THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11
Borgore Standing out in a genre that has seeped into every part of our culture can be a challenge. Israeli dubstep DJ/producer Borgore instills his own brand of wobble bass-slinging with a healthy dose of heavy metal textures and general dark sonics into his so-called gorestep sound. His New Decisions EP features a surprising guest — teen sensation Miley Cyrus — and you can get a copy of the new album in addition to hats, tees and a pair of Borgore pasties (in pink, white or blue) at buygore.com. I wish I was making this shit up. (The Honey Pot, Ybor City)
Skeletonwitch Prosthetic Records heavy metal purveyors Skeletonwitch has been given the seal of approval by Ozzy Osbourne and Glenn Danzig (the quintet played both the Ozzfest and Blackest of the Black tours), and are on the next round of dates supporting 2011 fourth LP, Forever Abomination, awarded a whopping 7.3 rating from Pitchfork.com and called “exciting, skilled, fist-pumping, true-to-life stuff.” Bringing thrash and hardcore to the bill: Early Graves, from San Francisco, and Denver foursome Havok. (Brass Mug, Tampa)
Gareth Emery A night of pulsating trance, house and progressive styles of unz with plenty of light-saturated lift-offs as launched by UK-based dance music DJ and producer Gareth Emery. (Amphitheatre, Ybor City)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12
Bob Nite: All Dylan, All Night Long An assemblage of Florida acts repping the broad extent of Bob Dylan’s influence — Grant Peeples, The Sarah Mac Band, Free Hugs, Radio-Free Carmela and the Transmitters, and Waking Giants (formerly Elysian Sex Drive) — pay their dues to the iconic artist in five 25-minute sets of each one’s favorite Dylan songs. The showcase culminates with a grand finale sing-along of “You Ain’t Going Nowhere.” (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
Death Angel w/Threat Signal/Bonded By Blood/Wretched Vocalist Mark Osegueda is the only original member who remains in Filipino-American thrash metal outfit Death Angel (est. 1982), though guitarist/backing vocalist Rob Cavestany has been with the band since ’84 and was on all three albums released during their original reign, along with the three that dropped upon their return in 2001. The last was 2010’s Relentless Retribution. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
John Oates Admittedly I’m more interested in John Oates’ mythical mustache than his music; the guitarist and songwriter best known as one-half of retro R&B pop duo Hall & Oates shaved that baby off in 1989, then went bare-lipped for two decades. Despite growing it out for the occasional hello beginning in the late ‘00s, he seems to prefer a ‘stache-free existence, which means a sighting is a rare treat and thus highly unlikely at this intimate solo acoustic performance. (The Club at Treasure Island, Treasure Island)
GatorNate & Gladezmen w/Lone Wolf GatorNate Augustus is a gritty-voiced singer, slide guitar player, harmonica wailer and sample slinger from the Everglades, and his Gladezmen comprises a crew of other nick-named musicians — AntKiller on double bass, regular bass and backing vocals, Mississippi Matt aka The Honey Badger on drums and percs, and Scotty Crow on washboard, stump fiddle and guitar. Together, they distill a cheeky, made-for-juke joint hellraising blend of twangy Southern rockabilly and swamp blues. (Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa)
Fujiki-Hastings Benefit Show #1: Auto!Automatic!!/Rec Center/Will Quinlan/The Florida Kilos Four promoters that don’t normally work together — THX Management, New Granada Presents, Brokenmold Entertainment and aetheticized presents — have pooled their combined resources to stage a series of concerts that celebrate beloved local drummer Ryan Fujuki-Hastings, whose life was taken in a freak motorcycle accident last month. All the acts on this bill (from tight and technical prog trio Auto!Automatic!! to serene melodic pop swaying quintet, Rec Center, both Best of the Bay winners) have donated their time, admission and proceeds from commemorative merch go into a family trust to continue Fujuki-Hastings’ musical legacy, support his 6-month-old daughter and wife in a desperate time of need, and spread awareness about motorcycle safety. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
