A breakdown of live music happenings this Sat.-Sun., Feb. 7-8SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Rich Aucoin with Michael Parallax, Jeremy Gloff, Mave’s Arcade Aucoin is a Canadian indie rocker with husky vocals and 2014 sophomore full-length Ephemeral finds him producing synths-fueled odes that are aggressively uplifting and dosed in just the right amount of sweet pop earnestness and dark urgent trippiness, lyrics asking questions about love, self and the fleeting quality of existence. Highly intriguing, and paired with superb quality local and regional support. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
Inner Circle Hey – it’s that Jamaican reggae group tapped for the COPS theme song. You know, “Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do? Whatcha gonna do when they come for you?” I hope they’re still making bank on that, since the show is always playing somewhere and filling our heads with police propaganda. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
The Florida Underground Industrial Music Festival As the name suggests, this multi-band showcase features a bill jam-packed with industrial music talent. Aggro-tech headliners Tactical Sekt, from Germany, and Alberta, Canada’s tribal-flecked EBM/power noise outfit Ivardensphere, lead a bill that also touches on Florida-spawned acts like dark electro-industrial Metropolis Records trio Ludovico Technique. Also performing on this night: Mr. Kitty, Die Sektor, Ootz Ootz, Finite Automata, Synthetic Solution and DJ Electronic Commander (Orpheum, Ybor City)
Jonny Lang with Guthrie Brown Ruth Eckerd Hall on the Road takes it to the Palladium for a performance by Grammy-winning guitar phenom Jonny Lang, who started slinging blues rock and singing deep, gospel-soul influenced tunes professionally at the ripe age of 16. He’s since established himself as a musical force who’s opened for the Rolling Stones, B.B. King and Sting, among any others, and been tapped for the prestigious Experience Hendrix Tour with axe luminaries like Buddy Guy and Eric Johnson. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
Living Colour with John Wesley “Shade is the sound of a band coming to terms with its shadows and light … from the blue pulpit of Robert Johnson to the mean red streets of Brooklyn to the golden lure of Hollywood, Shade is the next chapter of a unique American journey,” Living Colour guitarist/composer Vernon Reid wrote in the official announcement about forthcoming sixth album and follow-up to 2009’s The Chair in the Doorway. The NYC band that came up with an dynamic, Afro-centric, novel-at-the-time fusion of funk, heavy metal, hip hop, jazz and alt rock celebrated their 30th anniversary last year. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Under the Covers: Guilty Pleasures We all have our guilty pleasure music. I mean, I hate Maroon 5, but I love me some “Moves Like Jagger,” and I’d never claim to be a Taylor Swift fan, ‘cept for “Shake It Off”; damn, that song’s got a killer hook. The local bands participating in this latest covers-themed showcase come out with their own respective guilty pleasures – Danny Smooth and the Nite Owls (Josie and the Pussycats Soundtrack), Victims of Circumstance (1980s movie hits), Live Forever (Huey Lewis and the News), Ursaria (Jonas Brothers), Twisty Chris and the Puddin’ Packs (Monkees) and A Gentlemen Army (Sum 41). Acoustic set by Tommy Slade included. (Local 662, St. Petersburg)
Moonmen From Mars with Room Full Of Strangers Idiosyncratic Orlando outfit Moonmen from Mars has a loose back-story about crashing here from Mars (hence the name) and perform in shiny full-body spandex space suits while dishing out peppy horror-themed pop-punk paired with digital visuals. Room Full of Strangers has a fuzzier, janglier sound and more aggressive thrust along with weirdo-trippy sonic side dishes. Both bands are from Orlando. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Saganaki Bomb Squad with 6 Volt Rodeo, Midnight Bowler’s League Of all the music I’ve come across, nothing quite compares to the unique, genre-blending style of Tampa’s own Saganaki Bomb Squad. The horn section adds a distinctive ska sound to punk lyrics and up-tempo rhythms, while buoyant basslines, twangy guitar riffs, and Southern-fried vocals have a definitive vintage rock flavor. It’s bizarre, yet beautiful. For this Skipperdome bill, SBS is joined by a few more traditionally-styled rockabilly outfits, 6 Volt Rodeo and Midnight Bowler’s League. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)–Seth Peterson
Abysmal Dawn, 1349, Origin, Wolvhammer LA death metal outfit Abysmal Dawn is currently on tour behind fourth album and Relapse Records release, last year’s Obsolescence. Norwegian black metal four-piece 1349 also has a 2014 album out, Massive Cauldron of Chaos. You can bet both bands will be quaking the walls following crushing warm-up sets by Origin, a technically-inclined death metal group from Kansas, and Minneapolis blackened sludge makers Wolvhammer. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
Travis Tritt A country music pro with Southern rock swagger and gospel-hued soul, Travis Tritt has been churning out chart-topping hit since 1990 beseeching ode, “Help Me Hold On.” His 2007 album, The Storm, was issued by a label that went under shortly after, and was re-released in 2013 under his own Post Oak Records as The Calm After…, beefed up with a few covers including the Patty Smyth and Don Henley duet “Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough” as performed with his daughter. His resonant vocals taking center stage on his latest run of solo, acoustic dates. (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg)
ALSO THIS WEEKEND
Paleface w/Dean Johanesen Sat., Feb. 7, Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
Outshyne Sat., Feb. 7, Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Streetcar Live! w/Rebekah Pulley Duo Sat., Feb. 7, Teco Streetcar System, downtown Tampa
Soulcash Sat., Feb. 7, Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin
Lisa Jordan Sat., Feb. 7, Hideaway Café& Recording Studio, St. Petersburg
Market on 7th Presents: Animal Night w/Rising Down, The Real Clash, G2P The band, Psycho Phonics Sat., Feb. 7, Market on 7th, Ybor City
Fowler's Bluff Sat., Feb. 7, Three Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg
Jonathan Herman Sat., Feb. 7, Catherine A Hickman Theater, Gulfport
Jim Suhler and Monkey Beat Sun., Feb. 8, Market on 7th, Ybor City
Hellwitch w/Secrets She Kept, Sons Of Ragnar, Fires Eternal, Forged With Blood, Upon Graves Sat., Feb. 7, Brass Mug, Tampa
Koncert for Kady 2B w/Sunday Secret, The Traveling Schnauzer Band Sun., Feb. 8, The RITZ Ybor, Ybor City
Elvis: A Concert Experience Starring Jim Jinelli Sun., Feb. 8, Catherine Hickman Theater, Gulfport
Gimme Hendrix Sun., Feb. 8, Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin
Ol’ Dirty Sundays w/DJ’s Shafiq x Blenda x G-Rock Sun., Feb. 8, Crowbar, Ybor City
Eric Best & Justin Vilardi as PTTR w/Brielle Carter Sun., Feb. 8, Mandarin Hide, St. Petersburg
