Named for original Allman Brothers Band guitarists Duane Allman (1946-1971) and his own father, Forrest Richard “Dickey” Betts (1943-2024), 47-year-old singer, guitarist and songwriter Duane Betts (www.duanebetts.com) has practically had expectations to live up to since his birth. That event occured in Sarasota in 1978, at a time when the ABB was one of the top touring … [Read more...]
SunFest won’t be back on lakefront, but alternative festival will
A funny thing happened on the way to SunFest 2025, and by now, practically everyone knows what it is. After years of not turning a profit, and on the heels of its 40th anniversary in 2024, the festival announced last November that fans should expect a “significant shift” in dates and location and that the event “will no longer take place on the traditional first weekend of … [Read more...]
Drummer’s gift will help vistiting bands at LWB’s Rudy’s at Bamboo
One of the many famed phrases used by vocalist James Brown (1933-2006), the “Godfather of Soul,” was “give the drummer some.” It served as an instruction to the remainder of his ensemble to lay back and allow one of his great drummers, notably Clyde Stubblefield or John “Jabo” Starks, to solo unaccompanied or over a band vamp. Chris Peet, of the gifted area blues … [Read more...]
Stuart’s Called brings Christian message to power pop
“Christian rock” is a relatively vague 20th-century description that crept into music ranging from pop stars (Irish group U2) to hard rockers (Missouri-launched trio King’s X) to metallic acts (California band Stryper), all of which rose to prominence between the late 1970s and early 1980s. Times have clearly changed. The current, rechristened Contemporary Christian … [Read more...]
Capacity audience on hand for throwback show from ‘Mr. Swindle’s Peculiarium’
JUPITER — Gimmickry has always been a draw in live entertainment, and never more so than since the COVID-19 pandemic. People now seem more drawn to things they’ve never seen in person, perhaps to counter the effects of the likes of a virus they’d never experienced (as opposed to the latest music gimmick, tribute act bookings from local to Daryl Hall’s Live From Daryl’s … [Read more...]
Master of the vibraphone steeped in instrument’s history
Vibraphone. The mention of the instrument conjures up historic jazz figures from Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson and Terry Gibbs to Cal Tjader, Bobby Hutcherson and Gary Burton. And as the latest recording by Baltimore native Warren Wolf (www.warrenwolf.com) proves, this younger vibraphonist is as steeped in the instrument’s history and tradition as he is in its technique and … [Read more...]
Legendary drummer Appice, now of LWB, to play two Vanilla Fudge shows in Boca
Before he became a western Lake Worth Beach resident, drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice (www.carmineappice.net) was part of one of the all-time great live shows in South Florida. At the venue formerly known as the Hollywood Sportatorium in 1977, the New York City native played an out-of-control concert with Rod Stewart while touring in support of the vocalist’s rocking, Tom … [Read more...]
Beast Mode Trio does South Florida proud with powerful rock-jazz fusion
Power trio. It’s a tag generally applied to rock acts like the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Cream, or Rush. Piano trio. It’s a tag generally applied to jazz acts led by the likes of Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, or Chick Corea. Beast Mode Trio (beastmodetrio.com) is a South Florida collective that split the differences during its 70-minute show for a three-quarter capacity … [Read more...]
Florida drummer’s new fusion trio comes to Boca club
Mamas, don’t let your babies grow up to be drummers in South Florida. Miami-born Jonathan Joseph has toured and recorded with vocalists Ricky Martin and Joss Stone — two pop artists with oversized name recognition — but even that hasn’t made him a comparable star despite his own oversized technique, taste, and speed around the drum kit. The 58-year-old Port St. … [Read more...]
South Florida jazz duo has been ‘running toward the art’ for 30 years
Perhaps the preeminent jazz duo of all time, and definitely the top historic vocal-and-guitar jazz duo, was the pairing of singer Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) and guitarist Joe Pass (1929-1994). The two larger-than-life artists primarily led successful separate careers, other than occasional live performances together, releasing only four duo albums between 1973 and 1986 … [Read more...]