A quick breakdown of shows happening this Saturday, the Fourth of July. Go see something, and have a safe holiday.Sweet Crude with Urban Gypsies Bubbling up from the swamps of New Orleans with bright, joyful, finely-textured indie rock is Sweet Crude, a septet that infuses the French-Cajun sounds of their native town into songs driven by the big bouncing tempos of five percussionists/drummers, fleshed out with twinkling keyboard embellishments, blasts of trumpet and fiddle melodies, marked by multi-voice vocal harmonies and outbursts, and delivered with heaps of unbridled enthusiasm and youthful vigor. This show is free, finds Urban Gypsies performing before the 4th of July fireworks over Tampa Bay, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., then Sweet Crude hitting the stage afterwards, performing 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. (Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg)
mewithoutYou with Foxing, Field MousePale Horses, the sixth and latest full-length from Philly outfit mewithoutYou, departs from the folk hues of the past two LPs while synthesizing the artsy and post-hardcore sounds of early albums to deliver a warm, rich, melody-drenched effort with post rock and experimental tendencies, loud-quiet transitions, and the familiar spoken-crooned urgency and melancholic yearnings of lead singer/accordion slinger Aaron Weiss. The critical buzz on Pale Horses has been running on high – Noisey called it “stirring, powerful stuff, and definitely one of the band’s best albums to date”– and proves mewithoutYou’s best performance to date on the Billboard Alternative Album Charts, peaking at No. 10. (Local 662, St. Petersburg)
The Gwan of July If you’ve been to a Gwan Massive show, you know the ensemble made up of emcees, DJs, vocalists and instrumentalists from disparate Bay area groups can throw it down like no one’s business, leading a dance party while brewing up a dynamic fusion of hip hop, funk, reggae, soul and rock n’ roll. The Gwan of July finds the group playing in full and break-out formations as led by Dubb Tenn, Breakdown, The Rukus, Jinx and Kenosobi Hercules. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
DieDra & The Ruff Pro Band with Bridget Kelly Band Diedra Ruff is the Southern soulful blues-singing diva who belts out commanding lead vocals in the Ruff Pro Band that balance the wailing guitar solos and rhythmic shuffle of producer/husband Keithen, who formed the Alabama-based group to back his wife in 2009. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
4th of July Jam & GCDA 15th Anniversary Party with George Pennington Band The nonprofit Grand Central District Association celebrates 15 years of developing and revitalizing the district with a series of July events that showcase its diversity of businesses. The first of these is also an Independence Day party and jam with Tampa blues rock guitar whiz George Pennington and his band; a portion of door proceeds benefit GCDA. (Hideaway Café& Recording Studio, St. Petersburg)
ALSO TONIGHT
Trae Peirce & T-Stone Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin
Serious Soul: Brian Busto/Santino Vedo/Todd Darrell Hyde Park Café, Tampa
All the Answers Ringside Café, St. Petersburg
Bends 4th of July Beach Blast w/Fayroy/Fast Company DJs The Bends, St. Petersburg
Pirate Flag: Tribute to Kenny Chesney Sat., July 4, Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Archangel/Sewhut/Arakara/Slikk Wikked/Kadaver Dolls Brass Mug, Tampa
The Robber Barons (DJs Sugarbear & ABnormal) 4th of July Throwdown Emerald Bar, St. Petersburg