Hey kids, friends, sisters, moms. Short or tall, punk or hippy. This is a call to everyone!

If you grew up with a mouthless kitten as your best friend, if you collected all the wallets, stickers,  key chains and Hello Kitty stationeries, if you have a tattoo of a pirate red ribboned cat on your arm, if you loved and still love all the cute Japanese Sanrio cartoons and its friends, this is your opportunity to get closer than ever to the Official Hello Kitty World. 

Sanrio, R. Rock and Pressure Point, who brought you the unforgettable Sanrio 50th Anniversary Party and exhibit during Miami Art Basel in 2010 joined forces again. This time, to produce a documentary about Hello Kitty and its fans.
Wanna be part of it?

Just send a message to: sanrioproject@rrockenterprises.com, and let them know they can count with you. The production team and Hello Kitty will be in Miami during late April to meet with you. 

Stay tune and up with our updates, we will have more Hello Kitty news about they arrival, events and plans. Subscribe to our Wasabi mail to get the news first: click!

Like most birthdays or holidays such as Christmas and New Years, Ultra Music Festival only comes around once a year. As it approaches I find myself constantly day dreaming about large crowds and speakers blasting music into my ears making my head spin and heart flutter. I’m daydreaming about lights and music and being surrounded by my best friends. To us, Ultra is more than a holiday or special occasion, it is THE holiday, the holy day when the world’s BEST DJs and musicians meet here in Miami and create such noise that over 100,000 people all gather and have the time of their lives. Yes, i’m dreaming of Ultra and finding myself lost in thought and music.

This year’s line up is the best line up out of any of the festivals that have been released for 2012. Ultra has found a way to appeal to many, many different audiences and have extended the festival to 3 days to really give us as much music, lights and fucking fun as possible.

If you are going to Ultra and you have been before I am sure you are day dreaming about it too. If this year is your first time going and you aren’t sure what I’m talking about trust me when I say you’re never going to forget the weekend of March 23-25th 2012.

Here are some videos and songs from artists who are currently starring in my daydreams.

NEW ORDER

(Without Peter Hook but I’ll Live)

M83

(I’m really excited to see them for the first time)

JUSTICE

(LIVE!!!! )

2MANYDJS

(aka Soulwax, aka holy fuck yes)

NEON INDIAN

(psychedelic electro good time)

JACK BEATS

(Amazing tracks to loose yourself in a crowd)

DUCK SAUCE / ATRAK

(this song is just as ridiculous as this video)

AVICII

(I hear his sets can get really dark and I like that)

Stay tuned for more day dream tracks and videos….

WFK had the pleasure of interviewing one of the most talented and true musicians from Miami, Raffa Jo Harris. Every music lover from this latitude should know the girl with a beautiful voice, who is not afraid of standing in front of crowds and opening her heart out. Raffa and her partner in crime, Rainer, had influenced many local songwriters who explore into folk and soft rock melodies.

On February 9^th, Raffa and Rainer will be performing at The Virginia Key Grassroots Festival representing Miami’s very own music talent.

WFK: Minimal, beautiful and deep songs are some of the principal elements of your music.Can you describe, what’s the ideal scenario for composing a song?
I have to be alone…there can’t even be anyone in the next room. I only ever pick up my guitar when I have an empty house or apartment. And I usually have to be a little heartbroken. Or a lot heartbroken if its gonna be a really good song.

How did your love story with music start?
Same as everyone’s, I suppose… Mama singin’.

What was the first song you ever wrote? Are you still playing it in your live shows?
The first song I ever wrote was for a high school theater project. And no, I would never dream of singing it in front of people. I write a lot of crap. I try to keep the worst of it to myself.

When did Rainer come along? What’s it purely musical attraction at first sight?
Rainer and I met around 2000 we didn’t start playing regularly together till 2005.  But yes, as soon as we played that very first show together at the old Tree of Zion restaurant in ’05, Raffa and Rainer was born.

