The Avenue | Music - The Independent Florida Alligator

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Reggae–metal band The Expendables not so disposable anymore

By HENRY TASKIER | Sep. 24, 2008

In their formative high school years, members of the California reggae-metal band The Expendables claimed they sucked so much as musicians that they labeled themselves "expendable," said Geoff Weers, singer and guitarist for the band. A few years and four albums later on the band's national tour, the name stuck.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Band mixes moods and grooves for eclectic sound

By ZACH SEYMOUR | Sep. 24, 2008

Members of Gainesville band Moodhosa said their sound is hard to explain - even for them. There's a backdrop of gutty, gritty Delta blues, hints of funk, undercurrents of reggae and a smattering of good, old-fashioned rock 'n' roll. What shapes Moodhosa's groove is exactly what makes rock music great: a respect for the classics, an acknowledgment of contemporaries and a personal touch.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Band’s album more catchy than kitschy

By ROBERT HILSON | Sep. 24, 2008

As the classic saying goes, incinerate your ride once, shame on the lighter. Incinerate your ride twice, shame on The Pink Spiders. The Nashville power-poppers have a way with flames, but such is the combustible nature of a touring band on the brink. After accidentally torching an equipment trailer between gigs a few years back, they decided to one-up themselves by setting ablaze an entire school bus. The Spiders traveled Partridge Family-style, at least until the tires melted. It does make a great story, so score it a Pyrrhic victory on the road to the top.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Up–and–coming band doesn't sweat small stuff with 'Sweat It Out'

By MEGAN HERON | Sep. 17, 2008

Their tour bus caught on fire, they were dropped from a record deal, and two of the three original members of the band are out. While this might have spelled the end for many bands, The Pink Spiders pushed on. With their latest album, "Sweat It Out," hitting stores Sept. 23, The Pink Spiders will continue to roll with the punches.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Ninja Gun takes aim at The Atlantic

By HENRY TAKSIER | Sep. 17, 2008

"Our name is really just a bad inside joke," said Johnathan Coody, vocalist, guitarist and songwriter for the Georgia punk-rock band Ninja Gun, which will perform Saturday at The Atlantic, located at 15 N. Main St.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Band led by 12–year–old guitarist

By LAURA NOVETZKE | Sep. 17, 2008

When he's not going to school, Anthony Kavouklis plays late night gigs, poses for CD photo shoots and rubs elbows with blues legends like Buddy Guy. This creates a balancing act for any adult, but Anthony is 12 years old.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Metallica rises from grave state with "Death Magnetic"

By ROBERT HILSON | Sep. 17, 2008

Men grow old. Legends live forever. That's a problem for Metallica. Burdened by paradox, the group's mere relevance in 2008 is a testament not to the graying, leather-clad rockers, but to the near-mythic quality of an era gone by. What's now more brand than band was once a pack of pimply twenty-somethings blessed with a terrifically violent combination of speed, volume and, above all, ability. But passing time, foolish decisions and producer Bob Rock, the grim reaper of thrash, all rendered our heroes disposable. Metal doesn't wear well with age. Even "the quartet of deliverance" gets only so many chances to get back on the horse.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

MAE Q&A

By CAITLIN HEAD Avenue Writer | Sep. 10, 2008

After the merger of their record company Capitol Records and the subsequent release of their new album "Singularity," the members of modern rock group Mae realized something: This isn't working. Despite experiencing severe debt, lack of management and a minor existential crisis, the band set out to find out a new way that did work. Drummer Jacob Marshall talked about the group's upcoming show in Gainesville, its trials with finding management and where it wants to go from here.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Crocs next step with campus tour

By CARLY FAIN | Sep. 10, 2008

Crocs, Inc. and 360 Productions are collaborating for the Crocs Next Step Campus Tour, which will be rolling into Gainesville on Sept. 14.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

New Kids stray too far from The Block in new album

By ROBERT HILSON | Sep. 10, 2008

Caution: Objects in your rearview mirror are older than they appear.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Band questions love and death on new album

By JORDANA FYNE Avenue Writer | Sep. 10, 2008

Why? is all about asking questions. Ask front man Yoni Wolf why call a band Why? and he'll shoot back, "Why not?"

