I’m trying to detangle this mess of love I have for Jeremy Scott.  He’s slightly insane (definite plus), super creative to the point of questionable (inspiring) and names his collections phrases like “Let Them Eat Gas” and “Mouse Trap”.

What’s not to love?

Known for outlandish and whimsical designs, his outside-the-box concepts are a Pop-culture phenomenon. He has collaborated with everyone from Swarovski and Christian Louboutin to Adidas and Longchamp.  He is so far out of the box that he is orbiting it.  This could be attributed to the fact that he was born in Missouri, where imagination and whimsy are the only ways of escape.  His master plan took him to Design School at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, runways around the universe and a new hometown of good ol’ LA.

Look him up and you’ll find people who love him and just as many who just don’t get it.  He is controversial. Controversy is sexy.

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It began with a candy-coated vision: Music and somehow making life better for people around her. Over the course of a few short years, Dub Mandi and her Miami-based musical family, Music Is A Weapon, have progressed at light speed.  But, hey…she saw this all happening from the start.

Originally from Potomac, MD, her preteen resume reads like a enrollment form for charm school:  Trained on violin at age 9 by an Air Force Chief Master Sergeant, theatre, honor’s chorus…you name it.  But she isn’t the charm school type.  She is the in-your-face and kick-some-ass with positivity type.  Get in the ring.

“It (music) is to me, the most absolutely fuckin’ amazing thing in the world. The universal language, indeed…and the words being sung are becoming clearer to mankind, more than ever these days.”

Coming off of a whirlwind tour with Music Is A Weapon in Amsterdam, the band has recently released a catchy dance-a-licious tune called “BAM Amsterdam.”  Check out their website to hear the track for yourself at www.musicisaweaponband.com.

1. Name: My full ‘legal’ name? I think it was Amanda Ettlin…that person doesn’t hang around much anymore though. She was cool, but Mandi came one day after a good trip and never really left…
2. Nationality: Father’s side is Russian, Mom is Irish and German
3. Age: 23 years old
4. Profession: Musician/Activist
5. Dream: To make a living off of generating positivity & helping others through music
6. A place you can’t miss while traveling in Amsterdam: RASTA BABY COFFEE SHOP!! It’s become quite the little tradition! Also, definitely couldn’t miss out on any of the WIHH (“What Is Happening Here”) parties thrown by our Dutch brothers, Job Reuten and Joris Jan.
7. What is the one song that you can’t get out of your head? Right now, funny enough, it’s actually “Bam in Amsterdam” by MiAW! There you go, There you go, There you go again…I mean, really?! DAMN!!! IT!!! I’ve been singing this shit in my sleep mon! Hopefully it will be as mentally infectious for others as it has been for me.
8. What super power would you like to have and what would you do with it? Ah, I would love to have the ability to heal suffering. I think I would keep busy for quite sometime.  First stop would be Africa. I’m yet to know the logistics of the plan, but I’ve known for quite some time that the boys and I have major work to do there…and everywhere for that matter!
9. What is the most random fact you can think of? The average vegetarian saves close to 100 animals a year and reduces their risk of early death in association to eating meat by 50% … go VEG already people!!
10. What can make everything better? Love
11. What is the first image that pops into your mind when you think of Miami? Oh, la playa! No doubt.  When I first moved down here – alone might I add – I unknowingly set foot out onto lovely Haulover Beaches nudist-territory. Now, anyone who’s been has the visual in their mind already; 99% male and well, for the most part, not exactly the kinds of people you’d see basking in Europe or Brazil! Though I must say that I didn’t let it effect me too much! The beach is my hearts home and will be forever more. It was one of the only things that brought me to this town and kept me here these past couple of years. (Though I totally lucked out and found some little sparkling treasures & radical distractions along the way..)
12. What would be the title of your autobiography? Dub Mandi … “The Girl Too Lazy To Be Crazy” … Yup, it’s truth. Yano, I just don’t get all these people running around stalking each other and expensing their time & energies into being nutjobs..? Wouldn’t they just rather just kick back, relax, chill & enjoy their downtime? I know I would. Looking back on question #2, I really do think there was a Jamaican thrown in the mix somewhere, for sure.
13. Do you obey traffic laws? Yeah! I mean more often than not…at least I think I do …uh oh I think I may have some pending tickets.
14. What is one aspect of your journey that you are most proud of? The fact that I stopped going to college but continued working towards a very specific goal.
15. One thing in your closet that you can’t live without: My hats & misc. head scarves! Ok, well I’m pretty sure I could go on living without just about everything in my closet but I would most likely be a little irritated on a bad dread day!
16. Something that makes your skin crawl. When a random persons hair brushes against me. Hate that!
17. If you had a motto, what would it be? Live, Love, Endure. I have these three words tattooed in an adjoining triangle on my left arm. By what other lyrics of life should one sing?
18. Do you hold grudges? Man, these days I really try my very hardest not to. Losing six friends this past year alone was a total slap in the face reminder that our journey here on this plane could come to an end at any given moment. If we all were to channel and transform the energy that we harbor inside thinking negatively and put it together for a good cause? We could very easily move mountains.
19. Three things you are most thankful for: My Family & Fellow Soul Mates, My Partner/Animal Family and all of the opportunities that have presented themselves to me. Everything I have asked for up until this point is in front of me right now, at this very moment, and more greatness is to follow – so you can understand why I feel so anxiously inclined to start giving back.
20. Finish this sentence. The only thing we have to fear is….losing the battle. We have a lot of work to do but together we can make this dream an F’iNG reality!!!

