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, JANUARY 28
[pictured] w/The Semi's Fresh Louisiana five-piece The Givers bring a genuine sense of happiness to their music, sticky electro pop with sparkling melodies, bouncy African rhythms, heart-squeezing boy-girl harmonies, bright washes of synthesized sound, hard rockin’ moments to break up all the good time dance music, and even some flute and hand claps thrown in for good measure. For fans of Talking Heads, Vampire Weekend and Afro-tinged pop in general. 9 p.m., New World Brewery, Ybor City, $6.
Vince Gill Much-loved country singer and multi-instrumentalist Vince Gill made a career for himself in the ’80s as part of the neo traditionalist movement, got mainstream fame in the ’90s beginning with “When I Call Your Name” and without losing his songwriting cred, and celebrated his broad palette while producing 43 new recordings for 2006’s four-disc box set, These Days, which incorporates rock, bluegrass, pop, jazz and traditional country. Along the way, he’s won more CMA Awards than any performer in history (18) in addition to 20 Grammys – the most ever for a male country music artist. The Country Music Hall of Fame inductee's band features guitarists Tom Britt, keyboardists John Hobbs and Pete Wasner, bassist David Hungate, steel guitar player Russ Pahl, drummer Billy Thomas, and guitarist/vocalist Jeff White. 8 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, $42.50-$82.50.
Ninebullets.net presents .357 String Band w/Bob Wayne/Dear Old Liar The St. Pete-based music site owned and operated by Bryan Childs (aka Autopsy IV, also a CL music contributor) hosts a concert headlined by Milwaukee’s .357 String Band. The high-spirited four-piece purveys a dark, self-styled brand of “Streetgrass,” three parts outlaw fast and nasty, one part bluegrass leisurely and gospel-tinged sweet. The band parted ways with longtime member Jayke Orvis in July; multi-instrumentalist Billy Cook has taken his place and brings color and nuance to the band’s string-flinging sound with mandolin, guitar, dobro and clawhammer banjo. 8:30 p.m., Emerald Bar, St. Petersburg, $5.
This article appears in Jan 27 – Feb 2, 2010.