RAG*TRADE Tonight + MODESELEKTOR Tomorrow!!

Dear Friends,

TONIGHT IS THE NIGHT - RAG*TRADE reopens today with an in-store party from 7pm to 10pm!! Designer and DJ R. Grimes of FACTION will be spinning tunes, there'll be refreshments, and you'll get first dibs on all the new rags!! Also, feel free to clean out your closets as we'll be trading and buying all night. The after-party is directly following at Fridays at The Vagabond where we've got DJs galore and a special live performance by THE DOWN HOME SOUTHERNAIRES!!

Coming up through next week are some very awesome shows and happenings that we wanted to elaborate on a little, check it...

SATURDAY - A very special event!! Futuremob presents Germany's MODESELEKTOR (Bpitch Control) live with OTTO VON SCHIRACH at Studio A!! They're huge in Europe, working with people like Thom Yorke, they rocked Coachella this year, and tomorrow is going to be one of the electronic shows of the year so DON'T MISS IT. Tickets are only $15 in advance and we've got 'em at Sweat.

MONDAY - NADA SURF perform live at Studio A!! Since becoming "Popular" in '96, they've consistently put out great album after great album. I'll be spinning between sets so c'mon out.

WEDNESDAY - The monthly LOOSE CANON BIKE RACE departs from Sweat!! The race ends at the weekly "Finger Lick'n" party at PS14 so grab your bike and get ready to ride out... Starting line-up is at 10pm.

THURSDAY - Come out for the Miami premiere screening of VICE Films' new feature HEAVY METAL IN BAGHDAD. It tells the story of Acrassicauda, a metal band struggling to stay together, and alive, in Iraq. It's been getting press everywhere including the New York Times so come to Sweat at 8pm to see this awesome, insightful, music-filled film. Watch an exclusive trailer here.

Last but not least, a little exciting behind-the-scenes action we're working on... Sweat Records is finally getting an amazing new website!! We've been happily blogger-ing along for a bit but are working on a comprehensive new site with Sweat's info, history, and featured art, more frequent blog updates, staff picks, a full-on event submission page for our listings, our cafe menu, an online shop for local goods and more!! That said, we'd love to hear from you about what YOU would like to see on our new site. Please email us any suggestions you might have - we aim to please!!

Cheers,
Lolo, Jsin + the Sweat crew

P.S. The bands for the first MOCA Battle of the Bands have been selected but there is STILL TIME to submit your tracks to be eligible for the other two events!! Just bring a CD by the MOCA or Sweat, OR you can email your website with a link to a track to info [at] sweatrecordsmiami [dot] com. The deadline is June 6th - thanks!!

Arts Beat, MOCA, ProBars + Rachel!!

Dear Friends,

Turn on your radios today at 1pm to hear me (Lolo) on SOUTH FLORIDA ARTS BEAT with Ed Bell on WLRN (91.3 FM)!! If you miss it don't worry, from now on I'll be on Arts Beat every 3 or 4 months highlighting some of the great musician making waves in Miami's independent music scene. Speaking of...

BANDS!! There is still time to drop off a 1-track CD (with your contact info clearly on it) at Sweat or the MOCA to enter the summertime BATTLE OF THE BANDS!! We're having 3 different events (Thursday June 26th, July 24th, and August 28th) so make sure you get us your music before JUNE 6th. The winner of each event will receive a brand new Epiphone guitar courtesy of Gibson, a chance to play at a great museum, and lots of exposure!! The opening for the new music-infused show - "Sympathy For The Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967" - is next Thursday from 7 to 9 so don't miss it.

New item alert at Sweat!! We now are fully re-stocked with the delicious PROBARS and have their whole new line of "Sweet and Savory" bars that come in amazing flavors like Cherry Pretzel, Kettle Corn, Maple Pecan, Sesame Goji and Cocoa Pistachio!! They're made of whole foods only (no scary unpronounceable ingredients) and are getting rave reviews from the staff and customers so stop in for one today. Goes great with our coffee and espresso too...

Last but certainly not least, tonight at FRIDAYS AT THE VAGABOND, we're proud to present the second date on the "Florida World Tour" for RACHEL GOODRICH, BAND MARINO (Orlando) and BARON VON BEAR (Orlando)!! Last night all three of them *packed* Sweat Records playing stripped-down acoustic sets so come out tonight to see everyone plugged in!! Showtime is 11pm outside and Fridays have been kicking 'til 5 in the morning so we hope to see you there.

RAG*TRADE GRAND REOPENING NEXT WEEK!!

Cheers,
Lolo, Jsin + the Sweat crew

P.S. Just announced!! Germany's MODESELEKTOR (from Ellen Allien's awesome Bpitch Control label) next Saturday the 31st at Studio A!! We've got pre-sale tickets at Sweat so come and get 'em.

