\\<\/iframe\>
Animals As Leaders mastermind Tosin Abasi is the low guy on the totem pole for this “Generation Axe” guitar player showcase, and that’s insane. The 35-year-old is easily one of modern rock’s most brilliant axe men, but he is on a bill that features Grammy winner Steve Vai (Whitesnake), Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne), Swedish guitar god Yngwie Malmsteen and one more international in Portuguese-American guitarist Nuno Bettencourt.
Anyone on the fence about heading to the show may want to see the list of non-guitarists playing backup — Pete Griffin (Zappa Plays Zappa) on bass, Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) on keys and JP Bouvet on drums — and then seal the deal.
Generation Axe w/Steve Vai/Zakk Wylde/Yngwie Malmsteen/Nuno Bettencourt/Tosin Abasi . Tues. Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m. $32.75-$150. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater. rutheckerdhall.com.
ALSO PLAYING
Patel Conservatory Holiday Music Concert (Ferguson Hall at David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa) INFO
Melody Artisans of Crooked Thumb: Sleep Songs (Crooked Thumb Brewery, Safety Harbor) INFO
Jazz Dead Tuesday w/Michael Ross Jazz Trio (The Ale & the Witch, St. Petersburg) INFO
This article appears in Dec 6-13, 2018.