There's a surprising abundance and diversity of concerts happening this Sun., July 24. Breakdown of highlights below…
Leon Russell It’s been a little while since we’ve seen keys-banging country, folk, blues rock and Southern boogie songsmith – not long enough for him to record a follow-up to 2014’s Life Journey, though a re-mastered edition of A Poem Is A Naked Person (the 1974 Les Blank film about Russell) was released on DVD in March, probably as good a reason to tour as any. Not that the man needs a reason; he’s 74 and doesn’t seem ready to hang up his wide-brimmed hat just yet. (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater) –Leilani Polk
Summer Slaughter Tour with Cannibal Corpse, Nile & many more When I was young and lacked profound knowledge of metal as a genre, I used to see fellow students wearing Cannibal Corpse t-shirts, and for some reason, perhaps because of their amazingly gruesome and violent art, thought it was a clothing company. I was wrong. Fast forward to me years later, doing impromptu karaoke at the Brass Mug to "Hammer Smashed Face." Oh, Cannibal Corpse, kings of death metal, sons of Florida. Nile death metal veterans are potential practitioners of black magic, at least I imagine so, these guys like HP Lovecraft a lot, their guitar work reflects it, pretty sure you need Cthulu's blessing to pull off those technical riffs. A whole slew of other brutal death metal acts (After The Burial, Suffocation, Carnifex, Krisiun, Revocation, Slaughter To Prevail and Ingested) make this a show must-see show for metal aficionados. Long hair not required for vicious head-banging. (The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City) –Brian Roesler
AWOLNATION I'm sure by now, if you were even accidentally exposed to the radio or even just walking down the street next to someplace blasting music kinda loud, you’ve probably heard “Sail.” AWOLNATION does a good job encapsulating all the modern themes of the alternative and indie scenes in two LPs driven by the songwriting of brainchild and vocalist, Aaron Bruno. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) –BR
The Florida Björkestra A very special Side Door presentation that will very likely sell out features The Florida Bjorkestra, a locally-brewed ensemble featuring chamber players (three on strings, three on horns), a four-voice backing chorale, and full rhythm section (piano, bass, drums, guitar) accompanying vocalist Jamie Perlow as she pays tribute to the lush, avant garde material of Icelandic songstress Björk. Another talented singer, Whitney James, performs the music of quirky British folk rock singer-songwriter Kate Bush, while Brian Merrill rounds out the evening with a few tunes by Peter Gabriel and Thom Yorke. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)–LP
Slumberjack with Evil Virgins, Hello Joyce Slumberjack is Orlando’s Andrew Kelly (guitar, vocals) and Dave Hanson (drums); the former combines jangly and math-y guitar progressions with screaming vocal outbursts of raw emotion while the latter backs him on matching tempo-changes and intensity. The six tracks on their Black Lodge EP are inspired by Twin Peaks (the noirish Lynch show) while also representing Kelly’s depression, self-loathing and self-destructive tendencies. In sum, it’s dark. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)–LP
ALSO TODAY
Soul Circus Cowboys w/The Bearded Brothers Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa
Ol' Dirty Sundays w/DJ Shotgun Crowbar, Ybor City
This article appears in Jul 21-28, 2016.