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The Vagabond is playing host to a post-Phish celebration hosted by EQ Producktions and DEF OWL featuring Orchard Lounge, a space disco, funky electro-collective that will keep the party going until you just can’t dance no mo’.  This Chicago-based collective was assembled a little less than a decade ago by some seriously talented musicians who now focus on being serious DJs.  Spencer Lokken:  a classically-trained violinist.  Ben Silver:  long-time guitar aficionado, writer, producer.  Bethany Lokken:  former rocker of the clarinet.  Visuals will be provided by VJ Psyberpixie and any residual psilocybin.

Now, with forces joined, they aim to bring together artists that they admire while keeping their DJ sets sophisticated and accessible to anyone who loves to feel music and move move move.

Who? Orchard Lounge (brought to you by EQ Productions and DEF OWL)
What? A funky dance party
When? Monday, December 28, post-Phish
Where? The Vagabond! -30 NE 14th Street
Why? Why not?
How? Tickets

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We wake up and shake the morning from our hair, open the blinds and brew a cup of coffee.  While stepping over piles of outfit maybes, there they are.  Our Chucks.  We smile.

We love Converse because they are always with us.  A buddy.  A constant companion.  Sometimes sparkly and sometimes under-the-radar, Chucks are a part of the getting-ready process that doesn’t leave us frazzled.  We know that they look good.  We know they will be comfortable.  We know they make a statement:  I am independent, carefree and ready to take on the world.  Bring it on.

Converse has been around for a century and has stamped the planet with styles to match any attitude, any feeling.  When Nike purchased the brand in 2003, the same feeling was coddled and preserved.  We like the bright bold colors that bring out the rock and roll, rebellious attitude that Wasabi Fashion Kult embraces.  The I-don’t-give-a-fuck kind of free-thinker.  The instigator.  The one that makes you think and challenges conventional beliefs.

Converse like any artist, it has grown and come into itself over time.  It’s a survivor.

Did you know that….?

-       In 1908, their motto included a quip that said, “A rubber shoe company that would be independent enough not to follow every other company in every thing they do.”
-       In the beginning they made both shoes AND tires.  Shoes were a bit more successful.
-       The famed Chuck Taylor was named after one of Converse’s finest salesmen.  He was rumored to travel the country in a white Cadillac, trunk filled with shoes, and no permanent address.
-       In the 1950s, the one-two punch of Rock and Roll mixed with the birth of the NBA gave Converse a seemingly endless crowd of adoring fans.
-       Over 800 MILLION pairs of All Stars have been made since 1966.

Hell, I have my favorite green low-tops on right now.  I wear this pair when I feel inspired.

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You won’t find the Beatles Anthology at Williamsburg’s buzzing indie record store. Nor the Rolling Stones. You’re more likely to hear Beach House or The Raveonettes.  What you’ll find is a cozy little spot that not only carries vinyl and new and used CDs from (un)signed bands, but also a venue for readings, acoustic shows and release parties.

Located on the corner of Berry and 11^th in Williamsburg, this stretch of road is also complete with Brooklyn Brewery and the vintage/modern clothes haven, Beacon’s Closet. This record mecca started a block away just about five years ago and only recently moved to its current home that maintains the same vibe that the locals have come to know and frequent.

Sound Fix keeps things fresh and mobile.  Their website (www.soundfixrecordstore.com) is complete with a newsletter to keep music-lovers updated on the newest releases, as well as staff picks and an online store.  Another bonus is that they support unsigned artists who can submit their music for the opportunity to have their albums available for purchase on location.

Who? Sound Fix Record Store
Where? 44 Berry St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718.388.8090
What else? Open Monday-Saturday, 12pm to 9pm and Sunday, 12pm to 8pm..

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You are being whipped and thrown around in a Miami-style tornado.  The chances of landing in a venue to ogle a band you may just fall in love with are more than a possibility.  With 25 venues scattered across the area, there are more musical outlets for you to get plugged into than there is time on your neon green wristwatch.  Welcome to the Miami Music Festival.  It’s the area’s grand showcase of bands that you’ve heard, are listening to at this very moment and will hear over airwaves and Pandora in the not so distant future.

What’s your flavor?  Rock, Latin, Pop, Urban?  How about Caribbean or Jazz?  Your ears will explode with the diverse musical offerings, fit to make your pink-lipped mouth water.

This showcase and conference is an all-encompassing event featuring the nation’s freshest breakout artists at venues all around the downtown Miami area from December 10-12.

The more polished and professional-ish piece of the festival will be held at the Miami Convention Center and hosts keynote interviews while allowing attendees to mingle with the likes of A&R execs, radio program directors, film and television folks as well as a whole host of other people worth chatting it up with for a while.

Performances will be held on stages from Tobacco Road and Mekka Discotekka to Waxy O’Connors and Blue Martini.  The majority of these performances are a sort of showcase for major label execs, so expect all the musical entertainment to be on their A-game.  You never know who will be mixed into the mixed up crowd.

Each venue will be doling out one and three-day wristbands for $25 and $50, respectively.  Are you in school?  One-day wristbands will be discounted to $20 and three-day passes for $35.  Otherwise, it’s 10 bucks at the door to each location.

