THURS 27
The Drums Portamento, The Drums' 2011 sophomore LP, is a sweetly sparkling and buoyant slice of indie pop with dark lyrical overtones that reflect on the realities of life, love and loss all recorded as a three-piece after the exit of guitarist Adam Kessler. This tour finds the remaining three members (singer Jonny Pierce, drummer Connor Hanwick and synths/keyboards man Jacob Graham) joined by a few aux players on guitar and bass, bringing a fuller sound to their live shows. (The Social, Orlando)
Colbie Caillat Colbie Caillat keeps the catchy California choruses coming with her summer tour in support of All of You. Caillat's third album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 in July, and fans downloaded it so heavily that it jumped to No. 2 on iTunes. The "Bubbly" singer who was rejected twice by American Idol at the pre-audition stage won two Grammys in 2010 for her collabs with Jason Mraz ("Lucky") and Taylor Swift ("Breathe"). All of You finds rap artist Common lending his rhymes to "Favorite Song," and showcasing C.C.'s ability to delve into an array of musical styles. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) —Lindsay Collette
Dirty Bourbon River Show DBRS is the sort of band that posts recipes for comfort food on their blog (the last was for a cheesy "Crazy Man Casserole"), and dishes out the sort of music that you'd eat with it — self-styled "gypsy folk circus rock" direct from New Orleans and drawing on that region's musical styles, adding vocal jamming, scatting, and general three-ring hijinks. Five multi-talented musicians fill out the lush instrumentals — co-lead vocalists Charles "Big Charlie" Skinner and Noah Adams, the former on trombone and ringmaster to the group, the latter jumping between piano, guitar and trumpet; back-up singers Matt Thomas (on tenor and baritone saxophones and clarinet), Jimmy Williams (on bass and sousaphone), and drummer Dane "Bootsy" Schindler. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
FRI 28
The Meatmen w/Ulcer/The Scurvy/Dead Cat Lounge/Abortion Twins A cheeky punk band originally established in 1980, The Meatmen are considered seminal in no small part due to crude and colorful frontman Tesco Vee, who was not only entrenched in the DIY hardcore punk scene but loved on it, made fun of it and exposed it to the underground masses via influential fanzine-cum-rag Touch and Go, which birthed the label of the same name and documented the emergence of punk acts outside LA and NYC in its short 22-issue run. Meanwhile, The Meatmen rocked outrageously, monkeyed around, and wrote and performed songs with titles like "Blow Me Jah," "Lesbian Death Dirge" and "Tooling for Anus" before disbanding in 1997. The reunion happened in 2008 and an LP, Cover The Earth, followed in 2009. Vee signs copies of a new book, Touch and Go: The Complete Hardcore Punk Zine '79-'83, at Mojo Books & Music in Tampa at 7:30 p.m.; the band headlines a bill of punk rock at the Mug later that night. (Brass Mug, Tampa)
Jake Owen The shaggy-haired country hunk hovered in the Top 10 high of the Billboard Country charts since his 2005 debut, but scored his first No. 1 hit and platinum-selling album with the twangy summery nostalgia of 2011's Barefoot Blue Jean Night. (Dallas Bull, Tampa)
The Rocky Horror Lotion Show w/Poetry n' Lotion/The Winter Sounds/Palantine Prog-jazz-metal fusion four-piece Poetry n' Lotion performs the entire score of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, start to finish and complete with band members and special guests assuming the roles of RHPS characters, like a shadow cast without the actual screening. Expect plenty of surprises. A word to the wise — the film won't be shown, but many of the cult traditions (callbacks, prop-throwing) will be followed. Read more about the production on p. 45. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
Rod Hamdallah You might do a double take the first time you hear Rod Hamdallah's soulful, molasses-thick voice coming from his baby face, but the 21-year-old Atlanta singer has been at it since the age of 16, and belts out the blues with all the pain and conviction of a much older soul. (Ella's Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa) —Christopher Spata
Kinky Country Halloween Party w/The Riders of the Easy Posse One of the Bay area's few bands that deliver live country line dance music as well as old school country and Americana by the likes of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, and Hank III. But the four-piece Posse — made up of Adam Khan, bassist for Auto!Automatic!! taking a turn on guitar, drummer Ryan Chamblee, lead singer Shawn Rupp and Dali Kranzthor on bass — likes to play around, and as it gets later, the setlist becomes more diverse, the band delving into a repertoire of reggae, funk, classic rock and hip-hop covers as well as originals and some jammy mash-ups. This Halloween gig features a costume contest, bar tab giveaways, and TBA guests. (Yeoman's Road Pub, Tampa)
Josh Groban Singer, songwriter, musician, actor and record producer Josh Groban blew us away in 2003 with his cover of Brian Kennedy's "You Raise Me Up." Four albums later, Groban promotes Illuminations with his current "Straight to You" tour. The multi-platinum artist raises Tampa's spirits with an interactive theatrical performance that features a setlsit made up of songs previously chosen by fans. (St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa) —LC
