Suburban Apologist

GIVEAWAY: 2 Tickets to Burgatory on The 600 Block

Ray Roa — Thu, 23 May 2013 17:24:34 +0000

It ain't heaven, and it's going to be one hell of a time (how you like that for cheesy?!), but Michael J. Wolf is calling the one year-anniversary of his band's first show BURGATORY, and he wants to give two of y'as a free ticket. He's made it really simple too.

SUB AP! CAL: MICHAEL J. WOLF PRESENTS BURGATORY 05.24.13 (FEAT. CHRIS WOLLARD & THE SHIP THIEVES & MORE)

All you have to do is go to this Facebook post and hit SHARE. Make sure you tag SUBURBAN APOLOGIST, and we'll pick two winners on tomorrow at lunch. Enter as many times as you like and make sure to have a really good time at the show.

Picture instructions are below.

(01.) Share the Facebook post and (02.) Tag SUBURBAN APOLOGIST

WATCH: Alexander & The Grapes play a new song, “Open Door”

Ray Roa — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:19:45 +0000

Alexander & The Grapes' debut LP -- Hemispheres -- will forever have a place in our ear canals, but it's always great to hear new music from one of the Bay area's finest bands. The latest offering comes in video form, which appears to have been recorded during Creative Loafing's multi-venue Warehouse District party on April 19.

SUB AP! CAL: PRETTY & NICE + ALEXANDER & THE GRAPES + JENSEN SERF CO. + THE HAPPINESS MACHINE AT VENTURE COMPOUND 05.31.13

Filmed by Daniel J. Reyes, "Open Door," is accompanied by visuals of folks partying and one particular woman having a really great time outside. The song itself finds the band exploring more of the dramatic alt-folk/rock & roll that they do ever so well while exploring a theme that they explored on Hemispheres.

"The song is about being technology dependent," Grapes' frontman Alexander Charos told SubAp! in a message,"and trying to spend more time outside with nature. In the real world."

Have a look at the clip below and see the band play more new tunes in real life when they join Pretty & Nice for a show at The Venture Compound on May 31. More information on the show is available at our calendar page.

LOOK: Ghostface Killah & Venice Dawn at Orpheum

Ray Roa — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:47:39 +0000

The dreaded Sunday night show lived up to it's reputation (how many people looked ROUGH on Monday morning?) on May 19, but woe be damned if Ybor City didn't make it worth it as Ghostface Killah combined forces with super producer Adrian Younge and his Venice Dawn orchestra for what was one of the most unique hip hop shows to ever come through Tampa Bay. An Orpheum performance of Ghostface's new album 12 Reasons To Die went down and the die hards also found their way across Seventh Ave to Crowbar for the best Sunday night party in town -- Ol' Dirty Sundays -- where Diggin' In The Crates Crew's own Diamond D was on hand to keep the party going well into the morning. Have a look at some of Brian Mahar's photos from the epic evening and stream 12 Reasons below. Twelve Reasons To Die by Ghostface Killah and Adrian Younge

LISTEN: Jonah Vin – “From The Top”

Ray Roa — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:39:41 +0000

The only thing better than discovering your new favorite band is watching them grow up to become the big beautiful band you always saw inside, and while we're sure that the boys in Look Mexico still have much more blossoming to do, we sure are proud of the little record label they've been cultivating. Holy Hell Records is just rounding the corner on its second year of life and is putting out their second release -- an LP from Jonah Vin -- on July 1 (The label's first release was the Mexibros. own So Crucialtine 12"). To celebrate Awake In Your Sleep (artwork above), Holy Hell is streaming the album's second track, "Awake In Your Sleep." The cut finds the San Antonio, Tex.-based band -- made up of cousins Gary Battreall and Jesse "Buzz" Mata along with Andy Alex and Alex Esquivel -- working through three-and-a-half minutes of brooding indie pop rife with beautifully delayed guitar lines, rolling drums and interesting time signature changes.

It's just a piece of an eight track, forty-plus minute full-length Mata. The band is currently on a follow-up EP, but can get acquainted with the track below.

GIVEAWAY: Win 2 Tickets to see Bad Veins on Wednesday!

Ray Roa — Mon, 20 May 2013 13:52:12 +0000

In just 48 hours, one hell of a Bad Veins party is going down in Ybor City. The band has a built a long and storied history with our city and they'll once again join us -- this time at Crowbar -- for a bill that also includes a trio of our favorite acts: Jensen Serf Co., Death Starsky (you KNOW you remember The Basiqs), and DJ Minihorse.

SUB AP! CAL: BAD VEINS AT CROWBAR 05.22.13 // EARLY IN-STORE AT MICROGROOVE

What's more is we're giving away two tickets to the show. All you have to do is (1) share the Facebook event or post. That's it. Do it as many times as you want to. We'll enter you into the drawing and announce a winner on Wednesday morning. If you need picture instruction, then have a look below. Otherwise get ready to win and we'll see you at the show on Wednesday night!