How do you complement each other artistically?
I make songs, Rainer makes magic.

Listening to your folk, soft-rock and tender songs, it’s hard to guess your roots where planted in Miami. In spite of that, is this flashy city reflected anyhow in your music?

There is a lot more to Miami than just the flashy part of it… Same as there is more to us than tender folk songs.

“No mercy”, an album of 11 great songs which also features over 30 other artist, had a strong impact in Miami’s music scene. Are you planning to release a new album anytime soon?
We’d really like to. Realistically though, right now we basically can buy a tour van or make an album. The road is beckoning…..

On February 9th you will be performing at The Virginia Key Grassroots Festival. What’s your favorite thing about playing live? What do you guys have planned for the show?
The best thing about playing music live is its the purest way to share it. We get to open our mouths, strum and bang on things, and people get to hear it. There’s no middle man. We’ll be playing with a full band for the festival which is always fun.

::Wasabi Quizz ::

Miami tastes like… El Palacio de los Jugos
What inspires you? Miami, bro.
What’s your heaven like? I wouldn’t have to choose between buying a tour van, recording an album, and rent. I’d have more time with my family. And we’d all dwell in a connected paradise of caves…like Fraggle Rock. Otherwise, I’m pretty much living in it.
Cassette, CD, vinyl or mp3? Vinyl
The first record ever that you remember buying: Debbie Gibson Electric Youth
The last record that you purchased or downloaded: I found the Cranberries, No need to argue at Red, White and Blue for 95 cents. I remember almost every lyric from middle school. So good!
Raffa’s top 5 music wise :Tom Waits, Johnny Cash, Denny Denny Breakfast, Jenny Lewis, Jesse Jackson our very own.
What song, from other artist do you admire,  you’d wish you have composed it yourself? There are too many to name. People are really effing brilliant.
You would kill to play in the same stage with: I’d settle for just seeing Tom Waits. He’s been running around my heart since high school and I’m sure that I’m a better person for it.
Freedom in your own words: see #3

 Raffa and Rainer will be playing on February 9 at 8.45
@ The Virginia Key Grassroots Festival
 

 Re: Generation will be screening on February 16 @
AMC Sunset Place 24
5701 Sunset Drive
South Miami, FL 33143
For info  on tickets and showtimes click!

RE:GENERATION MUSIC PROJECT, a documentary film directed by Amir Bar Lev—who made the award-winning documentaries ”My Kid Could Paint That” and ”The Tillman Story”— is set for a unique nationwide, one-night only theatrical release in select cities and venues and on February 16 it  will be screening in Miami! 

Produced in association with The Grammys, the film looks at the history, songwriting and studio process of different musical genres through the eyes offive of the most influential electronic producers/DJs in music today, who wrote and recorded a brand new track with a grouping of influential collaborators in that genre. The tag line for the film is “5 DJ’s Turn the Table of the History of Music.” The stories of these five DJs are documented in RE:GENERATION.

In the film, current five-time GRAMMY^®-nominated artist Skrillex heads into a Los Angeles studio with members of the iconic rock band The Doors to collaborate on a new song, “Breakn’ A Sweat.” Meanwhile, The Crystal Method touched down in Detroit to work with Martha Reeves of The Vandellas and The Funk Brothers on the R&B number “I’m Not Leaving.” Mark Ronson created a southern brew of New Orleans jazz in “A La Modeliste” that boasts a veritable all-star cast of Erykah Badu, Trombone Shorty, Mos Def, Zigaboo Modeliste and Members of The Dap Kings. DJ Premier tapped NAS and Boston’s very own Berklee Symphony Orchestrafor his “Regeneration,” and the documentary culminates in Nashville on the dusty, intergalactic twang of Pretty Lights’ “Wayfaring Stranger” featuring vocals from LeAnn Rimes and Dr. Ralph Stanley.

The documentary is making an impact with music fans, having garnered more than 2 million views of the aggregated clips from the film, as well as more than 1 million streams of the tracks in the first six weeks since they launched.

