A breakdown of live music taking place in the Tampa Bay area this Thursday through Sunday, with featured highlights at the top and the rest of the week’s schedule at the bottom. For a complete list of concerts, click here to visit our Upcoming Concerts page.
Thursday, March 10
[pictured right, photo by Greg Whitaker] w/Fake Problems/Buried Beds Singer/guitarist Adam Turla retreated to the woods of rural Tennessee to write the 11 songs that became Murder by Death’s 2010 fifth album, Good Morning, Magpie, which veers away from their usual conceptual mode into a set of stand-alone narratives. The Indiana four-piece weaves old-timey gothic Americana swing into their upbeat roots-folk rock amble; “You Don’t Miss Twice (When You’re Shaving with a Knife)” deals with death against a Vaudevillian-flavored rickety-tumbling shuffle, Irish-flavored barroom stomper “Whiskey in the World” is made for singing along with empty bourbon-stained glasses raised, and the title track (inspired by the Welsh legend of the magpie as Satan's messenger) brings Old West drama that winds into an epic refrain. All of the songs are marked by Turla’ deep resonant vocals and Sarah Balliet’s heavy cello notes, sometimes adding pretty melodic accompaniment or sinister discordant accoutrement. 7 p.m. doors, Orpheum, Ybor City, $15.50 (all ages).
Doobie Brothers / George Jones Last year, the Doobie Brothers – which made their biggest mark in the 1970s with hits like “Black Water” and “What a Fool Believes” – released their first new album in 10 years, World Gone Crazy. The LP finds the band reconvening with the producer responsible for their breakthrough ‘70s hits, Ted Templeman, and according to Allmusic.com, the musicians are in fine form, “writing solid songs and giving relaxed, lived-in performances all adding up to a surprising strong album.” Country music vet George Jones plays in the afternoon, with the Doobies taking the stage later that evening. George Jones at 3:30 p.m. ($15 & $20), Doobie Brothers at 7:30 p.m. ($25 & $30), Strawberry Festival Fairgrounds, Plant City.
[pictured left] w/Florida Night Heat Post-jazz prog rock instrumental quartet Poetry n’ Lotion is getting ready to hit the road to Austin to play an official SXSW showcase, but holds one last fundraising concert to drum up cash for their self-funded trip. If you can’t make it out to see them off, support their efforts by donating at poetrynlotion.tumblr.com. 10 p.m., Stoney’s, Tampa, free admission.
Friday, March 11
Have Gun, Will Travel Tour Launch Party w/The Semis Another band headed out to SXSW, high-energy Americana-roots rock purveyors Have Gun Will Travel, is planning a small U.S. tour on the way back from their own SXSW showcase with stops in Colorado, Tennessee and various other lucky locales. Wish them good luck, contribute to their tour coffers and enjoy a set of surf-tasty hard rock riffage by Best of the Bay "Album of the Year" award-winners The Semis. 8 p.m., The Local 662, St. Petersburg, $8.
This article appears in Mar 10-16, 2011.