THURSDAY, AUGUST 25
David Dove & Ms. YET w/No Milk/Merchandise The next installment of WMNF's Outreach Series is a free all-ages show headed up by Houston experimental duo David Dove & Ms. Yet, the former a musician who employs sub-bass electronics and special effects to his trombone explorations, the latter an artist of movement who accompanies with impromptu belly dancing that brings visual appeal to Dove's improvisational (and not necessarily user-friendly) sonic palette. Local experimental talent opens. (Mojo Books & Music, Tampa)
The Appleseed Cast w/Hospital Ships/set and setting Midwest rock outfit The Appleseed Cast has evolved from their early emo-heavy roots to a denser, guitar-driven, melody rich and overall more appealing post-rock sound. The four-piece signed to Graveface Records in 2009 and issued their first recording for the label, the Middle States EP, in June. The band is currently touring without guitarist Aaron Pillar, but Ted Stevens (Cursive, Mayday) will be temporarily filling in. They're joined by labelmate and fellow Lawrence, Kansas occupant Hospital Ships, the luscious folk-pop project of tender high-voiced singer-songwriter Jordan Geiger (a former Appleseed member). (The Local 662, St. Petersburg)
FRIDAY, AUGUST 26
Thomas Wynn & The Believers w/The Groves Repping the Sunshine state with their brawny, relentlessly energetic, heartfelt take on Southern-flavored rock and modern R&B-fused soul is Orlando sextet Thomas Wynn & The Believers, which is led by the powerful vocal harmonies and undeniable musicianship of Wynn and songbird sister Olivia. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
Kenny Vance and The Planotones Here's a fun fact for you: Kenny Vance, one-time member of 1960s-era doo wop group Jay and the Americans ("This Magic Moment"), worked as the music supervisor on films like Animal House and Eddie & The Cruisers. The latter was peppered with ideas loosely taken from stories Vance told director Martin Davidson about his early days on the road. Currently, Vance leads his own retro-modern vocal-driven ensemble, the Planotones, with a voice that is surprisingly smooth and free of fatigue. (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)
Summer Swagger — The Hip Abduction w/Lonesome City Travelers/d'Visitiors Winners of CL's 2010 Choice award for "Best World Jam Fusion," The Hip Abduction is an eight-piece that draws on the sounds of tropicalia, reggae rock, dub, Afrobeat, funk and jazz; adds percussive textures, horns, and a player on kora for extra authenticity; and delivers their vibrant dance-inducing music with spirited ease and some improvised jams to keep things interesting. This free bill of area talent is rounded out by support acts Lonesome City Travelers, a rising roots outfit from Orlando, and funk-jazz-ska outfit d'Visitors. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
Rocknrollsplosion w/Gino & the Goons/The Hurtz/Thee Knight Sweats A triple dose of volatile rock 'n' roll featuring punk and retro garage-pop outfit Gino & the Goons; The Hurtz, which has a dark surf- and psyche-rock vibe; and the mildly post-grungy noisiness of punchy two-piece Thee Knight Sweats. (Fubar, St. Petersburg)
Summer Jam Pre-Party w/Sunbears!/Andy Matchett & The Minks / The Black Bear Affair Sunbears! are Jonathan Grant Berlin and Jared Chase Bowser, a Jacksonville psyche-pop duo who wrote a song for Yo Gabba Gabba, performed several dates on the southeast tour of YGG's "Super Music Friends Show," recently signed to New Granada Records, and are hyping the release of their forthcoming debut full-length, You Will Live Forever (due out in November) via a series of video blogs documenting their time in the studio. Andy Matchett brings warm and upbeat pop-tinged rock with emotional punch to the bill, and is known for peppering his upbeat sets with bursts of confetti as well as for a finale that involves a crowd-covering parachute and lots of happy dancing fans. Newer Sarasota guitar-drums duo Black Bear Affair opens the Summer Jam kick-off. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
