Here'e what's happening this Thursday, March 19 in Bay area live music.
Gasoline Heart with Mike Dunn and Oxford Noland You only have to listen to Gasoline Heart for a few seconds to realize that these guys know how to deliver pure American-stamped rock n’ roll. Songs like “Rabbit Trail” and “Left for Dead” off 2012 LP Thanks for Everything feature a rough yet honest vocal quality from lead singer/guitarist Louis DeFabrizio combined with powerful riffs by lead guitarist Adam Garbinski and a beautifully cacophonous rhythm section in bassist Kirk Henderson and drummer Dave Petersen. This is isn’t pretty pop music. It’s dirty, loud, and full of bite; exactly how rock n’ roll should be. (Epic Problem, Tampa) –Seth Peterson
Black Pussy with Funny Bunny and SAHE In the wake of unleashing Magic Moustache in February, Black Pussy hit the road to spread the love. Based out of Portland, the nomadic quintet has been touring nonstop over the past few years and wreaking controversial backlash from their provocative name. (Pretty hard to Google it, too. No pun intended.) Their self-styled “weedgaze” sound (what are genre titles coming to?) is actually rather palatable and much less gimmicky that you might imagine, stoner rock at its finest. Chugging power chords and spacey solos marked by frontman Dustin Hill’s distant vocals make for a mesmeric experience. Tampa’s own SAHE warms the stage with some straight up heavy rock n’ roll. The psychedelic trip kicks off with Funny Bunny’s shoegaze-y New Wave vibes. (Crowbar, Ybor City) –Adam Hardy
John Mellencamp with Carlene Carter The husky-howling roots rocking rep for blue collar living in the U.S. of A. aka “The Voice of the Heartland” aka John Cougar brings his huge 80-city tour to Clearwater for a two-night, Thursday and Friday stand behind his 22nd studio album, Plain Spoken, which (in a savvy move to keep bodies in the seats when he plays new material) was given away as a free digital download to all fans who purchased tickets to shows on this tour. Never fear, however; he’ll likely sprinkle plenty of hits amid the fresher fare. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
–Leilani Polk
ALSO TONIGHT:
Celtic Roots with The Celts Ferguson Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa
One Night of Queen Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
Harvard Glee Club with USF Chamber Singers St. John’s Episcopal Church, Tampa
It Was a Very Good Year: A Tribute to Frank Sinatra by Tony Sands Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
An Evening with Linda Eder Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Gabraith Group Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
Anthony Gomes CD Release Party Buckets, Tampa
This article appears in Mar 12-18, 2015.