Concert review: Incubus

17 08 2009

From The Miami Herald’s blog, Miami Music Matters

In its first South Florida performance in almost two years, California-based alt-rock group Incubus blasted through a 90 minute set of its biggest hits, fan-favorite album cuts, and a few rarities, despite less than stellar sound.

The first show at Bayfront Park Amphitheater in downtown Miami since a multi-million dollar makeover, the venue’s sound was flat and low — not ideal for a rock and roll show. The band’s songs, which are known for transitioning from whisper-quiet to in-your-face loud, were overly equalized, lessening the impact of the the music’s dynamic range and singer Brandon Boyd’s soaring vocals. Read the rest of this entry »





Slaughterhouse “Slaughterhouse” (2009)

17 08 2009

Slaughterhouse

From the August 17, 2009 issue of The Miami Herald (web / print)

What do you do when you’re an extremely talented artist who was on the verge of superstardom, but instead fell victim to music industry politics and settled for a small, loyal Internet-based audience? Start a supergroup with three other underdogs, of course. Read the rest of this entry »





Blitz The Ambassador “Stereotype” (2009)

17 08 2009

blitzFrom the August 17, 2009 issue of The Miami Herald (web / print)

Jazz-based hip-hop has been around for more than 20 years. Whether it was the sample-based sounds of Gang Starr and A Tribe Called Quest, or the live instrumentation of The Roots, jazz music figured prominently in the development of hip-hop music and culture. But while modern rap trends favor drum machines and synthesizers, Blitz The Ambassador’s Stereotype is out to kill preconceived notions about the genre. Read the rest of this entry »





Concert review: Mos Def

16 08 2009

From The Miami Herald’s blog, Miami Music Matters

On Saturday night, rapper Mos Def meandered on stage in a slow-to-build performance. But fans open-minded and patient enough to give him a chance (and most were quite eager to), were rewarded with a freewheeling, eclectic performance suitable as the first major hip-hop performance at the Adrienne Arsht Center in downtown Miami. Read the rest of this entry »





Alt-rockers Incubus to storm Bayfront Park in Miami

14 08 2009

incubus

From the August 14, 2009 issue of The Miami Herald (web / print)

Mike Einziger, guitarist for the spacey, experimental alternative-rock band Incubus, is a fan of stormy weather. Luckily for him, Incubus will be playing Sunday outdoors in downtown Miami — smack-dab in the middle of our storm season.

“One thing I really love about Florida is the lightning. I usually get a storm of some kind while we’re there,” he said on the phone. “I actually just enjoy being anywhere where there isn’t snow.” Read the rest of this entry »