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Review and Photos by Kevin Nelson
For 12 years, a building has stood just a stone’s throw from the very center of Miami. During those years the city’s radius has grown as have the vines and flowers that hang and bloom on the walls of The Wallflower Gallery. Just like the growth of the city, the Gallery has evolved over time, and the curator of the harvest of arts is none other than Flash.
The 18 Wheelers
Flash is a man with a single vision: the progression and continuation of quality art through whatever means creativity can be expressed. On the May16, Flash threw The Wallflower Gallery a 12th anniversary celebration, bringing back musical acts, poets and visual artists who have helped keep the gallery in existence over so many years.
The beginning of the celebration began with local poets and artists who braced the stage with their dynamic presence. Some of the acts included poet, Tim Novak, local band Coffee House Gypsies and Peruvian band Kuyayky, among others. But the freshest and possibly the youngest act of the day was Kiwikey, who let loose catchy riffs that gave way to beautifully plucked guitar solos. The band then called up Joe McNair, also known as Joe the Poet, who read two poems. One of the poems, "The Blues Had a Baby," was read over a song provided by Kiwikey that reminded me of the slow roll of the ocean at sunset. The bassist picked up a violin, and Joe’s words pulled at my heart. This had to be the most beautiful moment of the night.
Synder began belting out songs in a capella, his voice resonating deep within me like that of a blues man on the front porch of his crumbling sanctuary.
Joe McNair, AKA Joe the Poet
If the crowd was relaxed by the sounds of Kiwikey, their shoes were soon jump started by the southern rockabilly bounce of The 18 Wheelers, a four piece band that is held together by the slapping of a stand up bass. Joe McNair was again called to the stage and delivered another beautiful pair of poems.
Afterwards, Flash introduced singer-songwriter Shawn Synder. Synder began belting out songs in a capella, his voice resonating deep within me like that of a blues man on the front porch of his crumbling sanctuary. Each improvised turn of his voice, or when he hit the chords on his guitar, seemed to contain a piece of his soul, which is why I bought one of his albums after the show.
Coffee House Gypsies
As the concert progressed, more people began to find their seats in the front, and the place filled up; it seemed like everybody was there to see Addax. The whole band wasn’t present, so they performed an acoustic set. The two guitarists, Omar Williams and Josh Rohe, were joined musically; one would play a beginning rhythm, the other would finish a chord, and on to the next chord. The highlight of their act was by far vocalist Laura Schweitzer’s alluring and lingering voice as she pulled the words over the steady acoustic guitars.
The Wallflower Gallery
10 N.E. 3rd Street
Downtown Miami 33132
wallflowergallery.com
Last but not least was local reggae band The Southwood Project. If a finale is in store, Southwood is just the band to hit you with it. My third time hearing this group was by far the most memorable. Southwood’s vocals remind me of Gil Scott Heron over the reggae track, and I have yet to witness a better live guitarist then Jerome "Blues Man" Washington.
Through all of this, Flash was at home on his stool next to the mixer and recording equipment. A smile never seemed to leave his face — this was and is, after all, his garden — and it continues to grow before his very own sunglasses.
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