Rock band Florida Night Heat performs live on a darkly lit stage at New World Brewery in Ybor City, Florida. In the foreground, a drummer sits behind a drum kit under subtle red stage lighting, holding up a drumstick mid-performance. In the background, another band member stands under a bright yellow-green spotlight wearing a t-shirt and playing an electric guitar. — Florida Night Heat plays New World Brewery in Ybor City, Florida on September 23, 2017. Credit: Michael M. Sinclair

Nearly 16 years after the band’s first jam, this might actually be the final gig for Florida Night Heat.

“It’s a publicity stunt. However it’s pretty plausible,” bassist Andre “Black Viking God” Jones told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay about the auspice of this really being the end.

Plus, he noted, his commute from Brooklyn is a motherfucker.

“I’ve been in LaGuardia since 2pm yesterday,” Jones told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay yesterday.

The Tampa-born instrumental-rock trio includes guitarist Jensen Kistler and drummer Chris Wood, and last reunited for the 75th anniversary of downtown dive The Hub (2024) and the final show at New World Brewery’s Ybor City location (2017).

Now, under the direction of newish Tampa promotions company Sorta Pretty Good, it plays its final show at Crowbar in Ybor City, which is set to close this summer after 20 years in the historic district.

Wood told CL that there’s only a 10% chance this isn’t the last time Florida Night Heat ever plays.

“It would have to be a Bill and Ted type situation where aliens tell us only our music can unite the universe. And then maybe,” Wood added. “But people should definitely come out to Crowbar cause there’s a good chance the aliens just like Smash Mouth or something.”

The Heat boys are in good company, too. Daptone and Linear Labs-flavored St. Pete instrumental quartet Soft Cuff is on the bill and celebrating the release of the first single off the band’s debut full-length while homegrown grunge trio Hovercar rounds things out.

Tickets to see Florida Night Heat, Soft Cuff, and Hovercar at Crowbar in Ybor City on Friday, June 26 are still available and start at $15.

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This article appears in June 18 – 24, 2026.