It's looking to be a mighty fine Saturday night of concert happenings on this 14th day of May. Take a look at the breakdown of highlights below.
Someday River EP Release with Empire Cinema, Donna Lu Someday River’s “Sleeping Sideways” – the title track off Someday River’s new EP – is built on echoing warp-jangled electric guitar melodies, airy-funky bass grooves and serene vocals waxing on forgiveness and moving on. First single “Day Changer” moves at a faster pace but maintains the same finely-textured instrumental quality – post-folk songwriting that billows and sparkles with effortless restraint. RIYL: Sea & Cake, Here We Go Magic. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)–Leilani Polk
Apocalyptica with 10 Years, Failure Anthem Few bands can accentuate the beautiful side of such a naturally aggressive and powerful genre as heavy metal nor employ classical instrumentation with such finesse as Apocalyptica. The Finnish ensemble is powered by academy-trained cellists whose traditional background adds unexpected dimension and subtle intricacy to their untraditional metallic style. Where Apocalyptica employs cinematic scoring techniques that make audiences feel empowered yet moved, warm-up act 10 Years aims to muddle these emotions with darker, more desolate alt metal content. (The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City) –Justin Croteau
Pangaea Project 6 Year Anniversary For its 65th showcase and celebration of more than a half-decade of providing a platform for rising experimental audio/visual artists, the Pangea Project delivers an all-noise affair, where “Anything could happen” in sets by Hell Garbage, Whitey Alabastard, Durastatic, Vasectomy Party, Trisma, Novasak, Nequam Sonitus, Land of NOD, DJ Hollow Life and Mingus Kingus. Find out more on HERE. (The Venture Compound, St. Petersburg)–LP
In the Round Charity Concert A night of intimated performances to benefit two nonprofits: Instruments of Change (which offers music programs to at-risk youth in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties) and Instruments 4 Life (which provides free instruments and music lessons to local children). The evening kicks off with an acoustic “In the Round” showcase of songs and story-telling by The Western Sons, Actual Bank Robbers, and Thanecha. A stripped-down set by Dropin Pickup closes the evening. (Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg)–LP
Extra Celestial Single Release Party The teen-aged all-grrl quartet who was recently featured on the cover of CL has finished recording an original single, “Restart,” and debuts the track (now available on iTunes) amid a setlist touching on tracks by Elle King, the Go Gos, Pat Benatar, twenty one pilots, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and others. Other youthful Jim Chambers Music Box bands performing on this night include Inkblot, Surviving the Mile, Infinity on High and A Long way from Kansas. (Orpheum, Ybor City)–LP
Have Gun, Will Travel 10-Year Anniversary Party Night two of HGWT's anny throwdown features warm-up sets by RedFeather and Lauris Vidal. More info HERE. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys If you dig authentic Louisiana-brewed zydeco music, the son of Lawtell Playboys frontman Delton Broussard (Jeffrey) brings his accordion chops, soulful vocal stylings and R&B-infused brand of Creole to the ‘Burg. (Edge of 9, St. Petersburg)–LP
Otep Fest 2016 Otep Shamaya has established herself as a multi-talent capable of far more than just music-making – the queen of politically correct incorrectness is also an author, actress, outspoken activist and feminist role model. Her L.A.-based namesake group has been shaking the industry for 16 years, setting uncomfortable truths against one hell of a creepy soundtrack – grainy, chaotic, but somehow seamless heavy metal. Otep Fest 2016 falls directly after the release of seventh LP and Napalm Records debut, Generation Doom, which means newer cuts like “In Cold Blood” will be sandwiched between fan favorites. Rounding out the fest bill is Through Fire, Doll Skin, September Mourning, Psykotribe, The DooD, Divine Science, (N)caption and Red Calling. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) –JC
Igor and The Red Elvises with UNRB In what seems to have become a quarterly throwdown at the Skipperdome, the Red Elvises have returned to rockabilly faces off with their trademark Russian-slathered surf-washed style. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)–LP
Ex-Breathers, Permanent Makeup, JITTERS Seminole Heights’ sick record shop throws a free show and your only obligation is to get there on time (7 p.m. sharp) and come with an open mind, though bringing some scratch to donate to the bands for gas will make you look like less of an ass. Plus, the lineup is well worth it: hardcore punk act Ex-Breathers headlines behind a recent outing, Past Tense, that flourishes with a workmanlike sensibility. Permanent Makeup is delves into some deeply refined psychedelic post-punk that would have put early Flaming Lips to shame with its focused yet utterly manic energy. Jitters rounds it out with robust avant-garde noise rock sure to change time signatures often enough to make your head spin. Fun for calculators, and humans alike. (Microgroove, Tampa) –Brian Roesler
ALSO TONIGHT
Surf’s Up: Beach Boys Tribute Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center, Pinellas Park
Este Loves Band Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
The New Rulers Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin
Drink & Destroy Crew/Switchblade Villain/Car Bomb Driver/Pig Pen Local 662, St. Petersburg
Solstice/Thrash or Die/Diabolic/Ulcer/Untoten Krieg/Otherworld Brass Mug, Tampa
Wolf-Face Album Release Show w/Caffiends/Stegosaurus The Bends, St. Petersburg
Franz Mantini Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa
2nd Saturday Concert w/Aftermarket/Gambit the Bandit/Amiam/Brilly Asher/Genolexis Fubar, St. Petersburg
This article appears in May 12-19, 2016.