you kind of form who you are as a musician. I mean, if you’re starting at an early age which I did. I started playing guitar and singing when I was eight years old, and that was very basic you know, like American folk songs and some Beatles songs, and I like The Monkees, but then I heard this thing called hard rock. I heard The Rolling Stones and I heard Led Zeppelin and I was like oh, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. That was my formative years, kind of coming into my early teenage years and hearing those bands. They kind of formed who I am, and I feel like that was a great decade for music. You know, I could name bands all day from the seventies that inspired
me. Everything from the more kind of blues, gritty, hard rock stuff like the Stones, to even some of the progressive stuff then like Kansas and Yes, I love. There were just so many great and different kinds of music. Fleetwood Mac, I love, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Eagles who had that country rock sound to them. It was a great time to come up and learn how to play guitar and be a musician and a singer, and ultimately that influenced my writing when I started writing; but there was a point where I realized that they had influences. So, that’s where the blues and the American roots came into it, and when I started digging back and listening to what Jimmy Page listened to and what Keith Richards came up on and The Stones and you know it was R&B and it was American country music and gospel music and blues of course, obviously where kind of the ingredients, it all went into that soup that was ultimately those bands that I loved. That’s what they were inspired by so, I did a lot of digging into that kind of music and went back and listened to Muddy Waters and Johnny Winter and Elmer James you know, a lot of that slide stuff. I think that’s something I’d encourage any musician to do. I don’t consider myself a blues artist. I’m a hard rock musician, but it’s blues inspired or American roots inspired style of hard rock which is what my heroes were. SFL Music: Is that what encouraged you to go into music? Keifer: Yeah, I don’t think, you know, when I was eight years old just strumming an acoustic and singing some three-chord songs, I don’t think at that point I knew what I wanted to do. When I started hearing, well the first like rock or pop rock band I heard was The Beatles and that really caught my attention,” he laughed. “I guess it was the Ed Sullivan show. Then I heard The Stones and you know, when I started hearing that harder edge stuff, it just really spoke to me and that’s when I really, I knew. Even as early as high school, I was working professionally in bands and playing out on the club circuit. So, yeah it was pretty early on and it was that style of music that inspired and pointed me in that direction for my life I guess.
SFL Music: What inspires what you write your lyrics? Just everyday events or? Keifer: It’s life, yeah, it’s the journey of life. The ups and downs. You know, the challenges, the celebrating the triumphs and the good times. It’s very similar to I think what the bands I came on. They were inspired as I said by American roots music and all of that. All of that music from country, to blues and gospel, and R&B. It’s all the real things and they were talking about falling in love and falling out of love and heart break and getting over that and overcoming adversity. It’s just about life. So, that’s where I draw my inspiration from. Being in a place where you write from a perspective of lyrics first, I think throughout the day, I find myself constantly analyzing my thoughts and wondering, is that a song? Most of the time you go, no that’s not a song; but when you put songwriting from the lyrics first thing, the song can hit you anywhere. You can be walking down the street or on the beach, riding in an airplane, on a tour bus driving down the road, and some thought comes into your head and you kind of analyze it and say, is that a song or isn’t it? The ones that stick with ya, you usually end up sitting down and writing at some point, but you know, all that whole thought process is inspired, and whatever you’re experiencing that day or even more so sometimes when you’re observing other people experience, or out in the world. So, its life that I think inspires it all. SFL Music: You had the vocal chord issue (vocal Paresis). It appears it’s going much better now, hopefully. Keifer: Yeah, fingers crossed and knock on wood. Yeah, I mean, that’s something that just haunted me and plagued me for a couple of decades you know. I was told in the early nineties that I wasn’t going to sing again, and it was ultimately the result of a neurological condition that left my left vocal chord partly paralyzed, but the remedy for that is just attempting to retrain it to be strong enough to work the way it used to, and It’s not an exact science. So, long story short, I’ve worked with starting with speech pathologists and then working your way into holding a pitch, and then ultimately working with vocal coaches and trying to learn how to strengthen that chord to function properly, and it’s taken a long time, but I’m just grateful that I had some great teachers and I’ve found a method that seems to be working and every time I say that I cross my fingers. SFL Music: You have quite a vocal range, did you take voice lessons when you decided to go into music or did you teach yourself? Keifer: No. I learned by imitating singers that I liked, and early on as a kid I realized I had that kind of upper head voice scream 32 | www.SFLMusic.com
because I would try to imitate Robert Plant and I was able to kind of do that in cover bands. Also, Janis Joplin I love, and Rod Stewart. So, that raspy kind of upper head voice, I realized as a kid doing covers. A lot of times when you’re in cover bands, it’s like well who’s going to try to sing this one? When you’re a kid, sure I’ll try it, you know,” he laughed. “So, I always kind of got that stuff pushed off on me and even some Humble Pie stuff and all. So, being in a cover band is a good way to learn things. I was never really the lead singer for any of those bands. I was more like the guy that would sing a few songs when the real lead singer wanted to take a break. I really didn’t take on the lead singer responsibility as 100% until Cinderella was put together, and that really was born out of me starting to write songs and doing demos, and there wasn’t really a singer around that sounded like what I was hearing for those songs, so I started singing on the demos. Honestly, they weren’t really great. I’ve learned a lot about singing, and the early demos are pretty pitchy and my tones not great, but when we got into the studio with Andy (Johns) he helped me a lot, and I’ve just worked on developing my voice over the years, but you know I think it all starts for everybody as kind of imitating singers that you like. SFL Music: Andy Johns, Cinderella producer? Keifer: Andy Johns was the producer of the first two Cinderella records (Night Songs and Long Cold Winter). Yeah, I learned a lot from him. He passed away in 2013 and I miss him dearly. SFL Music: Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know that. Did what he taught you play into your production of Rise with Savannah and Kyle O’Connor? Keifer: Yeah, Oh absolutely. I mean, everything I learned from him is carried over into every record I’ve ever worked on because he was the first producer I ever worked with. So, really learned the art and the craft of what being in the studio is about from him and he worked with all my heroes, you know he recorded and produced The Stones, and Zeppelin and Humble Pie and Rod Stewart. We were really fortunate to have such a veteran experienced producer from day one. I mean, I was just a green kid walking in there, just kind of listening to him and soaking it up and trying to learn as much as I could. So, pretty much everything I know about making records came from working with him. He was really amazing. SFL Music: It’s a really good album. Was there anything else you want South Florida readers to know? Keifer: Just that we’ve got the new record out Rise and we love for people to check it out, and if we’re in a town near you or your town, come see us and let’s sing some songs together and have a good time.
