Tex Mex
Del Castillo is the band to see these days from the musical oasis of Austin, Tex. The Chicano sextet expertly blends rock, blues, jazz and country with flamenco, classical and assorted world music disciplines to create a charmingly distinct and vibrant sound — one that impresses music snobs and makes cowboys tap their toes. The band's latest LP, Brotherhood, is at turns romantic, mournful and celebratory. It's a satisfying mix of roots styles featuring the jaw-dropping Spanish guitar interplay of the del Castillo brothers, Rick and Mark, and the soulful (Spanish and English language) vocals of Alex Ruiz. The band's simmering Tex Mex tunes can be found on the soundtracks to such films as Kill Bill, Vol. 2, Once Upon a Time In Mexico and El Mariachi. To the best of our knowledge, this is their first trip to Tampa.
Del Castillo w/Limine/Semi-Soul, 8 p.m. Friday, April 20, The Orpheum, Ybor City. $8. —Wade Tatangelo
From Lead to Gold
Tampa Bay's Southeast Music Alliance once again presents an eclectic lineup of road-tested local acts — ranging from art rock to alt country — for Alchemy Fest. Clearwater's Soulfound, the headliner, is a modern rock quartet offering impassioned vocals across, tight, processed guitar sounds and a heavy rhythm section. St. Pete's Auditorium, fresh off an opening gig with Live at Jannus Landing, plays Alice Cooper/early Genesis-influenced, neo-classic rock. Bradenton's Human Condition keeps the timeless flame of folk-rock burning, while fellow B-Town act Have Gun, Will Travel finds The Chase Theory's Matt Burke shining in troubadour mode with some of the finest acoustic material around. Finally, there's the Cape Coral sextet Brentford Sound bringing the ska.
Alchemy Fest featuring Soulfound/Auditorium/Human Condition/ Have Gun, will Travel /The Brentford Sound, 2 p.m. Sun., April 22, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa. $7 (Children ages 12 and under are free). —WT
Riot! Girl
Paramore's a pop-punk quartet from Tennessee led by the plucky frontwoman with a fireball of hair, Hayley Williams. Lyrics typically concern high school drama, sung from the perspective of the sympathetic good gal (Williams), who must "sit all alone feeling empty." Granted, it's not the most original material, but Williams sells the poppy little ditties with the same brassy cuteness that makes Avril Lavigne's music a guilty pleasure. Paramore inked a deal in '05 with the Tampa-based/nationally-recognized indie label Fueled by Ramen, and the band's debut LP All We Know is Failing cracked the Top 40 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Paramore's sophomore disc, Riot!, is scheduled to be released June 12 on Fueled by Ramen.
Paramore w/The Almost/This Providence/Love Arcade, 8 p.m., Sat., April 21, The State Theatre, St. Petersburg. $15. —WT
This article appears in Apr 18-24, 2007.