Sweat Wins New Times' Best of Miami!!

Dear Friends,

Lots of terrific news!! Read on for all the latest and scroll down for one of Miami's best upcoming concert and event listings...

First, we're happy to announce that the 4th year in a row, we've been awarded BEST RECORD/CD STORE in the New Times Best of Miami poll!! Not only that but The Vagabond won Best New Bar, "Can You Rock A Little Softer?" (Raffa + Rainer's acoustic showcase night Wednesdays at Churchill's) won Best Open Mic and tons of other Sweat friends including Jose El Rey, Rachel Goodrich, Harold Golen Gallery, Afrobeta, DJ Induce, The Rhythm Foundation, The Postmarks, Poplife and many more received kudos too!! Congrats to them and all the winners for making Miami a better place to live.

This week at FRIDAYS AT THE VAGABOND, we are excited to present a live performance by AWESOME NEW REPUBLIC!! The ANR boys will be kicking it old-skool like they used to in Sweat #1's backyard - warpaint, sweatpants and hits and covers galore!! It's going to be a full-on party so don't miss it. Showtime is midnight outside and there are $1 Stella drafts and PBRs before 12 too!!

RAG*TRADE's Grand Reopening is 2 weeks away!! If you're a local designer, a band with some cool shirts or local artisan of any sort, come on by to see about selling and/or consigning your stuff to the shop. We're expecting a big crowd at the party so make sure your stuff is in stock!!

Calling all bands!! This summer Sweat is partnering up with the MOCA to present a series of three "BATTLE OF THE BANDS" events in conjunction with their awesome new exhibition "Sympathy For The Devil: Art and Rock and Roll Since 1967." The events will be on Thursday June 26th, July 24th, and August 28th. The winner of each event will receive a brand new Epiphone guitar courtesy of Gibson!! To enter, simply drop off a CD with your BEST track at Sweat or the MOCA, with your band's name and full contact information clearly labeled on it. The contest is for all unsigned bands over 18 and the deadline is June 6th so don't sleep on this great opportunity for exposure!!

Last but not least - FINALLY - new issues of VICE magazine are at Sweat!! The "History Issue" features Shane MacGowan of The Pogues on the cover, the ever-amusing Dos and Don'ts, early photos by Ryan McGinley, and much more!! It also includes a sneak-preview of Chuck Palahniuk's "Snuff" which happens to be the next SWEAT BOOKS Book Club selection (which from what we've read so far is quite a doozy...). We're one of the only places in Miami to get VICE and while it's a free mag, we pay cash money to ship it here so buy a beverage or a CD or any damn thing in the store and a copy is yours.

Much love and check out our rad upcoming in-store events below!!

Cheers,
Lolo, Jsin + the Sweat crew

P.S. There is an awesome video segment about Sweat Records airing Monday, May 19th at 7.30pm on ART STREET on WLRN Channel 17 - tune in!!

Weekend Events + New Book!!

Dear Friends,

We've got a lot of cool in-stores and events coming up this month, and here are the main events going on this week!!

TONIGHT: CAN YOU ROCK A LITTLE SOFTER? at Churchill's!! Miami's best acoustic showcase which gains new fans every week who can't believe Miami has such a rad independent acoustic folk/rock scene. Raffa + Rainer host new local and national guests and perform weekly, with open mic slots before and after the featured acts. If you haven't been yet you really should check it out.

FRIDAY: Sweat Records and Fridays at The Vagabond present a live performance by indie-dance-rock extravaganza THE JEANMARIE!! Last week with The Postmarks was great so don't miss the party this week!! After the band, DJs Mike Deuce and Ray Milian rip up the dancefloor, plus DJs galore in the Bar and Garden, cheap drinks and other pleasant surprises...

SATURDAY: GALLERY WALK!! Head out early to check out fresh art and new shows at practically every gallery in Wynwood and the Design District.

Last but not least, the SWEAT BOOKS BOOK CLUB has a new book!! "Snuff" is the new novel by Chuck Palahniuk (Fight Club, Choke, etc.) and it comes out on May 20th. Grab a copy when it comes out (we recommend Books & Books) and get reading!! We'll remind you as it gets a little closer, and we'll meet to discuss it on Wednesday, June 25th at 8pm at Sweat Records. As always, be there and be square.

Cheers,
Lolo, Jsin + the Sweat crew

P.S. We've received 3 more copies of the new super limited edition PORTISHEAD vinyl box set!! If you want one act now as they will most likely disappear in a day like the last batch!!

A MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT!!

Dear Friends,

So... we've got a huge announcement!! We're so excited we're just gonna blurt it out...

WE BOUGHT RAG*TRADE!!

