A diverse smattering of concerts on this Thurs., Dec. 18... breakdown below.Gregory Porter In the hand-clapping title track of Liquid Spirit – the 2013 third full-length and Blue Note Records debut from Gregory Porter – the California jazz singer with the rich, resonant, velvet-brushed intones belts and blues-and-soul-infused sound belts about music that hydrates the soul over bumpin’ upbeat grooves and much hand-clapping: “The people are thirsty / ‘Cause of man’s unnatural hand / Watch what happens when the people catch wind when the water hit the banks of that hard dry land ...”Liquid Spirit won the 2014 Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Porter hits town behind it backed by his full band – a two-sax (alto and tenor) horn section, piano, drums and acoustic bass. (Ferguson Hall at the Straz Center for Performing Arts, Tampa)
Nate Najar’s Jazz Holiday St. Pete’s esteemed finger-style jazz guitarist stages his annual holiday show and in addition to a few of the usual suspects – drummer Mark Feinman and upright bass stroker John Lamb – Najar is joined by trumpeter James Suggs (who’s been gigging around town since his sold-out Miles Davis tribute in November), vocalist Theo Valentin and New York sax playing extraordinaire, Harry Allen. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
Puddles Pity Party Big Mike Geier is a showman with multiple personalities. As Puddles Pity Party, the Atlanta-based performer is a sad clown in full whiteface, his 6’8 frame clothed in an oversized two-piece white satin clown suit with big ruffled collar, a miniature crown tilted jauntily on his bald painted head. His humorous live schtick finds Puddles belting covers of songs ranging from Lorde’s “Royals” (the YouTube video currently has 9.7 million views and counting) to “You Don’t Know Me” by Ray Charles to Burt Bacharach’s “Another Tear Falls” in a booming, Sinatra-smooth baritone. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
4th Annual MoonGoddess Holiday Charity Drive & Tacky Sweater Party with The Heavy Pets feat. Roosevelt Collier, Greenhouse Lounge Bust out that janky old Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer sweater (you know, the one with the blinking nose) before making your way out to the fourth annual holiday charity drive presented by MoonGoddess Entertainment. The bill is ring-led by South Florida jam rock favorites The Heavy Pets featuring sacred steel guitar player Roosevelt Collier (of Lee Boys fame), and livetronica trio Greenhouse Lounge also kicks out a set of untz. A portion of all ticket and bar sales goes to Metropolitan Ministries; bring a new unused toy or food donation and get a limited edition poster, one free Dunedin Brewery beer and a raffle ticket; the prizes are dope, yo. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
ALSO TONIGHT:
Irish Wake/Over The Hill Party with Axe Handle Hound, Funny Bunny Thurs., Dec. 18, New World Brewery, Ybor City
Third Thursday On The Edge w/Farming Mars, Catatonic Scripts, Jeremy Aurswald, Illa B Love and Focus Robinson, STOIC, Shadow_Run Brothers Thurs., Dec. 18, The Amsterdam, St. Petersburg
Ben Vereen, Steppin’ Out Thurs., Dec. 18, Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Displace w/Endless Flow Thurs., Dec. 18, Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin
Ajeva Thurs., Dec. 18, Ringside Café, St. Petersburg
Amber Lynn Nicol Band Thurs., Dec. 18, Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
More concerts for this week HERE.