Guns n' Roses What worse than watching Axl Rose attempt to recreate the wild, youth-and-rage-fueled outrageousness of his glory days in the fugliest set of hair extensions/braided implants you've ever seen? Actually having to sit down and listen to 2008's Chinese Democracy. (Amway Center, Orlando)
Hanson w/Charlie Mars The three Hanson brothers are all grown up and reaching out to fans on their 40-plus city "Musical Ride Tour." The soulful-funky pop-rock threesome is promoting their summer hit "Give A Little" and offers a gift of their own: the chance for fans to vote on which Hanson album they want to hear played in full at their hometown venue — Billboard's Top Independent Album of 2004, Underneath, The Walk (2007) or Shout It Out (2010). (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —LC
32nd Annual Freaker's Ball w/The Vodkanauts A 32-year Halloween tradition that rocks a different theme every year and offers fatty prizes for the best costumes adhering to said theme; this year's is "2011: A Space Oddity"; anything sci-fi related is fair game. The Vodkanauts provide power lounge/surf rock soundtrack to the evening's festivities. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
Tornado Rider w/Johnny Cakes & the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso And the award for most rocking use of a cello goes to Tornado Rider, a self-described "powerful bird band of swirling goat god victory that lurks in the spooky forest regions and yells out over the mountains." Check out some of their YouTube videos and you'll see that it isn't a bad way of putting it. (Picture a guy utterly raging the hell out of a cello while hanging upside down in spandex pants and a Peter Pan hat…) These musicians romp on stage, and churn out a weird mix of '80s metal and early punk rock. (Amphitheatre, Ybor City) —CS
SAT 29
Day of the Dead Tribute Show w/Uncle John's Band/Ramblegrass/Urban Gypsies/Between Bluffs/Applebutter Express A two stage, five-band, genre-spanning music event that celebrates the music of the Grateful Dead with sets by acts ranging from the ukulele-driven jams of Applebutter Express to the Bay area's beloved Dead tribute ensemble, UJB. (The Ale & the Witch, St. Petersburg)
Masquerade Ball w/Decoder/Skyline Summer/Richard Cory/Divide The Tide/Currents/To Think As Tree's/The Sandlot/The Velaceras/Relief In Sleep State Theatre's first-ever Masquerade Ball is sponsored appropriately by Monster Energy Drink. Among the performers on the heavy-leaning rock bill are St. Pete post-hardcore sextet Decoder, made up of former members of VersaEmerge, Oceana and Of Machines, currently signed to Rise Records, and celebrating the release of their eponymous debut full-length; and piano-melodic alt-rock outfit Skyline Summer, from Sarasota. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Zappaween w/Bogus Pomp The Frank Zappa tribute band and labor of love led by inimitable guitarist Jerry Outlaw stages their annual Halloween concert. I can't give you any info about what's been on their setlists lately other than "Cruisin' for Burgers," (someone doesn't know how to use the internet), but considering the 'weenie theme, you should hear songs like "Penguin in Bondage," "Cheepnis," "Willie the Pimp," "Magdalena" and (maybe too obvious) "Transylvania Boogie" along with a load of other cheeky-complex compositions as fleshed out with BP's many-piece ensemble. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
Rock Your Horror: Music and Art Fiasco w/Zoogma/Greenhouse Lounge/EP3/more Wanna get your unz-unz-unz dance on and feeling brave enough to venture to Ybor for some non-Guavaween action? If so, we suggest the third annual Rock Your Horror mini-fest at the allegedly haunted Latam. An art show curated by Tempus Projects is paired with a lineup of live jamtronica rock acts headlined by Mississippi-based Zoogma. The five-piece uses a mix of live instrumentation (bass, guitar, drums, synths), turntablism and laptop production to build their house, disco, hip hop and jazz-fused soundscapes. This year's event also features the new outdoor "Voodoo Lounge" tent with DJ sets throughout the night, and a costume contest with prizes. (Latam at Centro de Asturiano, Ybor City)
Memoryhouse When I interviewed Evan Abeele last August, he and Denise Nouvion were in the thick of the blogosphere hype machine. The pair's Ontario-based band — Memoryhouse — had just released the four-track online Years EP for free, and the interwebs were quick to catch on. Abeele's brand of airy, atmospheric production combined seamlessly with Nouvioun's ethereal yet sturdy vocals made for a verdant, instantly likable listen. Fast forward 15 months and the pair have since played countless shows across the country and signed to Sub Pop, which released a tactile edition of The Years in September. The package even contains two new songs — "Quiet America" and "Modern, Normal" — that find the pair adding another layer to their dynamic sound by placing Nouvion's vocals on top of drum and vocal samples and placid string arrangements, all while staying married to their propensity for crafting beguiling melodies. A great alternative to the Guavaween madness. (Cappy's Pizzaria, Tampa) —Ray Roa
