THURSDAY, MAY 29
Zac Brown Band w/Kacey Musgraves The country and folk-rock behemoths have come a long way since namesake singer-songwriter Zac Brown originally hit the scene a dozen years ago. Since 2008's Hot Country Songs chart topper, "Chicken Fried," his band's name power has skyrocketed and they've been honored with numerous accolades and awards (including three Grammys), not to mention earning the No. 1 spot on the Billboard charts (both regular and Country) for their two most recent LPs. This date marks the first in a two-night Thursday-Friday stand at the Tampa shed. (Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)
Boxcar Hollow A few Thursdays ago, my girlfriends and I stopped into Mandarin Hide for a drink and discovered Boxcar Hollow, a new quartet that practices post-modern folk/newgrass music; the drummer and electric bassist held down a pounding low end, the guitarist played an electric-acoustic model, and the fiddler used effects pedals to wring out wet psychedelic notes from his instrument in addition to traditional style playing, and occasionally sang and jumped on mandolin. (Later, I learned that Nashville-bred multi-instrumental Greg Holt is the official fiddle player for both the Tampa Bay Lightning and Tampa Bay Storm, among loads of other projects.) The set we enjoyed culled from a mix of fiery originals to covers of roots fare by Bob Dylan (we heard "Maggie's Farm"), Charlie Daniels Band, by request ("The Devil Went Down to Georgia"), Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and even a particularly fun rendition of Beastie Boys' "Sabotage." Definitely a worthy Mandarin Hide residency, says me. (Mandarin Hide, St. Petersburg)
Matt Hires w/The Wild After/Kyle Cox Locally bred heart-on-sleeve pop-rock singer-songwriter Matt Hires (who parted ways with Atlantic Records this year to do the indie thing once again) returns to town after a tour supporting Denver folk-pop crooners The Wild After, backing his new Heartache Machine EP. "I'm thankful for the time with the label because I was able to learn a lot and really grow as an artist," Hires wrote in a recent correspondence with CL about his re-acquired freedom. "I feel like I'm a lot more well-equipped to try to do things independently.? He?ll be joined by a full backing band on this night." (Crowbar, Ybor City)
FRIDAY, MAY 30
The Tattered Saints EP Release Party w/Paint The Town Red/Nobody's Darlings/The Stone/The Mobros Guitarist-singer Al Torchia dropped his name from The Tattered Saints' handle a little while back, likely indicating a higher level of songwriting involvement from his current bandmates — Tyler Medley (guitar), Ryan Swilley (drums), Kit Krumbholtz (guitar) and Mike Anthony (bass). This live date marks the release of the Last Train EP, their first recording of driving heartland-flavored rock 'n' roll. (Local 662, St. Petersburg)
Big Kettle Drum Album Release The self-styled ?banjo slinging, foot stomping, suitcase kicking, slide guitar Americana band? from Melbourne hits the Hideaway with a new Pledge Music-funded EP in tow, Lock & Key. St. Pete's own Attic Records hosts. (Hideaway Cafe & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg)
Morrissey w/Kristeen Young This is not a test. The Moz is, indeed, coming to town. In fact, his presence at Mahaffey seems certifiable; canceling a sold-out show is just plain wrong. Hard-buzzing Dave Grohl-approved songstress Kirsteen Young provides apropos warm-up for the iconic one-time frontman of The Smiths, who's on the verge of releasing his 10th solo LP, World Peace Is None of Your Business (out July 15). (Mahaffey Theatre, St. Petersburg)
The Apes w/Little Sheeba & The Shamans/Dubb Tenn The 10-piece that brings together notable members from the Gwan Massive/d'Visitors crew and late beloved ska act Magadog delivers soulful island-vibing bounce with their brass-blasted first- and second-wave ska sounds, as led by former Magadog principal Ed Lowery. Little Sheba & The Shamans dole out vigorous garage-hewn R&B driven by the sassy sultry vocals of frontwoman Ari Little. And Dubb Tenn is the dub-reggae side project of Tribal Style's TK and Mugdub. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
6 Volt Rodeo w/Dean Johanesen Enjoy a night of hot jazz, Western swing and traditional country odes as delivered by 6 Volt Rodeo, a harmonizing quartet from Palm Harbor featuring a few guitarists (one whose arsenal includes lap steel), a double-bass player and drummer. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
SATURDAY, MAY 31
