Dwight Yoakam There’s no forgetting a name like Dwight Yoakam, even if you have no idea what the heck he’s done aside from rocking out some fine country music and appearing in the odd film. (Remember him as the asshole boyfriend in Sling Blade?) He’s covered songs by a diversity of artists outside the twangy realms — Queen, The Clash, Cheap Trick, the Grateful Dead — and written a host of inspired originals. And last year he collaborated with Beck, Kid Rock, and Ashley Monroe of Pistol Annies on 2012 studio LP, 3 Pears. Johnny Cash named him a favorite, so that should tell you something… (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
The Tallest Man On Earth w/Strand Of Oaks The Tallest Man on Earth is the performance moniker of Kristian Matsson, a diminutive Swede with gigantic charisma. He returns to Orlando to perform tunes from third studio album There's No Leaving Now, and he’ll most likely test-drive a new song or two. I first saw Mattson in O-Town four years ago, when he commanded the room with just his acoustic guitar and bellowing, raspy and uniquely-hewn vocals, the dynamic showman’s eyes growing wide with a range of emotion as he ambled to and fro. Folk-pop fans will appreciate Mattson’s signature Nick Drake-influenced finger picking, and his lyrical poetry is just as impressive. Philly-based opener Strand of Oaks is a promising folk-rock act that’s all at once mythic, eloquent and absurd. (The Beacham, Orlando) —Julie Garisto
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12
The Neighbourhood w/The 1975 A slinky, hip-strutting electro-rock track and possibly among the catchiest 2013, The Neighbourhood’s “Sweater Weather” works with a seemingly awkward refrain (“’Cause it's too cold, for you here and now / So let me hold, both your hands in the holes of my sweater”) because of its expert vocal phrasing, the bump and groove that carries it along, and the unexpected melodic sweetness of the acoustic guitar-driven interlude that interrupts it all so easily and brings the track to a slowed-down close. “Sweater Weather” is the first single off the breezy California alt rock quintet’s debut full-length, I Love You, which dropped via Columbia in April. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
CLICK HERE to see a complete rundown of shows taking place this week and in the coming weeks.