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PETER FRAMPTON: THE FAREWELL TOUR with Jason Bonham
By: Lori Smerilson Carson
34 | www.SFLMusic.com
Peter Frampton FINALE - The Farewell Tour trekked through West Palm’s Coral Sky Amphitheatre on the first Friday night in September. Fortunately for Led Heads, Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening warmed up the stage with a spectacular setlist of timeless radio hits, mystical epics, and the heartbreaking Delta Blues. “It’s not just about playing the songs that you can hear on the radio every day,” Jason explained to me. “I want to be more experimental with songs that really are still great, but overshadowed.” Jason Bonham dressed casually in a black T-shirt that read “No Photos Please,” dark sunglasses, and a goatee. His enormous drum set stood high on a 3-foot platform. The DW drums had Bonzo’s famous three interlocking circles logo that symbolize the man-woman-child trilogy. Each side of the talent had its own monitor, as well as a giant one in the center for South Florida music lovers on the grass. The screens often displayed the amphitheater from a camera just over Jason’s shoulder, allowing fans to see the child prodigy’s point of view. Meanwhile, the huge backdrop presented the JBLZE logo surrounded by silhouettes of zeppelins. Since Zeppelin’s 50th anniversary last year, press releases from the band and Rhino Records have hinted towards a live release dubbed “Led Zeppelin Experience.” As a direct result, Jason simply changed the name of his band from Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience to Evening, keeping the familiar acronym, JBLZE. Opening with “Immigrant Song,” Bonham’s crashing hi-hat and snare drum set the mood. Resembling Jimmy Page, the slim Jimmy Sakurai had long black curls and leaned back to create magical riffs. Following “Good Times Bad Times,” Jason addressed his crowd for the first time. “Tonight the goal is to go back in time, he said. “When I was a kid growing up, I was too close to it. He was just Dad and it didn’t really matter that he was in Led Zeppelin. It wasn’t like he was in the Beatles.” Audience members erupted in laughter and Jason continued, “I live here because rock and roll is still alive in the States. Let’s go back into time when maybe some of us had a little more hair. When our wives were our girlfriends. When you were smoking stuff that you couldn’t get from a doctor. When you were listening to 8-tracks. Let’s have some fun and go back in time. Let’s go “Over the Hills and Far Away.” Concertgoers swayed to the acoustic masterpiece about Celtic mythology. The feel-good song about sonic wizardry, “What Is and What Should Never Be,” was topped by the gorgeous references to J.R.R. Tolkien’s work in “Ramble On.” The sun set as JBLZE took a bite of “Black Dog.” The percussionist’s speed and precision produced a Zeppelinesque droning effect. Thousands of concertgoers sang along with James Dylan’s Plant-like vocals and seductive moans in “Whole Lotta Love.” An exciting “Rock and Roll” featured the climatic thunder of Jason’s throbbing bass drum. “This one we dedicate to each and every one of you. And if you believe in love, not hate, then show you believe in love, not hate,” Jason said in his introduction to “Stairway to Heaven.” Thousands of concertgoers held up the lights on their cellphones as he successfully replicated Bonzo’s powerful drumming, which is no easy feat. “Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening killed it,” said Christy Stina, a Senior Client Service Associate from Delray Beach. “That’s the closest I’ll ever get to seeing Led Zeppelin.” Hats off to Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening. After all, not just any musicians
can relive the mighty Zeppelin’s complexities onstage. I guess the bandleader’s got the right blood flowing through his veins. Peter Frampton and his crew opened with the delightful tune “Baby (Somethin’s Happening).” Frampton showed off impressive fingerwork as he swayed his head to the rhythm and groove. Sporting short white hair and a thin beard, the man wore a black T-shirt under a denim button-down and matching blue jeans. The artist flaunted a big smile while creating many impressive solos. Occasionally there was a live video feed of Peter, while later there were gigantic red letters spelling out Frampton above the talent. “Hello West Palm Beach,” Frampton announced. “I bet you didn’t know if you were coming or going over the last week,” referring to Hurricane Dorian. He spent several minutes discussing the awful fate of the Bahamas and expressed how lucky we are to live in South Florida. He thanked Jason Bonham’s amazing band of musicians and invited us to travel back in time. Following “Lying” and “Lines on My Face,” Frampton showed off his voice box guitar in “Show Me the Way.” The familiar number is found on the electrifying Frampton Comes Alive!, one of the top-selling live records of all time. Spectators enjoyed reliving Frampton’s history, like when he spoke about his former residence around the corner from Abbey Road Studios that became a popular party house. He saw the humor in it and decided to write about it on his first solo album, 1972’s Wind of Change, “The Lodger.” “I am melting, but you must be warm too,” he said. “We’ll sweat together.” Introducing three covers, the chatty rock star reflected on his 71 shows last year with Steve Miller. Apparently, Frampton loved playing the blues with his old friend every night. As a result, the two decided to make a blues record with covers,
