As Barry Manilow proclaimed in his timeless disco hit, Copacabana, music and passion are always in fashion- especially on South Beach.  If you’ve been reading the headlines this week, there have been lots of controversial reports about unbridled passion, Thorn Birds style, but this is not that kind of column, (o.k., sometimes it is) so instead, we will focus on those with a passion for music, who truly got their fill this week, thanks to terrific concerts and music bashes courtesy of Wyclef Jean, Katy Perry, Blake Lewis, Crazy Pianos and the New World Symphony, and whose cups shall runneth over this weekend, as the Band from T.V. takes over the Shore Club this Saturday. 

 T-Mobile pulled out all the stops by sponsoring the Grammy Celebration Concert last Thursday night at the Fillmore starring Wyclef Jean and Kerry Perry, during which lucky guests enjoyed open bars, hors d’ oeuvres, give-a-ways, a photo booth and a night of incredible performances. Prior to the concert, American Idol finalist, Blake Lewis, got the party going by spinning great music and beat boxing for the excited crowd.  Wyclef Jean took to the stage and performed a knock-out concert of over ten songs.  Jean demonstrated his musical diversity, singing everything from No, Woman, No Cry, to Staying Alive to Carnaval and even doing a rap version of Guantanamera before lunging into the audience.  His show also included a song he wrote about President Obama and a tribute to Celia Cruz, during which he shouted, “If you love Celia Cruz raise your phones up.”   There’s a new one! At one point, Jean played the electric guitar with his tongue, leaving the women in the audience thinking, “If he’s that good on the guitar, imagine what he can do on the ‘organ’.”  Jean garnered respect from the whole crowd, who screamed and sang along throughout his hour and a half long concert. There was a lull between performances, thanks to Katy Perry, the Betty-Boop-faced songstress with an affinity for cherry chapstick, who kept the crowd waiting for two hours due to “back pain.”  Once Perry finally arrived, she apologized and performed crowd favorites, Waking up in Vegas, Hot and Cold, One of the Boys and, of course, I Kissed a Girl, during which she picked up a gigantic inflatable red lipstick and flung it around on stage.

 On the same night, designer label, Diesel, fueled a great party at the Moore Building for the launch of its new fragrance, Only the Brave. On hand for the festivities, which featured three floors of music and art work:  NBA All-star, Tim Hardaway, supermodel/celebrity DJ, Eve Salvail, Diesel CEO Steve Birkhold, designer, Monica Esposito, and 500 local socialites including, Matt Heien, Sale Stojanovoc, Erin Newberg, and Augie Lasseter, to name a few.  According to Heien, “It truly was ‘only for the brave’ – In order to get a drink you had to order while standing underneath hundreds of razor sharp scissors hanging over your head!”

On Wednesday night, Crazy Pianos, Coconut Grove’s new dueling piano bar and restaurant, debuted in the former Café Tu Tu Tango space in Cocowalk.  While similar in concept to the old Grove haunt, Howl at the Moon, Crazy Pianos is larger and classier and actually serves delicious food.  Last week’s grand opening marked the Netherlands-based company’s first venue in the United States, during which piano masters, Stevie B and Orin Sands tickled the ivories at two, cherry-red baby grand pianos until 3:00 a.m. Crazy Pianos owners invested more than $5 million into the place, including half a million dollars for the sound system alone. Crazy Pianos is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 a.m.  At 10:00 p.m., Crazy Pianos morphs into a late night club venue for adults 21 and over featuring live performances based on special requests from the audience.  For more information, go to www.crazypianos.com or call (305) 567-2462.

Friends of the New World Symphony, hosted a two-hour music festival on Saturday evening, entitled Symphony and Mystery, which featured performances by NWS fellows showcasing the works of Sam Hyken as well as a set by The Mysterytones, a seven-piece funk, rhythm and blues band, alongside DJ, JJ Neil.

