Some very special live music happening on this last day of July, including the kick-off of a few two-night stands, both in St. Petersburg, and one featuring return of a beloved Southern favorite. More info below...
Perpetual Groove Few fans were surprised when Athens-area jamtronic quartet Perpetual Groove announced they’d be taking a hiatus in 2013. Frontman/songwriter/guitarist Brock Butler had been struggling with substance abuse problems serious enough to affect both his career and home life, and finally decided to take a break from everything to fully focus on getting healthy and happy again. Though bandmates Albert Suttle, Matt McDonald and Adam Perry went on to form a new project, Ghost Owl, the absence of P-Groove was felt keenly, and when the four musicians finally made their way back to the stage, together, tickets to the first few #NotAReunion shows in Athens were gone within minutes. Not sure if one or both of the two (Friday and Saturday night) dates in St. Pete will hit sell-out capacities, but if you want to guarantee you get a dose of pulsing, sci-fi space odyssey electro and funky trippy rock n’ roll, get your tickets stat. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Counting Crows with Citizen Cope, Hollis Brown Last May, Counting Crows arrived in town fresh from recording seventh studio LP and first outing with Capitol Records, Somewhere Under Wonderland. Frontman Adam Duritz talked to CL about the work that went into its content, expressing his excitement about getting away from the raw, intimate self-reflections and feelings-on-sleeve observations he’s made his bread-and-butter, to more nuanced commentary buried in subject matter ranging from Jim Jefferies’ 1910 knock-out by Jack Johnson in “Palisades Park” (actually about how much things change between youth and adulthood), to aliens invading in “Elvis Went to Hollywood” (about the decline of Western civilization). The roots-alt pop rock septet is joined by soulful DC-area singer-songwriter Citizen Cope on the album’s support tour. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
Pato Banton & the Now Generation Pato Banton is petite and full of positivity, so much that the British singer/toaster will keep you smiling and swaying all night long to his feel-good reggae and singing along to favored odes like “Don’t Sniff Coke” and “Legalize It!” the former a warning, the latter a call-to-arms for sensimilla that lists its myriad of benefits. He also tends to perform clad in white, which makes his dazzling inner energy glow ever brighter. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
UZ A leader in EDM’s trap movement along with RL Grime and Flosstrodamus, UZ is one of those electro music makers who prefers to remain masked and enigmatic, releasing the final volumes of his heralded Trap Shit series earlier this month (Trap Shit Vol. 23/25), along with a Frontier EP full of pumping bass, whirring synths, grit-skipping rhythmic breaks, and skewed-up samples. (Amphitheatre, Ybor City)
Dean Johanesen feat. Max Kelly Johanesen brings his acoustic guitar-driven blend of Latin jazz, vintage Americana and Vaudeville-hued swing back to the Hideaway. He opens the night with a solo set, then returns for a second set of originals and covers as joined by Kelly on percussion. (Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg)
Bogus Pomp A very special two-night (Friday-Saturday) stand by Tampa Bay’s premiere Frank Zappa tribute act as piloted by guitar shredding phenom Jerry Outlaw. The 10-member-strong trombone-and-sax-stacked “electric” lineup (minus the chamber ensemble that joined them for the last Palladium showing) features a few new faces (actor/comedian Ward Smith on “vocals and buffoonery” along with Caleb Hall on “vocals and wacky hijinks”), and promises different setlists each night. Bogus Pomp plays Palladium Theater’s intimate Side Door, which means a sell-out is imminent. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
Noisem with Unsacred, God Harvest, Sacridose, Weltesser, Necrid With albums like Agony Defined and this year’s Blossoming Decay, Baltimore-spawned quartet Noisem have been thrashing their way through the death metal/grindcore circuit, taking new fans prisoner with each sweep. Also on the bill this tour around: Unsacred, from Virginia, which peddles a more punk-crusted brand of shrieking, heaving crush. (Epic Problem, Tampa)
ALSO TONIGHT
Crush Tones Ringside Café, St. Petersburg
Crate Brothers The Bends, St. Petersburg
Freelow Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
Lauris Vidal Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa
COMING UP THIS WEEKEND
From House 2 Techno: Holyman/Brian Busto/Silver Fox Sat., Aug. 1, Hyde Park Café, Tampa
Sons of Nuns Sat., Aug. 1, Ringside Café, St. Petersburg
Perpetual Groove Sat., Aug. 1, State Theatre, St. Petersburg
Bogus Pomp Sat., Aug. 1, Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
Geoff Abraham & Stone City Sat., Aug. 1, Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin
Infynite TraxX Album Release Party Sat., Aug. 1, Crowbar, Ybor City
Applebutter Express w/Kristopher James Sat., Aug. 1, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa
Toby Keith w/Colt Ford Sat., Aug. 1, MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa
Big Shoals w/Will Quinlan/The Dram Sat., Aug. 1, New World Brewery, Ybor City
Future Vintage w/Spore Sat., Aug. 1, Fubar, St. Petersburg
Boxcar Hollow w/Ronny Elliott Sat., Aug. 1, Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
The Brand New Opiates Sat., Aug. 1, The Hub, downtown Tampa
Sofia Talvik w/Evan Koteles w/Rene Giaccone Sat., Aug. 1, The Hideaway Café, St. Petersburg
Psychostick w/Wolfborne Sun., Aug. 2, State Theatre, St. Petersburg
Greenhouse Lounge / Moka Only / Illa J Sun., Aug. 2, Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin
Ol’ Dirty Sundays w/Nick Bike Sun., Aug. 2, Crowbar, Ybor City