including “Georgia (On My Mind)” by Hoagy Carmichael and His Orchestra, Freddie King’s “Me and My Guitar,” and Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun.” Following “(I’ll Give You) Money,” Peter did a couple more classics from Frampton Comes Alive! “Baby, I Love Your Way” is a romantic ballad, while “Do You Feel Like We Do” is a humorous one about a hangover. There was a short encore and the concert was wrapping up with a Fab version on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” While the set-list was ideal, the coolest thing Frampton did onstage was use his 1954 Gibson Les Paul. The black guitar had been presumed lost in a 1980 cargo plane crash near Caracas. Three decades later, the beat-up instrument appeared in a Venezuelan shop for repair. It took some negotiating, but the famous Gibson was eventually purchased and returned to Frampton in Nashville. While some think he talked too much, Frampton’s longtime fans loved his lengthy tales about various artists, timeless songs, and studio work. Appearing in Coral Sky Amphitheater was fitting, as Frampton played West Palm Beach when he blew up in the midSeventies. At the same time, seeing several generations of concertgoers appreciating the same show was quite special. Frampton’s outing is labeled as The Farewell Tour because he was recently diagnosed with the inflammatory disease, inclusion body myositis (IBM). “I’ll always be able to sing, but at the moment I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to play guitar,” Frampton posted on his website’s Bio page. “Fortunately, I have a bunch of friends who can play guitar and help me out. Some of them are pretty good, too!” -By Todd McFliker, Photos by Jay Skolnick
36 | www.SFLMusic.com
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The Who | BB&T Center
Accompanied by a symphony orchestra, Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey performed The Who Moving On! tour at the BB&T Center in Sunrise on Friday, September 20. The mature crowd was calm and cool experiencing a handful of timeless classics, as well as a few new songs to be released this fall. “Be aware Who fans,” Daltrey said in a press release. “Just because it’s The Who with an orchestra, in no way will it compromise the way Pete and I deliver our music. This will be full throttle Who with horns and bells on.” The boys kicked off the fresh performance with the renowned instrumental “Overture” from 1970’s Tommy. Approximately 50 musicians and a conductor created a full orchestra onstage. Everyone wore solid black, except Pete in a blue t-shirt that read Port Townsend, WA. At age 74, the balding guitarist with the speed and precision 38 | www.SFLMusic.com
of a young rock star. Holding a pair of tambourines, 75-year-old Daltrey appeared a bit younger with a full head of white hair. Throughout “Pinball Wizard,” the singer spun his microphone chord in giant circles, as if it were a lasso. Occasionally, he let it fly into the air and would catch the device just before singing a new verse into it. The Englishmen made a few references
to getting old and performed for their generation of senior citizens. “Do you still wish you were dead before you got old,” Daltrey asked. The two icons also discussed how good it was to be back in South Florida and chatted about making their upcoming album. Daltrey’s raspy voice was impressive during a fabulous rendition of “Who
Are You.” The entire arena was on its feet, singing the well-known chorus, waving their arms and bobbing their heads to the distinguishable beat. The excitement wound down with Townshend performing half-adozen of his signature windmill guitar strokes. “Eminence Front” was fantastic. In fact, every spectator was on his or her feet. Townshend talked about writing the song cocaineinspired tune before “Miami Vice” picked it up. “I am glad that you like it because it’s yours,” he said to all the locals in the audience. The massive ensemble that made the orchestra took a break as the core band delivered “Substitute” and “The Seeker,” but hecklers up front were disappointed not to hear “Magic Bus.” “Tough shit,” Townshend responded. “Let me play instead the first hit that we ever had in the USA,” “I Can See for Miles.” Roger and Pete were alone onstage, while the entire room chanted the familiar lyrics to an acoustic version of “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” Daltrey fingered an acoustic, but an attractive cello player with black hair stole the spotlight throughout the sweet “Behind Blue Eyes.” The full orchestra returned for “Ball and Chain” off The Who’s upcoming album slated for November, as well as some radio hits, like “The Real Me” and “Love, Reign O’er Me.” Townshend explained that the large crew stems from down here and they all rehearsed at a secret location in Palm Beach. The undeniable highlight of the evening was the closing number, “Baba O’Riley.” Again, thousands stood up, waived their arms, and chanted the well-known lyrics about teenage wasteland. Throughout the show, Townshend and Daltrey told short and entertaining tales about their careers. Sure, the orchestra added to the overall ambiance, but it was Townshend’s guitar playing and The Who’s timeless anthems that made for a marvelous concert. They may be little old men, but The Who still rock. That’s their generation, baby. –By Todd McFliker, Photos by Jay Skolnick
