THURSDAY, JULY 25
Souls of Mischief Still Infinity Tour Souls of Mischief emcees Tajai, A-Plus, Phesto Dee and Opio spent more than two decades carving out a respected niche in the Oakland, Calif. underground hip hop scene, as Souls of Mischief and members of alt hip hop collective Hieroglyphics (with Del Tha Funkee Homosapien among others). Debut full-length 93 'til Infinity is still their highest charter to date, a seminal hip hop classic with a title track that finds each emcee relating just how he unwinds — smoking blunts, swigging cooler-chilled 40s, roaming the strip looking for ‘bones’ to pick (hey, ladies), writing rhymes and freestyling, et. al — and each taking turns delivering the refrain (“This is how we chill from ’93 til…”) in his own distinct style and cadence. Last album, 2009’s Montezuma's Revenge, was recorded with producers Domino and Prince Paul (De La Soul, Handsome Boy Modeling School). All four have been working the solo tip since the hype around that album died down, but they’ve reconvened to celebrate the 20th anniversary of 93 'til Infinity, performing the LP in its entirety with a live band on their current tour. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)—Leilani Polk
Col. Bruce Hampton & Pharaoh's Kitchen In usual free-wheeling manner of fostering emerging talent, Col. Bruce Hampton, aka Zambi, has taken AJ Ghent under his wing to front latest outing, Pharaoh’s Kitchen. Hampton’s name is attached to bring out the warm bodies and he presides from a seat on stage, but his spacey guitar licks and absurdist commentary are meant as accompaniment to the real star of the show, Ghent, a Fort Pierce native singer, songwriter and third gen lap steel player carrying on the legacy of his family; grandfather Henry Nelson founded the sacred steel guitar tradition and his dad’s a player, too. Dunedin Brewery hosts both shows of this two-night Thursday-Friday run. (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin) —LP
A Stan Hunter Celebration A local all-star concert program that pays tribute to one of the Bay area’s most esteemed keysmen in jazz, pianist and Hammond B3 player Stan Hunter; Patrick Bettison directs, with Hunter sitting in for the finale. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)—LP
FRIDAY, JULY 26
Brock Butler w/Lather Up! Only a few weeks after his former Perpetual Groove bandmates raged Dunedin Brewery, the melancholic vocalist, songwriter and guitarist who fronted the Athens electro rock band hits New World Brewery. Brock Butler has a ridiculous ear for melody, a full repertoire of original material, and a brain packed full of ready-to-perform cover tunes. In this set-up, Butler is doing the one-man band thing, looping instrumentals he creates on his axe, lap steel slide guitar and various other instruments, singing over top. On this date he’s joined by Lather Up!, featuring instrumentalists from South Florida jam rock outfit The Heavy Pets. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)—LP
Gumbi Ortiz and New Groove City Smooth jazz gets a bad rap sometimes. Gumbi Ortiz and his presumably calloused fingers could change the conversation. The Florida-based conga player or “conguero” has been touring for the better part of two decades, but he’s recently slowed down enough to lead a collective of young musicians in New Groove City, which delivers a mix of hardcore timba and authentic Cuban salsa music. The Palladium’s Side Door is a pretty swell room to catch any show in, so expect this one to sound pretty good. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg) —Ray Roa
Vans Warped Tour ’13 w/Reel Big Fish/The Used Chiodos/letlive./The Ataris/Hawthorne Heights/Allstar Weekend/The Black Dahlia Murder/Never Shout Never/Forever The Sickest Kids/MC Lars/Young London/Juliet Simms/Black Veil Brides/Set It Off/Beebs And Her Money Makers/many more Ah, Warped Tour. Since its inception in 1995, the travelling festival has evolved into a summertime rite of passage for teens and tweens alike (and even the parents who have to drive them there). This year, the festivities once again take over Vinoy Park where revelers will soak up copious amounts of Vitamin D (bring sunscreen!) while a few established punk rock legends like ska icons Reel Big Fish and emo heavyweights The Used lead the charge and a host of some of the genere’s most popular outfits (pop punkers Allstar Weekend, metal lords Black Dahlia Murder, and self-proclaimed “post-punk laptop rap” pioneer MC Lars) compete for the attention amongst a lineup that boasts dozens upon dozens of acts. (Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg) —RR
The Apes/The Duppies It was hard to say goodbye when beloved Tampa-based ska outfit Magadog officially called it quits last fall, but The Apes have made it sting a little less. The Tampa-based nine-piece specializes in first and second wave ska and boasts Magadog frontman Ed Lowery in its lineup. For this free Friday night shindig, the band is joined by rowdy Gainesville-based septet The Duppies, whose rocksteady on songs like “Night Food Reggae,” “Artibella,” and “One Thousand Bullets” is as sunny as it is thought provoking. (Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa) —RR