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Mates of State Q&A

By JORDANA FYNE Avenue Writer | Sep. 10, 2008

Minus one organ and plus one new baby, the husband-and-wife musical team Mates of State return to Gainesville for the first time since March 2006. Known for their organ and drum arrangement and catchy, complex pop harmonies, the indie-rock duo shed their signature organ sound on the new album, "Re-Arrange Us." Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel will be toting the new keyboards and their daughters, Magnolia and new addition June, on the road with them Sept. 13 and 14 to the Real Big Deal Festival at the Alachua County Fairgrounds. Calling from a houseboat in the middle of a lake, Hammel discusses the band's rearrangements, what it's like touring with two young daughters and why America is ready for change.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Drive By Truckers Q&A

By KRISTIN BJORNSEN Avenue Writer | Sep. 10, 2008

AVE: So, what are you doing right now?

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Motion City Soundtrack Q&A

By STEPHANIE ROSENBERG Avenue Editor | Sep. 10, 2008

Pop-punk band Motion City Soundtrack has been funkifying festival scenes since its formation in 1997 and rocking around the world with the likes of Blink 182, Fall Out Boy and Incubus. The band, which is now working on its fourth album following the success of "Commit This to Memory," will perform in Gainesville at the Real Big Deal Festival on Sept. 13. Bassist and back-up vocalist Matthew Taylor talks with the Alligator about the band's future, travel habits and what they love about the festival scene.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Honky–tonk Dawg on "Malt Lick'er"

By HENRY TASKIER | Sep. 3, 2008

It was an ordinary day when Three Legged Dawg band member Billy Ray took a walk in his yard. His dog had taken a dump in the grass. To his amazement, a butterfly was perched on the excrement as if to symbolize the triumph of freedom and beauty over ¾ well, crap.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Dandy Warhols’ new album under new label not so dandy

By ROBERT HILSON | Aug. 27, 2008

In terms of sheer size, the only thing larger than "…Earth to the Dandy Warhols…" is Courtney Taylor-Taylor's massive ego. It would be irresponsible to credit the growth of said persona to past experience this kind of megalomania you're born with but those once-coveted Seth Cohen playlist adds and the exposure in 1960s revivalist doc Dig! couldn't have helped matters. Having since mistaken Sundance for the Academy and obscurity for fame, Taylor and his Dandy band shed the limitations of their modest guitar rock orientation, and with this latest paralysis-inducing, hour-plus space jam, permanently shoot to hell any lingering pop flirtations in favor of misfired trance drones, none of which will be featured in a K-Swiss commercial. "Earth" is the kind of brazen kiss off you'd expect from a man with two last names.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Guitar heroes: Save Tuesday nights for 1982’s game night

By MEGAN HERON | Aug. 27, 2008

For those strolling past the dimly lit bar windows of 1982 on a Monday night, be prepared to witness something other than locals watering down their worries. Instead, bystanders might find Gainesville's rock star wannabes imitating the greats on popular music video games such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Orchestra regroups after summer tour

Aug. 27, 2008

Their venue burned down in Boone, N.C., They played to a crowd of more than 100. They played to a crowd of less than 10. They were greeted by a shotgun-wielding man in the mountains while attempting to find another venue, a house party thrown by people on house arrest.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Local music scene provides excuse to get out of the dorm

By ROBERT HILSON | Aug. 17, 2008

A blustery force of innate headwinds faces every incoming freshman at UF, and that's before you count the crappy weather. For starters, there's the budget deficit strangling the liberal arts program (hope you're good at engineering!) and, for those who get hosed by the lottery system, the impossibility of scoring football tickets without selling a kidney. These challenges may seem daunting but manageable with determination and a spare organ.

THE AVENUE | MUSIC

Reznor extends hand that feeds with new album release

By ROBERT HILSON | Aug. 6, 2008

Feeling the pinch yet? Getting squeezed at the pump? Gouged at the grocery store? Not to worry. While Congress waffles over another round of stimulus checks and Sen. John McCain whets the collective petroleum appetite by dangling a gas tax holiday just out of reach of this nation's penny-pinching fingertips, Nine Inch Nails is actually offering a whiff of wallet-sparing practicality.