Vibes Farm | Fish Depot
When it comes to South Florida local music, heavy ska rockers Vibes Farm, epitomize the perfect mixture of reggae and punk rock influences with the music scene here. In 2016 Tyler Giddens formed the trio Vibes Farm with Joseph (Josepi) Kaplan and Nathaniel (Nate) Smith after leaving hip-hop/reggae group, LFTD LVLS, filled with all of my personal friends. Shortly after Nate stopped playing, Joe Cole met Giddens at Rudy’s Pub in Lake Worth, at an open jam when Joe was just getting back into drumming. Cole had also been in a band with future VF bassist Rocky Rucker, called Whole Enchilada. Ryan Jackola joined the band about a year ago when he saw a post on Facebook looking for a new bassist after Rocker left. Jackola came highly recommended by Rocker when Vibes Farm was searching for a replacement. He came from several other projects including a top 40 | www.SFLMusic.com
40 cover band, L-Tribe, and his own bands Escape Artist and Rogue Theory. Vibes Farm is unique in a way that they produce a killer live “dreadbangin’” show (a term coined by myself when long-dreaded Rocky Rocker used to perform heavy bangers with VF). So it made sense for them to start with Vibes Farm: Live 2019, featuring some of their hardhitting ska and punk rock songs recorded at Banana Boat in Boynton Beach. The album release party occurred at Fish Depot down the street from Banana Boat on Friday September 13th, during the full moon. They rocked two sets with reggae and ska locals, The People Upstairs, bringing the funk in between their sets. Bongo Kings opened up early from 4-7 for those enjoying the beautiful windy weather on a Friday afternoon. VF
was lucky enough to have one of South Florida’s best saxophone players, Patrick “Monty” Montanari of Fireside Prophets, joining their set and going off with his outrageous style of sax blasting and skanking moves. One of the best aspects of front-man Tyler G’s performance is his unique style of guitar soloing, including making a siren sound by strumming one of Cole’s drumsticks on his guitar while playing the song “Burning Red” (this skill evolving from small change to other small objects until finally the drumstick became “pick” of choice). Jackola will slap and slide the bass while smiling and head-banging to Cole’s smooth and melodic drum beats. For the best rock heavy reggae performance in South Florida, check out Vibes Farm at many future events around the Palm Beach area. The local trio will have performed at Future 6’s benefit show back at Banana Boat on September 29 by the time this issue is produced. Rock the Boat will feature a diverse lineup of local talent with SOWFLO, Vibes Farm, Girlfriend Material, Jacuzzi Fuzz, and Wasted Vibes. VF plans to release a more diverse live album in the near future and will include the song Float Away they introduced live at Fish Depot after finally tweaking the jam to their liking. In the meantime, fans can check out their reggae-rap fusion collaboration, Unified Minds, on Facebook and YouTube with local up-and-comer Mario Home Grown Rebellion and others like drummer Travis Schmeider from Fireside Prophets and original drummer Nate Smith. The supergroup will be performing this collaboration live for the first time at Crazy Uncle Mike’s in Boca Raton on Friday October 18th with Sierra Lane and Vibes Farm performing as well. They hinted at possibly releasing an EP for that show and have just recently released their first single for UM, Tension, on several streaming platforms. Also, make sure to buy a hard copy of their six song live album release to receive bonus cover tracks that are not available on digital outlets like Spotify and Apple Music. – David Max Shaw, Photos Garage To Nowhere
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This November something really special is coming to South Beach, the Miami Beach Pop Festival. The festival that bills itself as part music, part cuisine and part cultural really has a lot going for it. With world class food and an insane lineup that includes Chance the Rapper, Jack Johnson, Kygo, the Marleys and The Raconteurs this is one festival that you cannot miss! SFL Music had the pleasure to speak with Miami Beach Pop Festival founder Paul Pack about the upcoming festival.
SFL Music: Wow. Awesome. How long were you at Bonnaroo?
SFL Music: Before we talk about the Miami Pop Festival, I wanted to ask, how did you get your start in the music business?
Peck: I was involved in Outside Lands too. Yep. That was also super fun. I was involved in that as well.
