Let the Raw Times Roll

© Sandra Silverstein / RumBum.com

Had enough of that repetitive pop music on the radio, and the pretentious, more-expensive-than-your-life-savings gallery art? Then you would have found good company at Miami's recent So Raw Festival. Organizers Nicole Irizarry and Christiane Allen, both advertising students at The Art Institute in Fort Lauderdale, collaborated on the two-day fest, a tribute to "independent, raw art and music," Allen explains. 

"It's all about giving unknown local artists and bands a chance to flaunt their stuff," says Irizarry, who rocked the drums with her band Little Beard.

On Friday and Saturday nights the fest brought its raw vibes to Wynwood's ISM Gallery. Free beer flowed while bands dished out music ranging from garage to punk rock to electro-beats to psychedelic experimental. Big crowds formed for local buzz bands, Jacuzzi Boys and Electric Bunnies, and the New York-based Pink Reason. Adding to the creative vibe was an eclectic display of abstract and modern paintings by local artists.

After all the dancing, shuffling, crowd surfing and beer binging, things mellowed out on Saturday afternoon at the Upper Eastside Garden. Attendees, most recovering from the previous night's hangover, relaxed amidst the calming garden lounge, or played mini golf in a quirky, makeshift course.

As the lazy day ensued and discussion about last night's debaucheries wore out, the music started up again. Highlight bands were Flux Forces and Little Beard. Flux Forces, a keyboard/synthesizer playing duo (Ryan and Rebecca) knocked out an experimental mash of what sounded like The Postal Service mixed with the video game sound effects of lasers, battles and shrieks. Not exactly calm-inducing, but that's what the free beer was for.

Next came Little Beard who brought the garden down with its playful rock/garage/electro music. Adding spice to this savory band was lead singer, Sarah Attias's funky voice with which she grunts out obscurities reminiscent of Gwen Stefani in the early No Doubt years. 

About three hundred beers later, the sun dipped down below the greenery, and the crowd headed back to Wynwood to cap off the fest with a final night of not-your-everyday music and art. There, they let the raw times roll well into the night.