THURSDAY, MAY 23
Hockey/The Hush Sound w/River City Extension/Genevieve/Lucas Carpenter The sexy post-punk rock and electro-disco roll of Hockey’s debut full-length, Mind Chaos, made it a favorite of 2009, though the Portland-based outfit (featuring core members Benjamin Grubin and Jeremy Reynolds) has since ventured into synthesized dance punk territory with more fuzzy tones, New Wave bounce and technotronic embellishments and effects in sophomore follow-up Wyeth IS, out digitally a few weeks ago and due for a physical release in late June. Co-headlining this run of dates is Chicago-based jangly pop-rock quartet The Hush Sound, on the road behind their first new recording in more than five years, the Forty Five EP, which features two singles, the pleasant easy-going groove of “Not a Stranger,” and “Scavengers,” a new riff on that old Maxine Nightingale-produced disco tune, “Right Back to Where We Started From.” (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Krisiun w/The Hackish/Arbitration/Contorted/Prophecy Z14 Three brothers (Moyses, Max and Alex) make up Brazilian outfit Krisiun, which serves earsplitting doses of crunchy-shredded guitar, heavy-hammering drums and enough guttural-toned, speaking-in-tongues-style barks and bellows to make any death metal devotee happy. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers featuring Edie Brickell So, yeah, Steve Martin plays banjo. In fact, he’s been a plucking fool since the age of 17, self-taught to start, then with educated help from legendary folkie John McEuen (who happens to be performing at the Hideaway on Friday night). He actually opened for McEuen’s Nitty Gritty Dirt Band when touring with the banjo-accompanied routines of his early (1970s-era) stand-up career, and the past several years have seen his focus veering away from acting and comedy toward his love of bluegrass. His first-ever musical recording, the McEuen-produced The Crow: New Songs for the 5-String Banjo, was delivered in 2009 and earned a Grammy award. He connected with Steep Canyon Rangers on NPR’s A Prairie Home Companion following its release, and the N.C. bluegrass quintet has regularly backed him since, appearing in 2011 follow-up, Rare Bird Alert, and supporting him on the road. This tour finds the 67-year-old joined by folk-rock songstress Edie Brickell as they promote a new joint LP, Love Has Come for You (Rounder Records), and the setlist will feature material from all three of the aforementioned albums, among other surprises. (Mahaffey Theatre, St. Petersburg)
FRIDAY, May 24
John McEuen A country rockin’ folkie of some renown and Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s most famous founding member next to Jackson Browne, John McEuen has been laying it down for nearly five decades and has appeared on more than 40 albums as producer, writer and session artist. Though he’s a multi-instrumentalist versed on guitar, fiddle, mandolin, piano, lap steel and bass, his chops on 5-string banjo (see the previous item on Steve Martin) have earned him the title of “The String Master.” (Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg)
Eric Lindell New Orleans-by-way-of-Cali singer-songwriter Eric Lindell sets his raspy soulful vocals against an easy-going, horn-escorted mix of blues pop sweetness, swamp rock grooves and funky rockin’ R&B. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
Willie Heath Neal A roadworn, Atlanta-rooted outlaw country troubadour who cites Hank Williams and Johnny Cash as influences, Neal’s deeper-toned drawl crooning and howling against guitar-driven odes. Neal makes three stops around town this weekend; this night at Ella’s, The Hub in Tampa on Saturday and Copperheads Taphouse in Safety Harbor on Sunday. (Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa)
Daddy Yankee The media buzzed with rumors about Daddy Yankee’s sexuality last month when a photo of his doppelganger smooching another man surfaced on the Internet, and was followed by a statement supposedly written by Daddy Yankee confirming his fear of being outed. The rumor-mongering got so unruly, in fact, that the bilingual Puerto Rican reggaeton and hip-hop artist was forced to hold a press conference to squash it. No, he’s not gay. Yes, he supports gay rights: “I have people on my team who are gay, and I respect them entirely and give them work,” he commented. This date supports sixth studio album Prestige, issued last year. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