Enjoy the Re: Generation trailer here::

Re: Generation will be screening on February 16 @
AMC Sunset Place 24
5701 Sunset Drive
South Miami, FL 33143

For info  on tickets and showtimes visit: http://www.regenerationmusicproject.com/#section6

*Abajo versión en español

The noise-pop group released today a new video for “Comeback Kid”, the first single of their acclaimed and upcoming second album: “Reign of Terror”, which will be hitting the mayor music stores on February 21.

Enjoy the video below. Girl Power!

Sleigh Bells will be playing @ Grand Central
on February 14

In the spirit of family, cultural celebration and fun, The Historic Virginia Key Beach Park will serve as home to the world-renown GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance, February 9 – 12, 2012.

The four-day event will showcase some of the world’s most amazing and respected talents from over 50 performing groups whose genres include: Roots Rock, Reggae, Hip-Hop, Latin, Funk, Cajun, Bluegrass, African, Kompa, World Beat and Zydeco.  Grammy® Award winning performers Chaka Khan, The Del McCoury Band and Arrested Development will headline the inaugural festival along with the legendary ska/reggae band Fishbone, Donna the Buffalo, BeauSoleil avec Micheal Doucet and several South Florida local favorites Locos Por Juana, Suenalo and ArtOfficial.

Founded 22 years ago as a not-for-profit supporting arts, education, and the fight against AIDS, the GrassRoots Festival Organization has grown into a multi-dimensional and multi-state platform for community engagement. The Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival of Music & Dance is the inaugural winter season GrassRoots Festival and will be held at Miami’s Historic Virginia Key Beach Park. The Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival joins New York’s Finger Lakes GrassRoots Festival and North Carolina’s Shakori Hills GrassRoots Festival in a not-for-profit festival triumvirate that spans four seasons.

The four-day festival will include a Kids’ Village with interactive programming and a Healing Arts Area hosting daily movement workshops, massage and other bodywork modalities.  Local and visiting artisans will showcase and offer for sale their handcrafted works in the festival’s Crafts Area.

4-Day Tickets are available for $100 for adults and $50 for teens (13-15).  Individual day tickets are available for Thursday- $30, Friday and Saturday -$35 and Sunday -$30, children 12 and under FREE.

Performer Lineup

Arrested Development
ArtOfficial
Beausoleil Avec Michael Doucet
Big Brass Juke
Bill Kelly
Bobby Lee Rodgers 
Chaka Khan
Christabel and the Jons
COPE
Crazy Fingers
The Del McCoury Band
Diali Keba Cissokho
Disip
DJ Aris
Donna the Buffalo
Driftwood
Elastic Bond
Fishbone 
Gene Tagaban
Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad
Gibbor Green
The Grady Girls
Greg Humphreys
The Habanero Honeys
The Heavy Pets
Hindu Cowboys
Hobex
Immortal Technique
The Jacob Jeffries Band
Jahfe
Jah High Towa
Jewels
Jim Lauderdale
Keith Frank & the Soileau Zydeco Band
Keith Secola & Wild Band of Indians
Lance-O
The Lee Boys
Locos por Juana
Mishka
Mixed Culture
Nery Arevalo
Omniscient
Preston Frank   
Raffa & Rainer
Revelation Mizik
DJ Richard McVay
The Rowan Cunningham Band
Rubblebucket
Sim Redmond Band
Son Salvaje
Soulflower
Suenalo
The Sunsetters
The TalkToMes
Thousands of One
Toubab Krewe
Willie Watson & the Evil City String Band    

To learn more about The Virginia Key GrassRoots Festival, performers, or to purchase tickets please visit  www.virginiakeygrassroots.org.

This week we are giving you the low down on the party high points this week in Miami.

“We proudly invite you to what is sure to be one of the more prominent “good times” in current Miami nightlife. This weekly event is being held at the beautifully renovated and historical space formerly known as Transit Lounge, BLACKBIRD ORDINARY.”

