Band members Corey, Vitek, and Derek are no strangers to the FTLC. We included the band in one of our Local Music Roundups and they performed at both our launch and anniversary party (man, that was a good music lineup)– proof that we dig the band’s sound. These latest tracks, Radio, Signals, and the slowed-down North don’t deviate much from their signature retro sound. Frankly, that’s cool with us (see The Strokes for a band that deviated too much… One Way Trigger, sigh).

Stream the tracks below, and see what I mean. Then, scroll a bit further down as the band answered some of our questions.

BONUS TRACK, they don’t even know I’m posting it. Hope it’s cool

The band was kind enough to answer my

What’s the band been up to?

We’ve been laying low as usual. We are finally releasing recordings that were lying around at least a year or more that recently got mixed and mastered. We consider these songs our first real upcoming EP prior to the last EP which was 5 songs recorded live in 2 days and was released just to give someone an idea of us before they took time to even consider going out to one of our shows. And since we’ve been around since late 2008 and are finally letting real songs out this is a big jump for us.The past 5 years we played 1 show to maybe 2 shows a month with no real recordings to go from and basically said to people “just come out and watch” Not saying these songs we’ve recently released are making us popular but they’ve definitely gave us a little nudge toward getting out there with everyone. We just like keeping it simple, and thats how its always been. We like to keep things fresh and not wear things out. The last month we’ve got the most attention we’ve had in years. It feels weird cause we are not used to feedback, reviews, or a lot of fans. So this could be a rise for us or just another fall for us. Either way we are gonna continue to do what we do no matter what. We like doing this.

Top 5 bands the band listens to (not including Joy Division).

The top 5 bands we listen to vary so much from week to week. Like one week it could be Blur, then the next week Tears for Fears, then the next week the Go-Go’s. So we can’t really sum it up to just 5 cause that would just change again next week.

Any upcoming shows in the area?

We have no upcoming shows in the area. It seems quite hard to get a local show these days. We always seem to be getting the shows in the Palm beach and Miami area. Which isn’t a bad thing. But sometimes its just nice to play somewhere close where you know most of your friends can make it out.

Broward music venue owners, book these guys….contact retrocities@yahoo.com

The reason we are pumped about Tuesday Indie is that not only is it a chance to hear danceable indie rock/remixes in the middle of the week, but the party’s resident DJ (and FTLC friend, full disclosure) Andie Sweetswirl has handpicked a couple of intriguing Miami bands to perform for the first 2 nights: REBEL and Jean Jacket, respectively. Although we don’t have the official list of guest DJs yet, expect an array of Broward’s indie spinners to lend indie rock/ new wave/ dance/ disco/ 80s tracks to the mix. Again with the disclosure, your faithful blogger (Mig) is DJing next Tuesday, May 14 with Sweetswirl and Jean Jacket. As usual, I don’t have a defined setlist and will be taking requests ahead of time via Twitter: @migftl or @ftlcollective

REBEL w/ DJ Andie Sweetswirl – Tonight, May 7th

We’ve talked about REBEL many times in the past, and it’s no secret that we’re fans of the band’s sound. In fact, we’ve used their song Stampede for the intro of our strange YouTube video for the How to Make An FTL Mule (mixing myself one right now in fact) and they were one of the bands to play our first event for the debut of the blog. The band performs on the inaugural Tuesday night.

To describe their sound, we’re stealing this directly from our streaming of REBEL track Time on our Block X Blog Band Breakdown Part 2….For fans of: Kasabian, (old) Muse, White Lies, and bands that equally straddle Miami and Broward

Jean Jacket w/ DJ Andie Sweetswirl & FTLC’s DJ Mig (me) – Tuesday, May 14th

Miami synth duo Jean Jacket is a newcomer to South Florida. It’s comprised of Steph Taylor (of The State Of) and Harlowe Gee. Our friends at Salty Eggs did a thorough post on Jean Jacket’s debut album k cpu back in February– Arielle Castillo was pretty spot-on with her use of “Kavinsky-esque”. I’ll also throw in another Drive soundtrack band, College “A Real Hero”, to give you an idea of the band’s sound. In general, think slowed down, relaxed 80s synth.

Stream/download the band’s tracks on their Bandcamp page

Ladies Indie Night is every Tuesday starting tonight (May 7), ladies drink free from 10-12, $3 PBRs all night, $5 Jack or Jameson all night, indie music all night, Dubliner Fort Lauderdale, 210 SW 2nd St, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33301, no cover

It’s been too long since the FTL Collective caught up with Miami retro act Astari Nite– May 2011 in fact, when FTLC co-founder Strawberry Jam previewed Astari Nite’s outstanding self titled EP release. The lull in coverage though was mainly due to us being (lamely) inactive, definitely not to the new wave foursome laying low. Since we last caught up with the band (think The Cure, Peter Murphy, New Order, etc), they’ve recorded a bunch of new material with Grammy-winning producer Steve Thompson, gone on multiple tours,  headlined premiere counterculture parties in the area, and apparently re-vamped their sound.

