This Valentine's Day weekend is jammed with live music. Take a look at the highlights for this Fri., Feb. 12, then take a peep at the concerts landing on Saturday and Sunday, too.
Storm Large Perhaps you know her rich, sultry-smoky vocals from her work with Portland’s little retro-chic lounge-pop orchestra, Pink Martini. But Storm Large hits Tampa Theatre on her own, behind a solo outing named for the band that joins her, Le Bonheur, and made up of “a collection of tortured and titillating love songs” – Large-style re-imaginings of American songbook classics like “Unchained Melody” and “The Lady is a Tramp” mixed up with modern selections (Black Sabbath’s “N.I.B.,” Lou Reed’s “Satellite of Love”), international songs that show off her French-speaking capabilities (Jacques Brel’s “Ne me quitte pas”), and a few gospel-hued originals, too. (Tampa Theatre, downtown Tampa)
Alan Parsons Live Project with Dave Mason You’re probably among the folks who think you don’t know anything by Alan Parson Project outside his production on Dark Side of the Moon. You’d be wrong; “Time,” “I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You,” “Games People Play” and “Eye in the Sky” are all classic rock radio staples and make appearances in the setlist when the iconic producer/composer takes his material on the road. This staging finds his live project supported by a full rock symphony, and warm-up from singer-songwriter and Traffic co-founder Dave Mason (“Feelin’ Alright,” “We Just Disagree”). (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
Valentines Zombie Hop Being without a lover or significant other on Valentine’s Day might make you feel a little like a zombie; saggy lifeless face, dragging lifeless stride, pathetic moans and groans of loneliness. Stop that right now and let Tampa Bay Hardcore kick your ass out of self-pity and into raging against the gooey when with its Valentines Zombie Hop, a free bill of heavy bands led by the horrifying punk n’ roll of TheFuneralDazies. Also performing: Slade and the Wasters, Stand up Ralph and McFeely's Speedy Delivery. (Fubar, St. Petersburg)
Patty Griffin, Sara Watkins & Anais Mitchell This concert –presented in conjunction with the Sunshine City Songwriters Festival – marks the official launch of a concert tour/voter engagement drive, “Use Your Voice 2016,” with the League of Women Voters behind it and folk rock/Americana songstress Patty Griffin at its head. Her breadth of material stretches through nearly two decades and nine LPs, including a Grammy win for Best Traditional Gospel Album with 2010’s Downtown Church, and a fresh nomination in the Best Folk Album category for 2015 indie release, Servant of Love. Sara Watkins (the fiddling frontwoman of Nickel Creek) and acclaimed up-and-coming folk artist Anaïs Mitchell join Griffin for special “singers-in-the-round” style concerts, with all three on stage together sharing songs and accompanying each other for the extent of the evening. (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg)
Bria Skonberg The regularly schedule Valentine’s show by jazz crooner Whitney James has been canceled, but Palladium has slotted in a more than suitable replacement in Bria Skonberg, a Canada-born, NYC-based trumpet player, composer and vocalist whose hot jazz grooves are imbued with New Orleans flair and worldly sonic vibes. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
ALSO TONIGHT
Dropin Pickup/Almost Poets/Notions/Brendan Ciccone/Donna Lu Local 662, St. Petersburg
Troy Youngblood & the SoulFish The Amsterdam, St. Petersburg
Geri X Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa
St. Petersburg College Heissler Organ Concert Series: Jack Rain SPC Music Center, St. Petersburg
Rita Hayworth: A Life In Concert feat. Quinn Lemley Largo Cultural Center, Largo