Journey w/Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo/Loverboy Journey is one of those classic rock bands that’s likeable and cringeworthy at the same time thanks to their combination of soaring anthems and cheestastic ballads — some of them winners (“Lights,” “Open Arms,” “I’ll Be All Right Without You,” “Faithfully,” some losers (“When You Love a Woman”) and some so overplayed that you hope to never, ever hear them again (“Any Way You Want It,” “Don’t Stop Believin’”). Filipino singer Arnel Pineda has been providing smoky wailing lead vocals since 2007, and on this run (supporting 2011 studio album Eclipse), Journey is joined by rock songstress Pat Benetar and husband/longtime collaborator, producer and guitarist Neil Giraldo, and another 1980s hitmaker, Canadian fivesome Loverboy (“Turn Me Loose,” “Working for the Weekend”). (1-800 Ask-Gary Amphitheatre, Tampa)
Stokeswood w/Arboles Libres/Archaic Interest A triple serving of indie music as led by Stokeswood, a beat-driven dance pop five-piece formed by Atlanta singer Adam Patterson and guitarist Mark Goodwin, the rest of the musicians filling in on bass, laptop production, keys, synths and drums, and the majority switching between instruments when the song calls for it. For fans of Junior Boys. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
Commander Cody w/The Sara Rose Band George Frayne has been performing as ”Commander Cody” since he started banging keys and belting songs for a living in 1967. The musician concocts an upbeat blend of country rock, Western swing, rockabilly, honky tonk, jump blues and Americana. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13
Ska Homecoming 2012 w/The Long Johns/Can’t Do It/General Tso’s Fury/Yugoskavia/Four Minute Warning/The Stereotypes/The Hoverounds/Plug Who will take over as Tampa Bay’s ska staple now that Magadog has relinquished the crown? Check out some contenders at the annual ska homecoming party (this year’s theme “Dead Man’s Homecoming”), which features a who’s who lineup of Florida ska-fused music makers. The Long Johns are getting a good buzz, and rock a trombone-blasted No Doubt pop-ska angle with strong femme lead vocals that have a Stefani-kissed tone, while the young (under 18) Stereotypes have come far in a short time with their punk-gritty tendencies and blues-tinged forays. So many more round out the party. Doors at 4 p.m.; $2 discount on admission for anyone dressed in costume or fancy skankwear. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
10 Years w/The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus/Dead Letter Circus/The Last Place You Look For their fifth full-length, alt-metal hard rockers 10 Years went indie, parting ways with Universal Republic, and self-producing and releasing Minus The Machine on their own Palehorse label in August. This extensive “Cutting Like Knives” headlining tour backs the 2012 LP. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Sean Paul He’s been plying his beat-intensive Jamaican-bred mix of dancehall, hip-hop and reggae for 16 years, his fast flowing rhyme style, unique rasta-brassy vocal tone and catchy club-bangin’ singles like “Get Busy” earning Sean Paul platinum-selling status. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
Paul Galbraith A Scottish classical guitarist known for his odd way of playing his instrument upright, like a cello complete with a metal endpin that rests on the ground, his left hand moving up and down the fretboard as he fingers technically precise chord progressions, his right deftly plucking the melodic arrangements. Galbraith has mastered songs by Bach, Haydn and Brahms, and also has his own repertoire of folk tunes. (Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, Tarpon Springs) Tinsley Ellis w/Backtrack Blues Band The annual tour stop by South Florida-born, Atlanta-based Tinsley Ellis, a gritty, searing blues-rock guitarist with husky howling vocals. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14