Paul Peck: Well, funny enough, I was actually in New Orleans and I was a college kid. I was always a big music fan, but before I moved to New Orleans, I thought I was the type of person that liked one kind of music. And I found out pretty quickly from being in New Orleans ... It just kind of opened up my mind that I like every type of music. I just very inspired by the music scene there and all the incredible musicians, and artists and singers. I had this thought of creating my own ... Well, I started managing some bands. I just kind of gravitated toward music. I kind of had this itch to produce a show that was all my favorite New Orleans musicians, who are these world class, almost underappreciated musicians and artists, and singers ... I had this idea, I was like, “What if I can get all these artists to play all the songs of one of my favorite artists of all time, Stevie Wonder, at this club, which is my favorite place to see music, the Tipitina’s?” So, I put on that show, and I totally caught the bug. The show was really successful and really special, and really exciting. M I started producing these kind of shows that were collaborations and super jams. I had a knack for it. I was good at working with the artists. I was good at producing exciting shows. I was really inspired, and I had a good rapport with the bands. I was also good on the business side and keeping everything organized. When I graduated college, local production company, Superfly, hired me. The next year, we did the first Bonnaroo and I was onsite producing a super jam there. 42 | www.SFLMusic.com
Peck: I was at Bonnaroo for the first, I would say, 12 years of my career actually. SFL Music: And then I think I read somewhere that you did the Outside Lands festival?
SFL Music: And then Okeechobee, of course. Peck: Yep. I’m the co-founder of Okeechobee. There, I was the head of programming. Just set out to do something different and special, and something really unique for the state of Florida, and celebrating this amazing weather and atmosphere, and landscape. It felt we did something really special there, and kind of dreamt up this idea of doing a world class event of music and food, and culture, a deeper experience on Miami Beach. I wanted to explore this theme of universal human connection. I really believe we’re in a time of almost illusion inducing divisiveness. It’s like we all feel we’re so different when in reality, we’re all so much more alike as humans than we are different. I wanted to do an event that really explored that theme and explored our connection and embrace diversity. Miami and Miami Beach felt the natural place for it. Miami is a beacon of diversity in this world. It’s one of the most authentic American cultures that’s a true representation of the melting pot concept. Within Miami, Miami Beach is this pristine physical landscape. And I think one of the things that connects all humans is we’re all drawn to the ocean or beautiful inspiring natural locations. We’re drawn to those places on a human level, and it kind of opens you up to being more aware of the connection that we all share. That’s what this event is really about. It’s about connecting with other people through music and food and culture and dancing, and just the planet as a whole.
SFL Music: How did you come up with this wonderfully diverse lineup that you’ve got? Paul Peck: I kind of curated it to what I thought would be the perfect live playlists of amazing artists that would be perfect for Miami Beach, and also the ultimate beach playlist. It was kind of those two things. When I think about New Orleans Jazz Fest, back to New Orleans, it’s always been my favorite festival. There’s this baseline of incredible New Orleans talent that’s reflective of the culture of that city. I felt there was really a similar opportunity here in Miami. It’s like, “If you’re in Miami for an epic weekend, what do you want to listen to?” And I just thought things like Jack Johnson, Chance the Rapper, The Roots, Questlove, Jack White, Nile Rodgers, and Chic, Daddy Yankee, Sean Paul, T-Pain, a celebration of Bob Marley led by the Marley family with special guests. That’s what I want to listen to when I’m on the beach, and I’m sipping a Pina Colada out of a coconut, and it’s a beautiful day. I’m trying to create the ultimate curated beach party experience. But it’s not just a beach party where you get wasted and don’t remember it. This is like, “Sure, have drinks and hang out. But feel inspired, feel refreshed, feel connected.” That’s what this is all about. It’s the perfect beach party in a meaningful way. That’s the way this is curated, Again, I want to go to a festival, and I want to celebrate some things that I know I love. I know Chance the Rapper is one of the best live performers in the world. But frankly, I’ve never seen Daddy Yankee play live. His song took over the world this past like five months with his remake of Snow’s Infomer, Con Calma. I love that song. He’s got a catalog of classics. He’s a legend. I want to see him play live on Miami Beach. I also want to see Kygo play that day. I also want to see Nile Rodgers who produced David Bowie and Madonna. I want to see him do a super jam of all classic songs. It’s just curated to be the perfect, inspiring, beautiful day beach party playlist, but live. That’s it. The idea of being able to party and celebrate, and rock to things that you know you love, but also to be able to ... My most meaningful moments as a festival goer or when I connect to something that I didn’t even know that I liked more didn’t even know that I had a taste for. But I find something that really touches me in a different way, and it’s like, “Wow, this is inspiring. It’s something that I can listen to for the rest of my life and an artist that I can grow with and find other artists from.” That’s meaningful to me. Those are the most meaningful moments, connecting to something new. It’s that healthy balance of rocking to what you know you love and what you’re comfortable with and finding something amazing and new that can help you grow as a person. SFL Music: Well, I think you hit it out of the park when it comes to diversity in this. There’s some amazingly great artists in this lineup. Peck: Thank you. I’m really pleased with it, man. I’m really pleased with how it came out. I think it’s going to be really special. SFL Music: Besides the music aspect of it, what are the other aspects of the experience that you’re most proud of? Peck: Well, I am super proud that just as much as a music festival, this is also going to be an amazing food festival where you can go and sample all these different ... Because I’m in love with Miami’s food scene and the great local produce that comes out of the farms of Florida and the ocean and just fresh seafood. I just love authentic flavors and different cultures. You can connect to new cultures through eating new food. That is another way of
