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readablenoise · 4 years

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Florida’s Best Live Acts of 2019

With a new year, and new decade ahead of us, we recap the best Live Acts Statewide of this past year

Florida- 2019 has been a prosperous music for local music in the state.

With a plethora of albums, EP’s and concerts released before the new decade, in addition to new acts emerging from the already electrified soil, we decided to take our focus on the medium that we believe best proves the true mettle of a band: our selections of the Top 10 Live Acts in Florida.

This proved to be a much harder list than expected, with a great many acts having captured our heart in 2019. However, we stand by this list, and feel that these acts should be the ones you keep your mind, ears and excited soul on in 2020…

The Guttertones (Rock)

(photo: Jenelle DeGuzman)

Having formed in just 2019, the duo, composed of Brennan Curtin (drums) and Adam Sheetz (guitar/vocals) perform with the intensity of an act that have been honing their craft for 10 years. Debuting at Bumblefest, their live performances are something inexplicably powerful; with just a guitar, drums and a vox microphone, they can draw in a crowd like flies to sugar, and it helps that the sound coming from the amps is a honey suckle drawl of perfect Southern inspired rock meets the grit of Detroit distortion, all wrapped up in West Palm Beach flair.

They are an act that increasingly better themselves after every viewing, and for that reason and many more, we believe the duo to be one of the best on this list.

https://www.facebook.com/theGutterTones/

Spirit & The Cosmic Heart (Dreampop/Shoegaze)

(photo: Roberto Badillo)

The Lakeland based act has been one we’ve kept on both your radar, and ours, since early this year. Churning and evolving like the Atlantic itself, the group made continued evolving and with each new emergence, seem to just keep getting better.

With their 2nd EP, “Memories” released mid-2019, they are one of the few acts, both locally and internationally, that can sound just as good on record and yet somehow, different. Our best example of this being our personal favorite, “Endlessly”. While the track is an intense Cure meets Mama’s and Papa’s build-up of dreamy romance live, the 5 piece have created an almost alternate reality version of the track on record that explodes just the same, in a different way. And it’s truly the best way to describe the act; something haunting that sparks something individually different, upon every song and every viewing.

https://spiritandthecosmicheart.bandcamp.com/

Donzii (Post-Punk)

(Photo: Jen.cray)

Another of our unabashedly favorite local acts, experiencing the 5 piece in any of the five senses, is akin to visiting one of the great art museums of the world- each time.

With visuals being orchestrated by frontwoman Jenna Balfe, a whirlwind mixture of Siouxsie Sioux and Poly Styrene, every performance Donzii puts on is a different painting, in a different time, all along the already powerful hypnotic music that follows from the chemistry of the act themselves. “Sand”, to our ears, is one of the best tracks of this decade by any artist in recent memory internationally. It’s a large claim to make, but an act like Donzii truly come every once in a lifetime, and we are grateful to be living in the same era of music as this incredible band.

https://donzii.bandcamp.com/

Jaialai (Psychedelica/Alternative)

(Photo: go.cuna)

While the sound have been a local flavor favorite, we got our first powerful dose of the sound live, at 1306 Miami earlier this year and it was something unlike anything else we’ve seen. Carrying the force of a hurricane inside of a tornadic explosion of guitars, drums and build-up, the performance we viewed consisted of moshing, dreamy visuals and near Renaissance punk vibes, something that is hard to duplicate not due to the sound, but the sheer amount of power it takes to carry such a beautiful weight.

If you have the chance, we highly recommend catching this act in any venue, and watch as you leave out of breath and captivated.

https://jaialaiofficial.bandcamp.com/

The Spoondogs (Rock/Punk)

The Orlando based sound helped to close out Bumblefest 2019, and demonstrated a performance so great, it never left our mind.