Miami’s finest classic hip hop DJs, Giveaways, Drink Specials & Nefarious Girl?
Sign us up!

What: LIFTED
When? Tuesday January 10, 2012
10pm – 5 am
Where? Blackbird Ordinary
729 SW 1st Ave, Brickell
Who? Chocolate Sundays Lovers

You dont want to miss this ! New Indie Band from Wynwood ! Stoli 4$ shots. Reduced Stoli Cocktails !!!

What: LIVE SET BY KRISP
When? Wednesday January 11, 2012
10pm – 5 am
Where? Ricochet
3250 Buena Vista Ave, Midtown
Who? Wynwood Indie Kids

Chalk is Miami’s only temple to ping pong and billiards; a lounge unlike any other that is redefining the game of cool. Situated in the former Washington Federal Bank, CHALK boasts 6600 square feet of engaging design and interactive entertainment including timeless classics like Connect Four and Checkers.

What: THE BREAKS
When? Thursday January 12, 2012
9pm – 5 am
Where? Chalk Ping Pong & Billiards Lounge
1234 Washington Ave, Miami Beach
Wh0: Tricksters and Pool Sharks

T.G.I.Fridays at The Vagabond! This week we’re proud to welcome Miami’s own world famous AFROBETA for a special live performance!

What: AFROBETA LIVE
When? Friday January 13, 2012
9pm – 5 am
Where? The Vagabond
30 NE 14 st, Miami
Wh0: Miami Dance Lovers

‘Twist’ and ‘Stuck Together’ are two new tracks by Radiohead’s frontman. Thom Yorke composed both songs for a fashion show for US clothing label ‘Rag and Bone’, that took place in September 2011, and they were posted online last week.’Stuck Together’ also features a contribution from Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood.

Radiohead are set to embark on a US – Europe tour that will start in Miami on February 27 with a show at American Airlines Arena.

Check out the new tracks bellow::
___________________________________________________

Escuchá lo Nuevo de Thom Yorke

‘Twist’ and ‘Stuck Together’ son dos nuevos temas del cantante de Radiohead. Thom Yorke compuso ambas canciones para un desfile de la marca de ropa estadounidense ‘Rag and Bone’ que se realizó en Septiembre. Las mismas fueron publicadas en internet la semana pasada. ‘Stuck Together’, cuenta con la participación de Jonny Greenwood, guitarrista de la banda británica.

Radiohead se embarcará en una gira por Estados Unidos y Europa que comenzará en Miami el 27 de Febrero con un show en American Airlines Arena.

Escuchá las nuevas canciones::

Say goodbye to 2011 Miami. This Saturday night is New Years Eve, and what better way to spend it than breaking all of last years resolutions. New Years Eve is an evening to smoke that last cigarette, drink cocktails, flirt with whomever you choose, stay out till dawn or hit up a crazy after hours. THIS IS YOUR NIGHT TO RAGE, and who better than us to tell you just where to go and how to do it with style. Here is WFK’s TOP 6 PICKS for a New Years Eve filled with debauchery, music and champagne of course!

 Countdown…

6.  Our 6th pick takes place at our favorite local dark spot. Bardot is a smaller venue where personal intimate music can be heard. Don’t let it fool you though, parties here can get pretty rowdy come 2 am and the DJ is getting the floor steamy. New Years Eve they have a very special night planned for their patrons. The young hot and loveable Cris Cab will be performing. He is barely legal and full of talent with a voice that can melt all the ice cubes in your drink. If you want to spend the night getting tipsy and swaying to his original tracks Bardot is the place to go. Not to mention Tony G will be spinning nothing but the hits right after Cris is done serenading you and your date. Tickets are $20 online HERE

What: NYE with CRIS CAB & TONY G
When? Saturday December 31, 2011
9pm – 5am
Where? Bardot
3456 North Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33127
Who? Chill Music Lovers

