Making Noise on Both Sides of the Board

Picture a typical movie producer: You may think of someone behind the scenes in a stuffy business suit. In the music industry, it’s the exact opposite. In the past few decades, record producers have become almost as well known as the artists themselves, sharing the stage with top acts across the country. For instance, the band Garbage is made up of nothing more than old record producers and vocalist Shirley Manson. This me-too act is even more prevalent in the hip-hop community, as producers like Timbaland have become more famous and sought after than most of the musicians they produce.

N.E.R.D. is another super group made up of the popular production duo the Neptunes. Featuring Pharrell Williams, Chad Hugo, and the drumming of Shae Haley, N.E.R.D. is the ultimate collaborative experiment in hip-hop influenced alt-rock. Touring with Common (also produced by the Neptunes.), the boys are currently supporting their funky new album Seeing Sounds. You can catch these multi-tasking businessmen this Friday at the Fillmore (1700 Washington Ave., Miami Beach). The show begins at 8:30 tonight, and tickets start at $36.50. Visit ticketmaster.com.
Fri., Oct. 17, 2008