In our September-October issue, we sat down with Jeff John, owner of Revolution Live, to discuss the beloved Fort Lauderdale venue’s 20th anniversary. In this exclusive Web Extra, we combed through our online archive to count down the 10 best Revolution Live concerts our intrepid music journalists (James Biagiotti and John Thomason) have covered here on Bocamag.com.
10. Kurt Vile, March 13, 2019
At the slacker singer-songwriter’s breakout tour, the rhythm section was tight, the guitars were lush, and Vile’s distinctive, almost Dylanesque voice shone through the PA. Vile tweaked and stomped on his massive pedalboard all night, constantly evolving the tone and effects of his acoustic and electric guitars as the show progressed. What surprised me most about Vile’s performance was the tenderness of his lone solo acoustic number, “Stand Inside,” which silenced the entire crowd and drew perhaps the biggest applause of the night.
9. The Cult, Aug. 13, 2013
Thirty years into a career that has seen its share of breakups and reunions, as well as some infamous record label battles, The Cult proved they can still crush it, as evidenced by this memorable summer performance at Revolution. Lead guitarist Billy Duffy’s aggressive, distinctive riffs continued to be the musical backbone of the group’s occasionally fragile existence. He brought his A-game, while lead vocalist Ian Astbury didn’t just sing Cult songs; he commanded them in a style that may channel a little Jim Morrison but, in the end, was as forceful and original as it gets.
8. Royal Blood, June 11, 2018
In its first South Florida appearance, English hard rockers Royal Blood drew an energetic, enthusiastic and sweaty crowd, and once its set got going, fans on the floor quickly conceded to crowd-surfing and moshing. It wasn’t long before I retreated to the back of the venue in search of a spot to watch the show with some breathing room, which proved to be a good decision when the crowd continued to grow more boisterous as the evening progressed. Bassist Mike Kerr utilized effects pedals to transform what’s normally seen as a background instrument into the primary force behind the band’s music, jumping up and down octaves and often transforming the tone of his bass to mimic that of a lead guitar.
7. Frank Turner, June 10, 2016
For a musician who virtually lives on the road, the daily assembly of screaming, lyric-shouting, fist-raising, mosh-pitting congregants to the cult of Turner lost none of its transcendent appeal at this Revolution gig. His joy at being alive and onstage and playing great music can teeter into recklessness, as when he trustingly stage-dove, backwards, into the center of the dance floor and then walked along the narrow bar just off stage left, toppling empty cups, during “Four Simple Words”—a site-specific send-off for a spectacular evening of folk-punk melodies.
6. Digable Planets, Feb. 18, 2024
This reunion set showcased the artful blend of laid-back flows and socially conscious lyrics that earned these ‘90s acid-jazz artists their dedicated fan base and critical acclaim. In contrast to modern hip-hop shows that often prioritize manufactured hype, Digable Planets offered a refreshing take on the genre with their throwback stylings, emphasizing groove over bombast. It was a testament to the enduring appeal of old-school kick-back hip-hop, showcasing that the genre is not just alive and well, but remains relevant to an audience that transcends generations.
5. Spoon, March 11, 2018
At this sprawling appearance from Austin’s finest, a packed-but-not-too-packed crowd blanketed the dance floor and leaned over the second- and third-floor guardrails, transfixed by mesmerizing instrumentals one minute and bopping along to drum-tight pop the next. It had been 10 years since the band last played South Florida, and with its set clocking in at nearly two hours and 22 songs, it more than made up for lost time. Its selections extrapolated on what Spoon does best at its live shows: Start with the recorded compositions and let them linger, wander and evolve into dynamic, capacious opportunities for sonic exploration.
4. The War on Drugs, Oct. 3, 2022
At some point during this Philadelphia outfit’s transportive, cramped set, the magical, psychic break that’s unique to live music took hold, and I no longer felt like a sardine crammed in a tin can. The songs built, magisterially, into massive conflagrations—frenzies of communal ecstasy that felt bigger than life. I was floating somewhere amid the accommodating ether of the War on Drugs’ heartland dispatches, thinking that this must be how people felt seeing the Grateful Dead in their primacy. As with the Dead, there’s really no comparison between studio War on Drugs and live War on Drugs: It was like transitioning from 2D to 3D, or black-and-white to color.
3. Vince Staples, Feb. 14, 2019
In what was an early front-runner for South Florida’s best rap show of 2019, Staples’ tour featured a massive video screen at the back of the stage that showed live footage of the performance and the crowd in real time. Fans got the chance to mug for the cameras and show off their mastery of Staples’ lyrics, and the gimmick managed to make a crowd of under 1,000 fans feel like it was sold out. An impressive light show was packed onto the sides and front of the stage, with strobes and LEDs flashing in sync with every beat. The massive scope of the production made the performance feel like a stadium show that had somehow been compacted to fit inside Revolution Live.
2. BROCKHAMPTON, Jan. 25, 2018
When BROCKHAMPTON bandleader Kevin Abstract took the stage at 9:30 donned in an orange jumpsuit and surgical mask, the crowd went crazy. When the rest of the group joined him in matching attire and started the set with “BOOGIE,” the crowd went absolutely berserk. The excitement was palpable, and the band members and the rabid crowd fed off each other’s infectious energy all night, with players frequently instructing the crowd to open up pits on the floor, and the crowd singing along to each and every song with such vigor that at times the group couldn’t be heard. When Abstract tweeted “craziest crowd so far and the show hasn’t even started” at 7 p.m., I don’t think he was kidding. We do know how to party.
1. Pixies, June 21, 2018
This marathon “secret show,” advertised under a pseudonym for the night before a bigger gig opening for Weezer in West Palm Beach, spanned 130 uninterrupted minutes and 41 songs. Furthermore, Pixies’ first time playing in front of an audience for about six months featured “Gigantic” for the first time since 2011, after which its primary songwriter, Kim Deal, departed the band. Perhaps it took this many years of touring for bassist Paz Lenchantin to build up the respect and courage to step into Deal’s iconic role. Whatever the reason for this reversal of policy, I couldn’t have loved it more. In the touring boonies of South Florida, we don’t get many once-in-a-lifetime experiences, but this performance certainly qualifies.
This Web Extra is from the September/October 2024 issue of Boca magazine. For more like this, click here to subscribe to the magazine.
