Tag Archive for Florida

If you’re looking for some solid indie-rock then you have come to the right place. The Gallery successfully captures that indie sound while giving it their own unique spin. Bordering on a folk-rock-esque style these guys bring a new light to the rock game. While perusing the various Rock Channels one night, the track “Life Is Strange” caught my ear, and I knew right off the bat ,when my foot began tapping uncontrollably, this would be the next iRock artist. As their biography states, they write “catchy melodies that will [be stuck] in your head and have you singing along.” This is, in fact, right on the money. I was able to catch up with Dave and ask him some questions about The Gallery and their musical love affair with professional surfer Erica Hosseini … just kidding … or am I? You heard it first right here on this week’s “iRock!”

Continue reading ‘iRock: The Gallery’

Florida's Finest: Boxer and Clover

Plenty of successful pop-punk bands call Florida home—Dashboard Confessional, Further Seems Forever, New Found Glory, Yellowcard. Maybe it’s teenage rebellion against the state’s bountiful sunshine and retirees that produces so many pale, restless rockers. Whatever the case may be, here’s another entry to add to Florida’s pop-punk wiki: Orlando’s Boxer and Clover. Listen to “Adding to 100 Years of Silence” and you’ll hear all the touchstones— fuzzed-out, chugging guitars, methodical drum-pummeling, call-and-response chants and heart-on-tattoo-sleeve lyricism (see chorus: We all dance and let our hearts collide / Bring it back to a better time/ When the world was young and we all felt so alive). Boxer and Clover keeps it tight and interesting, with polyrhythmic arrangements and catchy, sing-a-long melodies. One detail that may separate the band from the pack is their cover of Alicia Key’s “No One.” Even if the execution is a little shaky, it’s still pretty courageous.

Home of: The Backstreet Boys, The Allman Brothers, Matchbox 20, Jimmy Buffet, Bo Diddley, Tom Petty, Elvis Presley, Gram Parsons

Fun Facts: State Flower: Orange Blossom, State Bird: MockingBird,  State Song: “Suwannee River”

The Venues:

Florida has given birth to many a jam band over the years, hence the reason why so many Jam Band-based festivals have flourished. The most pure of these events is the Wanee Music Festival in Live Oak, FL. Planted on the banks of the Suwannee River halfway between the Eastern coast city of Jacksonville and Western coast city of Tallahassee, this festival allows customers to take full advantage of the natural Floridian paradise, and even instills secret midnight jam sessions to enhance the weekend’s spontaneity. Did I mention that the festival has been hosted and headlined by local treasure The Allman Brothers since 2005?

The St. Petersburg / Tampa region of the state is one of the few cultural hot spots falling between southern Miami and northern Jacksonville, and is thus loaded with venues. The Crowbar is decked out with a state of the art sound system, and stunning interior design. Best of all, it’s Chameleon-esque, hosting bands from famous ska act Big D and the Kids Table to up-and-coming DJ Pretty Lights. The interior atmosphere and staff seems capable of catering to all genres, from garage rock to rave, in turn creating a happy musical environment hybrid of sorts.

The Music:

Florida is the Southern most state in the contiguous USA. That being said, it should be expected to host some pretty legitimate dirty southern blues rock. Quartet John Q. combines nasty slide guitar riffs and effected solos with first hand lyrics everyone can relate to. Check out their bluesy tale of a vengeful backwoods arsonist, “BrushFire.”

Placing in the top of her class, speaking three languages fluently, and holding a masters degree in architecture are a few reasons why Maja Sar is a real life Wonder Woman. Her angelic voice is just icing on the cake. Equipped with a background in Opera, Bosnia-born Maja translated her talents into the Pop/ R&B realm ( it won’t be long before you hear her on the radio). Take a listen to the beautifully minimal “A Cappella” and you’ll understand what I mean.

As a southern paradise, Florida is swamped with tropical influences. Safe to say, Latin mega-star Leon Cheva is adequately representing a multitude of those influences. Originally from Puerto Rico, Leon and his band Anonimo Music Group play every Latin style under the sun including, but not limited to, salsa, rhumba and tropical. Having won the Latin Channel 4 times, Cheva’s smooth grooves will have your hips swinging within minutes. Check out their rich, big band effort “Un Nuevo Comienzo.”

Check out these acts and other great Floridian artists in the playlist below! Who are your favorite OurStage Floridians? Where do you like to see live music in Florida? Let us know in the comments!

Hailing from the sunshine state, Ghost of Gloria is a band heading straight to your radio!  A recent finalist in Hard Rock Cafe’s Amassadors of Rock contest, Ghosts of Gloria also won the acclaimed Pick the Band contest which provided them the opportunity to produce a track with Don Gilmore (Linkin Park, Avril Lavigne, Lit, Good Charlotte). Needless to say, the band is keeping busy as they prepare for the onslaught of popularity coming their way.  

“We make music that means something to each of us. . .and I think you can hear that in our songs,” says lead vocalist and guitarist John D’Angelo.

Here on OurStage, Ghost of Gloria has received six Top 10 awards over the past year.  Look for their new EP produced by Matt LaPlant of Bieler Bros. Records on iTunes and CDBaby now!