37 September 19-25, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | Music | Mad in MiMo Mad Radio Miami pairs great music with an innovative concept. BY GRANT ALBERT D riving along Biscayne Boulevard and into the heart of the MiMo District in Miami’s Upper East- side, you will find the city’s new- est venue, Mad Radio Miami. Inside the recently closed Selina Miami Gold Dust Motel, the club and restaurant offer ex- ceptional sounds and delicious bites. The original Mad Radio venue began in Me- dellín, Colombia, in 2017 by Leandro Herrera. It has since expanded to Bogotá, Barcelona, and opened in Miami last December. “So if you go to Mad Radio Bogotá, you know it will be the same concept at other locations,” says Camilo Peña, Mad Radio Miami’s general manager. Peña, who moved to Miami a few years ago to work at E11even, was contacted by the Mad Ra- dio team to become the club’s general manager. The Miami location is open from Wednes- day through Saturday from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m., and entry is usually free before 10 p.m. Tick- ets can be purchased via Shotgun or at the door for $10 to $20. The first thing that might catch your eye is the scenic view of the Little River, with the club’s entrance a few steps away. Formerly occupied by Don’s 5 Star Dive Bar, the rose- red interior is equipped with a full bar and a formidable sound system. “It’s a place where you can dance and talk to your friends. It’s a very clean sound,” Peña explains. Patrons can hang out at the bar or the booths on the oppo- site end of the space. DJs usually spin house and disco music in front of the small but cozy dance floor. Like Jolene or Mode downtown, Mad Ra- dio offers a more intimate lounge experience. Patrons can go for an hour or two to hear the DJ spin or grab a drink without much guilt. “We are very big about music and want to bring great music while supporting local art- ists and DJs and being focused on the local community,” Peña says. Peña explains that Mad Radio strives to showcase the city’s local talent. Every Mad Ra- dio set is video recorded and then uploaded to its YouTube channel and online radio station. “We have an app where you can listen to every DJ set live wherever they are playing. Mad Radio is more like a radio station but with a physical club,” he adds. Wednesdays are local nights where an aspiring DJ can take to the decks for the first time and be able to get a recording when they’re done. “We want to support local artists, and we do it by re- cording the DJ sets so we can create content for them to have.” If you’re craving a bite, upstairs is Mad Records Café, which formerly housed Cafe Kush. The menu includes a pulled pork sandwich ($18), smashed burgers ($18), sal- ads ($18), patatas bravas ($15), and espresso ($3). “It has a bar and restaurant, and we have someone playing vinyl. We mainly do electronic music downstairs, so we like to have salsa, disco, reggae, and funk upstairs,” Peña says, adding that the café will expand its hours to include brunch during the peak seasons. You’ll unlikely see DJs like Marco Carola or Carl Cox spinning at Mad Radio, and that’s just fine. The management prides it- self on hosting parties where everyone can enjoy themselves without partygoers feel- ing like they’re being stuffed into an an- chovy can. Mad Radio’s presence also revives a wan- ing area of the city where you can explore the nightlife without entering a full-throttle club. The venue’s team hopes to show that there are still plenty of options past downtown Mi- ami, Wynwood, and South Beach. “It’s a vintage area,” Peña says. “We want people to come out, have a drink, eat a burger, and get people together for good music.” Mad Radio Miami. 7700 Biscayne Blvd., Mi- ami; madradio.co. [email protected] Mad Radio Miami in Miami’s MiMo District wants to spotlight local talent. Photo by LukeBeyonD | CROSSFADE | t Music