Benjamin Road CD Release Party Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg
Turnstile PHSC Performing Arts Center, Tarpon Springs
Tom Rush Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, Tarpon Springs
Kasondra Rose and the Sleepless Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
Shinraco/Lobster Gyro Shack/Soma Riot/The Prople/Damn Thy Name Brass Mug, Tampa
The Southern Belles Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin
Selwyn Birchwood Ka’Tiki, Sunset Beach
Sean Chambers w/No Money Down Band Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa
Neal McCoy The Round-Up, Tampa
Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat 2 Palms Bar & Bistro, Clearwater
COMING UP THIS WEEKEND
Must Be The Holy Ghost w/PLEASURES Sat., Feb. 13, The Hub, Tampa
Sunshine City Songwriters Festival: Kinky Friedman Sat., Feb. 13, Craftsman House Gallery, St. Petersburg
Living Decent w/DieAlps!/Total Shit Sat., Feb. 13, Microgroove, Tampa
Weaksauce/Rude Squad/Bootleg/Unmotivated Sat., Feb. 13, State Theatre, Clearwater
Perdition Temple/Father Befouled/Encoffination/Gnosis/Caveman Cult Sat., Feb. 13, Brass Mug, Tampa
Dark Star Orchestra Sat., Feb. 13, Jannus Live, St. Petersburg
Hillsong United Sat., Feb. 13, USF Sun Dome, Tampa
Blues Music Experience w/Johnny G Lyon/Albert Castiglia/Stacy Mitchhart/Simo/Joey Gilmore Sat., Feb. 13, Kapok Special Events Center, Clearwater
Matt Burke & Rebekah Pulley Twosome Sat., Feb. 13, Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg
Rumble in the South w/Jeff Vitolo & The Quarter Mile Rebels/The Hot Rod Hornets/Skinny D & The Hotrod Truckers/ The Double D Combo Sat., Feb. 13, Red Star Rock Bar, St. Petersburg
Baby Anne Sat., Feb. 13, Amphitheatre, Ybor City
Drake Night #2: Valentine’s Edition w/Big Chris the Movie/Sweet Baby Angel Sat., Feb. 13, The Bends, St. Petersburg
Lauren Hooker w/John Hart Sat., Feb. 13, UUC Octagon Arts Center, Clearwater
The Bloody Jug Band Sat., Feb. 13, Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin
Beebs and Her Money Makers Sat., Feb. 13, Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
Cypher Machine/From This Fire/Divine Science/New Tattoo/Farewell To Goodbye Sat., Ffeb. 13, Local 662, St. Petersburg
R5 w/Ryland/Parade Of Lights Sat., Feb. 13, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater
Paul Thorn Sat.-Sun., Feb. 13-14, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa
Bernie Fest in the Burg w/NoNeed/American Song Box/Dawn Willey/Jonathan Blake/John Clark Band/He She Me Wumbo/Orion/AMiAM/Samurai Shotgun/Matthew Bistok & Electric Powered Windmills/Fall on Purpose/Chuck Terzian, Infinite Third/Jun/Infinite Skillz/Lobo Marino/Redfeather Sat.-Sun., Feb. 13-14, Kymatic Stuydios, St. Petersburg
Robert Randolph & The Family Band Sun., Feb. 14, Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Porn Prom w/Mark Castle/Lilith/Bay Sir/Pocket Tanya Sun., Feb. 14, Venture Compound, St. Petersburg
An Evening with Todd Rundgren Sun., Feb. 14, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg
Cruisin’ At The Capitol Street Party w/Black Honkeys/Shevonne and The Bad Boys Sun., Feb. 14, Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Ol' Dirty Sundays presents One Soul: Valentine’s Day Edition w/LeSage, Casper x KU Sun., Feb. 14, Crowbar, Ybor City
Dreamboats/WAHH Valentines Day Romantic Rendezvous Sun., Feb. 14, Independent Bar & Café, Tampa
Beauty School Dropout VDay Backyard Bash w/Broom Closet/Darren Ankersmit/Jeff Williams Sun., Feb. 14, 1719 7th St. S., St. Petersburg
Excision Sun., Feb. 14, Amphitheater, Ybor City
The Hit Men Sun., Feb. 14, Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
Gypsy Wind Sun., Feb. 14, Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa
In the Name of Love w/BK Jackson Sun., Feb. 14, Tace’s Lounge, Tampa
This article appears in Feb 11-17, 2016.