Drowning Pool w/A(k)new/Blinding Darkness/War Of Thrones “Let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the floor, let the bodies hit the floor,” whisper-chants the late Dave Williams before he roars into the refrain of “Bodies,” the highest-charting and best-known single by grungy heavy metal outfit Drowning Pool. Williams passed away in 2002 and his position was most recently filled by Jasen Moreno, who joined Drowning Pool last year and is featured on 2013 fifth studio album, Resilience. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Poncho Sanchez & His Latin Jazz Band Delivering a vibrant, percussive-infused brand of Afro Cuban-style jazz is iconic conga player, salsa vocalist and Latin Jazz Band leader Poncho Sanchez. The expressive Mexican-American conguero’s last studio album, 2011’s Chano y Dizzy!, honored the musical legacy of his idols (the late Chano Pozo and Dizzy Gillespie) with songs from their repertoires as well as compositions by others capturing the essence of one or the other or both. The album was produced with help from Concord Jazz labelmate, trumpeter/composer/arranger Terence Blanchard, and longtime bandmate Francisco Torres (trombone/vocals). On this Tampa date, Pancho, Torres and the rest of his band (pianist David Torres, sax player Rob Hardt, trumpeter Ron Blake, bassist Tony Banda, timbalist George Ortiz, and percussionist Joey De Leon, Jr.) perform selections off Chano y Dizzy! (“Manteca” “Con Alma” “Groovin’ High” and the like) as well as various other cuts from the Sanchez catalog. (Friday Morning Musicale, Tampa)
BURGATORY w/Chris Wollard + The Ship Thieves/many more Michael J. Wolf, frontman of hairy rocking Wolf-Face, went big for his birthday this year and put together a mini-festival featuring 10 emerging Florida acts in the punk, hardcore and indie rock sonic realms. The date also marks his band’s one-year anniversary of playing out live, and they perform alongside The Future Now, Tally Ho!, Fero Lux, Permanent Makeup, Zulu Wave, New Cathedral, Hovering Humanoids and Morgan Soltes. Hot Water Music side project Chris Wollard + The Ship Thieves (led by HWM’s singer and guitarist) headlines. (The Local 662 and Fubar, St. Petersburg)
Blues for Night People: The Nate Najar Trio Remembers Charlie A program dedicated to Charlie Byrd and celebrating the release of a new recording, Blues For Night People: The Nate Najar Trio Remembers Charlie Byrd. Fingerstyle nylon string jazz guitar extraordinaire Najar, vibesman/drummer Chuck Redd and bassist John Lamb have put together a suite of songs either composed by or associated with Byrd. On an interesting side note, the album actually features Najar performing on Byrd’s own 1974 Ramirez guitar. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
SATURDAY 25
Bands on the Sand 5 w/Cope/Applebutter Express/Bobby Lee Rodgers/Shoeless Soul/Between Bluffs/Sunza Beaches (Saturday) and Black Honkeys/Funky Seeds/Talk to Mark/Grant Peeples & the Peeples Republik Band/Sunset Bridge Band/Spark Notes (Sunday) Treasure Island’s fifth annual Memorial Weekend music showcase features first-rate live entertainment right on the beach by a dozen of the area’s most beloved jam-scene acts, jumping all over the genre map from the melody-rich roots rock and funky strutting dance shenanigans of Cope to the ass-shaking funk, soul and R&B party vibes of The Black Honkeys. Both are headlining acts that close the festivities on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, with Cope’s set followed by a fireworks extravaganza. (Treasure Island Beach, Treasure Island)
Early Forms/Empire Cinema/Diealps!/Hunter:Gatherer It’s a four-pack of superior indie music hitting hard at Fubar. Among the performers are Early Forms, the melody-and-grunge rock project of Vinnie Cosentino (Palantine), Alastair St. Hill (Gentlemen Please), John Smith and Andy Stern (Feral Babies); dark-tinged alt-rock/post punk outfit Empire Cinema; and upbeat, vintage-waltzing pop rockers DieAlps!. (Fubar, St. Petersburg)
Johnny Rawls Seasoned soulful bluesman Johnny Rawls first started playing guitar at age 12, opening for the likes of B.B. King and Bobby Bland when he was a member of the O.V. Wright Band for more than a dozen years, and spent a number of years recording his own 45 rpm singles for his label, Touch Records, before finally releasing a full-length debut more than two decades deep into his career. Today, Rawls has 14 studio LPs under his belt; the latest was 2012’s Soul Survivor. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
Sunset Music Festival w/David Guetta/Steve Aoki/Knife Party/Alvin Risk/Carnage/Brass Knuckles/Danny Avila/Dillon Francis/Flosstradamus/HeRobust/Krewella/Le Castle Vania/Nerd Rage Sunset Events and Disco Donnie are behind the massive Sunset Music Festival, which features some of the most popular EDM artists around (mega house producer David Guetta, electro-house and dubstep favorite Steve Aoki, and London purveyors of electro house, moombahton and drumstep, Knife Party, among others) practicing their synthetic craft in an arena setting, along with buzzing up-and-comers like glitchy Danish duo Pegboard Nerds. More info, tickets and the like at sunset smftampa.com. (Raymond James Stadium, Tampa)
