A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts beginning with Thursday, ’cause that’s when the weekend really starts, right? For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Concerts page.
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Mike Doughty Last year, singer-songwriter Mike Doughty (the former frontman of Soul Coughing) released his third solo album, Sad Man Happy Man, another solid acoustic guitar-driven effort marked by minor production, instrumental embellishments, and Doughty’s low and rusty-textured tone delivering his cleverly poetic commentary on anything from fighting the system and life’s little triumphs to women, love and relationships. On his current “Question Jar Show” tour, Doughty brings cellist and electric guitar player Andrew “Scrap” Livingston along for the ride and presents a new and appealing segment to his set: a jar on stage where attendees can submit questions on any topic — “obscure, weird, or esoteric questions accepted happily.” Doughty will randomly select and answer said questions between songs. Should make for some interesting banter. 8 p.m., Orpheum, Ybor City, $19.
Matt Butcher [pictured, photo by Charles Brewer III] w/Rebekah Pulley/Red Shepherd Americana musician Matt Butcher has only been living in Florida since 1999, but within those 11 years he’s joined a few bands, had some success as part of The Heathens — an Orlando-based band that made some waves in 2006 when the music video for their song “Stickin’ Around” was featured at the Los Angeles Film Festival — and earned a two-night solo gig opening for The Avett Brothers in Tennessee. His 2008 album, Me and My Friends, received stellar reviews and is available on Butcher’s website for a “pay what you can” fee ala Radiohead. Butcher is joined multi-Best of the Bay award-winning singer/songwriter songstress Rebekah Pulley, and sunny folk-pop quartet Red Shepherd. 9 p.m., New World Brewery, Ybor City, $7. –Matthew Spencer
This article appears in Feb 10-16, 2010.