This latest track Pyramids is a strong move towards bringing Astari Nite’s music to the dance floor, without sacrificing their signature 80′s throwback feel. I’ve been a fan of the band since the first time I saw them perform at now defunct Fort Lauderdale indie speakeasy 1921 back in 2011, and this new DJ-friendly single (full disclosure, I’m a temporarily retired indie DJ) could be my favorite release by them. Black Friday and Fetish Factory DJs take heed, this track is a worthy inclusion in your set lists.

I was fortunate enough to sneak in a few questions with frontman Mychael Ghost about the new single and upcoming LP…

Pyramids has a very dance-driven sound, much more than past material. What’s triggered the slight change in sound?

Our Producer Steve Thompson is to blame. His vision and sense of direction has guided us to our new found sound. I believe his years of experience in this industry had a slight bit to do with it as well. Needless to say, adding Adam Batley on keyboards set the night on fire.

Can we expect more songs like this on the new album?

Absolutely, our intent was to re-vamp our sound which is what you will hear on this record.

I can imagine this song being played by some of our local alternative DJs, especially on industrial and new wave nights. How do you react when you hear your song being played in a club? Do you dance or is it kind of like a band wearing their own t-shirt on stage?

I think being observant comes to mind. For any DJ to play “Pyramids” or any other future track of Astari Nite is a true blessing and we appreciate it so very much. We have gotten airplay in several other states already, and the response was warm. Then you have local favorites like yourself, DJ Essential6, Ray Milian, and Dan Povtin (Danxiey) whom have taken a liking to it. Perhaps we are doing something right.

You have any Broward shows coming up where we can hear this song live?

Respectable Street on May 18th will be our closest show to that zip code, This event will be in support of our single “Pyramids” which of course will performed that evening.

Download the track (ahem, local DJs) on Astari Nite’s Bandcamp and share with your friends. 

It was a beautiful spring evening as the game kicked off under a setting Sun.

Cody Laurendi started in the net for the Strikers over Matt Glaeser who (if memory serves) has started every home game, and possibly every game in general, during the three years of the current incarnation of the Strikers. The move was a bid by coach Darryl Shore to shake up the lineup after the disappointing slow start to the season. Laurendi did not last long unfortunately, as he suffered what appeared to be a serious rib and/or spleen injury in a collision with a Tampa Bay forward midway through the first half. We all hope for a speedy recovery for Cody Laurendi.

Glaeser returned to the cheers of fans but let up a goal late in the first half as talented English midfielder Luke Mulholland put one in off the left goalpost.

At halftime, there were Flamenco dancers of course.

The Flamenco dancers were on hand for the announcement of a June friendly match to be played at Lockhart between the Strikers and the Brazilian club Cruziero. According to Wikipedia, Cruziero has won two Libertadores which is apparently the South American version of Europe’s Champions League, and they once featured a young Ronaldo. We look forward to the match and the Strikers should have their work cut out for them.

The Strikers substituted the great Walter Restrepo into the game during the second half. Restrepo must still be getting his endurance back after last year’s ACL injury so did not start the match, or at least I hope that’s the reason he did not start because when Restrepo is in the game he’s the best player on the pitch for either side. He may be the best player in the NASL (I write that having only seen two other teams in this young season, but nobody I have seen compares). Restrepo changes the game when he’s on the field, as he totally dominated the right side of the field in the second half.

Restrepo scored the Strikers’ lone goal late in the game as he beat the Rowdies’ goalie to a loose ball, knocked it around him, then chipped into the goal from a tough angle on the right as the Tampa Bay defense could only watch helplessly as the ball bounced into the net.

After the goal one of the organizers of the Strikers supporters groups was ejected from the game by the FLPD for setting off yellow smoke bombs.

Perhaps in today’s climate we should change the term for those small devices from ”smoke bombs” to something less threatening: maybe “haze enhancers.” The crowd loudly communicated its displeasure with Fort Lauderdale’s finest as the young made was led away to fates uncertain.

Five minutes later, to the cheers of a conquering hero, the Striker Liker was led back to his seat by a Strikers employee. Apparently he had special dispensation from the front office to set off the haze enhancers after Strikers goals and that had been communicated to the police detail working the game, but the message got lost somewhere after that. Anyway, we were happy to see that he was back (and not arrested) and he instantly became a bit of a Strikers fan celebrity. Even popular Strikers fan Cool Dad wanted to hear his story.