Rayland Baxter w/Paint the Town Red/Andrew Clayton Rayland Baxter is an avid outdoorsman and he performs the same way he fly fishes, casting sounds that loop into the crowd, unfurling as he places his fly gently but with great effect, the lure impossibly alluring. His songs are permeated with nature imagery, or reflect on the eternal struggle between men and women, or relationships in general. "I like to talk to people," he told CL in a recent interview. "Some of the stories you hear are gut-wrenching." Rayland ties those human emotions into flies that drift around your consciousness and touch places in your heart that you didn't know were there. "I don't always have to feel the emotion myself; sometimes it is okay to wear the shoes for a while, walk around in them… that's where songs are supposed to be from. Felt emotion is timeless." No band backs him on this tour around; it's just Rayland, his words, his voice, his guitar and his foot accompanying him as kick drum. Read my complete story at cltampa.com/music. (Orpheum, Ybor City) —Cynthia Mulligan
SATURDAY, AUGUST 27
Dave Audé The Grammy-nominated producer, DJ and remixer of artists that span the genre spectrum is responsible for upward of 70 No. 1 Billboard Dance tracks featuring his work with Katy Perry, Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé, among many others. He celebrated an impressive hallmark this month when 10 of his singles made it onto the charts all at once. Five were in the Top 20, including "Who Says" by Selena Gomez and Audé's own high-energy house hit, "Holdin On" feat. Elijah. (The Kennedy, Ybor City)
Circle II Circle w/20 Shades/Thrown Alive/The Eyes Of God/3rd Nail Rising/Fight Another Day The Tampa power metal band formed by ex-Savatage vocalist Zak Stevens has issued five albums since its inception in 2001. According to Stevens in a Loudtrax.com interview, the latest, 2010's Consequence of Power, tells a conceptual story about "a character who is centrally involved, against his will, into this cycle of madness, power and a lot of crazy things." Deep. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
2 for 2 w/Urbane Cowboys/Tahoe Fox Two artists show works to the sounds of live music by alt-country/roots rockers Urbane Cowboys, and Tahoe Fox, a rhythm driven acoustic folk rock outfit led by powerful singer and songwriter Kim Stein. (The Bricks, Ybor City)
Blue October w/Geri X/Paint the Town Red The Houston alt-rock five-piece featuring lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Justin Furstenfeld, brother drummer Jeremy and multi-instrumentalist Ryan Delahoussaye never quite gained the fame they seemed primed for after 2006's platinum-selling Foiled and its catchy but melancholy-imbued single, "Into the Ocean." This month saw the release of the band's sixth full-length, Any Man in America, a deeply personal effort that focuses on Justin's real-life divorce and custody battle over his daughter. Sounds like a real upper. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
HIPPIEFEST w/Dave Mason/Mark Farner/Rick Derringer/Felix Cavaliere's Rascals/Gary Wright The sounds of the '60s and '70s are brought back to life on the sixth annual national tour geared toward baby boomers and featuring rockers who made their bread in the era — Dave Mason of Traffic ("Feelin' Alright," "Paper Sun"), Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad ("We're an American Band"), Rick Derringer ("Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo"), Felix Cavaliere's Rascals (formerly know as the Young Rascals, with hits like "Groovin'" and "A Beautiful Morning") and Gary Wright ("Dream Weaver"). (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