INSTRUCTIONS: (1) SHARE THE FB EVENT OR POST (2) WIN.

LOOK: The Joy Formidable at the State Theatre – 05.05.13

gtdmouse — Sun, 12 May 2013 22:49:16 +0000

The Joy Formidable came back to the bay area for the third time in a couple years and their following has grown deservedly. Check out some photos below.

Next Page ›

LOOK: IO Echo at the State Theatre – 05.05.13

gtdmouse — Sun, 12 May 2013 22:36:44 +0000

IO Echo opened for The Joy Formidable last weekend and powered through with a few mic problems and a whole lot of hair. Check out some photos below.

Next Page ›

REALLY REALLY LIVE REVIEW: WMNF’s 32nd Annual Tropical Heatwave (Ybor City)

Suburban Apologist — Sat, 11 May 2013 05:53:29 +0000

Saturday, May 11 // 01:45 a.m. We're addicted to the internet (you're on a website for Jeebus' sake). For some odd reason or another, part of our expression of the lives we lead leads us to share things via social media, so here we are cataloguing what we're thinking at WMNF's 32nd Tropical Heatwave, which is happening right now (actually everyone is sleeping right now). Here's our thoughts on the fest as manifested through social media. This is an evolving post,we'll be updating this as often as possible. If you're at Heatwave or watching this, then tag #TampaMusic, #TropicalHeatwave or us (@SubApologist). Let's see what happens...

WMNF’s 32ND ANNUAL TROPICAL HEATWAVE: Don’t Not Do’s

Ray Roa — Thu, 09 May 2013 07:05:30 +0000

Heatwave is 32 years old. It's two days long now too, and while WMNF’s annual celebration of some of the best and most eclectic music the country has to offer is like a Tampa holiday, there's no way you'll be able to soak it all in. With that in mind, here's a rough guide to Heatwave and a few things you shouldn't not do.

WMNF’S 31ST ANNUAL TROPICAL HEATWAVE: THE BASICS TICKETS | BAND LIST| FOOD + DRINK (Older, still useful guide)

DOWNLOAD: MAP | SCHEDULE

01. Hydrate with water AND Heatwave beer.

Heatwave's Friday itinerary is doable without any prior planning. Saturday, however, is another story. With the first band going on at just after 4 p.m., it makes for a nearly 10-hour day, so drink plenty damn water. If you're the type to imbibe, then swill a few Tropical Heatwave tallboys too. Cigar City master brewer Wayne Wambles describes the beer as such: "A lively American wheat beer(ale) - Cloudy gold in color due to being unfiltered, this wheat beer has moderate passion fruit notes with an underlying berry aroma. Thirst quenching tropical bitterness and a slight rosemary to pine character are prominent in the flavor profile with supporting notes of wheat and a slight berry tartness." Yum.

02. See these sets:

With something like a gazillion bands playing over the course of a day-and-a-half it's easy to be overwhelmed. We doubt you'll catch a set that you completely despise at Heatwave, but here are three sets not to be missed. Paul Thorn (solo set) at Cuban Club Bandshell // Fri. 10:45 p.m. Paul Thorn is a veritable WMNF patriarch and for good reason. The Wisconsin-born singer/songwriter is approaching the half decade mark and his trademark charm and wittiness only seems to be getting even more endearing as his career goes on. If you want to laugh while witnessing some of the best songwriting this country as to offer, then make sure to be present for this set. Set and Setting at Crowbar // Sat. Midnight You might've though we were crazy to have this St. Pete-based instrumental outfit open our two-year anniversary show, but we wanted to make sure that we had your attention when it all kicked off -- and that's exactly what happens when Set And Setting are on. With the lights dimmed and the ominous glow floor lights illuminating them the band put forth a wall of sound that is the equivalent water rushing forth from a busted up Hoover Dam. They have a new album -- Equanimity -- due out June 4 (via Science Of Silence), and a new track ("Spiraling Uncertainties") is a behemoth on it's own, but will surely morph into a completely different, delightfully ominous monster live in the wee hours of Sunday morning. The Happiness Machine & Day Joy at New World // Sat. 7 p.m. & 8 p.m. There are more than a handful of other must-see bands at Heatwave (Beach Day, Cody ChesnuTT, Nervous Turkey, Zulu Wave, The Whiskey Gentry, Awkward Age, and Nikki Hill to name just a few), we couldn't help but be pleased with the auspice of hunkering down at our favorite watering hole for back-to-back sets from two of our favorite Florida bands: pop smile makers The Happiness Machine (who have a new EP out, see below) and Orlando dreamscape-smith Day Joy (click the hyperlink to see what's up).

03. Get Lost

We've always stood by the belief that the greatest thing about a music festival is the certainty of stumbling across something you never would've imagined enjoying so much, so don't grow weary if you're plan doesn't unfold perfectly. Don't be afraid to wander into a venue your uncomfortable with or poke your head in to explore a sound that randomly tickles your cochlear -- it just might be the best thing that ever happened to you.

