music in miami

A modest mouse?

As to selection, SWEAT seems to me to have a deep inventory of indie music and jazz. And what they don't have they try hard to find via order. Aside from a few items I've requested that they haven't been able to get through their distributors (mostly classical stuff, e.g., an old Anonymous 4 album, Hermann Baumann) SWEAT has always been able to locate the albums I request. In just the past year, I've ordered a bunch of diverse albums through them, e.g., Fela Kuti's "Expensive S--t/He Miss Road," Grant Hart's "Good News for Modern Man," Lavender Diamond's "The Cavalry of Light," Talk Talk's "Laughing Stock," and Henson Cargill's "A Very Well Travelled Man." They seem to work hard to locate items I order, they keep me abreast of the status of my order and they're responsive.

Most importantly, the owners seem passionate about music. They don't just locate items in the store for you, they're happy to discuss the music with you and suggest other items you might like.

Anyway, I've already said too much on the subject. I just was surprised to see the small, local indie-record store I patron be mentioned on an ILM thread, and I wanted to give you another perspective on it. I hope you enjoy Miami; it's a great city.

_______________________________________________
(n.1) I'm not even sure, aside from SWEAT, Blue Note and one store on Lincoln Road, that there are any independent records stores left in Miami anymore.

and also, the fact that Sweat is the only place of its kind is ridiculous. sure, they have some good stuff, but it's kind of just a normal independent record store (and a small one at that) with a bit more of a dance music selection.

Anyway, if there are other good independent record stores in Miami besides SWEAT Records, I'd also like to hear about them.

Singer Cherine Anderson, a Jamaican film star, mixed neo-soul and reggae well. She was a highlight of a segment of the festival that segregated most of the female artists together. Miami rapper Trina capped the woman hour with a game performance that still failed to get the party started. It's admirable that the Diamond Princess repeatedly shouts out to ''her ladies.'' But like several of the show's raunchy dancehall artists, her show nonetheless seems geared for men.

the bold wasn't in the print version

there have to be more places like that and this thread is for sharing them.

On a broader level, record store choices are really limited here. VIRGIN MegaStore just closed its Shops at Sunset Place store after its 7 year lease expired. Specs caters to more mainstream, urban and Latin genres (although they do have a dynamite classical and jazz section hidden in the back of their South Dixie Highway store). And the only other places I've seen are Barnes & Noble, Best Buy and Borders.

one of those people told me about a 'house of music' between 125th and 135th on s dixie. not the easiest thing to google.

WE BE JOYS
3565 NW 9 AVE
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309

Yesterday & Today
http://www.vintagerecords.com/

i'm going there tomorrow evening, will report back

I'm really curious to hear what you think of it.

The original location of Y&T Records was in West Miami, just a half-mile from Coral Gables; the selection was truly wondrous.

As Daniel and name means a lot have discovered, Miami is not easily navigated without a car. Distance and traffic makes shopping for more than the essentials an experience of unconscionable brutality. The thought of driving to Sweat Records from West Miami makes my skin crawl these days, and so, alas, I buy most of my stuff online.

I live in Coral Gables, and it's a pain to get to SWEAT Records. But SWEAT will order items and let you pay for them either via PAYPAL or telephone (with your C/C information), and they'll ship them to you. It makes the process painless, and -- as I said upthread -- it's nice to patron good local businesses when possible.

i'm back home, taking some time off from school

i went looking for disco, especially t.k. and its sublabels and i was not disappointed. i looked through almost every record in the disco / dance section and there were several dozen t.k. and marlin records. lots of salsoul. probably lots of other disco classics i'm not familiar with. a few post 1987 looking dance records but no techno or house i was familiar with, although there was a klf 12".

i didn't really look into the rest of the store but there were large sections for "rock/pop," jazz, various regional variations of latin music, blues, 40s and 50s vocalists, and "thousands" of 45s filed in cabinets that i passed on. the ska / reggae / & progeny section was disappointing but maybe the 45s make up for it?

not the place to go for new releases but great for a lot of other things.

I live just two minutes from Y&T. Will check it out this weekend.

The few promoters with a clue do what they can - but this town is a fickle bitch musically. most bands that do great elsewhere, do crap to mediocre here. and when they do have a good show -- the followup usually bombs.

and I say that as someone who booked shows here for a decade and now tours constantly.

FYI, record stores are dying everywhere - it's just the live music thing we're sucking harder at.

shit, i wrote a long thing and it disappeared

the new sweat location is cool. i miss being able to take drinks from the bar into the record store. i haven't tried it but they have a coffee bar.

Yeah, but that bar (where SWEAT used to be) is kind of seedy, no?

Karma Records

868 E. OAKLAND PARK BLVD. FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 33334
954-564-4898

Karma is mostly a dance music store, from what I saw. They had a smallish selection of new house records (sorry, I only looked at the house records) when I visited a couple months ago. The real treasure is in the thousands of used dance records they have in boxes all around the store. I found a lot of good stuff, and it was very reasonably priced. Also, the owner is friendly and very willing to talk to customers. She also has baby's playpen next to the counter, although the baby wasn't there when I visited. Also, you can smoke and drink beer in the store! I think that is not allowed when the baby is present. Some people might be turned off by it, but I think it's great!