Among the must-see bands are Music Is A Weapon (playing Friday, December 11 at 1am and Saturday, December 12 at 11pm at Tobacco Road) and People from Venus (playing Friday, December 11 at 10 pm at Mekka Discotekka).

There is no place like home when it comes to Miami and their love for upcoming musicians.  Go support your own at this year’s Miami Music Festival.  Check out their website at www.miamimusicfestival.org for tons of details and maps to make it easy to plan out your shows.

Who: Just about every local musicmaker
What: Miami Music Festival
When: Thursday, December 10, 2009 through Saturday, December 12
Why:Promote local bands and dance dance dance!
Where: Tent 1 SE 8th St. & S Miami, Tent 2 SE 8th St. & S Miami, Tent 3 9th St. & S Miami, Tent 4 SE 8th St. & SE 1st Ave., Havana Dreams 26 SW 8th St., Transit, Lounge, Patio 729 SW 1st Ave., Japengo @ Hyatt 400 SE 2nd Ave., Ecco Lounge 168 SE 1st St, Red Bar 50 SW 10th St., Finnegan’s River 401 SW 3rd Ave., Blue Martini 900 S Miami Ave., Hard Rock Café, Lounge 401 Biscayne Blvd., Tobacco Road 626 S Miami Ave., Mekka 950 NE 2nd Ave., Wallflower Gallery 10 NE 3rd St., Waxy O’Connors 690 SW First Ct., Gordon Biersch 1201 Brickell Ave., La Guaracha 801 Brickell Bay Dr. (In the Four Ambassadors), Artoconecto … plug in at Macy’s 2 W Flagler St. (across from Macy’s)

Festival Performances

Thursday December 10th 2009

TRANSIT TENT 1 -THE MIAMI.COM SHOWCASE

Corner SE 8th St. & South Miami
8 pm Life Of Seals
9 pm Jose El Rey
10 pm Eric Vick
11 pm Suenalo
12 am Radioboxer
1 am Tristan Clopet & The Juice

TRANSIT TENT 2 -THE D’ADDARIO SHOWCASE

Corner SE 8th St. & South Miami
8 pm Roxanne
9 pm Zen The Band
10 pm Saints on Fire
11 pm Hep Cat Boo Daddies
12 am City of Sirens
1 am The Adam Lasher Band

TRANSIT TENT 3

9th Street & South Miami

8 pm Derevo
9 pm The James Boyd Band
10 pm Raging Geisha
11 pm The State Of
12 am Billy Livesay
1 am Hat Trick Heroes

TRANSIT TENT 4

SE 8th St. & SE 1st Ave.

8 pm Natalie Bretoneche
9 pm Mark Twang
9 pm Raphael Boyd

FAME

10 pm
-Hood City Entertainment
-Raw Boyz

11 pm
-Presto
-Gerson Gibbs

12 am
-Blake Carringhton
-3rD

1 am
-Two-Side
-Goons United By The New School

FINNEGANS

401 SW 3rd Ave

GENRE: Reggae

8 pm Leon “Foster” Thomas
9 pm Ruffi Bantan
10 pm Joshua
11 pm Isaac Blackman & The Love Circle
12 am Mawon
1 am Hood Diezel

WAXY O’CONNORS INDOOR – THE SONY/ATV SHOWCASE

690 SW First Ct.

8 pm Fernando Osorio
9 pm Carlos Bertonatti
10 pm Balta
11 pm Feneiva
12 am Amaury Gutierrez
1 am Araka

BLUE MARTINI

900 S Miami Ave
9 pm Stephanie Carache
10 pm Sabor Latino
11 pm Tony Succar

TRANSIT

729 S.W. 1st Ave

Mixed Genre

9 pm The 7th Link
10 pm Los Inmigrantes Deportados
11 pm Vicio Corazon
12 am The Cornerstoners
1 am Dreaming In Stereo
2 am First Fall

PATIO @ TRANSIT

729 S.W. 1st Ave

GENRE: Urban

9 pm Michael “Mykel” Mcintosh
10 pm Zewdy
11 pm Trigga
12 am Deangelo Redman
1 am Prototype
2 am Jedi Nemesis

LOUNGE @ TRANSIT

729 S.W. 1st Ave

GENRE: Singer Songwriter

8 pm Ashley
9 pm SJ
10 pm MAQ
11 pm Mandy Burgan
12 am Cat Shell
1 am Alex Nelson

JAPENGO

400 SE 2nd Ave

GENRE: Jazz

8 pm Inca Spirit
9 pm Silvia Pratesi
10 pm Society Sound
11 pm Johnny Rodgers & Jazz Friends
12 am Modupe Onilu/Dayo Bejide Trio
1 am Chantal Esdelle & Moyenne

RED BAR

50 SW 10th St

GENRE: Latin

8 pm Yeras Park
9 pm Dav Julca
10 pm Shenita Hunt
11 pm Andres Sole
12 am Claudio Corsi

HAVANA DREAMS

26 SW 8th St

GENRE: Latin Jazz

8 pm CeCe Segarra
9 pm Macarldie
10 pm Palomino Diaz
11 pm Rolando Grooscors
12 am Leonardo Quintero

