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( 0 ) Article in the Miami New Times for Indie Unplugged http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2007-07-26/news/tobacco-load/print A Flower in the Weeds Filed under: Culture The Stephen Talkhouse, Washington Square, Rose's, I/O, Bullfrog Eatz, Stop Miami, Cornerstone. Notice a trend? Quirky, intimate venues have a fleeting shelf life in this city, especially if they're nestled in the continually up-and-coming, never-quite-blossoming downtown core. The latest establishment under siege is the Wallflower Gallery, which has been supporting local indie artists for a decade. On July 9, Flash — the self-titled "Funk Finder" and engine behind the space — e-mailed an uncharacteristically desperate bulletin describing the gallery's financial crisis. "We're behind on rent and bills. I was able to cover the electric, so they didn't shut off our power. But we're behind on March rent. Our landlord has been very cool, but I'm trying to be respectful," he says. Asked how much cash the Wallflower needs to stay in bloom, Flash gives a heavy sigh. "Ideally I need $10,000 like, tomorrow, to make sure all our bills are paid." On Friday, July 14, at the gallery, Indie Unplugged Miami — a music showcase hosted by spoken-word guru Chris Imperial — had the heated ambiance of an end-of-the-line fundraiser. There were easily 100 people crowded into the bright, colorful performance space. Heads bobbed and hands waved paper fans to cool the room, steamy with the press of bodies. The diverse audience included young, old, black, white, and Hispanic, clad in baggy urban chic, flowing hippie garb, and close-fitting hipster styles. The Cornerstoners launched into an earnest rap: "A new chapter of my life is open. I'm so focused, I'm so focused. Everybody in the house say change is good, change is good. Let's change," implored the man at the mike. Offstage, Imperial took a harsher tone. "I'ma be real with you. So many people are trying to keep it real and keep the indie scene alive. And then so many others are selling out. The scenes in South Beach and Coconut Grove are so different now. This place ... the Wallflower is necessary. It needs to survive. The Miami scene today is so ... I mean, what the fuck? Artists and musicians are so beaten down by this bullshit that a lot of people just say 'Fuck it' and move to San Francisco or New York." — Patrice Elizabeth Grell Yursik Aug-24-2007 12:05:41 Comments( 0 ) Add Comments

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( 0 ) INDIE UNPLUGGED MIAMI" RELEASE DATE 09/15/07 Indie Unplugged Miami was a show that was recorded on July 14th, 2007 at The Wallflower Gallery in downtown Miami. Some of the most popular indie artists from South Florida performed including Fitzroy, Raffa and Rainer, Rachel Goodrich, Rabbit in a Hat, Alucard, E. Grizzly, Michelangelo, Adolfo and many more. The artists made enough money July 14th to pay for all the expenses, to pay for the recordings, and also to print a promotional CD of the concert. There are no labels truly helping them make this CD. There's no management, no promoters, it’s basically artists helping artists and all the fans who paid to see it happen. Indie Unplugged Miami will be released September 15th, 2007 but it will not be sold in stores. It will be a limited pressed CD and the only way you can get the album would be to contact the artists who performed. All of the artists perform in South Florida frequently so you can go to one of their shows to pick up a CD or you can send them a message to buy it online with their info below. I'm sure they will appreciate it. Peace. E. Grizzly - http://www.egrizzly.com, http://www.myspace.com/erikgrizzly Rachel Goodrich - http://www.myspace.com/rachelgoodrich Fitzroy - http://www.fitzroy-music.com, http://www.myspace.com/fitzroymusic Raffa and Rainer - http://www.myspace.com/raffaandrainer Alucard - http://www.myspace.com/305rock Rabbit in a Hat - http://www.myspace.com/rabbitinahattheband Adolfo - http://www.myspace.com/meandmymusic Michelangelo - http://www.myspace.com/michelangelothe1 Up All Night Productions - http://www.upallnightpro.com Aug-24-2007 11:20:30 Comments( 0 ) Add Comments