Tropical Breeze
A certified legend, Caetano Veloso is perhaps the most revered of the veteran artists who started the tropicalismo movement in late-'60s Brazil. A cadre of artists, including Gilberto Gil and Milton Nascimento, began looking out into the world and factoring influences like The Beatles and American jazz into the Brazilian samba/bossa nova framework. They also added a socially aware component to the music. In fact, Veloso and Gil spent a few months in jail for antigovernment activities in '68. Now 65, Veloso enjoys an international reputation and the marketability to go along with it. You don't have to be a Brazil-o-phile or world-music fan to be charmed by Veloso's music. It's gorgeously melodic, often gentle but with rhythmic strength. His lilting tenor caresses the lovely textures of the Portuguese lyrics. Kudos to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center for the show; they brought Gil in a few months ago.
Caetano Veloso, 8 p.m. Fri., Nov. 23, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. $29.50, $45, $65, tbpac.com. —Eric Snider
Acoustic Punk
For the past decade-plus, the Gainesville (by way of Sarasota/Bradenton) post-hardcore quartet Hot Water Music has offered melodic rumblings featuring the gruff growl of singer/guitarist Chuck Ragan. The band broke up last May only to re-form several weeks ago. (They play House of Blues in Orlando on Jan. 19.) Meanwhile, Ragan has established himself as a fierce singer/songwriter, delivering tough acoustic music with the occasional nod to Celtic and country. In the past year, the prolific troubadour released a studio album, a live disc and a series of singles on Side One Dummy Records. Joining Ragan on this ace roster is Sundowner, the acoustic side project of Chris McCaughan, lead singer of Chicago punk band Lawrence Arms. Rounding out the lineup is Louis DeFabrizio, lead singer of Winter Park's Gasoline Heart, an outstanding Americana band with a punk-rock edge.
Chuck Ragan w/Sundowner/Louis DeFabrizio, 7:30 p.m. (doors), Fri., Nov. 23, Orpheum, Ybor City, $10 adv/$12 dos. —Wade Tatangelo
All About Steve
Steve Connelly, singer/songwriter/producer and multi-instrumentalist (he's best known for his face-melting electric-guitar solos), has been one the most integral figures on the local music scene for decades. In the 1980s, he co-fronted the Headlights, a roots-rock band that flirted with national success on its own and then toured the world in 1990 as former Byrd Roger McGuinn's backing unit (Connelly served as band leader). In recent years, Connelly has helmed Zen Recording Studio in Pinellas Park, where he has worked with scads of local favorites. In addition to studio work, Connelly also manages to regularly get on stage with his bands the Lesser Gods (who feature Connelly on lead vocals plus members of The Headlights) and Too Many Subplots (who feature Amy Trachtenberg on lead vocals and Connelly on lead guitar). This show will also feature The Ditchflowers, to whom Connelly typically lends his guitar chops whenever they play out, and GreyMarket, an electronica/rock duo Connelly produced.
Steve Fest w/Lesser Gods/Too Many Subplots/The Ditchflowers/GreyMarket, 8 p.m. Fri. Nov. 23, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa, $7 adv/$10 dos. —WT
This article appears in Nov 21-27, 2007.