5.  Have you ever seen Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut ? If you haven’t get on Netflicks or whatever site you stream your movies on and watch it. They are obviously feeling sexy and tempting at Cafeina this New Years because their theme is all about mystery, secret society, decadence, and SEX. Yes, you can expect complimentary masks to conceal your identity at the door, flowing glasses of champagne and perhaps a secret romp with a guest of your choice somewhere in their maze of lust. To put you in the mood Dj’s  Supersede and Santiago Caballero will be spinning nothing but sexy tunes. The tickets are $90 in advance and $120 at the door. Open Bar from 9-12am and special bottle packages for you and all of your lustful guests.

What: EYES WIDE SHUT NYE 2012 at CAFEINA
When? Saturday December 31, 2011
9pm – 5am
Where? Cafeina
297 NW 23rd Street, Miami, FL 33127
Who? Mysteriously Sexy People

 4. You can always have a good time at the Vagabond! Even if it’s New Years it can still be special by getting trashed with all the regulars and dancing your ass off in the front room. Spend New Years Eve surrounded by beautiful women! Featuring Shameless Burlesque,The State Of, and your hostess vixen Back Door Bamby and all of her notorious sex kittens! Get advance tickets HERE.

What: NEW YEARS EVE AT THE VAGABOND
When? Saturday December 31, 2011
10pm – 5am
Where? The Vagabond Miami
30 NE 14th St., Miami, FL 33132
Who? Downtown Dukes and Duchesses

3. Our third pick takes place in the brand new loft upstairs at Grand Central called the Garret. This is where the popular Friday party PEACHFUZZ goes down. New Years Eve they are bringing you what should be an intimate night of music with a LIVE performance  by Amtrac and support by Dj’s Derek Walin, Mike Deuce, and Nick Daniels. You can enjoy complimentary cocktails from 9-1 am and Tickets can be found HERE .

What: AN INTIMATE NEW YEARS EVE AT THE GARRET
When? Saturday December 31, 2011
9pm – 5am
Where? Grand Central
697 N. Miami Ave
Who? Loft Loving Ladies and Gents

2.  Are you ready to leave this world behind you? AXWELL is going to get you wet at this years NYE bash at the fountain Bleau pool. This Swedish man of Marvel is going to take you to another planet spinning his famous tracks. You can chill poolside or splish splash in the deep end. Tickets are a bit expensive almost hitting the $400 mark. You can buy them HERE

What: NYE WITH AXWELL POOLSIDE AT THE FOUNTAIN BLEAU 
When? Saturday December 31, 2011
9pm – 5am
Where? The Fountain Bleau Hotel
441 Collins Ave
Who? Dirty Filthy Beats that Make you Wanna Dance Lovers

1.  THIS IS THE BIG ONE! Did you say Smashing & Spanking? Where do I sign up?! This year’s numero uno New Years Eve Fiesta goes to Chalk Miami for the best deal Miami Beach has to offer! This brand new lounge boasts 6 ping pong tables, 7 pool tables, VIP table service, 2 Beautiful Bars, Plasma TVs in all areas so you wont miss the action. Chalk Miami is not dropping the ball on this one!  DJs TOM LA ROC & ANDREW WARD will be spinning the best of the best making you move and shake! Tickets are Available for their VIP cocktail reception with open bar including vodka, wines, beer and craft bears from 9 to 12 am for only $50! You can purchase your VIP tickets HERE The Best Part is if you’re not buying the VIP package ADMISSION IS FREE FOR EVERYONE.  Need I say More?

What: SMASHING AND SPANKING IN 2012
When? Saturday December 31, 2011
9pm – 5am
Where? Chalk Ping Pong and Billiards Lounge
1234 Washington Ave Miami Beach
Who? EVERY ONE!