97X Backyard BBQ w/Coheed & Cambria/Twenty One Pilots/New Politics/The Features/The Virginmarys/The Unlikely Candidates You could argue that 97X listeners were at least partially responsible for choosing the lineup at Backyard BBQ this year based on the alt-rock radio station’s “You Control the Music” format; several of these artists have been voted to the top of the daily 97X playlist regularly since the format changed in January. Morose prog-alt-post hardcore ragers Coheed & Cambria headline, with synth-and-rap-rocking Ohio group Twenty One Pilots warming up the stage beforehand. Another highlight: The Features, a personal favorite from Tennessee delivering Krauty-groovin’ post punk and strutting indie rock that’s been all over the airwaves via upbeat single, “This Disorder.” Tickets to the event are free, but you’ve gotta pick them up at participating outlets listed on 97xonline.com. Check out the complete schedule and get more info about the bands in the program guide inserted into this week’s CL. (Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg)
Geri X/Sons of Hippies/Kill Mama/Lonewolf Local brooding beauty and stalwart darling of the scene, Geri X leads a lineup at New World with a set of her intelligent, often forlorn alt-folk ’n’ blues, and gets support from propulsive, Katherine Kelly-fronted electro-tripadelic rockers Sons of Hippies (also labelmates on Cleopatra Records), grunge-fuzz two-piece Kill Mama, and one-man banjo-driven harmonica-blowing blues-roots band, Lonewolf. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
SUNDAY, MAY 26
Sevendust w/Monster Truck/Pop Evil Atlanta alt-metal vets Sevendust seemed to have adopted the old adage “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” for their ninth album. Continuing with the formula that made them famous — heavy guitar riffs, pounding drums, thumping bass and the melodic howling vocal power of dreads-thrashing frontman Lajon Witherspoon — Black Out the Sun proves to be yet another strong offering. Sun is the first release on their own 7Bros. label, and it debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hard Rock charts. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —Matthew Drozdeck
Yngwie Malmsteen w/Burning Heat With a name that’s more than a mouthful and technical chops up the wazoo, Swedish-born Miami-based Strat-slinger Yngwie Malmsteen has risen in the axe ranks with his neo-classical fret-running style, which he delivers amid heavy metal and hard rock aesthetics. His last studio album, 2012’s Spellbound, was his 19th overall. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
Ol’ Dirty Sundays 2-Year Anniversary Party w/DJs Casper, LeSage, Blenda, Mega, Deacon, Sandman, Fader, KU, YNOT, Mr. Marley, Qeys, Soft Rock Renegades, Shafiq and ROIAL1 Jesus Christ, it’s been two years? Feels like taste-making DJs Casper and LeSage have been cranking out old school and new school hip-hop, soul, funk, reggae and generally booty-shaking groove-oriented joints forever, bringing in decks guests from around the country (and some from right here in the FLA), and making Sunday nights seem less like the bleak end of the weekend and more like a fresh and bumpin’ kick-start to a new week. All the usual suspects are in attendance at the anniversary party to deliver their own brand of jams, mixes and spins, as are select special guests. Performances by hip-hop groups with live instrumentation, Samurai Shotgun and Gwan Massive, are also slated for the evening. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
17th Annual Scratch My Back Concert w/The Lint Rollers feat. Dennis Toerpe/The Quivering Rhythm Hounds/The Groves Unplugged The annual charity concert raises funds for local animal rescue organizations (this year’s beneficiary is Friends of Hillsborough County Animal Services) while delivering an evening of rock ’n’ roll to the local masses; $10 suggested donation. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
King Lincoln feat. Duane Trucks w/The Groves/The Laurel Canyon One of Col. Bruce Hampton’s many protégés, and hailing from a bloodline of accomplished Jacksonville-bred musician folk, is Duane Trucks, who pounds skins like his uncle Butch (though he didn’t actually learn from the Allmans’ drummer) and is likely a good man to have around when brother Derek is looking to jam. His band, King Lincoln (formerly known as Flannel Church), delivers soul-soaked rock ’n’ roll, and he knows when to build tension and when to step back and simply hold a steady roiling rhythm under the dual guitar runs and urgent howling harmonies or croons of Lawson Feltman and Marshall Ruffin. This is the quartet’s first tour as King Lincoln. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
TUESDAY, MAY 28
BryanStars Tour: Late Nite Reading w/Farewell My Love/Snow White’s Poison Bite/Her Bright Skies/Catching Your Clouds/Joel Faviere Who is Bryan Stars and what the eff does he have to do with this tour? The young, dynamic YouTube phenom (real name Bryan Odell) interviews underground punk, emo, pop and rock bands on his channel (271,773 subscribers, 51.5 million views total), along with posting videos featuring his favorite flavor of the moment. Last year he took a handful of these bands on the “BryanStars Tour” and it went so well he put together a bigger redux for the spring, with six bands hitting 35 cities as headlined by Indiana electro-pop punk outfit Late Nite Reading. (Orpheum, Ybor City)