The Handlers, who play Crowbar in Ybor City, Florida on April 24, 2025. Credit: Photo by Jeremy Myers

The Handlers often practice with vintage NASCAR on the TV screen, and it’s not a schtick. Southern to the core, the band was started by Nashville songwriter Riley “Rowdy” Anglen and Tampa’s own JJ Revell, who tech and run sound for Underoath.

It plays loud, catchy country-kissed rock and roll driven by the loud drums of Aaron “Bucky” Buckingham, then complemented by guitars from Connor Udvardy (who techs for Cole Swindell), and Orlando ace John Dorney.

The gang plays a weekender that kicks off in Tampa and wraps in Sarasota.

Tickets to see The Handlers play Crowbar in Ybor City on Thursday, April 24 are still available and start at $10.

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This article appears in Apr 17-23, 2025.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...