Your friendly neighborhood concert breakdown for this Sat., April 30…
DAWNS EP Release Party with Notions, Idle Spirit Freshly-minted local rock trio DAWNS may have only formed last fall as a side project of Zulu Wave primaries Michael Barrow (vocals, guitar) and Ariel Cortes (bass), but has already completed a four-song self-titled EP that finds Barrow’s powerful calls and more unhinged yowls soaring over darkly churning and roiling instrumental washes that have the bite of ‘70s-era metal (“Stone”) and vibe of ‘90s alternative (“In Hell”) but maintain a distinctively modern appeal in its layers of fuzz, noise and effects. (Cage Brewing, St. Petersburg)
35th Annual Tropical Heatwave WMNF returns to the traditional Saturday-only schedule and abandons its regular Cuban Club digs for the 35th edition of Tropical Heatwave, an expansive multi-venue music fest that takes over Ybor City every spring. Breezy indie pop makers Ra Ra Riot, Southern groove rockers Bright Light Social Hour and roots-soul station favorite Chuck Prophet and Mission Express are among the national acts leading the nearly 50-act lineup, which is spread over 10 stages along five blocks. More info in this week's story by Scott here, and at tropicalheatwave.org. (Various Venues, Ybor City)
Steel Panther Get your laugh rocks off with this tongue-in-cheeky hair metal band that comes direct from the capital of all things hedonistic (L.A.), parodies that city’s glammed-up ‘80s era lifestyle with blown-out stage personas (make-up and fashion included) and profanely humorous subject matter. Sample song titles: “Gloryhole,” “You're Beautiful When You Don't Talk,” “I Like Drugs,” and “Gangbang at the Old Folks Home.” (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
Sunscreen Day of Music Sunscreen Film Festival and AAG Live host this all-ages rooftop event, which pairs clips from this year’s fest with live music by Ajeva, Twisty Chris & The Puddin’ Packs, Russell Fama & The Lost Planets, Botomatics, Paint The Town Red, Hannah Daly and Ken Apperson. A portion of proceeds will benefit SFF and the St. Petersburg Clearwater Film Commission. (Station House Restaurant, St. Petersburg)
Boston: 40th Anniversary Tour It’s been four decades since soft prog rock vets Boston released their 17x platinum eponymous debut, which spawned several singles that are still in classic rock radio rotation today: "More Than a Feeling," "Peace of Mind," "Foreplay/Long Time", "Rock and Roll Band" and "Smokin'." You’ll likely hear all of these, plus other Boston hits ("Don't Look Back," "Amanda") and select deeper cuts during this celebratory evening. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
ALSO TONIGHT
Halfway to Halloween 2016 w/[De]Absolve/Funeral for a Clown/Screaming at the Silence/Psykotribe/The Cunningham Wake (Local 662, St. Petersburg)
BARS w/Mike Mass/Queen Of Ex/Betty Dawl/Ameen Spade/Mari (The Bends, St. Petersburg)
Fat Jim Morrison/John Nowicki(Mermaid Tavern, Tampa)
Rich Whiteley Band w/Helena Kletch & Meg Shannon (Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg)
This article appears in Apr 28 – May 4, 2016.