Band of Horses At DeLuna Fest three weeks back, Seattle outfit Band of Horses doled out a solid hour of ethereal folk rock. Bathed in warm orange light, Ben Bridwell and company launch into “Knock Knock” off their latest LP Mirage Rock, the harmonized “ooohhs” and “aaahs” of its opening soaring over crunchy guitar tones with a brisk speed made all the more powerful in a live setting. Mirage already has a decidedly “live” sound as the band recorded straight to analogue with legendary UK producer Glyn Johns, so this works in their favor, not that they really need it. BOH staples like “Great Salt Lake,” “The General Specific” and initial single “The Funeral” were played with elated presence and clarity well suited for the band’s early-evening headlining set. Likely the Tampa show will be just as energetic and well-thought out, though hopefully a tad longer. N.C. quartet Floating Action opens with meandering groove rock. (The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City) —Andrew Silverstein
Ol’ Dirty Sundays w/Charlie Chase/DJ BMF Old school sample-stitching DJ Charlie Chase (an original member of The Cold Crush Brothers with brother Tony Tone) serves as the special guest at this week’s edition of the Sunday hip-hop dance social. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
Joe Cosas CD Release Show Joe Cosas is a busy man. The Berklee-trained musician does keys duty with two actively gigging bands, Bird Street Players and Swamp Logic, juggles private music lessons as well as session work with artists like Christie Lenee and Marty Balin, and has been building up a repertoire of solo material rooted in jazz but drawing on elements of bluegrass and classical music. He presents the finished album, Soundtrack to Everyday Life, at this release party that includes originals and select covers, with Cosas (who can also play trombone, bass and trumpet) joined by sax player Jeremy Powell and wife Rebecca Cosas on the harp, among others. Fingerstyle guitarist Shaun Hopper warms up the crowd. (Straz Center Riverwalk, downtown Tampa)
Karen’s Deal The annual charity concert for Lifepath Hospice is held in memory of Marty Balin’s late keys-playing wife and features a bill of rock ’n’ roll led by the Jefferson Airplane former. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
MONDAY, OCTOBER 15
The Mickey Hart Band Forget the allegations that Mickey Hart roughed up some dude on his Kentucky tour bus. Hart’s lifelong pacifism, spiritual idealism and charitable deeds are proof enough of his good heart, if you need it. If you don’t, his music speaks for itself: intellectually profound and focused on vibrations, tones, grooves and improvisation. The 69-year-old drummer, percussionist and musicologist best known as one of the Grateful Dead’s two beat-makers currently leads the Mickey Hart Band, a seven-piece encompassing Widespread Panic bassist Dave Schools and Nigerian percussionist Sikiru Adepoju (talking drum, djembe, shakers). His new jazz-fused world music album Mysterium Tremendum was inspired by sounds and images of the cosmos Hart accessed on NASA’s public database. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Thanksgiving w/John Gold/Kersey Williams Mojo continues its trend of welcoming underground artists for free all-ages shows with a performance by Thanksgiving, aka Adrian Orange. The Portland-based avant folk singer-songwriter — who is also the co-founder of Marriage Records – has a sonorous timbre and loose, gentle delivery style that can be pretty and ethereal (as in songs like “Cave Days and Moments” and “Money”), but is more often a loose drone or tumbling mumble of lyrics tossed like careless afterthoughts amid a flotsam of lo-fi air hiss, acoustic guitar strums, found sounds, and general sonic bizarrity ala the entirety of 2012’s Celebrating. (Mojo Books & Music, Tampa)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16
Ani DiFranco w/Ruthie Foster An esteemed feminist icon and Grammy-winning alt-folk songstress with a resounding social conscious, Ani DiFranco has most certainly earned all the accolades she’s received since her 1990 eponymous debut. She continues the tradition of voicing her opinions in 17th studio album, ¿Which Side Are You On?, released via her own Righteous Babe Records in January and named for her cover of a classic protest song made famous by Pete Seeger (who plays banjo and sings back-up on the track). DiFranco just announced that she and producer husband Mike Napolitano are expecting their second child, but that doesn’t mean her performance will be any less fiery as fans can surely attest from baby No. 1. (The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City)