Five Eight/Dear + Glorious Physician/Permanent Makeup New Granada welcomes Five Eight back to the New World stage. The Athens, Ga. favorite has apparently been playing around these parts since the early '90s; their sound carries that era's jangly sort of power pop/college rock appeal marked by plenty of guitar crunch. Gainesville's Dear + Glorious Physician reunited for Plan B last fall after more than six years away, and return for another round of dark, driving, reverb-ed alt rock; a follow-up to their well-regarded 2007 eponymous debut is expected sometime later this year. Permanent Makeup rounds out the bill with strident blasts of art rock. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
SUNDAY, JUNE 1
New Sounds of the Left Coast, Night 2 WMNF presents the second in a series of showcases featuring young up-and-coming Bay area music makers. The final three of the seven chosen from WMNF's call for 'New Sounds of the Left Coast' perform on this night: folk-bluegrass two-piece Acoustic Valley, warped 'n' stained beach punk foursome Golden Coastal Grizzlies, and easy-flowing alt-hip-hop artist Dabron Kain. (The Venture Compound, St. Petersburg)
Yo Gotti featuring YG All the spittas joining Memphis rapper Yo Gotti on his current tour are repped by his Cocaine Muzik Group label — Snootie Wild, Zed Zilla and most recent acquisition, Wave Chapelle — and all appear on the just-dropped Chapter One mixtape with Yo Gotti, whom you likely know best from the charting track he cut with Jeezy and YG, "Act Right." (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
TUESDAY, JUNE 3
Drive-By Truckers w/Water Liars While Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley may not be touring with former Drive-By Truckers brother Jason Isbell — who joins them on stage for a concert to benefit a friend in a few weeks — they can still dominate a stage just fine with their Southern-fried alt-country rock and a lineup that now includes bassist Matt Patton. He joined the band in 2012 and made his DBT recording debut in 10th studio album English Oceans. Drive-By Truckers hit town with their soulful guitar licks and jammy tendencies in support of said album, with warm-up by twangy two-piece blues-roots makers Water Liars, from Mississippi. (Tampa Theatre, Tampa) —Leilani Polk and Cody Smith
Trae Pierce & T-Stone Band Orlando's Trae Pierce is a badass bassist who wields his instrument as if it were a guitar — with slides, solos and plenty of pedal effects, including talkbox — and has four Grammys to his credit; all were earned with The Blind Boys of Alabama, of which he's still an active member. He's also worked with the likes of Robert Plant, Peter Gabriel, Ben Harper and Susan Tedeschi, among many others. His skills are on full display in his six-piece funk rock project, which includes a few female vocalists along with players on organ, bass (groove-style), drums and guitar. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
Floor w/Whores/Cosm Floor hails from Miami and brews up sludgy, droning metal that's drawn out into long and oozing instrumentals full of big, fuzzed-out guitar and crawling, throbbing rhythms. Guitarist/leader Steve Brooks also plays in Torche, and his energy was primarily focused on that particular project until Floor came back together in 2013 after taking some time off. The reunion spurred them to record a new album, Oblation, which dropped in April via Season of Mist. (Orpheum, Tampa)
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4
For The Fallen Dreams w/Obey the Brave/I the Breather/The Reflections Sylar “Fight for your liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifffffee,” frontman Chad Ruhlig roars gutturally over thundering drums, distorted guitar shreds and thick roiling basslines, the sounds on “Emerald Blue” – about taking control and making a life for yourself in a hopeless world – indicative of what you’ll hear on For the Fallen Dreams’ fifth and latest full-length, Heavy Hearts: relentless, bone-crushing metalcore with light melodic undertones. (Epic Problem, Tampa)
American Aquarium w/Tommy Simms The success of American Aquarium's 2012 album Burn.Flicker.Die saved them from a premature break-up. Good thing, too, 'cause American Aquarium fans sure are loyal to their band, as evidenced last month, when the North Carolina alt-country five-piece launched a Pledge Music campaign to raise funds for recording sixth full-length Wolves, and reached their goal in less than eight days. Local rocker Tommy Simms (formerly of Automatic Loveletter and Win Win Winter) provides acoustic guitar-driven warm-up. (New World Brewery, Ybor City) —LP and CS
CLICK HERE for a complete list of concerts happening this week and the coming weeks.
