Colbie Caillat sang and strummed her way into the hearts of thousands on MySpace with a brand of breezy folk-pop that makes one think of what Norah Jones might have sounded like had she relocated from Texas and grown up within view of the beach — Caillat hails from Malibu — and had her heart broken a few more times. A 100,000-plus list of "friends" on MySpace landed Caillat a deal with Universal Republic. Her debut CD has yet to be released, but the memorable, lovers-at-sunset single "Bubbly," which has been played over 3-million times online, is available via iTunes. Incidentally, Caillat is scheduled to tour this summer with the Goo Goo Dolls, with whom she will play at Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa on Aug. 4. Here's a chance to see the up-and-comer at a decidedly more intimate setting and at a decidedly lower ticket price.
Colbie Caillat w/Joran Slane/Channing Deren, 8 p.m. Fri., June 8, Orpheum, Ybor City. $4. —Wade Tatangelo
They Got Sol
Orlando hip-hop crew Sol.iLLaquists of Sound gained national attention last fall when their full-length debut As If We Existed came out on the acclaimed indie label Anti. The disc finds rapper Swamburger, along with singers Alexandrah and Tonya Combs, issuing rhymes and crooning on cuts that attempt to enlighten rather than merely entertain. It's heady stuff, perhaps a bit too preachy for some, but interesting all the same. The soundscapes crafted by DJ Divinci manage to incorporate elements of trip-hop, funk and neo-soul to create a sonic background that is at once innovative and dance-friendly. The bill is rounded out by fellow members of Orlando's indie hip-hop scene: Grey Matter and DJ. J. Storm. Also appearing are Tampa reggae band Tribal Style and Ybor City's own indie-rap collective Gravy Records.
Sol.iLLaquists of Sound w/Grey Matter/DJ J.Storm/Tribal Style/Gravy Records/DJ Nak1, 9 p.m. Sat., June 9, Crowbar, Ybor City. $8 —WT
Deb Coming Out
Halcyon — the long-standing pop-folk duo of Deb Hunseder and Stephanie Callahan — continues as a part-time entity, with monthly gigs at Skipper's. But with her partner ensconced in Nashville, Hunseder, who calls St. Pete home, decided to put together her first solo CD. It's called Surface, and it's good: grabby pop tunes with a singer-songwriter basis, but a bit more of a rock feel than Halcyon. Hunseder is throwing a CD release party at Pro Star Sound Stage, an intimate listening room (it holds about 130) with a top-flight sound system. Another bonus: Deb will play with a backing band.
Deb Hunseder CD Release Party, Sat., June 9, 9 p.m. (doors at 8). The Man in Back opens. $15. myspace.com/debhunseder —Eric Snider
This article appears in Jun 6-12, 2007.