WAXY O’CONNORS OUTDOOR

690 SW First Ct.

Mixed Genre

8 pm The Real Easy
9 pm Sol Ruiz
10 pm Karina Iglesias
11 pm Adriane Arse
12 am Sito
1 am Buena Gente

MEKKA

950 NE 2nd Ave

GENRE: Caribbean

9 pm B-Liminal
10 pm Stampede
11 pm Roots Shakedown
12 am Porsha Estime
1 am Positive
2 am Jean P Jam

LA GUARACHA

801 Brickell Bay Dr (In the Four Ambassadors)

GENRE: Latin

9 pm Monica Vazquez
10 pm Local 34
11 pm La Comision
12 am The Monas
1 am La Paz

HARD ROCK – THE ASCAP SHOWCASE

401 Biscayne Blvd

9 pm BEA

10 pm Veronica Romeo
11 pm Liset Alea
12 am Tay Dizm
1 am Black Reign
2 am City Of God

HARD ROCK LOUNGE

401 Biscayne Blvd

GENRE: Jazz

9 pm Ria
10 pm Les Blachut
11 pm Perry Joslin
12 am Electric Piquette
1 am Marcus Johnson

TOBACCO ROAD INSIDE

626 S Miami Ave

GENRE: Rock

9 pm Casing Finley
10 pm Brand Name Punk
11 pm Dear Dad, Yours Truly
12 am Beckham County Trainwreck
1 am Brian Franklin And Rat Opera
2 am Sun Dry Cilo

TOBACCO ROAD OUTSIDE

626 S Miami Ave

GENRE: Rock

9 pm Frame Of Reference
10 pm The Jay Blues Band
11 pm Ex Norwegian
12 am Spinlight City
1 am Jim Ivins Band
2 am Frank Allegro

ARTOCONECTO … PLUG IN AT MACY’S

2 W. Flagler Street (across from Macy’s)

GENRE: Indie Rock

8 pm Monkey Village
9 pm Daysleeper
10 pm Andy Pratt
11 pm Alexa Franc
12 am Deanna Brown
1 am Sounds Like A Dream
2 am Selby

ECCO LOUNGE – THE iSTANDARD SHOWCASE

168 SE 1 St Street

9 pm – 12 pm The iStandard Showcase
12 am Jayuno
1 am Shonie
2 am Regis Marcellus…The Movement

GORDON BIERSCH

1201 Brickell Ave

GENRE: Pop/Rock

9 pm The Republik
10 pm Sam Friend
11 pm Ever So Klever
12 am Leticia Wolf
1 am Adam 812

MEKKA DISCOTEKKA

950 NE 2nd Ave

Mixed Genre

9 pm Shawn Snyder
10 pm Last Laugh
11 pm Purple Popcorn
12 am The Fantastic 5
1 am Stonefox
2 am Ghost Of Gloria

Friday December 11th 2009

TRANSIT TENT 1 - THE MIAMI.COM SHOWCASE

Corner SE 8th St. & South Miami

8 pm Coffee House Gypsies
9 pm Phoenix/Nebulin
10 pm Spinlight City
11 pm Electric Piquete
12 am City Of God
1 am Ex Norwegian

TRANSIT TENT 2 - THE FLORIDA ENTERTAINMENT SUMMIT SHOWCASE

Corner SE 8th St. & South Miami

9 pm
-C.Money
-Brady
-Jay-R
-Grim Reapa
-T.Hullaby

10 pm
-Imyunik
-Daye Greene
-Phatz
-Webbz
-Prime Legend

11 pm
-Empress Raw
-Nise
-TL
-VP
-Murph

12 am
-Goons United By The New School
-Mike G
-Vito
-D-League

1 am
-21GSC

-Gerson Gibbs

TRANSIT TENT 3

9th Street & South Miami

Mixed Genre

8 pm Adam812
9 pm DC3
10 pm Liane “Little Eye” & Company11 pm Issac Blackman & Love Circle
12 am The Jim Ivins Band
1 am Hiatus Road

TRANSIT TENT 4 – TRINIDAD & TOBAGO PRESENTS MELANGE – A MEDLEY OF EMERGING NATIONAL TALENT

SE 8th St. & SE 1st Ave.

8 pm
-Rizon
-Russell Leonce

9:30pm
-Nadia Batson
-KIN Sibling Rivalry

11 pm
-Modupe Onilu/Dayo BejideTrio
-Chantal Esdelle & Moyenne

12:30pm
-Kerwin Dubois
-Positive

PATIO @ TRANSIT -

THE BMI SHOWCASE

729 S.W. 1st Ave

9 pm Alexander
9:45 pm Alex Cuba
10:30 pm The Jacob Jeffries Band
11:15 pm Awesome New Republic
12:00 am Fancy Me Yet
12:45 am Mirror Pal

LOUNGE @ TRANSIT

729 S.W. 1st Ave

GENRE: Jazz

8 pm Alexandra
9 pm Palomino Diaz
10 pm Hillary McCrea
11 pm Leon “Foster” Thomas
12 am Roland Grosscoors
1 am Society Sound

JAPENGO

400 SE 2nd Ave

Mixed Genre

8 pm Brazilian Voices
9 pm Bahnz Selby
10 pm Johnny Rodgers
11 pm Natalie Bretoneche
12 am Sun Dry Cilo
1 am Elsten Torres

