Fallen From the Sky -- The Voting Continues

A month ago, I posted a blog about Boca Raton’s Fallen From the Sky, who were in the semifinals for MTV2’s/Mountain Dew’s Dew Circuit Breakout. Well, it turns out our boys won (having beaten I Am the Avalanche), and now they’re in the finals, where they’re up against California’s Halifax and Pennsylvania’s Zolof the Rock & Roll Destroyer. The voting’s already underway and will end at 6 p.m. this Saturday. The winner will be announced at 6:30. So get to it – you don’t even need to register.

The Buzz Bakes Again

The Buzz Bake Sale has always been a hit or miss affair. Just take a look at the difference in headlining acts from year to year: 1997 featured Green Day; in 1998, it was the Goo Goo Dolls; and the next year, the trailer cowboy himself, Kid Rock. More recently, it’s been more consistent: 2004 was helmed by New Found Glory, while 2005 and 2006 went to the current kings of the hill, My Chemical Romance. In fact, there’s very little nu-metal anymore. The Bake Sale’s usually a good indicator of what the alt kids are listening to – and this year, it’s not Staind.

It would be easy to say the Bake Sale “turned emo.” But it’d also be wrong, for the most part. While there’s no doubt the images I’ve included here represent many of today’s Buzzheads, bands like MCR just don’t fit the bill anymore. When they first came around, I’ll admit to blowing ‘em off as whiny, wimpy wannabes. I resent any band that’s even peripherally involved with bastardizing pop-punk, a genre I used to dig (during the Queers/Screeching Weasel/Lookout! Records heyday). Now, MCR’s sound is more solid. It rocks, in a pre-‘90s sorta way – and it doesn’t sound like New Order (the common path for repenting emo kids). It’s clear that MCR’s been doing its rock history homework. So please, if you're gonna pick on this band, use the right terminology. Or, at least, be a little creative with it, like the Daily Funk:

GWAR, the Aftermath

Even if I brought a camera to last night's GWAR show at the Culture Room, I wouldn't have had the elbow room to be able to use it. It was the most packed I've seen that place in years. And lo, it was a dudefest. I'd say 98 percent of the crowd was of the male persuasion. And of that 98 percent, most were teeming with an overabundance of testosterone and liquor; a couple of near-violent incidents kept popping up around me, even outside the club. But that shit happens anywhere. The faux violence of the onstage show, not so much. It isn't every day you see a guy dressed as a Jesus/Hitler hybrid jerking off a giant phallus onto a crowd of people -- those people being the same macho guys who'd be afraid to slam-dance if there was a gay dude in the pit. And when Oderus Urungus sodomized the pig-faced policeman two songs later, the audience went even more apeshit.

For someone who values stage performance above all else -- that's what we're there to see, right? -- I was happy that GWAR managed to draw such a huge crowd. This despite the fact that they've already been here a billion times. Now if someone had clued me into this earlier, I could have shown up in time to find a parking spot you don't need a shuttle bus to get to.

GWAR -- What it's Good for

Years ago, I'm thinkin' '96 or '97 -- I'm going on memory here -- I accidentally tuned in to The Jerry Springer Show. Yes, accidentally. Anyway, as soon as I caught a glimpse of the guests -- GWAR, the Mentors' El Duce, and a few whiners who thought they were vulgar -- I hit the record button on my VCR. Classic stuff here. I'm talking quote city, though it's mostly from El Duce, who was there to defend his tongue-through-cheek songs about rape and sodomy. Thing is, he didn't defend himself, he only offended Jerry and the other guests. GWAR, on the other hand, gave one of the most articulate defenses of "offensive" rock since Dee Snyder took on the PMRC. Of course, I still like the El Duce part where he taunts a rape victim, telling her she "looks familiar." But that's just me. So where are they now? Well, Duce's dead and GWAR's still struggling for that elusive world domination. Their quest takes them by the Culture Room tonight.

Also, because it’s the last Wednesday of the month, the Art of Moving Butts is right on cue with another night of hip-hop Himmarshee. But the party’s no longer at the Poor House but next door at Revolution, where the Beatnuts, Diamond D, and Large Professor headline as part of the Down By Law Tour. The usual crew of locals is also on hand -- K-N-S, Doc Sus, UTI, Garcia, Mayday!, Jabrjaw, Dee Dubbs, Namebrand, and host Butta Verses.

Langerado: The Show That Keeps On Growing

Three weeks ago, when I interviewed Ethan Schwartz and Mark Brown -- the brains behind Langerado Music Festival -- they said they were hoping (but not hopeful) that My Morning Jacket would be one of the headliners. But when the final lineup was sent to me a few days later, MMJ wasn't on it. But oh how a few weeks can make a difference. This morning, I just received word that MMJ was added to the bill, along with the New Pornographers and Cat Power. This could be the festival to beat in '07. But it's definitely the festival to be at.

From San Francisco With Love (and Booze)

Over the weekend, I caught up with my former colleague and predecessor, Jonathan Zwickel, who moved out to San Fran in May. We spent Saturday night at Dada, bullshitting about life, love, and music (OK, maybe just music) while local indie faves Humbert rocked the floor-stage. Sure, JZ had downed a few before he said, but I’m gonna hold him to his words:

“Dude, Humbert is the best local band in America… and you can quote me on that.”

So there you have it. While I don’t agree with dubbing anyone best local band in America (without a little subcategorizing, at least), Zwickel’s sentiments prove that South Florida, though lacking in cultural quality, isn’t lacking in musical quality. It takes a lot for a hardcore music guy like Zwickel to get teary-eyed at the thought of going back to San Fran (though, I think it was more of an alcohol-induced glass-eyed effect than actual tears). But I guarantee he feels the same way sober.

[Humbert photo by Karen Keesler]

Lots of Stuff I Won't Be Around to Check Out

The Bang Music Festival. The Palm Beach Music Festival. Marky Ramone. The Gym Class Heroes. Hellogoodbye. Dashboard Confessional. All this stuff was mentioned in this week's New Times, so I won't be redundant (from this point on, at least). Here're some other shows you may not have heard about:

- The Mad Caddies/Love Equals Death show at Maguire's, Friday, November 10.

- The Hard Richards at Backbone Music, Saturday, November 11.

- The Ridicules and the Sleeparounds at South Shores Tavern, Saturday, November 11.

- A fundraiser party for Frank Loughrey, Jr., who's recently undergone treatment for liver cancer, 4 p.m. Saturday, November 18, at 4773 NW 58 Ter., Coral Springs (call 954-650-0712, 954-341-0543, or e-mail cpclucy@aol.com).

Though, none of this matters to me 'cause I'm outta here for the week. See you when I get back. Don't drink and drive or do other bad stuff while I'm gone.