THURS 14
Boz Scaggs w/Marc Cohn The pop-soulful singer-songwriter with the high-pitched timbre experienced his peak of commercial success from the mid-'70s to the early '80s with several Top 20 hits, including the 1976 Grammy-winning disco funk standard, "Lowdown," and 1980's smooth AC ballad, "Look What You've Done to Me" from the Urban Cowboy soundtrack. This tour around, Boz Scaggs is supported by Marc Cohn (of "Walking in Memphis" fame). (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
Frank McComb w/Cece Teneal Mixing the sounds of R&B, gospel-soul and contemporary jazz, singer/keyboardist Frank McComb brings a smooth feel and a cheesy sort of Stevie Wonder vocal appeal to his easy jams. This tour comes on the heels of A New Beginning, McComb's 2010 release and first LP of original material in more than five years. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
FRI 15
Coheed and Cambria Comic book storylines and prog-rock sonics collide in the music of Coheed and Cambria. The band's peculiar, outrageously original concept albums that follow the continuing saga of The Amory Wars are written and delivered via the rich, soaring vocals of frontman Claudio Sanchez. This tour supports 2010's Year of the Black Rainbow, a prequel to the previous four albums that comes with its own 352-page novel co-written by Sanchez and Peter David. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) —Valerie Quintana
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Big Bad Voodoo Daddy has been dishing out their brand of revival cool for the past 18 years, their swinging big band jazz introduced to national audiences when appeared in the 1996 indie cult classic, Swingers. The septet has built up an impressive repertoire since then; their most recent output was 2009's How Big Can You Get? A Tribute to Cab Calloway, which captures the spirit of an influential American icon and was recorded in LA's legendary Capitol Studios using vintage equipment and in the rooms once occupied by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and others. Lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Scotty Morris called the recording experience "one of our biggest musical moments." (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)
Coral Reefer Soul Show feat. Coral Reefer Band w/Outside Art, JD Spradlin, John Frinzi and John Patti Coral Reefer Band members Nadirah Shakoor (vocals), Robert Greenidge (steel drums), Ralph MacDonald (percussion), Jim Mayer (bass) and Doyle Grisham (pedal steel guitar) part from Jimmy Buffett for this one-off performance featuring some special local guests. A portion of proceeds benefit the Tampa Bay Parrot Head Club's charity, Florida Parrot Rescue, a nonprofit dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of companion parrots. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
Campbell the Band w/ Despite Distance/Fiorisi Charlotte collective Campbell the Band mixes elements of chamber folk and acoustic pop, their sound made up of pretty piano and guitar melodies, finely-spun vocals shaded with pained sensitivity and a sense of nostalgia, and introspective lyrics that occasionally pay homage to the places they've been, like in "Quickly Growing Old": "Florida held me with warm arms, though I truly hated the heat / and though Lakeland had its charm, she was not my cup of tea." (The Warehouse, Tampa)
New World Brewery Sweet 16 w/Sunbears!/The Semis/Alexander & the Grapes/Gentlemen Please Buy a beer and celebrate New World's blessed (thank God we have it) longevity while enjoying live music by several of the venue's favorite (and frequently-appearing) area acts. Confetti-spewing Jacksonville-based electro-psyche pop two-piece Sunbears! headline; local support provided by hard-edged beach rockers The Semis (fronted by newly-hitched singer-songwriter Billy Summer), alt country outfit Alexander & the Grapes, and minimalist pop/garage rock foursome Gentlemen Please. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
