It's a fatty-stacked night of concerts on this Hump Day Wed., Feb. 24, and that's not even factoring the St. Petersburg Jazz Festival kick off. Check out the breakdown of highlights below.
Robert DeLong with Colours An electro pop producer/musician who’s risen fast in the alternative radio ranks, Washington-spawned Robert Delong has seen chart success with "Long Way Down" and on a lesser scale, "Global Concepts" that manage to be both glitchy and unique while maintaining catchy percussive dance-inducing appeal. Support on his current headline tour from Colours, a Florida-based duo that churns out R&B-soaked groovtronica that sees its full-length debut on Ivory, out February 26 on Victory Records. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)–Leilani Polk
Dave Alvin & Phil Alvin with The Lauren Mitchell Band Dave and Phil Alvin came up in California pushing a blend of blues, rockabilly, mountain music and R&B as leaders of The Blasters. (For a point of reference, their twangy rock ode “Dark Night” played during the opening credits of From Dusk till Dawn.) The brothers recently released their second duo collab, Lost Time, a collection of blues tunes by various artists that inspired them in their early years – Willie Dixon, James Brown and Leadbelly among others. This Hump Day performance will likely be heavy on the newer material. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)–LP
Travis Tritt A CMA and Grammy winner worthy of his honors, Travis Tritt is a country music star who fills the house with energy as soon as he walks on stage. His Southern rock style, gritty country guitar picking, and scraps of soul in his songwriting make him a perennial favorite. He’ll play hits like “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive,” share stories, and give his fans not just a concert, but a solo and acoustic experience to remember. (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg) –Cathy Salustri
Lyle Lovett & Vince Gill These giants of twangy sounds come back together for their “Songs and Stories Tour.” Gill seduces audiences with his easy-going, happy-go-lucky yet poignant brand of country, while Lovett brings his rather eclectic appeal to the mix. The singer-songwriter shatters any genre label foisted upon him; he’s not country, and yet, he is. They’ll perform in solo and duo configurations, serving as their own (and each others’) accompanists. Think of it as an night of acoustic bluegrass meets balladry. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) –CS
Mersey Beatles A Beatles tribute group made up of all Liverpool-born musicians that has the distinction of having a decade-long residency at the Cavern Club – the Liverpool nightclub where the Fab Four got their start – hits Tampa on their U.S. debut tour. The foursome touches on all eras of the Beatles repertoire amid four costume changes, and is accompanied by John Lennon’s sister and Cavern director Julia Baird, who introduces the show and signs copies of her book, Imagine This: Growing Up with My Brother John Lennon, before and afterwards. (Jaeb Theater at Straz Center for Performing Arts, Tampa) –LP
BBQ Wednesday Acoustic Series with Redleg Husky An ideal candidate for the Hump Day music series, Asheville folk trio Redleg Husky pits three-part vocal harmonies against plucked string melodies (guitar, banjo, bass, mandolin) in their bright mountain-hewed tunes. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)–LP
ALSO TONIGHT
Darlene Love Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
SWMRS w/The Frights Local 662, St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg Jazz Festival Kick-Off: The James Varnado Jazz/Funk Band Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
This article appears in Feb 18-24, 2016.