It is 9 p.m. Saturday night and New World Brewery is already buzzing. At this point, the Ybor City staple renowned for its impressive beer selection and tasty pizza is mostly filled with 30-somethings that don't exactly look like they're here for the show, indie kids and hipsters in their 20’s. Sipping a Framboise and sitting on the long bench opposite the “stage” area, I take stock of the crowd… Lots of beards, flowy skirts, skinny jeans + t-shirt combos — overall, an odd mix of people that only this sort of lineup could bring together and have make sense. [Casiotone for the Painfully Alone pictured; photo by Nicole Kibert.]
About an hour or so later, the Aloha Model starts. It’s a one-man tour-de-force of sound orchestrated by Brian Larson, better known for his role as guitarist of Tampa band Auto?Automatic?? (formerly Auto!Automatic!!, which will be making a triumphant return to the music scene this coming March). Guitar in hand, and an array of buttons, knobs and keys littering the area around him, he bobs his head to his own jazz riff-infused electronica as it filters into the cool January air.
Sleepy Vikings begin just after 11 p.m. The six-piece outfit (made up of former members of Giddy Up! Helicopter) is fronted by a singer with an acoustic guitar and a voice that fits the twangy brand of shoegaze the Sleepy Vikings produce, their sound reminiscent of Bright Eyes' Cassadaga album.
This article appears in Jan 20-26, 2010.