Summer Jam 7: Holiday Shores/Rich Aucoin/Michael Parallax/Saskatchewan/Preson Phillips/Cats In The Basement/Rebels and Rogues (New World Brewery); Infinite Groove Orchestra/The Groves/Geri X/The Rukus/Creepers/Free Lunch Boyz/Cassolette/Prince Golden (Crowbar) The annual seven-years-strong summers-end two-venue mini-fest continues to bring diverse and appealing sounds to Ybor City, with some interesting out-of-state acts scattered amid a rock-solid genre-spanning bill of Florida talent. Summer Jam 7 encompasses fresh indie hip-hop (Prince Golden), spaced-out funk jazz with a grimy edge (Infinite Groove Orchestra), jangly fuzzy garage pop with charming boy-girl trade-offs and harmonies (Cassolette), alt-rock singer-songwriter fare with pained overtones (Geri X), feel-good folk-pop as delivered by a non-preachy pastor (Preson Phillips), beach-vibing indie rock (Holiday Shores, see p. 61), groovin' Southern rock with bluesy stomping flavor (The Groves), some quirky New Wave-influenced dance music from Canada (Rich Aucoin), and more. Plus, Soft Rock Renegades, the Ol' Dirty Sundays DJ Crew and Liquid Jesus will all be spinning in between sets and at the night's close. (Crowbar and New World Brewery, Ybor City)
Have Gun, Will Travel & The Beauvilles Tour Kickoff Party Two beloved Bay area bands share headlining duties at this tour kick-off party. The Beauvilles, which recently signed with Nimbleslick Artist Agency, will be spreading their high-octane ass-kicking brand of modern rock 'n' roll to 18 venues up and down the east coast, with a three-day stop in Athens to record their new EP. Roots, folk and Americana outfit Have Gun, Will Travel recently celebrated their official signing with Denver-based label Suburban Home Records, are currently finishing up their next LP, Mergers & Acquisitions, and head west to Colorado in September for the Suburban Home 16th Anniversary Party, likely picking up dates along the way. All door proceeds go directly to the bands' respective tour funds. (The Local 662, St. Petersburg)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28
World Rhythm Festival An evening of rhythm-driven world music — ska, Afrobeat, soukous, dub, reggae and more — as delivered by the three area acts that do it best: Rocksteady@8, Amandla Tunesmith, and Strangeways. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
Sunset Bridge "Move on over dark cloud and let Mr. Sunshine through / Don't worry about the worries 'cause the worries ain't worried about you," Sunset Bridge frontwoman and visionary Gracie Grieshop sings with high-toned honeyed-soulful vocals in "No Worries," the latest single by her folk-roots outfit, which bounces and sways as if carried along a rutted, sun-dappled country road. Perfect music for chowing down at Ella's on a Sunday afternoon. (Ella's Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30
The Smokehouse Rats A weekday set by musicians from popular local jam-rock ensembles Uncle John's Band, Cope and Buffalo Strange, who are joined by various impromptu musical guests throughout. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31
Erasure Since 1985, British synthpop duo Erasure (made up of songwriter/keyboardist Vince Clarke and singer Andy Bell) has been taking the international dance world by storm with such emotive New Wave hits as "A Little Respect" and "Victim of Love." The current tour supports their 14th studio album and latest collection of electro-pop dance songs, Tomorrow's World, due out in October via Mute and produced by Frankmusik (Lady Gaga, Pet Shop Boys). Erasure's first U.S. tour in more than five years kicks off right here in Tampa. (The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City)
D & M An alt-pop trio fronted by earnest wailing singer, songwriter and guitarist Danny Fornasa with backing vocals by Miles Mueller, who also lends the music organic rhythms on percussion, and additional instrumental melodies and bluesy solos by lead guitar player Matt Klahre. Their current "Every State of the Union" tour was funded entirely via a Kickstarter.com campaign and supports their new 2011 EP, Delawanna. (Sacred Grounds, Tampa)
Train / Maroon 5 w/Matt Nathanson San Francisco pop-rock trio Train is enjoying a return to mainstream fame with their ukulele-driven 5x multi-platinum hit "Hey, Soul Sister" off 2009's Save Me while LA's Adam Levine-led Maroon 5 is on album number three, 2010's Hands All Over, which debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 and earned the band a Grammy nom. The two have teamed up for a joint 39-date headlining tour. (1-800-Ask-Gary-Amphitheatre, Tampa)
CLICK HERE to see all of this week's concert offerings as well as concerts coming up in the next few weeks.
This article appears in Aug 25-31, 2011.