Langerado Music Festival

By: Sarah Efronson

     The Langerado Music Festival is an all day celebration of Spring Break and great live improvisational-based music. This year the first annual festival was held at the Fort Lauderdale Stadium Festival Grounds and was a huge success. The festival was packed with people jamming to music, playing Frisbee, and dancing with hula-hoops. Fifteen bands were featured including local bands and also big name bands such as G. Love and Special Sauce and Moe. The environment was laid back and relaxing, even the security guards were jamming to the music.

     If you missed this year's show, don't worry because it will be back next year and should be even bigger. In the meantime I recommend checking out Hashbrown a local band from Fort Lauderdale. Their aggressive funk music has won them the 2001 City Link/New Times Critic's Choice as the Best Band in Florida. The members are: Duncan Cameron on guitar and lead vocals, Boogie Waters on turntables, Rick Kanner on drums and Clarence Spencer on bass. The sound of Hashbrown includes blues, jazz, hip hop, rock, and turntables which gives them a sound all their own and great to hear live. The band has one album, "Miles to Go," and they are working on a new CD due out in June.

     The feeling I got from hearing Hashbrown live, however, is not the same vibe the CD gives off. Hashbrown is definitely a band that deserves to be heard live; their energy and their fans made me want to dance, while the CD is more calming. When talking to the band members, I felt the passion they have for their music and their drive to finish up their CD, tour colleges and, as Clarence Spencer said, "make money." You can check out Hashbrown on their website www.hashbrown.net and find out about their upcoming shows. Spencer the bassist's motto sums up the bands point of view as well: "Get Well Soon is my motto because you can always get better." Watch out because you'll be hearing a lot more from Hashbrown in the near future.

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