Restrepo’s goal set up a furious final ten minutes and the Strikers had several more good chances, but one ended up in the outside net on the left side of the goal and a couple more were gobbled up by the Rowdies’ goalie (in the picture below I was trying to get a shot of the back of some guy’s head and caught some action by mistake).

As the final whistle sounded and there was nothing left that Restrepo could do, he walked forlornly down the field.

Here’s hoping Restrepo can play at full strength soon. After an 0-3-1 start, Strikers fans increasingly repeat the old refrain “Help us Walter Restrepo, you’re our only hope.”

Friday

STS9 at Revolution - I can’t speak from experience or fandom, but I’ve heard these guys put on a great live show.

Fort Lauderdale Critial Mass – the growing bike scene down here is impressive. It’s more and more evident every last Friday of the month when I get stuck at a traffic light for 5 minutes waiting for Critical Mass bikers to pass. I think the goal is to not be stuck in traffic, and to join this group bike ride tonight.

Saturday

In our opinion, this is the day where the action really starts this weekend.

Fort Lauderdale Strikers vs Tampa Bay Rowdies – we love the Strikers, and we want you to also; however, if you can only make one game this year, this rivalry game is the one. Intensity is at an all-time high, and insults at rival fans and players is at an entertaining level. Throwing your (fairly priced) beers at Tampa players is more acceptable this game, than any other (throw at your own risk though, and only throw after the bad guys score).

Fort Lauderdale Art Walk – this Art Walk has a lot of mini events this time, and we feel the need to segment them (see below). As usual, it runs from 7-11pm, every last Saturday.

Electric Canvas Art Jam at Rolling Stock Gallery – part of this month’s Art Walk. Tons of live artists: Gina Bentivegna (the host), Jonathan Vinnazza, Hilda Vazquez, Jon Doe, Christopher Ian MacFarlane, JaFleu, Sonja Siete Santiago, Steven Marino, Quintinna Hill, Vivian Orozco, Kristin Bat, Ian Santos, Liz Melo Hutchinson, Jah Linx, Renata Cuellar, Luz Pla Angel, & Joshua Oliveira. Live music by a cello player (oooh, classy).

Dialect at C&I – Always a good party with excellent DJs. The roving Dialect has never been at C&I, but we’re big fans of the space and the people that run the space, so it’s sure to be a fun event. DJs include Twilight Note’s Adam Foster, Mikey Ramirez, Kent Lawlor (South Florida Soul Club), and Esoteric (member of JAMS)

The Bubble 4 Year Anniversary Party – It’s no secret our allegiance to The Bubble. We hosted our 1 year anniversary party there back in the day, and it was a blast. This time around, The Bubble is celebrating their 4th birthday, and they’re bringing along a ton of bands: Rob Elba (of Holy Terrors), POSTFACE, DOOMSdePOP, Whiskey River Baptism, North Atlantic Space Company, the Goddamn’ Hustle, Boise Bob and his Backyard Bandm, the Shakers, Amore Delirium , The Till of the Sweep, Travis Newbill, Haochi Waves , Mr. Entertainment, Shaved Hamsters , The Atlas Complex , Montage, and The Old Fashioned. Artists include: Priya (of Kreamy Lectric’ Santa), Kelcie Mcquaid (whose also debuting a new mural), Todd Nolan, Ruben Ubiera, Heather Pioro, Brinson Renda, W. Kelley Lucas, Sean Murdock, RadBarn (Brandon Webb), Hilda Vazquez, Jen Locane, Rachel DeJohn, Marc Bigbeard Cheever, Mike Turner, Wendy Wenderfull, May Flower, Gregory Dirr (Thought Coalition), Susan Buzzi, Melanie Garbo (Vintage Diversity), Vena Paylo, Vionette Torres, Tiffany Turner, Monky, Kara Accettola, Kelly Herndon, and Devon Saccomanno. As typical at The Bubble, it’s $10 all you can drink.

Sunday

Hopefully you saved up enough energy for cultural activity on Sunday. We have 2 events that are must-support status.

“Grow Downtown” at Flagler Garden – It’s the first event at the new community garden in Flagler Village. Although it’ll be a “blank canvas” on Sunday, the plans look amazing. A lot of people have worked their asses off to raise money to put this together for the neighborhood. Whole Foods is sponsoring the event, and there will be sangria being served.

FTL Play Your City – This is also happening at Art Walk, but FTLC plans on attending on Sunday. It’s a cool new, interactive art installation for the city, put together by Cadence Living, that showcases re-purposed pianos by artists Brian Buzzella, Luzalma Gonzalez, Richard Vergez, and
MoAFL Art School students. After this event, the pianos will be dispersed throughout town for display and gawking.

That’s all we got. Let us know what we missed (especially for tonight).