The Avenue | Music - The Independent Florida Alligator

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Philadelphia classic rock revivalist to spread no-frills rock message in Gainesville

By Benjamin Evans | Feb. 2, 2011

As a rock critic, it can be tough to judge bands that appear on the surface to have transported themselves through time, bands that don't sound too much like one particular group of past musicians but instead have found a way to capture the spirit of a period in America's variegated and effectual music history. Unique from the everyday artist, these bands emanate an attitude and style that hoists listeners to a point in the past they may not know personally, but with the band's help, feel immediately connected to.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Spin away the cash blues

By Benjamin Evans | Jan. 26, 2011

Nielsen SoundScan released a report earlier this month indicating a 14 percent increase in vinyl record sales from 2009 to 2010, with 2.8 million albums sold last year. The Beatles’ “Abbey Road”, Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs” and The Black Keys’ “Brothers” topped the list in sales.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Indie band Hellogoodbye plays in Gainesville

By THOMAS NASSIFF< | Jan. 26, 2011

Just four and a half years ago, Hellogoodbye stood atop the pop music scene. The band's 2006 release, "Zombies! Aliens! Vampires! Dinosaurs!", sold more than half-a-million copies and hit the top spot of the U.S. indie charts - an impressive feat for a first record.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Tune-up could be in store for local radio

By Benjamin Evans | Jan. 19, 2011

President Barack Obama’s signing of the Local Community Radio Act earlier this month gave music fans hope for a future of more diversity on the airwaves. The act allows for the development of hundreds of low-power FM (LPFM) stations across the country — something that has been a long-standing feat for industry workers, as many believe LPFMs cause too much interference with commercial radio stations.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

The Boswellians to record first EP, perform tonight

By Tyler Francischine | Jan. 19, 2011

For Gainesville rock quartet The Boswellians, the show must go on — even when it gets canceled.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Los Angeles duo ready to rock original sunny state

By Benjamin Evans | Jan. 12, 2011

Indie punk duo No Age cultivated their sound at The Smell, a now legendary all-ages venue in downtown Los Angeles. Since its opening in the late ‘90s, The Smell, formerly a Mexican grocery store, has produced some of the most creative, outside-of-the box bands of the last decade, including the highly acclaimed, sometimes bizarre but always entertaining noise rock band Health.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Feeling the jam: Papadosio to spin through Gainesville

By Kat Bein | Nov. 3, 2010

This Friday, Gainesville is getting a dose of one of Asheville, N.C.’s most up-and-coming rock forces, Papadosio, who have dedicated themselves to reinventing the jam band.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Meet the Zombie Beatles: Bands we want to resurrect

By Jessica Poitevien | Oct. 27, 2010

Let's take a trip down music's memory lane, back to a time when there was no such thing as Auto-Tune or "Glee" or Ke$ha. We had our one-hit wonders (anyone heard from Haddaway lately?) and our boy bands that produced a few albums then disappeared (B2K ring a bell?).

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Local bands need love, too, at the Fest

By Kat Bein | Oct. 27, 2010

Come Friday, Gainesville will be flooded with out-of-towners from all over the world who come to take part in the famous Fest. But let us not forget that Gainesville owes its ability to host a huge indie festival due to its own healthy and vibrant local music culture. Ready to go local? Here are three Gainesville-bred acts you can’t miss at the Fest.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Eisley journeys ‘Over the River and Through the Wood' to Gainesville

By Britt Perkins | Oct. 13, 2010

Though known for their sunshiny demeanor and picturesque themes, Eisley's current "Over the River and Through the Wood" tour might as well be named "Over the Heartaches and Through the Divorce." With a label battle to boot.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Play this: Avenue dream set list

By Joey Flechas | Oct. 6, 2010

Any Dylan set list is sure to please and disappoint all over. Do you prefer “Blowin’ in the Wind” or “The Times They Are a-Changin’”? “Like a Rolling Stone” has to be in there, right? And what about some deep cuts, like “If You See Her, Say Hello” or “Isis”? Everyone has their favorites, but here’s our picks for the songs we hope to hear Friday.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Local bands: under the influence

By MELINDA CARSTENSEN | Oct. 6, 2010

Musicians spanning across time — everyone from rockers like the Rolling Stones to more current folk artists like Ray LaMontagne — have cited influences by Bob Dylan. Here, some of Gainesville’s freshest talents sound off about the songwriting giant and his contribution to music.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Bob Dylan to rock O'Connell Center

By Joey Flechas | Oct. 6, 2010

From folk troubadour to electric jester to ever-touring elder statesman of rock ‘n’ roll, Bob Dylan and his storied artistic career have filled books, movies and varying levels of philosophical discussions for years.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Bob Dylan’s words of wisdom

By Joey Flechas | Oct. 6, 2010

So much has been made of Bob Dylan’s songwriting: When he put hand to typewriter (as he liked to often do), his lyrics came out indelible, engrossing and timeless. Here’s the Avenue’s picks for the killer lines that send Dylanologists into convulsions.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Why You Should Go to the Dylan Show

By Webb | Oct. 6, 2010

Let's be honest. We're kind of lame. Our generation thinks that texting American Idol counts as voting, watching music festivals is done on TV and activism means "like-ing" a Facebook page about a cause.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Surfer Blood: Back in Florida

By Britt Perkins | Sep. 18, 2010

You can tell a lot about a band by its MySpace profile. Go to the page for the indie rock band Surfer Blood and you'll only see a white background and the "Sounds Like" section featuring videos like "cat eating sour apple lollypop" and "Cat says NOM NOM NOM while eating sour cream."

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

‘Gleek’ing out with No Southern Accent

By LAUREN GOLD | Sep. 15, 2010

This isn't "Glee's" William McKinley High. There's no Will Schuester. No Rachel Berry (although there's plenty of voices that compare).

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Morningbell: Talent runs in the family

By Joey Flechas | Sep. 1, 2010

It all started on Christmas in 1994 with a pair of guitars, an Aerosmith record and a Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tablature book.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

High-end headphones combine style and technology

By Jon Silman | Aug. 25, 2010

I assumed I would be blown away by the sheer audio awesomeness of the Crossfade LP's when I put them on for the first time. Something surprisingly different happened.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

An abundance of music venues

By Marissa Prieto | Aug. 20, 2010

Gainesville is home to a very diverse group of students, and in that particular spirit it also houses a diverse group of music venues to serve your auditory needs.