There are a few rather intriguing concerts happening on this Thurs., May 5, along with several others that are at least worth mentioning. Take a look at the breakdown below.
Good Graeff with Jackson Davis & the Jackettes, Ari Chi We don’t get to see Good Graeff here so much since Sarasota native twin sisters Brooke and Brit Graeff (who co-lead the avant pop group on guitar/vocals and cello, respectively) re-located to Los Angeles a little more than a year ago (their previous go-round was last July). Nice to see them return with a rhythm section in tow, triumphant after buoyant, heart-tugging ode “I Want That” was tapped for the finale of HBO’s Lena Dunham-helmed series Girls, and in the midst of prepping a new EP for release this summer. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
Steel Union A Nashville-based country trio fueled by the intertwining three-part vocal harmonies of singer-songwriter Rachel Potter (who was raised in St. Petersburg and has a high, sweet drawl), Donny Fallgatter (a North Dakota native who plays acoustic guitar and has a creamy-clear tenor), and Josh Matheny (who’s got a deeper twang and is well-practiced on dobro and slide guitar). (Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg)
Blue October The fresh record from Texas native alt rock group Blue October finds Justin Furstenfeld – the depressive melancholic lead singer, songwriter and guitarist who wrote platinum-selling singles like “Hate Me” and “Into the Ocean” – four years deep into his sobriety and turning over a new optimistic leaf; Home is an album about enjoying life, with Furstenfelt waxing poetic about his family in its title track to acoustic guitar strums, hopeful keyboard melodies and synthy beats. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
Rock It! Music School Showcase Featuring a showcase of students from Seminole’s Rock It! Music School, with all proceeds to benefit To Write Love On Her Arms, a nonprofit geared at offering hope and help to individuals suffering from addiction and mental illness. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
Amy Grant Last week, easy-going actress/songstress Amy Grant celebrated the 25th anniversary of her 1991 platinum hit “Baby Baby” with a re-release – but she drafted Cali pop charts topper Tori Kelley to re-imagine it into an R&B-flecked dance ode. Luckily you’ll hear the original on this night, along with various other select cuts spanning her AC, Christian music, gospel and country repertoires. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
A Pair of Prince Tributes "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, to get through this thing called life…" Two venues on opposite sides of Tampa Bay host Prince-prompted dance parties paying tribute to the late, great musical genius. In Tampa, our own resident music-head Gabe Echazabal presents I Was Dreaming When I Wrote This Dance Party, a media-free throwdown, meaning no cell phones nor cameras allowed. ("It's time to dance without the worries of showing up in someones instagram feed.") (9 p.m.-midnight, Tempus Projects, Tampa, donations requested not required)
Over in St. Petersburg, WE LOVE U PRINCE finds DJ's Sugarbear, Big Chris the Movie and Ricky Seelbach (aka Holiday) spinning Prince jamz while Purple Rain and Prince videos play all night along on the TV and projector screen. Attendees are encouraged "to dress as sexy or as purple as prince would have wanted you to." (10 p.m.-3 a.m., The Bends, St. Petersburg, free admission, ages 21+ only)
ALSO TONIGHT
ASB and Galbraith Group Gaspar’s Grotto, Ybor City
Rock the Park w/Will Quinlan/DAWNS/Ella Jet Music Curtis Hixon Park, Tampa
Boxcar Hollow Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
“Cinco De” Displace w/Fletcher’s Grove Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin
This article appears in May 5-11, 2016.