Take The Rolling Stones, Warsaw and just a touch of surf-esque orchestration and you have a truly potent mixture that could fit in any decade and still bring the crowd to a absolute frenzy, something they did to a full house of the Patio Stage in Respectable Street, having those in attendance so enthralled, some stood on tables just to get a glimpse of the hailstorm of guitars that the act wield so well, both live and in recording. If you’re a fan of the above examples, Robert Plant in his prime or classic punk in general, we recommend listening in all methods, ways and feelings possible.

https://spoondogs.bandcamp.com/releases

Tape Studies (Post/Instrumental Rock)

Let us tell you a story of romance, ambition, love, the feeling of falling and a thousand sunsets; or better yet, let Tape Studies do it for you. We have expressed our endless respect for the post-rock genre due the basis of composition being that of a storybooks. The unspoken words of feeling itself, and all those moments you didn’t quite know what to say, wishing instead that music would flow out of your lungs. The Northern Florida trio are this exactly, and after watching them perform at Will’s Pub, they also embody the belief that while an orchestra can fill a room, a group with passion can act as a hundred orchestras; something they do effortlessly. With a new album in the works, we greatly look forward to the opportunity of seeing the act again, and we await for you to do the same.

https://tapestudies.bandcamp.com/releases

In Motion (Post-Hardcore/Emo)

While the trio have been on our list since mid-2019, they are also our pick for the Best Album of 2019. The post-hardcore genre is one that, while often seen, is very scarcely done right justice and we are proud to say that it’s one they not only excel in, but have brought back incredible light back into. Having seen the act perform as both an unplanned trio and in it’s complete package, we have been thoroughly astounded each and every performance by the wall of enormous sound the Hobe Sound based produce. It’s not hard to see the trio truly love what they do, and we love watching them.

https://inmotionfl.bandcamp.com/

Glass Body (Punk)

This Miami sound is one you read about in the history books. The kind you see in black and white pictures of bands you wish you were able to see, giving performances that seem to bleed sound from image alone and you wish on the stars above you could have viewed. And we’re happy to say, you can and you must. Performing in the small, intimate space of Kismet Vintage in West Palm Beach, the trio are pure, and pardon our language, fucking amazing punk. With incredible Pixies-esque drones meets Sex Pistols explosion, frontwoman/bassist Bridget helps orchestrate performances that are a legendary joy to watch, and one we hope you’ll carve into your concert tablets in 2020…

https://glassbody.bandcamp.com/

Kalistik (Metal/Doom)

(Photo: Keith McCullough)

With the debut EP freshly released, and wonderfully, darkly seductive, the Winter Haven group while fresh on our list, are not one to be taken lightly. Having made their powerful debut performance at Jessie’s Lounge (the videos of which can be seen on their Facebook page), they became one of our Florida Project acts simply due to the intensity of the performance. Bringing 70’s post-punk, doom and just the slightest touch of psychedelic elements in an impressive whirl, they are an act we cannot wait to get more in the coming year and are grateful we can jam to on our earbuds in the meantime…

https://kalistik.bandcamp.com/releases

Death of a Deity (Thrash/Metal)

(Photo: Jenelle DeGuzman)

The metal scene is one that thrived in 2019, due in part of the incredible acts that have emerged in genre in the past year alone. And while our next picks have been favorites of the South Florida scene, after having the pleasure of seeing the Loxahatchee based act perform at Propaganda Lake Worth late this past year, they make our list for the sheer of power they hold in their ferocious chemistry.

With a swirling, impressive storm of guitars and Abe Cunningham meets John Bonham-esque drums, they succeed in the difficult task of checking of not just one, but all marks of a great rock show: Heavy, orchestrated chaos, headbanging worthy composition and most importantly, enjoying every moment of it, while having all those in their grasp feel the same. With a new album on the horizon, and the preview of those tracks shared during their live performances solidifying our belief in DOAD being one of the great live acts in Florida, we cannot wait to headbang again.

https://deathofadeity.bandcamp.com/

Rose Dickeson (Pop/Jazz)

