HenceTheReason

Ross began writing lyrics about his experiences around a year and a half ago. His buddies enjoyed his songs, which led Ross to scope out the best booking agents in the area and hopped on the first gig he could.

Who are your biggest influences? And why?

JR: Dallas Green is a huge influence to my music. I also really like Mimicking Birds, Bon Iver and Connor Oberst. They write music you can relate to and it makes you feel good.

Where do your shows normally take place? What is the atmosphere like at the show?

JR: I play a lot of coffee shops and small bars. Everyone’s always relaxed. Some people like to move around and feel out the music but for the most part just hang around and listen. Either way it’s always a fun night when you’re with friends playing music. I’ve played at multiple venues throughoutFlorida, but I have yet to play out of state. Hopefully this year we’ll change that.

What has been your favorite memory so far playing your music?

JR: My favorite memory so far had to have been the last time I played at Gasoline Alley in Largo, FL. A dad came over to me to thank me for playing. He said, “My son loves your music, he’s always playing it in the car. It’s nice that we can actually enjoy the same music, so thank you for playing this show. It allows me to spend quality time with my son.” That was definitely a night to remember.

What are your future plans for HenceTheReason? And do you have any upcoming shows in the 239 area?

JR: I am beginning recording for my second CD “Rocket Ships and Constellations” very soon. It will have about 8 new songs and two remakes off the first CD. I believe I am playing at Rush Coffee & Tea Shop in Gulf Coast Town Center on Friday, February 24^th to raise money for the local non-profit, Eden Autism Services. I believe I may also be playing at FGCU’s Relay for Life on March 31st-April 1st. I look forward to seeing everyone at the shows.

Mixed Accompany at Cool Hand Luc's

Who are a few of your biggest influences and why?

Hunter Dahlen: As for influences, we have a lot. Andrew Bird is brilliant! He inspired me to use my violin outside of the classical literature I’d always used it for. He also got me wanting to use the loop pedal which we now use in nearly all of our songs. Plus his diversity of sound and genres is just astounding!

The Decemberists have a truly unique sound. They have a way of making a song so much more than just a song. It becomes a story, an experience, and they always give it the perfect musical ambiance.

Louis Armstrong is a demigod of Jazz music. Music flows from him with such ease. And that voice! It makes everything he does that much different.

Classical, Romantic, and 20^th century composers definitely have an impact on how I think about getting the right sound.

Where do your shows typically take place? And what is the atmosphere like at the show?

HD: We play a weekly show every Friday night at Space 39 in Patio Deleon, in Downtown Fort Myers. The atmosphere is perfect! People are energetic, full of enthusiasm, and alcohol. The crowd is extremely diverse. Our fan base goes from kids the age of 16ish to people old enough to be my grandparents. There could be more dancing, but it happens on occasion.

If your music was a food, what would it be and why?

I get a picture in my head of a big soup. The drums are the broth, the guitar is the meat, the violin is the noodles, the trumpet is a hot pepper and the bassoon… well that is something wild, like a dollop of cotton candy.

What has been your favorite memory so far playing your music?

HD: I have so many great memories from playing with this group. We’ve played as an opener for Common Ground once before, opened for a few comedy shows, but a very interesting experience happened while taking a break at one of our shows. A woman approached us with an offer to play at an art exhibit she was hosting, and she asked if we could play any Asian music. Of course we don’t have anything like that in our repertoire so we basically told her no. She then proclaimed, “Oh, you can pull something together; it’s just like warming up.” The look on all our faces when she said that… priceless. We joke about the experience all the time now when we warm up and tune before our shows.

What are your future plans for Mixed Accompany? And do you have any upcoming shows in the 239 area?

HD: Well, lately, we’ve been in a recording mood, so, I’m sure there will be some of our sounds available on a CD soon. We’re all music majors in school, so music is what we want to do for the rest of our lives, and playing with Mixed Accompany is fun enough that I think we will all stick with it. Hopefully the future holds more fun times, more music, and more Mixed Accompany. Again we have shows every Friday at Space 39. The shows are from 7-10 pm.

Come shake your caboose at Florida Gulf Coast University on Saturday, February 25^th at noon!

FGCU is hosting a Zumbathon to raise money for the Children Cancer Foundation and to gather toys for the Candle Lighters of Southwest Florida. The event will take place at Alico Arena auxiliary gym from noon to 3 pm. Zumbathon is only $10 to enter for non-students, which will include a raffle ticket scheduled to be pulled during the occasion. The event costs only $5 for all FGCU students, and raffle tickets will be available for an additional $5.

Spread the word and let a friend know 100% of the incoming funds are donated to the Children Cancer Foundation. Instead of worrying about the admission fee, participate by bringing a new toy (minus stuffed animals please). All the toys contributed will go towards the Candle lighters of Southwest Florida. Grab your pals; a new toy and come get fit while supporting two great causes!

For more information contact Klaudia Balogh or visit FGCU Campus Recreation.

Download the Crickets Make Math EP to get an idea of his experimental glitch hop jams. Each song differs from the next -  Crickets could host your dance party or be featured on the soundtrack of an indie movie. His live show is dynamic and ambient at times, especially in a venue like Cool’s. It’s your chance to do your first good deed of the year AND go to a show, and all you need is a can of beans. Or corn, or whatever.

Dr. Mew by Jenny Parks

Who am I kidding?