ON THE LOOK OUT…. Wood Tavern New favorite bar and hang out spot. It’s San Francisco one of your favorite cities in the world? Don’t you love Paris and the small hidden underground bars? What about a NY hang-out place where the lights are dimmed, the music hits the spot and the drinks are cheap? All of the above is possible in one small tavern recently opened on Wynwood.  It’s WOOD TAVERN and if you haven’t been there, NYW might be the place to check out, no cover, delicious drinks, beer bar, good tunes and you!

What: Keeping it real for 2012
When? Saturday December 31, 2011
Doors open 6pm 
Where? WOOD TAVERN
2531 NW2 Ave, Wynwood
Who? You

Bullets and Lace, an avant-garde accessory line, based out of Miami by stylist and designer, Ace Lethal. If we open the door to this collection, a whole Alice in Wonderland world will fall at our feet. However, I would make Alice a li’l bit older, bleach her hair, and borrow all the pink and blush from the 2006 Marie Antoinette movie. And that’s just scratching the surface.

Bullets & Lace offers hand made, one-of-a-kind pieces, ranging from shoulder pads, to hats, brooches, and body chains, all caked in color, and glitter and glam. The designer, Ace Lethal, uses all types of materials giving each piece enough volume, edge and sensuality. Find in this fashion constellation an array of feathers, pearls, chains, trims, studs and fabrics.

B&L accessories has a very 50s feminine retro feel, however, we can throw in a pinch of 80s punk, 90s grunge and a XXIst century girl-power attitude.

The collection can be found only at bulletsandlace.com, where the designer customizes orders according to your fashion sweet tooth.

A delicious, “wow-factor” collection, as the designer likes to call it,  hot and local.

Yummy!

The Closet Boutique

The closet, a girl’s treasure and magical tiny room, where the night awaits by the door, where the feet get raised into 6 inches of golden happiness by mischievous heels. Where the dress decorates the body and protects it just like a super-heroine-armor. The closet, a women’s way of make life, less mundane and more colorful.

The Closet, Loretta Armada Vengoechea’s boutique on Bird Rd and 63rd St, once a tiny little room in her mom’s apartment, now an established business opening the doors to all Miami’s ladies and super heroines.

Keeping it loyal to her own style and intertwined by her living in the New York era while working for Etro, The Closet Boutique is a splash of color and prints. The silhouettes are loose and flowy, the prints are out of a water-color paint brush, undefined and abstract, yet all the collection is pulled down to earth by her staple basics: solid color tanks, shirts and denim –just like your own closet where you can mix and match, go a little bit more casual or eccentric.

For all of those that like shopping at Nordstrom’s, here’s a similar alternative, were the service is more personal, your needs taken care of, and your feet thankfully. To keep up with her ever-evolving collection, check The Closet Boutique’s facebook page where outfit’s pics are uploaded every week after her weekly shipments.

We met with Loretta last week, amongst some holiday shopping (that ended in her store.) While waiting for her to finish with her customers, we noticed her big smile at all times and her ability to serve her customers and their demanding fashion needs. She finds a solution for everything.

Check out a quick Closet Boutique profile:

WFK: Describe your store in three words:
Loretta: Glitzy, boho, affordable.
What’s the best thing of being located at Bird Rd?
There’s a lot of traffic around us, we are in the center of South Miami and Coral Gables, a very central location.
Fav cities in the world?
Paris because it’s just fabulous, and New York because it made me grow up.
Your fashion icon?
Rachel Zoe
The Closet Boutique’s staple items?
Besides the basic tanks, color jeans, color and prints… leopard, I love leopard!
First brands you thought of when opening the store?
Collective Concepts with its silks, prints and loose tops.
Any Local Designers?
Gold Saturn, and Heartbreak, both local T-shirt companies.
Your motto?
I believe in Karma. What comes around goes around. I just believe in being

nice to my customers, feel happy and make them feel happy as well.
Fav store?
Etro, Missoni.
The Closet Boutique’s New Year’s Fashion Breakdown:
Necklace $40
Pink Clutch $37
Bangles $30
Lush’s Black Blazer with opened back $63
Hot and Delicious sequined Jumper $65

WOOD TAVERN: A BAR MADE FOR WYNWOOD, OPENS.

