Sandbox Miami Beach, 11.2.23

Article by: Kiara Velez; Photos by: Brooke Puls

November 2nd, 2023. ‘The Sandbox’ near Miami Beach is an exemplary well-known venue for the local South Florida crowds. A music festival showing model local acts in their element. The night was windy and had people huddled together coming out in the warmth of recognition for local talents and musical expressions. South Florida music scene fans got to experience some of the most legendary and upcoming bands.

‘Rug’ is the newest musical addition to the South Florida music scene, making its second-ever performance here at ‘Sandbox’ Miami, leaving a noticeable impact and stain in the minds of new fans and lovers. A band introducing an indie sound with sweet duo singing vocals which gently encompassed the room. An acoustic guitar slung on the chests of the curly-haired duo, this band held their notes of melodic beauty, capturing our attention as a band to be appreciated and listened to. A swaying song of ‘change and time’ as the lyrics were felt in each heart with a twinge of romantic sounds, creating a masterful clash of gentle instrumentals and ‘shoegaze-like’ delivery. Their musical addition of saxophone added a voice of its own, while the drums and the other musicians upheld their instruments in a development of abstract forms. The crowd’s passion swirled together as we joined the young group with their voices felt with pain. It was a great beginning to the night, as ‘Rug’ set the tones sonically through the dark stage venue. New fans are eager for their next appearance in the scene, this band is quickly gaining listeners to stand and appreciate their sounds, and we cannot wait to see what else they have to bring.

‘Loveseat’ took the stage next, bringing out their ‘indie’ influences to the crowd, playing Radiohead’s ‘Weird Fishes/Apreggi’ with their own softer vocal mixes. An indie band with a colorful background while the careful drums led into a movement of swaying bodies, bringing friends along for the journey of feeling and emotion. This band can be maintained to its name ‘Loveseat’, as you take a seat and experience the love they conduct in a crowded room on a busy Miami night. Faces of the musicians curled in emotions contained, a perfect representation of the indie restraint held within them. A band that formed in the fall of 2022 with the influence of indie sounds such as ‘Slow Pulp’ and ‘Big Thief ', they effectively bring each member's own unique tastes and passions out into their performances and work together to create a whole new expression of music. With their recently released single of ‘WMYFG’, you can hear the band’s direction towards a more intimate and dreamy sound, as they work towards a cohesive album in the future and new and familiar fans are exposed to their tracks, they hand out an energy to “make you feel good”, which is loved all around.

‘Cleancut’ continued the night and absolutely elevated any sense of self with their immediate ability to bring everyone in the room closer together in joy. The funky basslines showed the skill and technique of fast-moving fingers and even faster-moving hearts as the music fueled the dance craze happening in the pit. The keyboard player slammed into chords of progression, as the vocals were shared within the band with a sense of harmony overtaking them. The band, who have been touring up North expanding their reach, is back again with its core fanbase in the South Florida scene. With its use of combinations of funk, jazz, and slight pop influences, this is a band that is fun, bringing a new level of excitement to the venue, erupting people as they jump and turn into one another. And you can tell the band is having fun too, as they smile to themselves and exchange microphones and verses to sing all together. They undoubtedly brought out a new atmosphere to the people in the crowd, who were so glad to see their reunion and what else they held in store for the future.

‘Sunny Side Up!’ ended the night out in The ‘Sandbox’ Miami with their downbeat indie songs of bliss, with amusement from the crowd as they commanded lyrics to be sung along to their harmonic falsettos. Another saxophone takes to the stage as it sings along with the main singer ‘Aron’, like a duet on its own. The heads of fans in the crowd fell into the notes and fell deeper into their music. An indie sleaze sound dressed up with small dances on stage as their instruments wave above their bodies. A happy-sounding band with a ‘pretty-boy’ voice hidden behind their baggy clothes, ‘Sunny Side Up!’ was a great ending to the dark night as it left faint songs of understanding in their orange-lit-up guitars and dark blue backgrounds, they are most definitely welcomed back to ‘Sandbox’ in the future and will continue to dazzle with their jazzy clash of sounds.

It was a great night of music festivities held by ‘Sandbox’ in Miami, fans coming from far into the night together to experience the universal tones and sweet sounds of new and mature bands in a reunion of community in the South Florida scene. We give much appreciation to the bands who stood outstanding in their delivery, and appreciation to the familiar venue stage for hosting.