RED BAR

50 SW 10th St

Mixed Genre

8 pm Lai-Si
9 pm Adrienne
10 pm Leticia Wolf
11 pm Rachel Brown
12 am Deanna Brown

HARD ROCK – THE MYXER SHOWCASE 1

401 Biscayne Blvd

9 pm Spred the Dub
10 pm 4th Demension
11 pm The Resolvers
12 am Jahfe
1 am B-liminal

HARD ROCK LOUNGE

401 Biscayne Blvd

GENRE: Singer/Songwriter

9 pm Adrian
10 pm Roxanne
11 pm Eric Vick
12 am The Brilliant Mistakes
1 am Matt Rein

TOBACCO ROAD INSIDE

626 S Miami Ave

GENRE: Rock

9 pm Giano Leads
10 pm The Fantastic Five
11 pm Aria Kamakaze
12 am Tokyo Monster Control
1 am Indium
2 am Hate Machine

TRANSIT – THE ROLLING STONE SHOWCASE

729 S.W. 1st Ave

9 pm Sosos
10 pm Radio Boxer
11 pm Price
12 am Casing Finley
1 am The Monas
2 am The Adam Lasher Band

TOBACCO ROAD OUTSIDE

626 S Miami Ave

GENRE: Rock

9 pm Daysleeper
10 pm Blunken
11 am Zen The Band
12 am Venejer
1 am Music Is A Weapon
2 am Hat Trick Heroes

ARTOCONECTO … PLUG IN AT MACY’S

2 W. Flagler Street (across from Macy’s)

GENRE: Rock

8 pm Taylor Marvin
9 pm First Fall
10 pm The Vanguard
11 pm The Aviation Orange
12 am Purple Popcorn
1 am Selby
2 am Dear Dad, Yours Truly

ECCO LOUNGE

168 se 1 st Street

GENRE: Latin

8 pm Gabby Villanueva
9 pm La Paz
10 pm Monica Vasquez
11 pm Los Immigrantes Deportados

WAXY O’CONNORS INDOOR

690 SW First Ct.

GENRE: Urban

8 pm Antonia Jenae
9 pm Stephanie Carcache
10 pm Charlise Forshee
11 pm Karina Iglesias
12 am Deangelo Redman
1 am DaVinci
2 am The Cornerstoners

WAXY O’CONNORS OUTDOOR – THE UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI – FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC SHOWCASE

690 SW First Ct.

8 pm MAQ
9 pm Curryous
10 pm Bridget & Luke
11 pm Brand Name Punk
12 am Tristan Clopet And The Juice
1 am Beckham County Trainwreck

GORDON BIERSCH

1201 Brickell Ave

GENRE: Latin

8 pm Silvia Pratesi 9 pm Leonardo Quintero
10 pm Sabor Latino
11 pm Local 34
12 am Juliana Barrios
1 am Veronica Romeo

HAVANA DREAMS

26 SW 8th St

GENRE: Singer Songwriter

8 pm Calahoney
9 pm Hillary Johnson
10 pm Shawn Snyder
11 pm SJ
12 am MAQ

BLUE MARTINI

900 S Miami Ave

9 pm Josephina
10 pm – 12 am Remix

WALLFLOWER GALLERY

10 NE 3rd St

Mixed Genre

8 pm Stewart Lewis
9 pm Zewdy
10 pm Shonie
11 pm Sarah Packiam
12 am Cat Shell
1 am Sam Friend

MEKKA

950 NE 2nd Ave

GENRE: Caribbean

9 pm Mixed Culture
10 pm Jean P Jam
11 pm Joshua
12 am Super Sam
1 am Buena Gente

MEKKA GODDESS

950 NE 2nd Ave

Mixed Genre

9 pm Sol Ruiz
10 pm Alexa Franc
11 pm Amanda Drake & The Barnburners
12 am BIG SUGA
1 am Same Old Suspects
2 am Jay Blues Band

MEKKA DISCOTEKKA

950 NE 2nd Ave

Mixed Genre

9 pm The Republik
10 pm People From Venus
11 pm Ghost Of Gloria
12 am Adam 812
1 am Vicio Corazon

LA GUARACHA

801 Brickell Bay Dr (In the Four Ambassadors)

GENRE: Indie Rock

9 pm Les Blachut
10 pm Alex Nelson
11 pm The James Boyd Band
12 am Frame of Reference
1 am Dav Julca
2 am City of Sirens

FINNEGANS

401 SW 3rd Ave

GENRE: R&B

8 pm Jeano
9 pm Eric Stinnet
10 pm Scott Stone
11 pm Anjuli Stars
12 am Jay Smoove
1 am Prototype

Saturday December 12th 2009

TRANSIT TENT 1 – THE MIAMI.COM SHOWCASE

Corner SE 8th St. & South Miami

8 pm Dreaming In Stereo
9 pm The Jacob Jeffries Band
10 pm Organicarma
11 pm Alih Jey
12 am Adam Lasher Band
1 am Mawon

TRANSIT TENT 2 – THE RICK ROSS/MAYBACH MUSIC SHOWCASE

Corner SE 8th St. & South Miami

9 pm
-G.M.A.S.H
-AJ The R&B General
-Tavoria
-Sho Zoe
-Adela

10 pm
-Rick Ross-Maybach Music Showcase
-Magazeen
-Deuce Pound
-Masspike Miles
-Scotti Boi

11 pm
-Roccett
-Big Bank
-Jayuno
-Kabeir Da-Jaun
-Hood City

12 am
-The Basiqs

1 am
-CeCe Segarra

TRANSIT TENT 3 – NBCMIAMI.COM SHOWCASE

9th Street & South Miami

8 pm The Monas
9 pm Andy Pratt
10 pm Michael “Mykel” McIntosh
11 pm Tokyo Monster Control
12 am Isaac Blackman & The Love Circle
1 am City of God

TRANSIT TENT 4

SE 8th St. & SE 1st Ave.

