The weekend live music breakdown… don't forget to set your clocks back a hour.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Lake Street Dive Boston-based quartet Lake Street Dive are sure to leave a lasting impression when they hit the area for their upcoming Tampa Bay debut. The versatile indie outfit (named after a Massachusetts neighborhood full of seedy bars) is as comfortable breezing through playful jazz as they are muscling through heartfelt alt-country selections. Their greatest strength, however, is upbeat soul-based pop music and powerhouse lead vocalist Rachel Price makes every note she belts out count. Conjuring the seductive coolness of Diana Krall one minute and the ferocious wail of Etta James the next, her pipes are the driving force behind this fun, quirky band, which has gained rave reviews for both their energetic live shows as well as their latest superb full length album, Bad Self Portraits. Catch them now before their imminent rise to stardom erupts. (Cuban Club, Ybor City) –Gabe Echazabal
Born to Ride Jam Music & Motorcycle Festival with Steve Augeri, Molly Hatchet, The Artimus Pyle Band, Black Oak Arkansas, Michael Allman Band & many more If you dig classic rock radio and appreciate a fine-looking Harley, this Day of the Dead throwdown brings both to Pinellas Park. Amid the performers is one-time Journey vocalist Steve Augeri (who fronted the cheese-prog band from 1998 to 2006) and Southern grinding Molly Hatchet (“Flirting with Disaster”). The Artimus Pyle Band finds the original Lynyrd Skynyrd drummer and lone survivor of that fated 1977 plane crash paying tribute to “Ronnie Van Zant's Lynyrd Skynyrd.” As opposed to all the incarnations that came afterwards, I suppose. (England Brothers Park, Pinellas Park)
Jason Derulo with Wallpaper., Becky G I confess to digging both high charting singles by R&B-pop star Jason Derulo – the drunken-trumpet-fueled “Talk Dirty” featuring 2 Chainz and bass-bumpin’ and schwing-ing whistler “Wiggle” with Snoop Dogg – before they became as overplayed as everything else on the radio that prompts grimaces and knee-jerk channel changes. He is rather adorable, though, and I’ve had a soft spot for his Haitian-bred charms ever since interviewing him pre-blow up, in 2010. This tour, he’s supported by a surprisingly intriguing Oakland, Calif. producer/multi-instrumentalist Ricky Reed, aka Wallpaper., who plies a cheeky, weirdo, electro-blasting brand of hip hop and earned some minor-scale exposure with "Fucking Best Song Everrr" in 2011. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
The Soul Rebels The Ale and the Witch courtyard fills with the sounds of marching band jams when The Soul Rebels land fresh off their appearance at Voodoo Music Festival. The native New Orleans eight-piece has been active since the early ‘90s and have issued seven albums drawing on elements of jazz, funk, hip hop, rock, soul and pop while keeping NOLA brass band traditions alive. While the Rebels are definitely worthy-of-admission national talent, this show – like all others at the Witch – is free. (Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg)
Sunbears! CD Release & Tour Kick-Off with Zookeeper, Fistful Sunbears! celebrate the completion of new full-length Future Sounds (out November 11 on New Granada Records) and kick off a U.S. tour all in one night. Review of the album on pp. ?? (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
Bill Kirchen with Fauxgrass Lauded as “Titan of the Telecaster” by Guitar Player Magazine, Bill Kirchen has been at the forefront of roots music first as co-founder and lead axeman of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen, now as a solo performer delivering honky-tonk, country roots and western swing with twangy rubber band licks and conversational-style vocals. He arrives with upright bassist David Carroll and drummer Rick Richards in tow, and you can bet you’ll hear his extended “Hot Rod Lincoln,” which rolls through six decades of guitar history over a lively 10 minutes. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
Wiz Khalifa If there’s one thing we all know about Wiz Khalifa, it’s that the tatted-up Pittsburgh rapper likes to get high, whether he’s smoking blunts, joints or expensive spliffs. Dude’s even got his own strain: Khalifa Kush. He’s also got a rather distinctive, braying sort of laugh-chortle you’ve heard in songs like Mike WiLL Made It’s “23” and his own auto-tuned club-banger “We Dem Boyz” (“Hol up, we makin’ noise!”) off fifth and latest studio album (which he’s currently touring behind), Blacc Hollywood. (USF Sun Dome, Tampa)
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Pallbearer with Tombs, Vattnet Viskar, Set and Setting Oozing up from the blackness of the underground metal scene – and earning positive regard from the likes of Pitchfork.com and NPR for 2014 sophomore album Foundations of Burden – Pallbearer crafts doom epics with heaving and swelling washes of sound driven by heavily distorted guitars, fuzzed-out growling bass and ominously slow-thumping rhythms. Suitably down-tempo, sludgy, grungy acts support along with the area’s own post-classical instrumental powerhouse, Set and Setting. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
Slam Allen Band Allen hails from upstate New York and howls deep booming vocals over that BB King-influenced brand of slow-seared guitar-licked blues. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
Steve Poltz A troubadour with a warm, brassy-nasally vocal quality and finger-picked and plucked acoustic guitar playing style, Steve Poltz writes charmingly wry folk odes that are full of character you wouldn’t expect from someone who wrote a rather earnest charter for Jewel (“You Were Meant for Me”). Poltz once co-led The Rugburns, but has put out nine solo LPs, his last The Accident earlier this year. (Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg)
Solids with Permanent Makeup, Science Fat Possum Records signees Solids blast through high-speed, guitar-driven, ‘90s-imbued indie rock heavy on alt rock grunginess, reverb and distortion, light on melody, and for a duo, they make a whole lotta noise; Blame Confusion is the album that brings them on the road and a few high quality locals (including No Wave faves Permanent Makeup) also flay the standing room stage. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
ALSO THIS WEEKEND
Halloween Hangover 2014 w/Rockstarr Bentley Sat., Nov. 1, The Coliseum of Bradenton, Bradenton
Grand Maul/Permanent Makeup/Hello. Invade!/Stoned Ape Sat., Nov. 1, The Fuzz Factory, Gulfport
Superfly Crew Album Release w/Badda Skat & Rosco Freed Sat., Nov. 1, Sly Bar, St. Petersburg
Susan Boyle Sat., Nov. 1, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Denise Moore Trio feat. Billy Marcus Sat., Nov. 1, Independent Bar and Café, Tampa
Iris Calling CD Release Show Sat., Nov. 1, Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg
Hang 'Em High Sat., Nov. 1, State Theatre, St. Petersburg
La Noche Sat., Nov. 1, The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City
Hobbs’ Angel of Death w/Ulcer/Solstice/Mindscar/Tyrants Of Hell Sat., Nov. 1, Brass Mug, Tampa
Renovating the Rialto Charity Concert w/Scott Helmer Sun., Nov. 2, Rialto Theater, Tampa
The Wholetones Sun., Nov. 2, The Hub, downtown Tampa
Tampa Jazz Club Presents: Michael Royal Trio Sun., Nov. 2, HCC-Ybor Mainstage Theatre, Ybor City
This article appears in Oct 30 – Nov 5, 2014.