The downside is that if you are traveling from Miami, it's a long drive. It took me about 45 minutes to get there at midday. That is why you should make a big deal about it and also visit this other record store in Fort Lauderdale:

Radio-Active Records

1930B East Sunrise Boulevard, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304
(just west of the Galleria Mall on Sunrise Boulevard)
phone: 954.762.9488
email: i✧✧✧@radio-active-reco✧✧✧.c✧✧
Monday-Thursday: 10am to 9pm
Friday-Saturday: 10am to 10pm
Sunday: Noon-5pm

Radio-Active Records carries a wider selection of styles than Karma, and they are divided up onto traditional record store cascading shelves. They even have specific sections for certain labels, which is always cool in my book. Overall. their selection is more curated. It's a double-edged sword, because you probably won't find any super rare treasures for cheap like you would digging at a place like Karma. Still, even with the higher prices, it's very reasonable. I found Carl Craig's More Songs About Food And Revolutionary Art 2xLP for $13. I didn't spend much time looking through non-dance related stuff, but they have a lot. My only complaint is even though they have a big space (about 2 or 3 times the size of Karma), they could have a lot more stock. But it's hard out here for a pimp record store... to expand. Business is tight. And they have a lot of really good stuff.

Overall, I would rate the trip to Fort Lauderdale for these stores a B+/A-. The only downside is the long drive and all the money I spent.

xpost

you mean churchill's? you make seedy sound like a bad thing! churchill's is not fancy, or even very clean, but people are respectful and the vibe is good. i've never heard of cars getting broken into or anything. the only bar i prefer more is The Bar on giralda avenue in coral gables.

also, i would like to take back some of the nasty things i said about Uncle Sam's Music on Miami Beach. when i wrote that i was a house music neophyte, and i was really into the minimal scene in europe. uncle sam's is not so into that scene. since i bashed them, i have learned a lot about music and bought tons of great stuff from them. the prices are good. they still have a lot of stupid tschochkes, but whatever. it's really the best dance music store in miami-dade county, with the possible exception of Super Soul Records in allapatah, but i have only been there once and didn't have enough time to really dig.

so, uncle sam's gets a B+.

sorry guys!

also, looks like super soul is doing the online thing as well, now: http://stores.ebay.com/SUPER-SOUL-RECORD-SHOP

super soul records seems like it could rival blue note, from the one time i went there. the guy have 50,000 records.

i will definitely visit super soul again before i leave miami at the end of the month.

anyways, daniel, the new sweat location is directly next door to churchill's. they share a wall. i also think that sweat is expanding their stock to go with the larger space. awesome!

uncle sam's on 14th and washington has expanded their stock of used dance records and it is awesome! it's stuffed with classics.

An email I got says SWEAT Records is one of the top independent coffeehouses in Miami (as voted by such-and-so magazine, I guess). Who knew! Still haven't gone there or bought from them in over a year.

No fault of SWEAT Records, mind you, but eMusic and/or the used disc store (Spec's) are such cheapter alternatives.

I got great out of print King Sunny Ade vinyl at Uncle Sam's a month ago.

we need another FAP!

Agreed! Are there more ILX'ors in South Florida, there days?

I think Jordan $ is around.

i'm here

what part of town are y'all in? i'm in the northwest gables.

We're nearly neighbors, Elan. I'm South Gables.

im in pinecrest/palmetto bay

shall we plan something for this week then?

im free any night but tomorrow

This week might be tight for me, but by all means, if you guys are available, set it up (I'm an old/boring ILX'or, anyway, trust me).

(If I can make it, I will)

i literally have nothing on going until the 23rd, when i leave

also, dunno if it matters but im not 21

Is Sunrise near Miami, Jamaican jerk chicken lovers?

The organizers of the seventh annual Jamaican Jerk Festival, presented by Air Jamaica and Publix, scheduled for this Sunday, November 9th, in Markham Park, Sunrise, Florida, have planned a special tribute to the legendary band leader Byron Lee, who passed away on Tuesday, November 4, in Jamaica. Lee's band, the Dragonaires, will make their first appearance since his passing, at the festival on Sunday.

Julianne Lee, daughter of the famed bandleader, assured listeners on WAVS radio on Thursday that the band will be appearing at the festival on Sunday. "The Jamaican Jerk Festival was very special for my dad and he asked that the show go on, as he had a close relationship with the organizers. This is going to be our first appearance without him and we are planning to celebrate his life in a special way at the Jerk Festival.

Sunrise is, depending on your speed, about 40 minutes north-northeast, in Broward. Take I-75 if you're in western Miami-Dade, the Turnpike to 595 if you're east.

hey, i'm headed to Miami today and was wondering if there was a great place to find calypso records?

Nice! Tinariwen to close Miami Heineken Transatlantic Festival on April 25.

