AT&T Playoff Playlist Live w/Usher/Gavin DeGraw/Jamie N Commons Officials are expecting up to 30,000 people to move in and out of Curtis Hixon on the weekend’s biggest day. Gruff-voiced UK songwriter Jamie N Commons (whose “Lead Me Home” appeared on The Walking Dead soundtrack) should be up to the task, and he’ll be followed by piano-pop crooner Gavin DeGraw. The big coup, and legitimate “Climax” for local music fans comes in the form of of a set by R&B superstar Usher Raymond, who brings along a two-decades-long career that includes Grammy-winning hits like “My Boo,” “Yeah!,” and “U Remind Me.” No telling how packed it’ll actually get for this show, but you can bet that we’ll be imitating Mr. Raymond’s moves from somewhere in the crowd. Noon to 11 p.m. (Music starts at 6 p.m.) INFO
Florida Mountain Boys If you like watching some of the Sunshine State’s best pickers while picking at your own Funky Monkey Waffle, then you might want to be in Seminole Heights on Sunday when Ella’s does their Soul Food weekly. Big Banjo Bob Bailey, Austin, And Karpay, Richard Lepps and Tom Hicks (collectively known as the Florida Mountain Boys) will be there performing their infectious, toe-tapping style of bluegrass. Humming a catchy tune is more fun when there’s biscuits & gravy in your mouth so hold off until 4 p.m. EST when the fellas hit the stage. (Ella’s Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa) INFO
Sarah Lee Guthrie Was Sarah Lee Guthrie just in Pinellas a couple of months ago? Yup, but if you thought that set at Ruth Eckerd Hall’s Murray Theatre was intimate, then you’re gonna wanna get a load of the Craftsman House in St. Pete’s Grand Central district. The venue is a fully restored bungalow style home built in 1918, and owner Jeff Schor does a great job reconfiguring the gallery space into a listening room for concerts. Those keeping score will can rest assured that Ms. Sarah Lee does come from the authentic Guthrie bloodline (Arlo is her dad). Everyone else will be glad to hear that the 37-year-old songwriter can more than hold her own in front of a crowd, name and pedigree aside. (Craftsman House, St. Petersburg) INFO
Your Arsenal: With Special Guest Mike Poorman Of Hot Rod Circuit He was behind the drum kit for Hot Rod Circuit during the emo band’s heyday, and tonight Mike Poorman will be behind the selections at Your Arenal, where DJs spin their favorite songs by Morrissey and The Smith while mixing in the best of indie, new wave and punk. (c.1949, Tampa) INFO
ALSO PLAYING
The Broadcast w/The Happy Campers (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin) INFO
Adults at Leisure: Blue Suede Shoes w/Scot Bruce/Mike Albert and the Big E Band (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) INFO
Order Of The Owl w/Junior Bruce/Shroud Eater (New World Brewery, Ybor City) INFO
Ol’ Dirty Sundays w/ Deacon x Fader (Crowbar, Ybor City) INFO
This article appears in Jan 5-12, 2017.