Most of us are about as classy as a bottle of Strawberry Andre and Fort Myers Beach during Spring Break. Hence I present to you, our dear readers, a juxtaposition of fine tunes, Cuban cigars, Four Lokos and KeSha. You have the smoothest voice in the biz, Johnny Mathis, interluding to a song by the nastiest post-hardcore band I know, Emmure, who’s track is ironically titled, “Chicago’s Finest.” Keeping on the city-repping tip, Liza croons a good ole rendition of “New York, New York.” Kate Nash is on there because English accents sound erudite and  elegant no matter what.

This mix is wearing a cummerbund over a mesh tank top. Download it.

Thursday nights is College Night at Stevie Tomatoes featuring the local band. Stevie Tomatoes sets a cool mood for you and friends to enjoy a few drinks and unwind to the sweet sounds of Common Ground’s hit beats. From my experience, you are sure to enjoy a night out with pals singing along to CG’s catchy verses!

Here’s  The Common Ground Facebook Page  – add them, like them and go to their shows!

SowFLo, the self proclaimed reggae surf-rock band, was birthed right from Paradise Coast in Naples, Florida. The band mates put a refreshing spin on contemporary reggae music. The group mixes soulful melodies, an acoustic reggae rock sound and sweet vibes. The newly bonded group started in 2009 when Jake Dorris (lead vox/guitar) met up with Joe Records (keys/producer) at a local party. Then band was then completed when close friends and veterans in the local music scene Andre Beaudette (drums/percussion), James Vanderhorst (lead guitar) and Dan Spring (bass) committed themselves to the group.

So where to catch the wave of musical melodies? You can find sowFLo at the Naples, Stevie Tomatoes Sports Page every Monday night at 10:00pm for a free live show. Not to mention Stevie Tomatoes is home of the 10:00pm-close Happy Hour where you drink $2 Domestic’s, $3 Import Bottles, $2 Wells, $3 Calls and $4 premiums. Can’t beat that buzz for your buck!

Check out the band and their debut EP on Facebook to see what all the praise is about!

the perfect date: learn to dance!

With the lovey dovey month of February quickly approaching, we at TwoThreeNine.com dare you to go outside your rhythmic bubble! Fred Astaire and our crew formally invite you and your honey bunny to Wednesday practice parties at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. The parties are every Wednesday from 8:30pm-10:00pm. Yes – the Cha-Cha, Swing, Hustle, Mambo, Salsa and Fox Trot may not be on your dance floor list but it is sure to bring you and your better half closer together. Each Wednesday the Fred Astaire staff will bring ease to your feet and it promise to make it easy to catch on as the night progresses.

If you’re interested but don’t have a date or have a significant other just simply refusing to go, it’s okay! The Fred Astaire promises to match you with a handsome or beautiful dancer to complete your dancing duo. Instead of sitting down in an over-crowded restaurant on Valentine’s Day, come shake your thang at Fred’s studio!

Each Wednesday practice party is $25.00 and includes one on one time with world accomplished dancing teachers.

by Jorgen Nicholas Trygved

It’s weird to be cold and happy in Fort Myers, since I usually fall prey to the fall/winter doldrums. It’s weird to be cold, period! This is a mix of songs I can never get tired of, as well as some new favorite songs that someone special introduced to me. Whether it’s hip hop, screamo, indie or folk, I can find something I like in the rhythm of it. Download it free here.

I included a song by Emperor X, who I saw in Orlando a week ago. If you like the song “Erica Western Teleport,” I urge you to check out more of his music and go to his shows. I also included a song by the band Exploding Pages!, which is one of my favorite bands ever. Exploding Pages! was a recording project of Mike Cosden and Marc Davis. Mike owns the beloved local coffee shop, Cool Hand Luc’s. If you like his music, be sure to get your next cup of coffee or ice cream at Cool Hand Luc’s.

These weekly mixes are one of my favorite ways to share music with friends, and to express how I’m feeling at any given time. I make them to honor the musicians on them, and repay them by going to their shows and buying their merch. Musicians work really hard so I suggest you do the same! Mix tapes made by others are also great ways to get to know someone, so I like trading those as well. If you, the readers, ever want to submit a mixtape, don’t hesitate to e-mail me!

-Billy Table

"why are you here, knight? To lead us or be our champion?"

Salon de’ Collage opens tonight at The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center of Fort Myers and we have an exclusive SNEAK PEEK from featured artist, Mandalin Paul!

She sent over a few snaps of the paintings and installation pieces on which she has been toiling away for weeks. The thought-invoking creations of the Salon artists aim to challenge the viewer, bringing a much more progressive and provocative show than we’re used to at the Davis Art Center.

The show is a collaboration of local artists of various media:

Cesar Aguilera, Kalon Lucia Baquero, Juan Diaz, Mandalin Paul, Magdalena Hnatowicz, with music by Diego Verney and James de Luca.

A close friend to the TwoThreeNine crew, Mandalin allows us a glimpse of her working on the tessellating bodies (you’ll understand when you see the installation) to be placed in the gallery as an enormous interactive message.

Her paintings and drawings will be present as well, providing a great contrast and variety to the collection.

Opening this evening from 6 until 10 during the riverside Art Walk, the show will remain at the center located in downtown Fort Myers until January 26th.

SALON DE’ COLLAGE / the facebook event page

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