BACHANAL IN DE PARK
THE NEW ALL INCLUSIVE DAY FETE
MIAMI CARNIVAL 2011
3pm - 11pm
FEATURING
KES THE BAND
RIKKI JAI - NADIA BOSTAN
BENJAI AND MORE
HOSTED BY DJ LAZ
CLICK FLYER FOR COMPLETE INFO
Location:
ARTS PARK at YOUNG CIRCLE
1915 HOLLYWOOD BLVD
Contact Info:
http://www.thr3ehouseinc.com

That's on Saturday October 8th

The list of entertainers lined up for Compas Festival 2012: CaRiMi, Djakout#1, Kreyol La, Harmonik, T-Micky, NuLook, Disip and Mizik Mizik, TPO, Alan Cave, Mikaben, Robert Charlot, Cubano, Belo, Tifane, BIC, Fefe, Jude Jean, Jean Bernard Thomas, Artizz, Larose and many others.

If only you Miami folks were into Haitian music. This May 19 event is at Bayfront Park. I have written about Haitian musicians in the W. DC area and am now getting emails about Miami Haitian shows.

Anything recommended for a Wednesday or Thursday night in Miami? Good soul, latin or funk weeklies? Absurdly broad question, but looking for a nice spot for after dinner late-midweek.

ilxers Jordan S. or Soto might know.

Do not know if this link is accurate but maybe it is. I haven't been to Miami in years.

http://www.miami.com/pass-the-salsa-a-latin-nightclub-guide-article

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/

^^^ not a bad one.

That event sounds great!

Thursday April 19

Arkadia I Fontainebleau Hotel I 4441 Collins Avenue Miami Beach
Miami Heat vs. Chicago Bulls Exclusive Afterparty
Hosted by R&B Legend
R.Kelly

Soto, you should go to this.

I'm spinning.

From Dave Marsh's Rap and Roll Confidential comes this odd item (are many stations anywhere playing Beastie Boys in tribute?):

Dear Miami Radio Stations,

Why have you not played any Beastie Boys songs since MCA died May 4? Is it because Pitbull didn't work with them? It has been six days and I have not heard one song, mention or "4 and 3 and 2 and 1 word up" on the radio. Every important celebrity on the planet has sent their condolences via twitter including Madonna, Justin Timberlake, Cee Lo Green and the freaking Dalai Lama and you can't play one tribute song? When MJ died it was "Rock with You" and "Beat It" all day long. Yeah, he was the King of Pop, but they are Kings of Hip-Hop (or what we used to call rap before it got gentrified.)
Dear Miami Radio Stations, I love you with your tropical beats, creole news station and college kids playing jazz (jazz hands for effect). But when a Hall of Fame hip hop band member dies of cancer, it's time to turn off the bachata "so nasty" beats and pay your respects. A fitting tribute would be the "Paul Revere” lyrics: "It started way back in history, with Adrock, MCA and me, Mike D" or maybe even "Shake Your Rump" lyrics with "I got arrested at Mardi Gras for jumping on a float. My man MCA's got a beard like a billie goat. Squaw squaw is the disco call." But I would even settle…..Yes, I'll say it. I would even settle for "Fight for Your Right to Party." Yes, it was satire and illegally appropriated or nationalized (fraternized?) by Delts and Fijis across the country (a heinous crime, and in Miami we know heinous crimes) but I would take it.

Miami Radio Stations, do you only care about the 18-34 demo? A few advertisers still buy the nearly AARP-ers in the 18-49 demo, no? Is it that the Beastie Boys are Jewish? White? Good standardized test takers and would have crushed the FCATs? Is it because they participated in Langerado, that ill-fated Lollapalooza knock-off music fest in the Everglades?
Miami Radio Stations, did you know there are thousands of us who moved here from the Tri-state area (read Long Island and New Jersey) who have a Beastie Boys poster still hanging proudly in our old room at our parents' house? There are thousands of us who bought Gucci watches because of the Beastie Boys. Ok, maybe a handful. There are hundreds of us who know "White Castle fries only come in one size" because of them. There are even more of us with "trees in our mirror so our car don't smell" (and so our car don't smell). Miami Radio Stations, you play Eminem and Vanilla Ice. They went to the Beastie Boy School of "How to Make It as White Guy in Hip Hop". Eminem even graduated with a PhD from the school (Vanilla was a drop-out).

Or is it really all because Pitbull didn't mix them into "La Gente Esta Muy Loca"?

Dear Mr. Worldwide (Formerly known as Mr. 305), please sample the Beastie Boys. They invented sampling in the 80's when you were five. Thank you.

Joanna Popper
[Joanna Popper is Vice-President of Marketing at NBC Universal/Telemundo]

Via a Yahoo Southern Soul group email:

Movie doc "Deep City: The Birth of the Miami Sound" the Willie Clarke/old-school Miami soul music film will make its debut at South By Southwest in Austin next week (Tuesday, March 11). That will be followed by a showing at the Miami International Film Festival a week from Friday (March 14) at 8:30 PM, at the Olympia (Gusman) Theatre. A showing later this month in Cleveland may also have been been scheduled. I