Whether your musical styling begs to be tantalized by punk, reggae or hip-hop, summer lineups in Florida will keep you more than satisfied – if you can make it to them. Can’t decide if your wallet has the funds to fork over for tickets and gas? This guide will help to prioritize what’s happening and what’s worth it.
WHAT: Warped Tour 2008WHERE: Bicentennial Park, MiamiWHEN: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 12DISTANCE: 45.6 miles from FAU Boca
Description: What once was the home of punk, anti-capitalism and DIY ethics is now the headquarters of screamo, pop-punk artists. If this is your forté, look out for more than 40 bands including Relient K, Against Me! and Anberlin. Expect to stand in the sun all day, pay for overpriced water, and drop $40 per ticket (remember though, that’s only a dollar per artist).
WHAT: MatisyahuWHERE: Revolution, Fort LauderdaleWHEN: 8:00 p.m. Saturday, July 12DISTANCE: 20.7 miles from FAU Boca
Description: If neo-punk and emo aren’t your cup of tea, don’t fret – Revolution is hosting Jewish reggae rapper Matisyahu on the same night. Matthew Miller, the man behind Matisyahu, beat boxes and raps about his God. It’s the perfect blend to bring together reggae-loving stoners, rural rap enthusiasts, and Jews looking for more religiously inspired music. The ticket will set you back a little more than 44 bucks.
WHAT: Rock the BellsWHERE: Bicentennial Park, MiamiWHEN: 12:00 p.m. Sat, Aug. 2DISTANCE: 45.6 miles from FAU Boca
Description: Kanye and Rihanna will occasionally grace us with their presence, but thanks to Rock the Bells, Bicentennial Park will see the likes of Wale, Mos Def and The Cool Kids. They boast to provide over 20 artists performing on two stages. The cost to see some of the best acts in hip-hop is $70 for general admission, but if you want to feel less bourgeois, VIP tickets are available for more than threefold the normal ticket price, at $274. Tickets can be purchasedonline.
WHAT: Wilco with Bon IverWHERE: Florida Theatre, JacksonvilleWHEN: 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6DISTANCE: 304 miles from FAU Boca
Description: You may have to drive almost five hours to get there and fight through Jacksonville’s traffic, but this show is worth it for any indie, folk-rock fan. Bon Iver, the stage name of folk singer Justin Vernon, is making his first Florida appearance. Following him will be the underground kings of alternative / southern rock, Wilco. Buy your $38.50 tickets now if you want to go, because they’re moving fast – the standing pit is already sold out.
All prices, unless noted otherwise, come from Ticketmaster.
Why Pay for Music?
Best New Music You Can [Legally] Get For Free
Ever since bands like Radiohead decided to let consumers name their own price for their album In Rainbows, many up-and-coming artists have found that simply giving out their albums is a great way to get publicity. When a microphone and a MySpace account is all it takes to be considered a recording artist today, there’s a lot of really bad music to sift through. So the UP did the sifting for you. Here’s some albums that might be worth a listen.
Wale – Mix Tape about NothingThe Mix Tape About Nothing is inspired by the existential comedy of Seinfeld. The D.C.-based hip-hop artist Wale (pronounced wah-lay, not whale) made an album heavily sampling from the show’s theme tune, catchphrases, and jokes. He also tackles issues like the Michael Richards (Kramer) racial slur incident at a comedy club back in ’06. Best thing of all, Nothing is available 100 percent free off 10Deep’s Web site.
Girl Talk – Feed the Animals Girl Talk, the stage name of DJ mashup artist Gregg Gillis, is releasing his third album, Feed the Animals, off his Web site for any price you name. A mashup song is like listening to two radios on different stations at the same time. One station might play Elton John, the other might have Usher’s latest club hit, and then both suddenly change to something new. The only place you can purchase the album is through the label’s Web site, which is ironically titled Illegal Art.
The Cool Kids – Bake Sale EPThe Cool Kids is a hip-hop duo comprised of Antoine “Mikey Rocks” Reed and Evan “Chuck Inglish” Ingersoll based out of Chicago. The Bake Sale EP is nothing new from the duo – The Cool Kids have been releasing all their tracks free online via their MySpace page. After two years of denying record labels, they finally released the Bake Sale, their first official album, through their own label C.A.K.E. Recordings. Although this album isn’t technically free, you can stream and download all the tracks for free off their MySpace.