connecting and opening your mind. People connect through food and flavor as well as music and those kinds of things. This is a food festival and the food festival’s curated by one of the most talented young celebrity chefs in the world, Michael Schwartz. And he’s right here, and he’s an expert in all the different flavors that make up Miami’s culinary landscape. So, I’m beyond excited about the ... Because I love to eat. When I go to New Orleans Jazz Fest, it’s a food festival. I’ll just sit there and eat food all day. I might be missing my favorite band because I’m eating back to back sandwiches or something, I’m just kidding about that. Just great food, great music, great people, great drinks, great environment, that’s the recipe for a awesome weekend. That’s the recipe. Beautiful weather. The idea that we’re curating this worldclass food festival that celebrates the flavors of Miami Beach, I’m really proud of that. I’m also really proud of our commitment to essential sustainability initiatives. We have this beyond inspiring young University of Miami student, Delaney Reynolds, who’s curating a whole sustainability area. The festival itself is really dedicated to being a leader as one of the most minimally impactful festivals in the world. We really want to be a leader in sustainable event practices. We mightn’t succeed in the first year, but we will succeed eventually, but we’re trying to be plastic free. We are 100% already committed to not using any plastic water bottles at the festival. SFL Music: Wow. Peck: We’re going to accomplish that through a mix of free refill stations and reusable cups, and canned water. We’re going to put water in cans and aluminum is infinitely recyclable. Whereas plastic is basically not recyclable. You have a plastic bottle, that thing is going to be on planet earth forever. SFL Music: Forever. Peck: Aluminum can be recycled an infinite amount of time. So, I’m really, really proud of all of the good work that we’re doing there. I want to be a leader in sustainable event practices and set the new trends for other events to follow suit because it’s essential. We’re in Florida. We’re on Miami Beach and we’re cel-
ebrating this unifying power of the ocean. It’s really important that we’re consistent in how we operate the festival in a way that respects that beautiful landscape. SFL Music: Sure. Did you get a multi-year agreement with the city? Peck: It’s an ongoing partnership with the city. We really wanted to create a community event that fulfills the things that are right for the city and does the things that are right for the event. But the city has approved, in principle, a three year, a multi-year deal with the festival. But again, it’s a partnership to create the right event and to work in sync with city staff and city officials. We have an amazing team of festival producers on the operations and logistics side for the things that are over my head a little bit, but some of the people that I worked with at Outside Lands and Bonnaroo, and Okeechobee. Some are the best in class people that produce the operations, the logistics, security, all the really important things that make the festival run well. Yeah, the nuts and bolts. SFL Music: What would you say some of your biggest hurdles were during that time to get the city to come on board, and get at the point where they gave you the thumbs up and, “Let’s go for it.” Peck: I think it was about really communicating and working well with them to define our intention, that we were looking to create a community event, and the right event for Miami Beach. We weren’t going to come here and do a copy paste of another event that comes from somewhere else. We wanted to create the right event for Miami Beach. Having a productive dialog, that formed the vision for what we were creating here for Miami Beach and doing something that’s representative of the unique character. Really, Art Basel’s a great example of this sort of annual cultural institution. I’m from Miami Beach and that’s what we’re creating here. This is going to be a true representation in a celebration of this amazing environment, this amazing community, and this unbelievably vibrant city. And the cultural diversity and the complexity and just all the depth of flavors that are here. We’re doing things like, of course, like I mentioned, the culinary festival and making that world-class.
that story, so we might have to fact check that. He’s such a legendary figure. There was a relationship there, and he’s such a transcendent musical talent. So, the idea of getting him together with these talented young kids to do a one-time-only thing is just really special. But just the idea of talented young kids getting to play in front of a proper festival audience and having that transformative experience ... And the flip side of that, at a festival, seeing these talented young kids have this just amazing sort of eyeopening experience is really mutually inspirational. I think it’s a really special part of what we’re doing. We’ve taken the time to think about the details of what is going to set Miami Beach Pop apart from every other festival, and what’s going to make it distinctly Miami. SFL Music: Miami has a really great music history, but it’s not, I don’t think, as well known as say a New Orleans or a New York or a San Francisco or an LA. But between Miami and Coconut Grove, and Miami Beach back in the day and Overtown, there’s a lot of things that have gone on and in this area since the ‘50s and ‘60s and on. So, it’s nice to see everything that you have put together for this. And based on what you’ve just told me, you guys really have done your homework on this. Peck: Well, I ... Miami is underrated and underrepresented music capital of the world and that is one of the things that we’re really trying to celebrate with this festival, that history to the current young talent that’s percolating here, and the future of that too. That’s going to be a big part of what’s celebrated. It’s just the rich musical history of Miami. Look, when you’re in an inspiring place, you’re in the right environment to create something that’s inspired. That’s what we’re doing on the beach with Miami Beach Pop. I think we nailed it. SFL Music: Yes, I think so. Well, other than what we’ve talked about, what would you to tell our readers about the festival?
