A quick breakdown of this weekends most worthy concerts beginning with Thursday, cause thats when the weekend really starts, right? For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Concerts page.
THURSDAY, MARCH 4
Taylor Swift [pictured] w/Kelly Pickler Country pop singer-songwriter Taylor Swift the waify blond who became the unfortunate victim of Kanye Wests notorious temper tantrum at the VMA awards last year is so dang popular that tickets to her arena show in Tampa were sold out as early as December. The Tampa show is also the first stop of her FEARLESS Tour 2010, which may also have something to do with it. 7 p.m., St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa; the show was sold out but due to demand, a limited number of $25 and $59.50 tickets were released yesterday; call 813-301-2500 or drop by the box office early and you may still be able to score a pair or two.
The Moody Blues Nights in White Satin is, by far, the most widely recognized classic rock single by The Moody Blues, lead singer David Justin Haywards powerful vox expressing the pain of unrequited love against dramatic symphonics and choral backing vocals that rise in unsettling wails. Englands progressive rock band has been around for more than 45 years and their catalog diverges widely, from the fast and demanding 1970s blast of Question, to the synthified psychedelia of 1978s Steppin in a Slide Zone, to the soft AC rock of their 1986 AC hit, Your Wildest Dreams. Hayward is still leading the band with longtime members John Lodge and Graeme Edge, and the three are backed by aux members Norda Mullen (flute, guitar, percs, harmonica, vox), Paul Bliss (keys, guitar), Bernie Barlow (keys, percs, vox) and Gordon Marshall (drums, percs). 8 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; this show is sold out.
AZ / Cormega w/Dynasty/Aych/The Villanz AZ (aka Anthony Cruz, pictured) is best known for his rhyming collaborations with Nas (most famously on Nas Lifes A Bitch) and for his part in the ill-fated hip-hop supergroup The Firm with Nas, Foxy Brown and Nature. Cormega (aka Cory McKay) rose to fame as an original member of The Firm in the mid-90s, though he was ejected before the groups first album was even recorded. Both are NYC-based rap artists AZ is a Brooklynite while Cormega reps Queens who’ve eluded commercial success but managed to carve out respectable solo careers in the underground scene. AZs forthcoming 2010 release, Do or Die 2, is the sequel to his 1995 standout debut; Cormega is on tour to promote his fourth and latest studio album, Born And Raised, which dropped in October. 10 p.m., Crowbar, Ybor City, $15 (ages 18 and up).
This article appears in Mar 3-9, 2010.