GENRE: Funk/Soul/Rap

8 pm Soul Stank
9 pm Jedi Nemesis
10 pm Young Dirty
11 pm Jr. Pinchers
12 am Adriane Arse
1 am Prototype

FINNEGANS

401 SW 3rd Ave

Mixed Genre

8 pm Scott DiCarlo
9 pm J.D. Danner
10 pm The Republik
11 pm BIG SUGA
12 am Brilliant Mistakes
1 am The James Boyd Band

PATIO @ TRANSIT -

THE SESAC SHOWCASE

729 S.W. 1st Ave

8 pm Eremite
9 pm G-Man & Scuti
10 pm Minimal
11 pm Los Hollywood
12 am Thania Sanz
1 am Habitat
2 am Arboles Libres

LOUNGE @ TRANSIT

729 S.W. 1st Ave

GENRE: Singer/Songwriter

8 pm Serena D.
9 pm G-Man & Scuti
10 pm Mandy Burgan
11 pm Sol Ruiz
12 am Johnny Rodgers
1 am Shawn Snyder

JAPENGO – BETTY WRIGHT PRESENTS…

400 SE 2nd Ave

8 pm T-Jay
8:45 pm Brady
9:30 pm Adriana Arce
10:15 pm Jitterbug
11 pm Treeceelee
11:45 pm Slim Goodbody
12:30 am Asher “Makeba the Diva”
1:15 am Random

RED BAR

50 SW 10th St

GENRE: R&B

8 pm Antonia Jenae
9 pm Scott Stone
10 pm Anjouli Stars
11 pm Nathalie Bretoneche
12 am Eric Stinnett

HARD ROCK

401 Biscayne Blvd

GENRE: Latin

9 pm Vicio Corazon
10 pm The Monas
11 pm Yeras Park
12 am Juliana Barrios
1 am La Paz

HARD ROCK LOUNGE

401 Biscayne Blvd

GENRE: Singer/Songwriter

8 pm Shenita Hunt
9 pm Deanna Brown
10 pm MAQ
11 pm Stewart Lewis
12 am Hillary Johnson
1 am Tristan Clopet & The Juice

HAVANA DREAMS

26 SW 8th St

Mixed Genre

8 pm Ellen Bukstel
9 pm Hillary McCrea
10 pm Palomino Diaz
11 pm Giovy Jiminez
12 am Josephina

TRANSIT

729 S.W. 1st Ave

Mixed Genre

8 pm Lonna Marie
9 pm Sounds Like a Dream
10 pm Aria Kamakaze
11 pm The Vanguard
12 am The Aviation Orange
1 am Sun Dry Cilo
2 am City of Sirens
3 am Nino Bellemo

TOBACCO ROAD INSIDE – THE DISC MAKERS SHOWCASE

626 S Miami Ave

9 pm Fancy Me Yet
10 pm Autodrone
11 pm Saints on Fire
12 am Indium
1 am Faces of March
2 am Selby

TOBACCO ROAD OUTSIDE – THE WHDR SHOWCASE

626 S Miami Ave

9 pm Stonefox
10 pm Mindwalk Blvd
11 pm Music Is A Weapon
12 am Chaos Agent
1 am Day Minus 7
2 am Ghost of Gloria

ARTOCONECTO – PLUG IN AT MACY’S … THE SOUNDEXCHANGE SHOWCASE

2 W. Flagler Street (across from Macy’s)

8 pm Roxanna Alonso
9 pm Adam 812
10 pm Stephanie Carcache
11 pm Leticia Wolf
12 am Casely
1 am Brian Franklin and Rat Opera
2 am Phoenix/Nebulin

ECCO LOUNGE

168 SE 1 st Street

GENRE: Urban

8 pm Cornerstoners
9 pm Rudeboy
10 pm The Benchwarmers Clique
11 pm Trigga

WAXY O’CONNORS INDOOR

690 SW First Ct.

Mixed Genre

8 pm Macarldie
9 pm Sunny Got Money
10 pm Aria Kamakaze
11 pm Sarah Packiam
12 am Lai Si
1 am Monica Vasquez

WAXY O’CONNORS OUTDOOR – THE MYXER SHOWCASE 2

690 SW First Ct.

8 pm Stampede
9 pm Roots Shakedown
10 pm Macallee King
11 pm Mixed Culture
12 am Joshua
1 am Jovi Rockwell & Ras Penco

GORDON BIERSCH

1201 Brickell Ave

Mixed Genre

9 pm Matt Rein
10 pm Zen The Band
11 pm Beckham County Trainwreck
12 am Sixo
1 am Alex Cuba

