Olivia Gatwood, who read at The Attic at Rock Brothers in Ybor City, Florida on January 24, 2019. Credit: Press Photo

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This one technically isn’t a concert, but it’s futile to try and diffuse the power of poet, author and educator Olivia Gatwood. The Boston-based artist is famous for her slam poem “Ode To My Bitch Face,” and the words in a very lyrical 2017 book New American Best Friend could be a young person’s roadmap to survival in an America that can’t seem to address the awkwardness it places on conversations about harassment, sexuality and shame. In short, Gatwood’s words land on ears like punches in a boxing ring — and that’s worth getting off the couch for no matter what.

Olivia Gatwood w/Melissa Lozada-Oliva. Thurs. Jan. 24, 7 p.m. $14-$17. The Attic at Rock Brothers Brewing, 1510 E 8th Ave., Ybor City. ticketfly.com.

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This article appears in Jan 24-31, 2019.

Read his 2016 intro letter and disclosures from 2022 and 2021. Ray Roa started freelancing for Creative Loafing Tampa in January 2011 and was hired as music editor in August 2016. He became Editor-In-Chief...