Local bands revive South Florida’s metal scene

From venues such as the Talent Farm closing down to well-known bands breaking up, Florida’s local alternative music scene has faced numerous struggles over the last few years. Yet, it seems that the scene is in the process of being resurrected by charming, enthusiastic individuals.

At Black Sheep House, located in Little Haiti, the bands Irra’s One and Eunoia are determined to bring back rock ‘n’ roll to South Florida’s stage. Irra’s One doesn’t have an album out yet, but already the four-man metal band has faced their fair share of struggles.

“Our main struggle as a local band was our income. When you first start off and you work full-time, you sacrifice a lot of things and it takes a toll on you,” said Rafael Dello-Strologo, an English major at Florida International University.

“Finding a venue is hard too. Talent Farm closed, Tobacco Road closed, they’re closing The Fox Lounge in Coral Gables. We even had a scare with Churchill’s,” said Charles Waldron, the guitarist of Irra’s One. “All the great venues that were around when I was aspiring to be in a band are being ripped away from today’s generation.”

Although all the members of Irra’s One proclaim themselves to be metal-heads, their music doesn’t fit the stereotypical mold. Their songs are both personal and story-telling, composed of heavy riffs and emotional verses.

“I wrote one of our songs “S.C.A,” it’s about my son’s condition, sickle cell anemia. I wrote the song in the hospital with him. It was like an out of body experience. Everything in the room was just so significant, I started penning it down,” Waldron said.

Irra’s One is planning to go on tour soon, but are currently working on their image and having a full-length album coming out soon.

“I think we all have passion. We don’t give up. We’ve gotten 100 no’s, but we’ve gotten 100’s of yeses,” said Waldron.

The passion invested in Irra’s One is also reflected in Eunoia. As a five-man band labeling themselves as multiple genres, including metal, trash metal and alternative rock, Eunoia is anything but dull. “Six or seven years ago, these guys moved next door to me. So I said we should get together and now we’ve been through so many people. We finally found the click we needed,” said Holden Gregory. Gregory then continued on to compliment every single member in the band, but called Alexandro Moreno a genius.

“I write most of the lyrics and instrumentation. David usually writes his own solos, Holden practices drums like crazy. Without any one of these guys, we wouldn’t sound the same,” explained Moreno, “The last key we were missing was Zach.”

According to Moreno, “People rather go to a club and the artistic value of music in South Florida is being lost.” This is a disappointment to him because he mentioned that it’s difficult to compete with the club’s music popularity as an original band.

The band rehearses in a warehouse and the members have to deal with more than putting together songs. “We have maintenance costs, travel costs. We aren’t rich, it’s tough. We’re all from the bottom,” said Gregory. However, Gregory shared that there are many that want to join forces with the band.

“We have video DJs, photographers, interviewers who want to work with us, we’re just trying to get by.  We’re taking back South Florida and bringing the scene back. We’re working with other bands, Wicked Playground, Irra’s One, Wai2gon. We need to help each other.”

A feeling of unity began to seep into the conversation and Gregory explained the meaning of the band’s name, “Eunoia means clear-headed and beautiful thinking,” Moreno shared, “I’m good at music, but I’m  awful at nearly everything else. Music is my outlet, it’s really my own and our Eunoia.”

Be the first to comment on "Local bands revive South Florida’s metal scene"

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published.


*