Helios Jazz Orchestra feat. Michael Lynche The monthly series presided over by the 18-piece jazz ensemble features American Idol-scale talent when St. Petersburg-based Michael Lynche aka Big Mike — who appeared in the ninth season of Fox’s reality singing competition and made it to the top four — lends his vocals to an evening of jazz standards, Kansas City blues and selections from his recent eponymous debut album. (Nova 535, St. Petersburg)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17
MONO w/set and setting I got an email from a publicist claiming he loved Japanese post rock behemoths MONO so much that many years ago, he branded himself with a MONO tattoo and he still stands by his ink. Sixth and latest full-length For My Parents is packed with sweeping, sophisticated, lengthy (up to 15-minute) compositions that have an epic cinematic quality, its quiet and meditative moments building to dense walls of synth-symphonic sound or exultant climaxes with climbing and crashing instrumentals. Should make for an impressive display of live musicianship. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
Matt & Kim w/Oberhofer “Grinning ear-to-ear, putting their heart and soul in every song and connecting with the crowd, the super-powered duo of Matt Johnson (vocals and keyboards) and Kim Schifino (drums and vocals) delighted fans as they have done a handful of times during past Tampa Bay appearances,” Julie G. wrote of Matt & Kim’s packed gig last year at Czar. “Schifino was much more than a pretty smile, drumming in top form. Johnson belted out righteously, adding emotional resonance to his simple, shout-along lyrics.” The quirky fun and rambunctious synth fizzy indie pop twosome issued their fourth full-length, Lightning, a few weeks back, and new cuts like the made-for-aerobics dance anthem, “Now” will be scattered amid well-worn faves at this date in support. Get ready for plenty of fist pumping, adolescent humor and dance moves, and various other hyper-energetic stage antics. Brooklyn-based up-and-coming indie rock fivesome Oberhofer warms up the stage in support of 2012 debut LP Time Capsules II, produced by Steve Lillywhite. (The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City)
3OH!3 w/Sammy Adams/Outasight/Silas Streets of Gold found goofy Boulder, Colo. dance-pop-crunk twosome 3OH!3 hitting the Billboard 200 with a No. 7 chart debut and getting radio airplay with certified gold hit single “First Kiss” featuring Ke$ha. Two years later, Sean Foreman and Nathaniel Motte are preparing to release a follow-up fourth LP, Omens, and have already issued a few new tracks, including cheeky self-loving/deprecating club-banger, “You’re Gonna Love This.” (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Death Starsky presents The Dark Carnival They once rolled under The Basiqs moniker, but alt hip-hop twosome Mr. Sin and GAGE (both on vocals and rhymes, the latter on production) are currently performing as Death Starsky. This sideshow carnival-themed event doubles as a preview party for their forthcoming LP. Dress up in sinister masquerade wear and drop by the Castle’s lower dungeon to hear a few tracks and sip complementary event-apropos cocktails. DJ Mega presides. (The Castle, Ybor City)
Blackberry Smoke w/Mojo Gurus My good friend swears by Blackberry Smoke, and he has generally reliable taste, though he definitely enjoys a more grinding Southern rock sound. The crusty long-haired musicians who make up this Atlanta quintet dole it out in country-sized servings flavored with blues grooves, rootsy melodies and acoustic dirt road sunshine. This date supports third full-length Whippoorwill, released on Zac Brown Band’s Southern Ground label in August. (Largo Cultural Center, Largo)
BBQ Wednesday Series w/John Shain Grab a plate of smoky, fall-off-the-bone tender barbeque and enjoy live tunes by Durham, N.C.-based ragtime, blues, Americana and folk artist Shain, whose rollicking and swinging acoustic guitar prowess invigorates the next installment of New World’s hump day concert series. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
CLICK HERE to see a complete rundown of shows taking place this week and in the coming weeks.
This article appears in Oct 11-17, 2012.