BLUE MARTINI

900 S Miami Ave
9 pm Les Blachut
10 – 12 pm Pangea

WALLFLOWER GALLERY

10 NE 3rd St

Mixed Genre

9 pm Life of Seals
10 pm Daysleeper
11 pm Price
12 am Sunny Got Money
1 am Hat Trick Heroes

MEKKA GODDESS

950 NE 2nd Ave

Mixed Genre

9 pm Taylor Marvin
10 pm Veronica Romeo
11 pm Purple Popcorn
12 am Brand Name Punk
1 am Hep Cat Boo Daddies
2 am Ted Mayday

MEKKA – THE INSIDE THE MUSIC BUSINESS SHOWCASE

950 NE 2nd Ave

8 pm Submission Red
9 pm Giovy Jimenez
10 pm Hillary Johnson
11 pm Alejandra Alberti
12 am Joshua Stedman
1 am Dreaming In Stereo
2 am Scotti Boi

LA GUARACHA

801 Brickell Bay Dr (In the Four Ambassadors)

GENRE: Caribbean

9 pm Jean P Jam
10 pm Kerwin Dubois
11 pm Positive
12 am Modupe Onilu/Dayo BejideTrio
1 am Chantal Esdelle & Moyenne
2 am Leon “Foster” Thomas

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Photos By Jeremy & Claire Weiss

Her little girl hands, at age three, were molding and sculpting accessories with blocks of Fimo clay. This love of creating accessories that integrated pieces of herself continued throughout her teenage years, where she included other aspects of life into her work:  horses, ballet, fashion and all things “sparkly.” Around the same time, she was introduced to Hello Kitty in the form of a little coin purse. A premonition?

Years later she moved to Europe, did a bit of fashion modeling and wore her designs to shoots where people bought them on the spot. In the same way that a kitty always ends up back on the front porch, Tarina Tarantino gave up the model lifestyle to pursue the art that gave her the fulfillment she craved.  Her creations were colorful, inventive and for girls of any age.  Soon enough, she wouldn’t be the only girl on the block with her playful accessories.

Re-enter the kitty. Hello Kitty, that is. Iconic and sugar-sweet, Tarina Tarantino’s collection (including our famous furry friend) have been creating a bit of a stir as of late.  With the “Pink Head Collection,” Sanrio has given Tarina Tarantino the liberty to make Hello Kitty her own. With luscious pink locks to match her own and plenty of rainbows and sparkles, the collection includes bobby pins, bracelets, earrings and even a Gothic Lolita Hello Kitty (adorable!).

Now, Tarina and her business partner/husband, Alfonso Campos, have been splashed across the pages of People, InStyle and Glamour as well as featured on Access Hollywood, Oprah, and CNN.  Although they found their beginnings in the Golden State, success has allowed them to expand to New York and Milan as well.  Her website www.tarinatarantino.com also works as a portable store, with whimsical graphics that look more like a fairy tale than an online shop.

Hello Kitty has found a new attitude with her new ‘do. Tarina Tarantino has given our favorite character some edge.

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We had a taste of what People from Venus has been working on with songs like “Static” and “Lipstick” available for online download and played at their summertime shows.  Now, after working diligently on an upcoming album release, PFV has booked some killer upcoming dates to showcase their latest work.

Kicking off the 2009 Art Basel festivities, PFV will be exploding onto the Miami’s Independent Thinker’s lineup at the Mitrani Warehouse (222 NW 27^th St., Miami) on Thursday, December 3.  They are scheduled to take the stage at this locals’ choice event at 12 a.m and are giving out download cards with a code for party-goers to download their new single, “Kite”.

Following up the Basel Satellite show, PFV will be showcasing their intergalactic sound at Mekka Discotekka (950 NE 2^nd Ave., Miami) as part of the Miami Music Festival lineup.  They are slated to begin at 10pm and will be part of this major festival that exposes dynamic acts to industry execs and music lovers alike.

What? Miami’s Independent Thinkers
Who? Peple from Venus
When? Thursday, December 3 -12 a.m
Where? Mitrani Warehouse 222 NW 27th St., Miami
Why? Toot toot yeah! Art Basel

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American Apparel is a vertically integrated manufacturer, distributor and retailer, based in downtown Los Angeles, California. They currently employ approximately 10,000 people globally (about 5,000 in LA), and operate more than 260 retail stores in 19 countries. They currently have five stores in Miami.

Knitting, dyeing, cutting, sewing, photography, marketing, distribution, and design all happen in the company’s facilities in Los Angeles. The company operates the largest garment factory in the United States, at a time when most apparel production has moved offshore.

American Apparel leverages art, design and technology to advance the business process, while continuing to pioneer industry standards of social and environmental responsibility in the workplace.

The attraction to the style of the clothing crosses age, race and social lines. It is accessible and colorful. It is for all seasons.  It can be dressed up or played down. The items can be styled into looks that play into creativity and innovation while keeping them bright and simple.

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Miami’s Independent Thinkers Showcase

Get on over to the Mitrani Warehouse (222 NW 27^th St., Miami, FL 33127) and support the myriad of talent found here in our own backyard.  Miami’s Independent Thinkers, presented by 3GZ Productions as well as AV8 Productions, The Agency Collective, Biscayne Writers, Intuition Marketing (IM Events) and Mitrani Warehouse, features an assortment of art for your collective enjoyment.