One of the last, great and most promising examples of the power of, to quote Prince’s album, a piano and a microphone, the effortless composition that radiates from the Port Saint Lucie duo is an unforgettable of Fiona Apple earnesty, Regina Spektor vocals and the soul of Nina Simone, they are an act that are vastly underrated and incredibly potent. If you have a chance to see the act perform, it’s one we highly advise not passing, as they offer experience in the shape of sonic roses you’ll never forget the scent of.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=op53J4l1TV4

Makoto (Instrumental/Math Rock)

Our final selection for this list, will not be met with the usual “last but not least” blush response but calculated reasoning. The Southern Florida based act are the final cut on our list for the same reasoning that fireworks cap off another rotation around the Sun; for the power lightning storm that roars into the night, and what better way to describe the act than this? As we spoke of in our review of Bumblefest, we thoroughly believe that they should have been given a headline set and we believe 2020 will see them perform that slot at festivals both near and far, for the incredible, anthemic performances they emanate both in record and live. Makoto deliver the types of performances that have your feet sore from jumping, hair in a tizzy from rocking out and most importantly, leave you breathless. It’s a talent they are as skilled at as they are in composing near perfect rock orchestrations. And one we know, will leave you in awe.

https://makoto.bandcamp.com/

We hope you fill your heart with great, new and wonderful music in the new decade. And now, to quote a certain wizard, “ Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.”

-Jenelle DeGuzman

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readablenoise · 4 years

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Anti-Viral Part Two Supporting Local Acts During 2020 Bingo

As 2020 continues, we want to help broaden your library and support local acts

Florida- It is July 2020, and we are unfortunately still living in a dystopian science fiction novel worthy of Stephen King, but not quite Orwell.

One thing we can be certain of, moreso now than ever, is the importance of supporting your local and favorite acts as the live performance industry has continued it's unfortunate, and sadly necessary halt to keep patrons safe.

Luckily, there are still avenues to continue to help support, such as online platforms.

Bandcamp is continuing their assistance by waiving all fees for today, July 3rd, ensuring 100% of all revenue goes directly to the artists themselves.

We want to help assist in your decision by providing some of our top picks (both local and international), and furthering your musical library to the far corners of the world...

Tape Studies

"Kept Underneath"

Selected Track- "With Olives in My Pocket"

http://tapestudies.bandcamp.com/album/kept-underneath

The Orlando trio excels in creating vast soundscapes that dip from the easel of such cinematic composers as Hans Zimmern, and all the while uniting the fabric of the post-rock/instrumental flag that has been aching for a revitalization.

Tape Studies are on the cusp of delivering this, in the honesty and passion of their performance, as well as their hurricane rivalling bombast.

La Science des Reves

"Fragments"

http://lasciencedesrves.bandcamp.com/track/fragments

If you enjoyed the above, and like vast soundscapes similar to Philip Glass, Brian Eno and the irreplaceable Tangerine Dream, LSDR is just the taste for you. As Tape Studies excels in delivering cinematic quality compositions, guitarist Pierre Medina of the aforementioned act offers the softer, impactful side of this equation in his side project.

Narrating the key moments of a film where decisions are best met, Medina beautifully constructs these moments our of magic and the flow of love in time.

Donzii

"Burn"

http://donzii.bandcamp.com/track/burn

Picture a sandy beach in the before times; boombox alongside you, neon bathing suit and the waves beating in time with a haunting siren call.

This is the magic Donzii carries with them at all times, and why they shared a co-opening for New Order during the legendary act's first US residency. Their potency is rivalled only by their ambition, and they are nothing short of a firecracker in the dark.

Grave.castle

"Self Deploy"

http://gravecastle.bandcamp.com/track/self-deploy-2

Miami artist Jake Lara has had his hand in some of the best sounds this side of town, including Ghostflower and Adult Programming.

With his debut project as grave.castle, Lara's underrated brilliance truly does shine, with a strong opening of what's to come. Haunting and reminscent of classic Numan with a bite, "Self Deploy" is a song for both the dark nights and daybreak adventures...

