We had practice tonight and then we went to see Nil Lara perform at The Road. Nil. So brilliant but so poor and unknown. Britney Spears. So retched and yet so rich and well known. Is there a secret formula to obtaining great success with the lowest common crap? Or is it just the law of the land? Are we destined for the bottom of the barrel when we are at the top of our game here? Is there a universal imperative at play that demands mediocrity rules the roost here on earth?

Nil Lara. Mathew Sabatella. Diane Ward. Zach Zischin. Jim Camacho. Omine Eager. Rene Alverez. Arlan Feiles. Derek Cintron. And of course Rhett, no last name necessary. Good lyrics, great voice, awesome delivery. No one knows these names around the world. And yet they are all great singer songwriters putting out brilliant albums year after year. And these are just the best, the super-heroes. A notch or two below them are tens of others who are almost equally as gifted and entertaining. But you see, they are from Miami, the city left behind. The lost city. The city with no tomorrow for rock and roll.

Athens broke out. Minneapolis broke out once. Seattle sure did. New York has more than once. Detroit, Phili, LA. The difference is that these cities have audiences that love their music. People in Miami love it's music too—but Miami’s music is now House, Techno, and all sorts of other dance music and of course what Miami is even more famous for, Gloria, Ricky Martin, and the Iglesias men. Miami lost its audience for rock and roll years ago. Maybe ten years or more. Maybe it never had a rock and roll audience. I don't know. So the question remains, year after year, with so much raw talent in Miami, can Miami break out? Even if there is no audience here in Miami? Can Miami break out all over America on the Basis of just the sheer volume of magnificent talent it has without ever making a name for itself in it's own hometown. And it makes me wonder how many other towns across America possess the same plethora of untapped talent scratching to get out into the great blue yonder.

Last Movie: The Man Who Wasn't There, by the Coen Brothers. Great vibe. They're great at it. Again billy Bob is a genius.

Current Spin: Mathew Sabatella, “Walk in the Park.” Pure, raw, soulful, passion. Think strokes meets Elliot smith meets lost and found John Lennon music.