SFL Music: Awesome.
Peck: I think this event is just about creating a new type of celebration for this modern culture. And I think you might have been to other festivals and maybe you haven’t been, but we’re trying to create something that’s totally new and totally inspiring. This really special community experience that celebrates human connection in a beyond pleasant environment. Miami Beach in November, it’s kind of the best time of year. We’re going to have the whole daytime beach party in the day with Palm trees swaying and a nice breeze and fresh air coming in off the ocean. And then sun goes down at 5:30. The festival goes, for example, on Saturday night till midnight. It’s just this duality of daytime beach party to nighttime under the stars, amazing world class talent, once in a lifetime performances. This is special stuff. It’s never going to happen again. Just come out and be prepared for a special, inspiring experience, and a new sense of connection because that’s what this event is really about. It’s about celebrating connection.
Peck: We’re doing a similar thing with Fisher-Feinberg K through eight. This part of the education curriculum is going to be headlined by University of Miami. Frost American Music Ensemble’s going to perform a live one-time-only collaboration with Ben Folds, which is a really cool thing because Ben Folds was famously a University of Miami student at Frost. The story’s in his book, which just came out this year. But he didn’t graduate for a certain reason and then he had a meltdown. And I think he threw his drum kit in the river. I might be miscarrying misrepresenting
And this is a beautiful example of the connective powers and planet earth and how important just super basic things are like fresh air, beautiful ocean, great truly fresh ingredients, dancing with other human beings in that environment. It’s almost a ritual because we’ve been doing it as humans forever. We’ve been doing it because it’s meaningful and because it’s important to just remember that we’re all so connected and to sync up with other people. I think it’s interested in important reminder. This is an important event to those reasons.
We’re working with a lot of local bands and artists. All the sustainability initiatives are really in sync with everything that Miami is doing. And certain establishments on Miami Beach like the 1 Hotel, which are the same way we are with festivals, just leaders in sustainable industry practices ... But we’re even doing things like ... We’re working with a bunch of the local school systems and having some of the really talented young kids ... Because I truly believe that Miami has a really rich history of producing amazing musical talents that come out in the city. And so we’re having the Miami Beach Senior High School Rock Ensemble play at the festival with special guests.
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SFL Music: One last question is, as the guy that put all this together, given the lineup that you’ve got, for you, what would be your super jam? What artists? If you could get them together at the festival on one stage at one time out of this line up, what would be your super jam? Peck: Well, my favorite artist of all time ... The most well known artists worldwide I believe is Bob Marley. We are doing that at this festival with Stephen Marley .... And Damian Marley. We’ve got all these amazing special guests that are going to be a part of that. That’s a really special thing. The music and the spirit and the message of that artist who’s this transcendent leader of culture, that is perfect for the festival. That’s a dream show for me. But if I can do my perfect super jam ... I’m also doing a super jam here with Nile Rodgers. That’s an artist who is such another iconic transcendent figure who’s been a part of some of the most meaningful recordings and the most just groundbreaking, inspirational music to other artists. He’s had such an indelible effect on pop music since the ‘70s ’80s and the 90s and even in the past bunch of years with Daft Punk, everything he’s done. That’s an artist that had been chasing after to do a super jam with ever since my days at Bonnaroo. It’s kind of the ones that I’m doing. I truly feel with each of these shows, it’s like with all of my super jams, I feel just so lucky, inspired. I feel the people that are going to get to see these shows are so blessed that I am literally trying to create and produce the best show ever. I know that that seems almost like an insane goal. I have this world class talent, some of the best musicians on planet earth. I am going to try my best to create a show that’s going to go down in history books. I kind of feel I’ve been successful in putting some things that might be in contention for those ... For people that have seen the shows, they know that these are one time only things that are never going to happen again. And we’re all just so lucky, artists and fans alike, just to be there to experience it together. I’m going to take a shot at creating all time shows this year, this festival, with these artists that I’m lucky to work with. And I feel lucky for the fans that are going to get to see you with me too because when you shows happen, I got a good crew that’s going to run it. I’m going to be in the front with the audi-
ence, watching these things because it just so special. You get these amazing artists to step outside of their comfort zone and do something really inspiring. They don’t exactly know what’s going to happen because they’re all playing together for the first time. The audience doesn’t know what’s going to happen. There’s something amazing when you get heroes and fans together in that energy of a beautiful environment. We’re all going to watch this incredible show. We don’t know where it’s going to go, and we’re all going to find out together at the same time. That’s awesome. That’s awesome. SFL Music: Absolutely. Peck:I’m very focused on these shows. I think they’re going to be beyond incredible.
SOUTH FLORIDA BLUES SOCIETY: INTERNATIONAL BLUES CHALLENGE
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tion and unbelievable range and tone, the virtual singing lesson that Vaneese is putting on. Too early for best track compliments? I think not! Still in that guilty frame of mind, this track finds Vaneese traveling down the “Highway Of Regret” - where there is no doubt in my mind that traffic is quite heavy. With this being Katie Jacoby’s only appearance on the violin, that alone makes this one worthy of mention. With a simpler music groove going on, Katie adds a bit of country soul to the track.
