Traditionally, the Florida concert season starts winding down as the summer draws near, the temperatures rise to sweltering levels, and the general inconvenience and added gas expenses — from having to run the AC the whole time or face melting into a puddle of sweaty ooze — outweigh the monetary benefits and potential for audience-building.
But there are several concerts this summer worthy of braving the heat for.
One of the most buzzed-about (and already sold-out) concerts on the near horizon is British alt-rock guru Morrissey, former Smiths frontman and solo artist of much repute (May 30, Mahaffey Theater). The following night proves another summer concert highlight: a one-off reunion show by The Grecian Urns. The local CL favorites issued an amazing debut full-length and won a Best of the Bay award in 2010, then dissolved the following year (May 31, Green Bench Brewing Co., St. Petersburg). Georgia alt-country behemoths Drive-By Truckers make their way back here behind 12th full-length, English Oceans (June 3, Tampa Theatre).
June also marks the return of electro-groove-rock duo Phantogram, which plays a bigger room than their 2011 Czar stop backing a strong sophomore LP, Voices (June 29, The Ritz Ybor). Hushed, soulful folk singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne finally revisits the Bay area as well (July 10, Ruth Eckerd Hall). And even though Nine Inch Nails skipped Tampa in favor of Orlando on last fall's tour with Gary Numan, the electro-industrial Trent Reznor-led outfit hits town this time around and brings a significant co-headliner: hard grinding post-grungy rockers Soundgarden, reunited since 2010 and backing their first album of new material in 16 years. (Aug. 11, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre). Finally, Orpheum sets the stage for Southern Darkness Fest, a heavy music festival led by post-metal quintet Pelican and featuring more than 20 bands spread over three venues in Ybor (Aug. 23, Orpheum, Crowbar and Ybor Live).
MORE CONCERTS COMING UP THIS SUMMER
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah June 5, Orpheum, Ybor City
Andrew Jackson Jihad w/Cheap Girls June 6, Crowbar, Ybor City
Robin Thicke June 7, Universal Orlando Resort Music Plaza Stage, Orlando
Deafheaven June 17, Crowbar, Ybor City
Little Dragon June 11, Orpheum, Ybor City
Underhill Family Orchestra June 14, New World Brewery, Ybor City
Cut Copy June 17, The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City
Cage the Elephant June 17, Plaza Theatre, Orlando
David Dondero June 25, Green Bench Brewery, St. Petersburg
Allagoch June 25, Orpheum, Ybor City
Hundred Waters June 28, The Social, Orlando
Katy Perry June 30, Tampa Bay Times Forum, Tampa
The Menzingers July 2, Orpheum, Ybor City
moe. July 5, Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Gold Panda July 9, Crowbar, Ybor City
Lionel Richie w/CeeLo Green July 14, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
KISS and Def Leppard July 23, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
Fall Out Boy and Paramore July 26, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
Maxwell Aug. 1, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Dirty Heads & Pepper Aug. 1, Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Peter Murphy Aug. 6, Orpheum, Ybor City
Memphis Music Fest w/Booker T. Jones/The Bar-Kays/William Bell Aug. 8, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
Linkin Park/Thirty Seconds To Mars w/AFI Aug. 9, George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa
Crosby Stills and Nash Aug. 9, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
One Republic w/The Script Aug. 16, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
Tori Amos Aug. 22, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Summer Jam 10: Finale Aug. 30, Various Venues, Ybor City
Umphrey's McGee Aug. 31, Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