A bar that re-enforces the need for locals to sip, enjoy and mingle without all the pretense.

 Wood Tavern is Wynwood’s newest bar to join the NW 2^nd block with its grand opening scheduled for Wednesday December 21^st with guest DJS “Lolo” of Sweat Records and Ryan Evans.  With the popularity of Basel preview parties and a few friends and family events the last two weeks, Wood Tavern, presented that knocking on wood, is a good thing.

The 1,300 -square-foot space located at 2531 NW 2^nd Ave, in Wynwood, is the brainchild of entrepreneur Cesar Morales, who designed the bar as a place that is reminiscent of a charming and hip spot in New York or San Francisco. The intimate venue will feature a hand-picked menu of craft beers like Cigar City Jai Alai and Holy Mackerel, a mixologist-driven cocktail menu inspired by old fashioned cocktails, 2 LED flat screens broadcasting cult style Americana eye candy and even highly anticipated sporting events.

Musically the bar will have DJs on the weekend and special events or if in the mood for more of a homegrown music selection, the digital jukebox carries thousands of songs and will also have playlists curated by local scenesters and music aficionados.

“I wanted to build a timeless space for people who appreciated the neighborhood, by staying true to the values of a local haunt; Affordable drinks, good customer service and eclectic music from Pulp to Passion Pit” says Morales. 

Situated on the corner of NW 2^nd Street and NW 25^th, in the heart of Wynwood and across from the Wynwood Walls, Wood’s drink prices mimic a small town bar’s menu with cocktails and craft beers starting at only $5.00. The 80-person space also features an outdoor backyard that will be open as a beer and BBQ garden in the near future.

The interior design is “cozy and vintage,” which encompasses a blend of rustic and classic aesthetics with rock n’ roll accents, such as antique liquor labels and concert photos. Wood Tavern possesses a Chicago style brick and reclaimed wood walls, Edison lighting, four lounge areas and a large vintage style bar with ample seating– a feel that immediately transports you to an old bar in the heart of a northeastern city.  But not all, is a reversion to the past: Wood’s cocktail servers use iTouch’s to process orders promptly and customers in need of some “juice” for their iPhones, will now be able to use the charging stations.

About Wood Tavern:
Wood Tavern is a neighborhood bar packaged at 1,300-square-feet of vintage rustic design, located at 2531 NW 2^nd Ave, in Wynwood, Miami. Wood Tavern is open five days a week Wednesday through Friday from 5:00pm until close, Saturday from 6:00 p.m. until close, Sunday from 12:00 to close. For private bookings and advance reservations, call # 305.748.2828 or visit www.woodtavernmiami.com

www.lonomada.com

Like a Hansel and Gretel house, hidden inside a forest’s heart, painted and decorated with candy, LoNomada, located at the 55^th Station, brings the same kind of attraction and curiosity.  This chic boutique is a giant aluminum-covered caramel caravan, a 1979 Airstream to be more exact. Once inside, the satisfaction candy is for the mouth, LoNomada is for the senses, the smell, the sound, and the eye.

The mobile fashion boutique is like an extremity of owner and fashion wizard Valeria Rivera, a nomad that hasn’t stopped evolving in the art and fashion worlds, getting her hands into any creative project she can. With an extensive curriculum filled with positions like art director, hair and make-up artist, and stylist. The result of her LoNomada art center reflects the many shapes and tastes of the owner. Find in this fashion and art, treasure-chest, vintage and new designer clothes, film, photography, artwork and unthinkable found objects.

Lo Nomada
305.484.5399
55th ST. Station
Miami, FL 33137

In this interview, the lead singer and composer of one of the weirdest and most talented groups from the last decade tells WFK how he fell in love with art and the dark side of being a true artist.   