This warehouse space is temporarily home to a remarkable festival featuring photography, film, sculpture, mixed-media works, painting, writing and music from some of South Florida’s most talented emerging artists.  The idea of this Showcase Spectacular is to draw to attention to the work of these premier local artists in an event that will be a memorable part of your Art Basel experience.

The event kicks off on December 3 at 6pm and People from Venus will perform that evening at 10pm.  It concludes on December 6 at 7pm with a performance by G. Love starting at 4. Other artists that will be featured include Shameless Burlesque, Cleaveland Jones, Wildchild, Black Bobby, afrobeta, Joshy Josh, Ray Milian, Uprokk, Dave Betamax, Electric Porkchop, Boogie & Iris Beatrix, Chakra Girlz, Cosmo & D. Blue, Lolo (Sweat Records), MAN Int’l Productions, Universal Citizen,Otto Von Schirach, DJ Escher, The Femmebots and Art of Shade.

For the low low price of $15/day (general admission) or $10/day (students/seniors w/valid ID) you can support the growing network of artists in our own community.  Oh, yeah…the art is for sale!  Buy it.

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Chess Board: The landscape is checkered, packed tightly together and maneuvered in endless combinations. Understanding chess boils down to seeing things from a different perspective.  We test the possibilities. We fail. We succeed.

Punk isn’t one of those things that has an essential definition; it’s a feeling, a sense, a demand. It is pissed off. It wants to be heard. It screams and jumps around. It refuses to take no for an answer.

Aside from the usual punkspects like the Ramones, the Sex Pistols and the Clash, there are some kick-ass bands that played a part in the connectivity of the game.  Let’s throw the pieces on the board.

☆A Few Pawns::: Make the first move.

New York Dolls—Glam punk superheroes.

They wore lipstick and mascara. The New York scene that they helped to develop in the early 70s followed up with bands like The Ramones and Talking Heads.

Suicide Commandos—House on fire.

Aside from having a video for the song “Burn It Down” filmed with a backdrop of their actual house in flames, Suicide Commandos are remembered as an example of somewhere–in-the-middle-of-America punk.

Patti Smith—“Jesus died for somebody’s sins, but not mine…”

Her 1975 landmark release, Horses, brought a highly provocative blend of spoken word and familiar rockin’ guitar play; a major Punk influence.

Minor Threat—Do As I Do.

Released the song “Straight Edge,” which served as an impetus for the movement of the same name.  Called for abstinence from alcohol and drugs; a new idea that gathered a small, yet tough following.

Bikini Kill—a pioneer of the Riot Grrl movement.

Ultra-feminist and against major labels, Bikini Kill inspired a whole movement of women with the same point of view.

☆The Knights::: Only a knight or a pawn can initiate the first move of the game.

The Blue Hearts—Japanese punk

Late 80s and early 90s rockers who were frowned upon by mainstream Japanese culture for spitting on camera lenses while being filmed and using language considered vulgar by Japanese standards.

Social Distortion—Punkabilly

Evolved from hardcore Punk in the early 1970s to a mix of Rolling Stones honky-tonk and The Clash in the 1980s.  Check out their version of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire.”

The Bishop::: No restriction.

Iggy Pop and the Stooges

With a stage present, avant garde style, they made their own instruments, influenced bands across every genre from the Sex Pistols to Hot Hot Heat to The White Stripes and Kurt Kobain.

☆A Rook:::Across the lines.

Sleater-Kinney

Part of the Riot Grrl punk scene. Many similarities between classic Punk of the 1970s with a mass appeal that landed them gigs opening for Pearl Jam.

☆The Queen:::

Nina Hagen—Punk rock, post-punk, new wave, Queen of the board.

Hailing from East Berlin, this high school dropout who was a dancer and acclaimed child singer, switched it up in her late teens and ended up in London. She can sing like an angel or scream like a lunatic.  She acted in films and was the center of controversy when she discussed and described masturbation on Austrian television.  Her visual appearance is a show in itself.  If you haven’t checked out her videos, do so NOW!

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Dualistic Shangri-la

There are cute artist-developed worlds that are fun to look at and then there are cute worlds that have that razor edge to them, the ones that slice through into real emotion while maintaining visual appeal. Simone Legno has magically crafted the latter. The artist behind the international Tokidoki brand, Legno mixes the soft lovable shapes and colors of Japanese illustration and an underlying sense seriousness that gives depth and meaning to the world that he shares.

Legno makes it clear that he draws inspiration from all things Japan.  From the beauty and serenity of traditional Japanese women to the snap-crackle-pop culture that flashes its in-your-face, bright, color palette, Legno loves it all. He respects and finds a seemingly endless stream of creativity in the street fashion, art and design that are unmistakably Japanese.

A native Italiano, Legno began the creation process in his youth where he constructed his own toys to play with. This childlike perspective has bled into his current projects. An honest sensibility permeates his artwork and, I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but smile each time I check out his website www.Tokidoki.it to see what he’s been up to.

I’m not the only one who thinks Legno has got it goin’ on. He collaborates with well-known brands such as Fujitsu, Mikasa, Hello Kitty, New Era, X-Box, Smashbox, Ride, Levi’s and Skull Candy (just to name a few).  Chances are that you’ve seen his work in a few different places on your weekend shopping sprees. He’s young, talented and pretty damn good-looking to boot.  Can’t wait to see what is in store for this creator of a universe that is all his own.

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