As previously mentioned, another awesome music bash takes place this Saturday night, May 16, at the Shore Club, as the Band From T.V., comprised of you guessed it, T.V. stars, including Desperate Housewives’ on-again-off-again adorable couple, James Denton and Teri Hatcher; Heroes’ stars, Adrian Pasdar and Greg Grunberg, The Bachelor and TLC’s Date My House’s, Bob Guiney, The Office’s, Melora Hardin, and House’s Jesse Spencer take to the stage for the first time ever, for the Concert for Charity, to benefit the following charities: Epilepsy Foundation, Miami Children’s Hospital, Art of Elysium, Conservation Fund, Indian University-Kenya Partnership, Rush Medical Center-Pediatric Epilepsy Unit, and Make-A-Wish Foundation.  The Band from T.V. has become an international sensation, with a #1 hit CD/DVD on Amazon.com.  The event starts at 7:30 with a VIP reception with the band and the concert begins at 9:00 p.m.  General admission tickets have been reduced to $50.00 and VIP tickets are selling fast for $175.00. To get yours, call 800-745-3000 or purchase online at Ticketmaster.com.  Make sure to check out the band at www.Bandfromtv.org.

More Good Times for Great Causes

Mad About Tea

Even if your idea of tea is named after Long Island and involves six different liquors and you have no idea what a crumpet is, (neither do we) make some time on Sunday, May 17, for the PlayGround Theatre’s Tea at the Ritz with “celebu-mogul,” Ivanka Trump, who is this year’s honorary chair.  WSVN-7’s anchor, Belkys Nerey, will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies and Barton G. will produce the party, which includes a children’s fashion show, performances and lots of fun activities for the whole family. The festivities begin at 3:00 p.m. at the South Beach Ritz Carlton Hotel. 

Prior to Sunday’s tea, Ivanka Trump will present two trunk shows of her eponymous collection of diamond jewelry.  The first show takes place on Friday, May 15, at the Palazzo on Palm Island and the second will be held on Saturday May 16, at the Gables home of Lydia Touzet.  For tickets and more information about the Tea and Trunk Shows, contact (305) 751-9550 ext. 223; Fax (305) 751-9556; E-mail: judy@theplaygroundtheatre.com; or visit www.theplaygroundtheatre.com.

N.K.B. for S.G.K.

It appears that the New Kids on the Block, NKB, (yes, the 80s boy band- who insist on still calling themselves “kids” despite being in their 40s) will host NKB fav, Danny Wood’s birthday celebration at LIV on May 14.  While originally we thought the band should be called, New Kids on the Schlock, we’ve got to give the “boys” props, since proceeds from the event go to benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Opening this Weekend:

This Friday, the folks who brought you Crobar, invite you to “get off” at Exit 66, their latest beachside club, located at 219 Ft. Lauderdale Beach Blvd.  Earlier this week, two thousand lucky “VIPs” received a motel key, attached to a kitschy red plastic key chain, entitling them to all kinds of benefits, including free admission, guaranteed entry with no waiting and promotions on special events and concert tickets.  Exit 66 kicks off this weekend with party on Friday at 9:00 p.m. and another bash on Saturday, hosted by 944 Magazine.  For more information, contact (954) 357-9981.

Celebrity Sightings:

Nicole Richie inaugurated her jewelry collection, House of Harlow, at the Fontainebleau last Wednesday, alongside her beau, Joel Madden, and notable guests, Katrina Kampins and Ingrid Casares. On Friday, American film director, Spike Lee, was spotted dining at Area 31.  At Saturday night’s Miami Beach Chamber Gala, celebrities included George Hamilton, who served as Master of Ceremonies and Elle McPherson, who accompanied honoree, Jeff Soffer.  Alonzo and Tracy Mourning were also honored.  Dennis Rodman and his posse dined and reportedly dashed at Phillipe Chow at the Gansevoort over the weekend, Rodman will celebrate his birthday on Saturday at Pangea at the Hard Rock.  Matt Damon, his wife, Lucia and daughters enjoyed Mother’s Day brunch at Smith and Wollensky on Sunday afternoon. Emilio Estefan power- lunched at Abokado in Mary Brickell Village on Monday.