UNRB CD Release w/Mighty Mongo/Danfield/True Angries St. Pete’s UNRB distills an effusive, jaunty blend of ska, punk, jazz, funk and even polka music marked by the pleasantly tuneful lead vocals and electric ukulele melodies of frontman Noel Rochford, solid lowend and rhythmic back-up by bassist Nic Giordano and drummer Eric Allaire, and layers of bright blasting brass from a four-member horn section — Ben Datin (trumpet), Dan Smith (tenor sax), Matt Weihmuller (bari sax) and Andy Pilcher (trombone, euphonium, tuba). The septet presents their debut full-length, Inform the Masses, at this CD release celebration with support from some other skanky locals. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Kurt Elling w/Whitney James Sophisticated soulful jazz vocalist/composer Kurt Elling has a Grammy win to his name (for 2009’s Dedicated to You) and 10 nominations to back it up, including one for last year’s 1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project. The nine-track album pays tribute to the famed NYC building housing music industry studios, offices and significant songwriters who’ve logged works in the Great American Songbook. Among his selections are “On Broadway,” its ‘60s soul given a loose and rock-groove treatment by Elling while he shows off his vocalese chops, and a reading of Carole King’s “So Far Away,” which he transforms into a gentle, melodic lullaby with atmospheric sonic textures and gliding saxophone. He’s backed by a full band for this performance in support of the album; CLICK HERE to read David Warner's story and interview with Elling. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
SATURDAY, JUNE 8
Obituary w/Druid Lord/SinGod Hard to believe it’s been nearly two years since death metal legends Obituary performed in their Tampa hometown. This date finds the foursome fresh off the “Rotting Slowly in the Pacific Rim Tour” — which backed recently-released anthology, The Complete Roadrunner Collection 1989-2005 — and playing a special one-off at Orpheum. The all-ages show will be filmed for a multi-camera HD webcast streamed live, worldwide, via Unation.com, marking the band’s first ever pay-per-view performance. Support by doom/death metal outfit Druid Lord and metal/hardcore band SinGod makes for one very heavy event. (Orpheum, Ybor City) —Matthew Drozdeck
The Antitype w/SAHE/Maverick Hunter/When I Awake The Antitype has been around since 2011, though the Tampa-based foursome — spawned from two members' former project, Collision Sequence — was strictly instrumental until the recent introduction of vocalist Guy DiGiovanni. His intense howls are just what the group needed to escalate their already captivating and versatile brand of progressive metal to new heights. Live, they deliver an impressive visual experience (usually involving light displays), and they play out rarely, so you won’t want to miss them on this night. For fans of Between the Buried and Me. (Brass Mug, Tampa) —Mina Abgoon
Variance w/Malaya/A Gentleman Army/Civil Action/The Hanging Chads The Tampa Bay Area has been cultivating a rather under-appreciated music scene and some of its brightest alt rockers come together on this bill, from seasoned local vets like female-fronted Variance to barely-in-their-teens upstarts, The Hanging Chads. Civil Action and Malaya offer a heavier approach to alt-rock while A Gentleman Army brings an early ‘00s punk sound. (Local 662, St. Petersburg) —Daniel Figueroa
St. Pete Blues Allstars In the next edition of its ongoing Side Door Series, Palladium welcomes back the St. Pete Blues Allstars. The grooving local collective (which includes keys mistress Liz Pennock and her longtime compadre, guitarist Dr. Blues, among others) plays a program of jump and Chicago-style blues. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
John Clark Band CD Release Party w/The Laurentians/Dumb Blind Luck Elder local statesman of folk rock and Tre Amici favorite John Clark is joined by his full band (lead guitarist Christian Ystrom, drummer Bill LaGrandier and bass player Jason Hawks) at this release party. The foursome plays a new eponymous EP in its entirety, including slide-drenched Southern rock odes like “Hairless Monkey” and “Dark Natured,” Clark’s rusted tin vocals carrying overtop. (Hoffman Porges Gallery, Ybor City)
Nervous Turkey w/Booker Norton Get your blood pumping, heart thumping and feet jumping with a Saturday night serving of Nervous Turkey. Ernie croons in deep, sandpapery growls or bellows vigorously as he wails on guitar, or he rages amped-up harp while Aaron pounds out the rhythms and Mark keeps the organ grooves going in the trio’s mix of down and dirty funk, blues and rock n’ roll. Booker Norton whets the appetite with their guitar-and-drums soul-rock bombast. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
Iceage w/Lower Escapist/Egos Matador Records scooped up Copenhagen noise-punk quartet Iceage and released their sophomore LP You’re Nothing in February. Despite label backing, Iceage self-produced the whole affair and kept the filthy sonic sheen of their original sound intact while tightening up and delivering a dozen dense, distortion-and-reverb-washed songs clocking in at just under a half-hour. You’re Nothing has been inundated with praise, which includes a gushing 8.6 “Best New Music” rating from Pitchfork.com. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
