There's an intriguing assortment of concerts happening this Thurs., July 28. Here's a breakdown of highlights.
Boris Performing Pink with Earth, Shitstorm The avant metal trio from Japan is not playing material by Pink. Boris is, however, performing the entirety of Pink, the breakthrough LP that was put them on the map in the U.S. and introduced their bizarrely mesmerizing wizardry and loud technicality. Boris draws on elements of sludge and drone but can amp it up to breakneck speeds that lean on their exerimental and noise rock tendencies, with masculine-feminine vocal harmonies sliding over grinding and crunching guitar and bass (double necks, no less). They’re mightily prolific; Pink is pretty much a mid-career effort, as Boris has more than 20 albums to their credit and another dozen or so collabs, too. This tour is likely prompted by the 10-year anniversary re-issue of Pink that dropped in May. (Orpheum, Ybor City) –Leilani Polk
Mannequin Pussy with Stove, Poster, Fictional Friends Birthed from the emergent music scene of Philly, Mannequin Pussy pushes punchy songs infused with fuzzy lo-fi warmth, but the engine that keeps them chugging is a frantic energy. Basically, this is Smashing Pumpkins circa 1993, but with a female frontwoman, and utterly wonderfully insane. Ever heard of Ovlov? If not, you’re about to build on your patrician class taste my friend: Stove is comprised of that band’s former members led by Steve Hartlett, their sound an aural confection of noisy guitars and throttling percussion driven by minimalist vocals that bleed seamlessly into Stove's sound. Poster hails from Tampa, and only confirms just how dynamic and vital the scene is becoming. Check out "Down to Drown" to hear alt rock stylings with huge pop sensibilities. And Lakeland’s Fictional Friends lay down compelling indie rock with memorable choruses and curious tempos. (The Bends, St. Petersburg) –Brian Roesler
Lucidea with Rims & Keys Two out-of-town duos land at Dunedin Brewery on this night. Lucidea crafts live groovetronic sounds using laptops, synths and guitar, pairing fat buzzing timbres with clearer melodic tones and showing heavy hip hop influence in beat and production qualities, not to mention vocal samples that are often rapped, not sung. The composition of N.C.’s Rims & Keys is as the name suggests – a keyboardist (Jordan Adams) and drummer (Jay Rims), self-styled “innovators of gangsta-jazz.” (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin) –LP
Thee Return of Liquid Jesus Way back in the day (2010), a group of local scenesters with rather refined and expansive musical taste started up this blog/tastemakers site, Liquid Jesus, sharing new and mostly under-represented sounds that varied in genre (from danceable to experimental to ear-wormy and more) with Bay area folks on the reg. Then, they started piping jams during a monthly Orpheum residency and showed up at various other spots around the Bay area over the years. After some radio silence, the gang (RIG, Colonic, Mollie Gondi and Delach) reunites for this Thursday night throwdown with promises of “deep seeded debauchery” and “lots of egregious drink specials.” (Crowbar, Ybor City) –LP
The Frights with Hunny, Gym Shorts The Frights throw together grimy doo-wop-coated garage, watery surf rock and catchy rah-rah punk to make a decidedly upbeat and sunny brew with unexpectedly disordant and grungy undertones. Tempos change from wildly fast paces to bouncy hops to deliberate creeps, guitars range from fat and fuzzy to quieter riffs, and frontman Mikey Carnevale charms all throughout with his sweetened and sometime snotty vocal quality. The San Diego trio hits town behind You Are Going to Hate This, a rather fine 2016 Dangerbird Records debut produced by Fidlar’s Zac Carper. (New World Brewery, Ybor City) –LP
This article appears in Jul 28 – Aug 4, 2016.