Vaneese Thomas Down Yonder Segue Records Although I reviewed Vaneese Thomas’s last CD and have had the pleasure of working with her on a music showcase in Memphis, until reading the one-sheet accompanying this disc, I was totally unaware of her film and television accomplishments. That makes it understandable why some of the many musicians appearing on “Down Yonder” - her eighth release - are currently enjoying success in that arena, as well. Joining Vaneese - the projects co-producer and writer/cowriter of its twelve tracks - on lead and background vocals are: Shawn Pelton on drums and percussion; Paul Adamy, Conrad Korsch and Will Lee on bass; Al Arlo on acoustic and electric guitars; Vaneese’s hubby and disc’s co-producer, Wayne Warnecke on dobro and percussion; Tash Neal on dobro and electric guitar; Robbie Kondor on keyboards and organ; Charles Hodges and Paul Mariconda on organ; Marc Franklin on trumpet; Tim Ouimette on trumpet and flugelhorn; Lannie McMillian and Ken Geoffree on tenor saxophone; Kirk Smothers and Rick Kriska on baritone saxophone; Katie Jacoby on violin; sister Carla Thomas and Berneta Miles on background vocals; and Kevin Bacon on lead vocals. Feeling as if the failing relationship is somehow her fault, the pain Vaneese is experiencing is quite evident on “I Tried”. Although Vaneese may have never actually lived through this anguish, hearing her sing this one will have you betting she has. If there was ever a time where a vocalist was in character, it’s right here. Everything about this song is perfect: the sullen rhythm groove Shawn and Paul are laying down; The delicate yet stinging guitar notes Al slips in at just the right times; The soul of Marc, Lannie and Kirk’s horns; and of course, with extreme emo48 | www.SFLMusic.com
Having been mistreated too many times before, it’s time for Vaneese to now come with instructions: “Handle Me Genty”. This slow blues ballad starts off with her somewhat asking it softy but eventually leads up to it becoming a firm demand - “handle me gently, handle me slow!” - with that exclamation added for emphasis. This one features outstanding blues guitar by Al and beautiful tandem work on the keyboards by Robbie on the piano and Charles on the organ. This track centers around some so-called “cold cases” particularly some unsolved murders that took place in Mississippi and still remain a mystery today. It’s a duet that features Kevin Bacon joining Vaneese in sending out the message that it’s time to break the chain of this “Legacy Of Pain”. Although aware of his music endeavors, this is my first - and I must say very impressive - exposure to Kevin’s vocal abilities. Now if you were to Google search “classic, old school Memphis Soul”, although it should, I’m one hundred percent sure that a link to this track would not come up. That said, I do believe I just made my point. “Last Kiss” truly does define classic old school Memphis Soul. The title track, finds Vaneese feeling wonderfully peaceful as she comes full circle by heading back home, “Down Yonder”. This Gospel style song - with its well-sung lead and harmony backing vocals and uplifting lyrics - was a beautiful way to close the album. Helping out nicely was some fine acoustic and lead guitar performances by Al and Tash and an excellent piano performance by Robbie. Other tracks on this most excellent album include: “Ebony Man”; “Wake Me”; “Second Chance”; “Mama He Loves Me”; “Lies”; and “Gone”. Somehow, with many Blues Music Award nominations, Vaneese has yet to step into the winner’s circle. Yes, it is indeed a crowded field of deserving talent, but yes indeed I do believe that “Down Yonder” just might be the vehicle to deliver the gold. To find out more about the Vaneese Thomas and her newest release - “Down Yonder”, just go to www.vaneesethomas.com - Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro | Blues Editor @ www.Mary4Music.com
Includes: Todd Rundgren, Jason Scheff (Chicago), Micky Dolenz (Monkees), Joey Mollard (Badfinger) & Christopher Cross
It Was Fifty Years Ago Today | Broward Center Photo: Jay Skolnick
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Bourbon and Beyond September 20, 21 & 22 | Louisville, KY
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Louder Than Life
September 27, 28 & 29 | Louisville, KY
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MUSICAL INSTRUMENT WAREHOUSE CLEARANCE SALE SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19th – 10:00am – 4:00pm UP TO 70% OFF EVERYTHING MUST GO – OPEN TO REASONABLE OFFERS ON ALL PRODUCTS TO MANY ITEMS TO LIST Inventory Includes: Guitars (Acoustic, Acoustic Electric & Electric) Drums (individual Drums and Drum Sets) Harmonicas Cajons Cymbals Guitar Cases Keyboard Bags Drum bags Guitar Bags Instrument Stands Music Stands Brazilian Drums Sticks Strings Straps Electronic Drum Parts Cables Keyboard Stands Microphones Speakers Sub Woofers And Much, Much More
JOIN US AT: 1320 STIRLING ROAD UNIT 8A DANIA BEACH, FL 33004 FOR THIS 1 DAY CLEARANCE SALE 54 | www.SFLMusic.com
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