WFK: Everybody knows the story of your musical career after you joined the Elephant Six Collective, but what happened before that? When did you start feeling passionate about music?
I guess when I was about 13 or 14. I started making songs and recording in my bedroom. By then I was inspired by heavy metal music but my inspiration has changed a lot over the years.

What was the primordial musical intention when you created of Montreal, back there in 1996, is it still the same?
Yes, pretty much is a labor of love to me. I made it pretty much by myself and I got inspired by different things; I wanted to made something personal, exceptional and interesting and the essence stayed kind of the same from the beginning.

Both your music and performances are notoriously influenced by other art disciplines such as theater, cinema and literature; you were even involved in the A Pollinaire Rave comedy tour. Is there any other artistic discipline that you would like to explore or combine with your music?
You kind of name most of them, you can definitely try to incorporate different things like gardening or other unconventional ideas. We also have lots of pretty strong visual elements on our live productions over the past four years, as far as projecting images and putting thought into the lightning and the stage. But for this future we are actually spending a lot of attention on the visuals and the projections and trying to create a sort of transportive experience for the audience.

You are an artist that was never afraid of opening up and singing to your deepest feelings, in one of the songs that is going to be included in your upcoming album you even declare: “I spend my waking hours haunting my own life / I made the one I love start crying tonight / And it felt good”.  Did you ever get involved into serious trouble because your conception of art?
Yes, definitely it creates some issues with the people I’m in a relationship with because I incorporate a lot of my personal life into my songwriting and people, understandably feel sort of victimized in a way to see that they are displayed in front of the world like that because especially is only my perception, it’s only from my advantage point which is not a real fair thing to do. I mean is not fair to the other people involved but in the same time I think that art really has to come from a very personal place if not it doesn’t have much value and it feels superficial, in my mind.

I think that you are one of the few artists left who are so true and sincere in your songs, although, as you said before, it can get you in trouble. So, have you ever thought about changing that way of making art?
Well, I have done some roll playing and I have definitely written songs to fantasy, I have created characters and you know in a way that is more a fantasy based line rather than personal. I guess sometimes you got trough phases were nothing really dramatic is going on in your life but you want to keep on writing songs and creating this “personas” allows you to stay productive without a soap opera happening in your life.

Paralytic Stalks –of Montreal’s upcoming album- is probably one of your darkest albums so far; are the Georgie Fruit days gone?
I think that I will keep on playing some of those songs, I don’t think that I need to have a funeral for Georgie Fruit or anything like that but this is just a period of me needing to do something different. I don’t worry that much about the things of the past, I’m just only interested in moving forward and trying to live in the present moment and do whatever feels right in that moment.

In the past, of Montreal released many conceptual albums such as The Gay Parade, The Bedside Drama: A Petite Tragedy and Coquelicot. It’s Paralytic Stalks a conceptual record? If so what is the concept behind it?
I think there are lots of recurrent themes but I don’t know if you can really consider it a conceptual album just because there is not real narrative or a story necessarily, it’s almost like general scenes from a period of my life.

of Montreal is one of the few bands that still support cassette, Paralytic Stalks is going to be release in this format among others, and you even have released your own Cassette Box Set.  What do you find so enchanting about this format?
I think I’m fond of it because it’s something different that it used to be extremely popular and then it completely fell off. Now nobody even considers it as a possibility but they are so cheep to get, you can go to any thrift store and get a cassette for 10 dollars, I mean they are still around but … I think they are kind of cute in a way, this little plastic things.  And also when I first started recording I was recording in a cassette four tracks so all of my early demos were on cassette, so I definitely have a sort of connection with them, pleasant memories about them.

On December 10 you will be performing in Miami with a DJ set. Can you tell us about some of your favorite tunes that you will be playing that night?
I will probably play some Parliament and some Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder and then some more contemporary stuff like Erykah Badu, mostly some kind of funky soulful songs.

 MUTE MIAMI PRESENTS: AU REVOIR SIMONE,The BLOW, DJ KEVIN BARNES (of Montreal)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10
@ GRAND CENTRAL