04. THANK SOMEBODY

Tropical Heatwave is by far WMNF's biggest fundraiser, and while you should definitely feel good about pumping a portion of your own disposable income into the station's coffers, don't forget how lucky we are to have WMNF in our community. From their humble beginnings broadcasting out of some random house in Hyde Park to their current existence within their beautiful studio on the east end of Martin Luther King Boulevard, the station -- and it's army of volunteer (with a few paid positions) staff, programmers, and support people -- have remained committed to making sure that you have an alternative source for news, information, and music. It's safe to say that running that baby is a labor of love that all the WMNF-ers love laboring over day in and day out. If you hear a voice that you recognize from the radio, don't be afraid to say "hi." Get to know your neighbors and thank them for the work they do. We're all in this (and enjoying this) together after all.

FILM REVIEW: Spring Breakers

Trevor Erickson — Sun, 05 May 2013 13:05:51 +0000

Filmed mostly in St. Petersburg, Harmony Korine’s Spring Breakers is a film that has polarized critics and audiences alike. While some see a movie rich with social criticism, others see a trashy, disjointed ninety-minute piece that celebrates excess and rejects all rationality. This split in criticism stems in part from a rather manic director and writer in Korine, who has used the press events of the film as an opportunity to polarize himself in the public forum, recently giving aloof interviews (including an astoundingly hilarious and borderline psychotic AMA on reddit), and even getting banned from Letterman. This seeming lack of direction from the creator of the film has lead to these very different views of the finished product, and lead many to question why young stars like Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens would take roles in such a controversial film. If you have already seen Spring Breakers, it must be agreed that it’s a film that leaves you walking out scratching your head. What did I just watch? And, as a Tampa Bay Area resident, how exactly should I feel about this? To start off, in this criticism, I’d like to note that I’m writing this piece with the assumption that Harmony Korine knows what he’s doing, and has created a film he wants to be viewed as a satire. For absolute clarity, I do believe this is the case, and I certainly assume that his erratic behavior in the press tour for this film is only meant to further polarize (and thus raise ticket sales) his movie. Could I be wrong? Could he be an idiot with an obsession for really young women and a white trash aesthetic? I certainly don’t rule it out.

To begin, what Korine probably did wrong:

- Casting Gomez, Hudgens and Benson inevitably distracts from the finished product. The stars of the film are clearly held back from getting too involved in some of the heavier moments of partying in the movie. We are to believe that Hudgens and Benson in particular are partying hard enough to send themselves on a life destroying path, but in too many scenes does it seem as though the script called for the actors to go way further than their public persona would actually allow. - Satire should, by definition, be absurd. However, there is an art form to its use. A masterful satirist knows exactly how far they can take absurdity before it becomes trash. Spring Breakers has magical moments of absurdity, like a corn rowed, grill wearing James Franco leading the girls in pink ski masks through a Britney spears ballad on his white piano. However, the dialogue, and specific instances throughout the film don’t seem to fit the humor of the rest of what we’ve seen, and thus create doubts as to whether or not Korine is in on the joke.

Where does Korine get it right?

- Casting James Franco. In every sense, Franco nails the role of Alien. He completely commits himself to the part of the drug dealing rapper, and he turns in a performance that should be remembered for a best supporting actor nomination (but wont). - Style. Spring Breakers is a completely sensory film. It’s as though Korine channeled Terrence Malik to lead us through this white trash aesthetic with poetic James Franco narrations about bitches and money. Its lack of a traditional narrative is exciting, funny, and at times even powerful. The color throughout the film is intoxicating, the cinematography is everywhere from interesting to borderline masterful throughout. - Message. Korine satirizes the core audience his studio has marketed the film towards. His point being that the party lifestyle is inevitably empty, a hollow endeavor that has a certain level of pretension to it. Is he right? Before making any conclusions, go to Ybor on a Friday night. Around 2:30, Korine's target audience will start stumbling out of Amphitheater. You will undoubtedly see one or two people that are in the midst of learning (or not) the message behind the absurdity in Spring Breakers. Finally, how should Tampa Bay area residents feel about the portrayal of St. Pete in this film? I don’t think it can be argued that national perception of the area through the media hasn’t always been stellar…and I think many will think this film doesn’t help that very much. Our first widely released movie filmed in the area in years, and it basically made the city of St. Pete look like a dumping ground of drug dealers and trashy spring break partiers. However, Korine and his cinematographer did a fantastic job of capturing some of the beauty of our area. Shots of the gulf, the sunset, all help prove why this would ever be a spring break destination in the first place. Korine’s Spring Breakers should absolutely be applauded for, at the very least, being surprisingly original. At the very most, you could say he’s created a film that perfectly satirizes a part of young society that has found itself enamored with a lifestyle that inevitably leads to nowhere.