Drowning Pool w/Pop Evil/Trust Company/Static Cycle Since their formation in 1996, nu metal outfit Drowning Pool has been through their share of frontman troubles, including when original lead singer Dave Williams died of heart failure a few months after 2001's Sinner went multi-platinum. A few albums later, they settled on current vocalist Ryan McComb, who adds his impressive range to arena-worthy anthems crafted with pounding guitar and bass, and fueled by viciously catchy choruses. Their 2010 self-titled fourth LP is their second release with McCombs. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —VQ
The Beach Boys This tour around, the classic California surf pop outfit commemorates their 50th Anniversary (and 40th without sound-shaping singer-songwriter Brian Wilson); Mike Love and Bruce Johnston are the remaining originals. On a side note, EMI offers a limited edition Beach Boys release on Record Store Day — a double 78RPM vinyl single set of "Good Vibrations"/"Heroes and Villains." Stop by Bananas April 16 and pick up your copy; for more on RSD, see p. 48. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
SAT 16
Dr. Dog w/Floating Action The Philly quintet's sixth LP and first release on ANTI-, 2010's Shame Shame, didn't find Dr. Dog changing their formula so much as improving upon their warm, early '70s FM rock sound. Dr. Dog mixes elements of indie folk rock and '60s psyche-pop, their music marked by big, buoyant basslines, sweetly earnest vocals, and charming hard-on-sleeve lyrics ("I do believe that there's no more tricks up my sleeve / oh, the good old days have passed and the good times after that / and slowly I've become undone, a stranger with a stranger heart"). Live, they kill with recklessly charming abandon. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reef Band No worse for wear after his post-encore fall from the stage in Australia in January, tropical rockin' singer-songwriter Buffett returns to the state that loves him so, and gives his Bay area Parrotheads some "Margaritaville" love. (Ask Gary Amphitheatre, Tampa)
Preston Beebe CD Release Show Beebe is a USF grad and an experimental musician (cello, drums and electronics) who made a lasting sonic impression at CL's Sensory Overload with his out-there explorations. This show celebrates the release of his new recording, Glisten. The first 25 attendees get a free CD with admission. (Hideaway Cafe, St. Petersburg)
Lady Gaga The last time Lady Gaga stopped in town (back in April of '09), she played the 1,100-seat Ritz Ybor. The outrageous dance pop star has made an arena-size upgrade for her current hype-building tour for May's Born This Way. Expect, like, a billion costume changes, lots of eye candy dancers, and Gaga at the heart of it all serving as Grand Mistress of Ceremonies. (St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa)
SUN 17
Iron Maiden w/Black Tide Seminal British heavy metal group Iron Maiden makes two U.S. stops, both in Florida, one right here in Tampa Bay. Lucky us! Check out Joel's Q&A Dave Murray on p. 45. (St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa)
Lil Ed and the Blues Imperials Far too many blues guitarists perform like they're constipated — eyes squeezed shut, entire face twisted with the effort of pushing out hot solos. Not Lil' Ed. He delivers his lively style of boogie blues with a shit-eating grin, wears vibrant handmade high-rise hats in a range of colors and patterns, dips and dances and high-steps, jokes with the audience, and still smokes the stage with his fiery playing. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
The John Lamb Quintet Tampa Jazz Club hosts an afternoon matinee featuring illustrious St. Pete-based jazz bassist John Lamb, who earned his renown playing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in the '60s. This program will include select cuts from his 2010 recording, Conversations North of the Border, the No. 1 most played album last year on WUSF's All Night Jazz show. He's joined by a lineup of Bay Area musicians — trombone player Greg Nielsen, pianist Tony Castellano, saxman Austin Vickrey and drummer Steve Buchholz. (Mainstage Theatre, HCC-Ybor City)
MON 18
A Day to Remember w/Bring Me the Horizon/We Came as Romans/Pierce the Veil Wildly popular on Florida's hard rock scene, Ocala natives A Day To Remember have gained widespread recognition for a style that balances precariously between pop-punk and post-hardcore. Metalcore Brits Bring Me the Horizon give the kids their screamo fix as do We Came as Romans' ear-wrenching roars and echoing wails, with the intense high-pitched croons of Cali-based outfit Pierce The Veil bringing up the rear. All contribute to the audience's future hearing loss. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) —VQ
