Some impressive acts all landing in town at the same time — on this Wed., March 23. Take a look at the breakdown below.
Skinny Lister with Beans On Toast, Will Varley British folk-punk six-piece Skinny Lister has a definitive Irish quality to their sound, with an eclectic arsenal of instruments that includes melodeon and concertina, both styles of accordion that add a bright reedy texture to their compositions, and big boisterous vocals that soar through harmonizing choruses in songs like “This Is War” (off 2015 sophomore LP Down On Deptford Broadway) and “Trouble On Oxford Street.” Also of note: XL Mile labelmate Beans on Toast, the pseudonym of UK troubadour Jay McAllister, who has a thick, utterly charming British brogue and big brass bumpin’ folk sounds showcased on sixth and latest full-length The Grand Scheme of Things. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)–Leilani Polk
Nightwish with Delain, Sonata Arctica There is beauty in metal and Nightwish capitalizes on it with swelling, symphonic instrumentals that are built with only a few instruments in play. But the true highlight of the Finnish band’s performances has always been Floor Jansen. The classically-trained lead vocalist has some of the most versatile pipes in metal, from ethereal and operatic tones, to powerful belts, to aggressive and raspy growls and screams. (The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City) –Justin Croteau
Slaves with Capture The Crown, Myka Relocate + many more Slaves (SL△VES) is a Cali-based post-hardcore band led by vocalist Jonny Craig (formerly of Emarosa, Dance Gavin Dance), and featuring bassist Colin Vieira (Musical Charis), drummer Tai Wright (Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows) and guitarist Alex Lyman (Hearts & Hands). This date is part of their tour behind second studio album, Routine Breathing. (Local 662, St. Petersburg)–LP
BoyToy with Drug Returning to the Bay area after playing New World in October, Brooklyn trio Boytoy is still on tour behind 2015 debut full-length Grackle, its heavy grinding marriage of modern alt rock and garage propulsion powered by guitar-slinging frontwomen Saara Untracht-Oakner and Glenn Van Dyke, their co-lead vocals varying between husky-toned coos, howls and drones. (The Bends, St. Petersburg)–LP
Bongzilla with Black Cobra, Lo-Pan Kings, Destroy I like to imagine that fans of Wisconsin’s elder stoner metal band erupted in cheers of “Go, go Bongzilla!” when they reunited in 2015 after six years apart. All the original members are in attendance (and clean of all substances that were dragging them down, save for the greens that make up the majority of their lyrical themes), and they’ll be crashing into town with big crunchy down-tuned guitars, guttural screeching vocals, and tempos that range from sludgy slow to faster amped-up grind. (Orpheum, Ybor City)–LP
ALSO HAPPENING TONIGHT
Palladium Chamber Players Concert Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
BBQ Wednesday Acoustic Series w/Branden Barnett & Brent Byrd New World Brewery, Ybor City
Alexander Tsygankov and Inna Shevchenko Studio@620, St. Petersburg
This article appears in Mar 17-23, 2016.