Death of a Deity

"Feast for Kings"

https://youtu.be/P5ZVPsaTSnw

http://deathofadeity.bandcamp.com/album/death-dealer-ep

The West Palm Beach metal/hardcore act have been steadily climbing up the ranks, not only due to the raw power the group possess, but their unrelenting passion they have in delivering it.

They are currently recording their follow-up, and in the meantime, have released an instrumental guitar playthrough of "Feast for Kings", a wonderful appreciation and closer look into the bombast, and you can also purchase the direct track above.

Existence Has Failed

"Birthrite"

http://existencehasfailed.bandcamp.com/track/birthrite-single

One of our favorite things to do in our forays is stumble upon both side projects or solo acts of the bands we hold in esteem. Not only due to the extension of extra sounds we get to hear, but a further appreciation of the musicians who perform them.

This is true of both Tape Studies/LSDR, and with our second follow-up selection in Existence Has Failed.

The Southern Florida deathcore act shares its drummer Joe Hennessey, with our above selection, Death of a Deity, and Hennessy's delivery is just as potent in the well done, and for lack of a better word, kick-a** latest single, "Birthrite".

It's worthy of festival style moshes, and if metal is your style, this is yet another gem to add.

Spiritbox

"Holy Roller"

http://spiritboxofficial.bandcamp.com/track/holy-roller

One of our international picks, we are confident in saying the Canadian act should be at the top of your Must Watch list.

From Courtney LaPlante's powerful and enrapturing vocals, ranging from smooth tones to deliciously heavy deliveries that hold up with some of the best vocalists in the genre, to the instrumentation which meshes Deftones, Mastodon and a touch of Prodigy (surprising as it is, you'll understand), Spiritbox are one of those acts you hear and instantly know, you have stumbled upon something wonderful.

In Motion

"Liedentity B-Sides"

Selected Track: Hank to Hailey

http://inmotionfl.bandcamp.com/album/liedentity-b-sides

The Hobe Sound trio released their companion piece to the wonderful "Liedentity" with a modest compilation of B-sides and we are grateful they did. Our selected track, "Hank to Hailey", is intimate and viseceral in the best of ways. IM's strength lies in their ability to be unafraid to feel, and the laid bare feel of this track tugs in just the right places.

The Spoon Dogs

"Bar Called Salvation"

http://spoondogs.bandcamp.com/track/bar-called-salvation

This Orlando trio have remained steady on our radar, for good reason. With pinches of Southern grime in the best of ways, paired with Michael Hutchence style vocals, we cannot wait to see Spoon Dogs in concert again as they truly, are one of the best live acts of our time.

In the meantime, enjoy and support with the above track, "Bar Called Salvation"

Barbarossa

"Make It Through"

http://thisisbarbarossa.bandcamp.com/album/make-it-through

British multi-instrumentalist, James Mathé, caught out attention when we had the pleasure of seeing him play alongside Jose Gonzales and has remained one of our favorite artists since. Composing tracks that carry peaks and valleys rivalling Icelandic scenery, every track is a refreshing pleasure, and this is no less true than in his latest, "Make It Through"

The Darling Fire

"Dark Celebration"

Selected Track- "For the Loveless"

http://thedarlingfire.bandcamp.com/album/dark-celebration

TDF excel at creating silky, perfect orchestrations, alongside an almost stallion-esque strength of their build-up. It is a rare talent, and one best shown in "For the Loveless"; a 90's alternate meets Metric style ode, it will have you swaying, dancing and keeping beat into the night.

For all acts above, as well as bonus bands such as Kalistik, Adult Programming, Rose Dickeson and more, head over to our companion Spotify playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6o502YpcPS5ECXBYY308HI?si=7m8UvQCQQfuB9ixDhkSb7A

-Jenelle DeGuzman

#readable noise #local band #local music #bandcamp #tape studies #las science des reves #spiritbox #death of a deity #existence has failed #grave.castle #donzii #in motion #spoon dogs #barbarossa #the darling fire #florida #spotify

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