That's right!! Miami's only green-conscious clothing exchange and indie boutique will now be an official part of the Sweat Records family. To answer a few questions: No, it wasn't it danger of closing - in fact it more than broke even it's first year out!! However, Rag*Trade's founder and our good friend Stephanie Spiegel got a great opportunity to travel that she couldn't refuse and we couldn't bear to let Miami lose such a cool and necessary local business.

We'll be keeping the clothing exchange aspect and expanding the boutique to include more local designers, a section for all the awesome local band shirts we're seeing (that we don't really have the space for at Sweat), as well as carrying some cutting-edge new clothing lines from around the world. Not only that, but we're going to continue to throw the awesome and extremely well-received Kraftworks craft fairs every month or so!!

We're so happy to have this new annex to be another outlet for Miami's creative community and just from word-of-mouth alone this week we've already received a ton of support. The shop's new hours will be Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 6pm, starting on May 9th. On Friday, May 30th, we'll be having a grand re-opening party to celebrate. In the meantime, please clean out your closets and come by as we'll be buying and trading for tons of new stock (and of course, all donations of pre-loved clothing are greatly appreciated)!!

Now we need to celebrate!! Tonight at The Vagabond, Sweat Records, MAP Magazine, and Sacre Bleu Wine present an evening with THE POSTMARKS!! This local pop band is making waves and tonight we're also celebrating the UK release of their debut album. Doors are at 10, there's a wine-tasting at 10.30 and The Postmarks play at 11.30. No cover all night so come on out!!

Last but not least, we've got a truly awesome in-store performance happening this Saturday evening. "Pure Imagination" is a locally-created radio show on WVUM 90.5 FM (Sundays at 6pm) which consists of darkly humorous stories told over hypnotic loops and beats by local musicians. Pure Imagination will be performing their new story "Four Aces The Hard Way" LIVE at Sweat with musical accompaniment by Nick Kruge!! For fans of This American Life, spoken word, and creative fiction, Pure Imagination is a MUST. Hear for yourself at myspace.com/pureimaginationshow and come to Sweat Saturday at 9 for the live experience!!

Thanks for everything, have a great weekend!!

Cheers,
Lolo, Jsin + the Sweat crew

P.S. The Rhythm Foundation is giving away 25 pairs of tickets to see Barcelona's PINKER TONES Saturday night at the North Beach Bandshell!! To snag a pair, email info@rhythmfoundation.com with the subject "Pinker Tones" - enjoy!!


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THIS JUST IN:

(Want something held for you? Call 305.758.5862 x5 between noon and midnight every day!)

*SPECIAL - We've received 4 copies of the SUPER limited edition PORTISHEAD VINYL BOX SET of their new album, aptly titled "THIRD"!! The box comes with the album on double LP, the limited etched 12" "Machine Gun" single, a P-shaped 1GB USB drive with the album's tracks on MP3 and exclusive videos pre-loaded into it, a limited edition piece of artwork by Nick Uff, and the whole thing entitles you to ongoing online updates, which usually means future b-sides and live tracks!! WHEW. Get it while you can!!

LP:
-Portishead "Third"
-Elvis Costello "Momofuku"
-Gnarls Barkley "St. Elsewhere"
-Death Cab For Cutie "I Will Possess Your Heart" 7"
-REM "Supernatural Superserious" 7"
-Built To Spill "Dont Try/The Source" 7"
-Black Keys "Strange Times" 7"
-Metallica "Kill 'Em All"
-Metallica "Ride The Lightning"
-Ratatat "Classics"
-Clinic "Do It"
-MGMT "Oracular Spectacular"
-Radiohead "In Rainbows"
-Radiohead "I Might Be Wrong"
-M.I.A. "Arular"
-Ciccone Youth "Whitey Album"
-My Bloody Valentine "Isn't Anything"
-Tool "Lateralus"
-Spank Rock "Yoyoyoyoyo"
-Spoon "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"
-Spoon "Girls Can Tell"
-Spoon "A Series of Sneaks"
-The Cure "Three Imaginary Boys"
-CSS "Cansei De Ser Sexy"
-The Faint "Danse Macabre"
-Sonic Youth "Daydream Nation"
-Sonic Youth "Dirty"
-Sonic Youth "Murray Street"
-Boxcutter "Glyphic"
-Le Tigre "Le Tigre"
-Simian Mobile Disco "Attack Delay Sustain Release"
-Portishead "Machine Gun" 12" (ETCHED!! so cool...)
-M.I.A. "Boyz" 12"
-Postal Service "We Will Become Silhouettes" 12"
-Snoop Dogg "Sensual Seduction" 12"
AND TONS MORE PLUS TOO MANY NEW CDS TO TYPE OUT!!!!!!