Circle Takes The Square w/City Of Ships/Capsule Post-hardcore heaviness, screamo ferocity, and progressive time signatures and techniques are overlaid with talk-sung verses and piercing screeches that sound as if delivered by a pre-pubescent ghoul. Savannah-based quartet Circle Takes the Square is gearing up to release their first new album in seven years and second overall, Decompositions: Volume I, which drops this fall on their own recently-formed Gatepost Recordings label. (Fubar, St. Petersburg)
SUN 30
Mike Aiken Band w/Homemade Wine/Scotty Bryan This trop rock show, dubbed "Tampa Bay Parrothead's Pre-Meeting of the Minds Kick-Off Party," is headed up by roots-country leaning singer, songwriter and sailboat captain/resident Aiken. This is the local launch of a five-day international (chartered, official) gathering of Parrothead Clubs that takes place in Key West Nov. 3-6. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
TUES 01
David Dondero/Kevin Seconds w/Scott Harrell His warbling voice and simple touch on the acoustic guitar are nice, but indie folk-rock artist David Dondero is really, really great at writing songs. Years of toiling on the road have given him the ability to tell stories with both a touching wanderlust and a smart sense of irony. Commercial success has been hard to come by, but artistic praise has arrived in spades; Conor Oberst has cited him as an influence, and NPR once dubbed him one of the "best living songwriters." (The Local 662, St. Petersburg) —CS
Ted Leo and The Pharmacists w/PUJOL/Look Mexico/Native Touring on the well-worn road of support for 2010's The Brutalist Bricks is Ted Leo and The Pharmacists. The band's frenzied and tight blend of crunchy driving garage-punk is marked by the astute, outspoken and rather clever (and reference-filled) lyrical skills of Leo, who rails on subjects ranging from American society and the ease of diplomacy in "Bottled in Cork," to love and socialism in "Ativan Eyes," which finds him using the titular anxiety medication, an obscure punk band called The Flux of Pink Indians, and Hans Christian Andersen's The Snow Queen to get his points across. Among the openers is PUJOL, a noisy retro-leaning post-punk/lo-fi garage outfit that issued an EP, Nasty, Brutish, and Short, on Saddle Creek last month. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
WED 02
Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All The LA rap group with skate punk flavor and extreme fuck-you attitude is blowing up this year. First, group (ring)leader Tyler The Creator snagged a surprise win for "Best New Artist" at the VMAs, and then Adult Swim gave them their own prank show. If you haven't heard OFWGKTA, think a modernized Wu-Tang Clan with an air of '90s horrorcore, and featuring rap artists with the balls to rhyme about dancing in "all-over print panties." Expect all hell to break loose at this one. I've heard mosh pits at their shows rival anything you've seen at a hardcore show. (The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City) —CS
Fitz and the Tantrums w/Walk the Moon "Backed by a five-piece band and sidekick singer Noelle Scaggs, stylish frontman Michael Fitzpatrick shimmied, danced and sang his little white heart out," CL freelancer Casey Cora wrote about Fitz & The Tantrums at this year's Lollapalooza, their set managing to both impress and entertain. Fitz & Co. have gotten lots of good press for their LA-dapper style and indie neo-soul pop that first introduced on their 2011 debut, Pickin' Up The Pieces. Fitz has likened his on-stage dynamic with Scaggs to Ike and Tina in the way they play off each other vocally and get audiences going with their encouraging join-us-in-shaking-it approach. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
M83 w/Active Child French electro-pop maker M83 (the moniker and project of visionary musician Anthony Gonzalez) has culled the best elements of past albums for his band's just-released 2011 LP, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming — heavy synths, crescendos of sound, shoe gaze effects, and melodies aplenty. Fortunately he's also left behind a lot of the gloom and doom so prevalent on 2008's Saturdays = Youth, upping the fun level considerably. This double album fills well over an hour with carefully executed, infinitely danceable tracks that continue to unfold new surprises. (Beacham Theatre, Orlando) —Deborah Ramos
Ybor Jazz Festival Kick-Off Party w/Infinite Groove Orchestra/La Lucha Last year marked the inaugural Ybor Jazz Festival, a multi-day HCC-hosted celebration of Bay area talent. The first-rate lineup for the second annual event reps the genre's range of styles — Brazilian, free-form, fusion, traditional and big band included, contemporary (smooth) excluded as per the fest's slogan ("There's Nothing Smooth About it!"). The intimate "Prelude" concerts open each show with two 30-minute sets in the Studio Theatre; featured concerts are presented in the Mainstage Theatre. La Lucha opens the kick-off with a mix of jazz standards and originals marked by Latin-inspired rhythms. Closing the evening in the theater is funk-jazz-space outfit Infinite Groove Orchestra, a CL fave made up of four fine musicians who, all together, are responsible for producing one of the year's best local albums, People Music. (HCC-Ybor Mainstage Theater, Ybor City)
This article appears in Oct 27 – Nov 2, 2011.