Yanni The globally-recognized composer/pianist and unofficial face of New Age music (he calls it "contemporary instrumental") enjoyed breakthrough fame in 1994 with Yanni Live at the Acropolis. The video not only raised $13 million for PBS, but has remained on the video charts almost continuously since it came out and is the second best-selling video of all time (Thriller is the first). In sum, he's made more cheese than Kraft, though not quite as much as MJ. He's adding to the fondue pot with 2011's Truth of Touch, his first album of new material in eight years, which has been lounging at the top of the New Age charts since its release. (Carol Morsani Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa)
TUE 19
The Air I Breathe/Ten After Two/Scarlett O'hara/The Plot in You/LIONS! TIGERS! BEARS! This "Young Guns Tour" showcase features a handful of up-and-coming, technically-proficient, in-your-face devastating post-hardcore, metal, prog rock and other heavy talent repped by the Artery Foundation. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
WED 20
Awesome New Republic It's been a long time coming — roughly six years — but Miami electro rock/post-New Wave pop two-piece Awesome New Republic have finally issue a sophomore follow up their 2005 debut. Stay Kids (out this March) opens with the title track, its pensive verses pondering growing old over a simple keyboard melody before launching into a dazzling explosion of synths and electronic sonics; the rest of the album is similarly thoughtful and bright. (Fly Bar & Restaurant, Tampa)
Big Blu House w/Donnie Bravo/Muphin Chuckrs/Brotha Mello A 420 live music throwdown local(ish) talent headed up by the melodic organ grooves of Sarasota indie hip-hop outfit Big Blu House and featuring sets by measured deep-throated soulful rhyme artist Donnie Bravo, Palmetto punk-reggae outfit Myphin Chuckrs, and gruff Tarpon Springs-based rapper Brotha Mello. (The Local 662, St. Petersburg)
Mindi Abair The fair-haired modern pop-jazz sax player and singer (a St. Pete native who moved to Boston to study music at Berklee, then re-located to LA to pursue her career dreams) returns to Clearwater on the next round of touring to promote her golden soulful 2010 album, In Hi-Fi Stereo. (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)
ALSO THIS WEEK
Side Door Jazz: Impromptu Thurs., April 14, Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
Cowboy Mafia Fri., April 15, Dave's Aqua Lounge, St. Petersburg
Funky Pandas Fri., April 15, Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa
Friday Extra Concert Series: Lois Greco w/Al "Coffee" McDaniel Fri., April 15, Curtis Hixon Park, Tampa
Chicken Chasers Fri., April 15, The Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
Funky Seeds Fri., April 15, Ringside Café, St. Petersburg
CAPSULE w/Fatal/Recreant Fri., April 15, Transitions Art Gallery @ Skatepark of Tampa
Nathan McEuen Fri., April 15, Hideaway Cafe, St. Petersburg
Blood by Dawn CD Release Party Sat., April 16, Crowbar, Ybor City
The Rough Riders Present: Warrant Sat., April 16, Hard Rock Cafe, Tampa
Halcyon w/Steven Garrett Sat., April 16, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa
TimmyBebopalooza w/Bird Street Players/Will Erickson & Local Roots/The Hip Abduction Sat., April 16, J's Grill, Tampa
The Groves w/Big Blue House Sat., April 16, New World Brewery, Ybor City
17th Annual Gulfport SpringFest w/Urban Gypsies/many others Sat., April 16, Gulfport
Los Muñequitos de Matanzas Sat., April 16, Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa
Bruce Baker Band Sat., April 16, Blue Parrot, St. Pete Beach
David Smith Trio Sun., April 17, Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa
Resinated w/Jay D. Clark Wed., April 20, Park Place420, Clearwater
BBQ Wednesday Acoustic Series w/The Redshoe String Band Wed., April 20, New World Brewery, Ybor City
Carnifex w/Oceano/Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza/Within the Ruins Wed., April 20, State Theatre, St. Petersburg
Wiz Khalifa Wed., April 20, UCF Arena, Orlando
D'Visitors Wed., April 20, The Hub, downtown Tampa
