Check out what's happening in live music on this Sat., April 2, below.
Bonerama Get down at the Witch’s Den with brass-blasted funk rock from New Orleans mainstay Bonerama, with the three-piece brass section joined by a fourth player on lowend-booming sousaphone (when he isn’t playing bass), and fleshed out ever further by searing guitar and ass-bumping beats. (Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg)
Tampa Spring Jam All those high-quality purveyors of down-tempo, sexy-romantic R&B slow jams who had their heyday in the ‘90s all assemble under the Sun Dome to serenade and seduce us onced again: Keith Sweat with his new jack swing swagger, brassy-nasal croon and backlog of swaying midi-fueled hits – “Nobody,” “I Want Her,” “'ll Give All My Love To You,” “Make You Sweat,” et. al; Bobby Brown, ex-hubbie to the late Whitney Houston and behind the likes of “My Prerogative,” “Every Little Step” and “Don’t Be Cruel”; and upbeat hip hop-soulful Jagged Edge (“Let’s Get Married,” “Where the Party At”). Rounding out the bill are Next (“Too Close,” “Wifey”) and H-Town (“Knockin Da Boots”). (USF Sun Dome, Tampa)
Robin Trower with Damon Fowler Between the heavy psychedelic tendencies and groove-oriented hard rock feel of 1974 breakthrough Bridge of Sighs to the simmering and searing electric axe solos that carry 2015’s Something’s About To Change, UK musician Robin Trower has explored a range of blues terrains but has remained relatively unknown despite his venerable standing amid guitar aficionados and rising players for his technique and tonal quality. The 71-year-old hits Palladium in his power trio lineup with bassist/vocalist Richard Watts and drummer Chris Taggart. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
Duran Duran with Chic Feat. Nile Rodgers The British fathers of New Wave synth pop hit town behind 14th and latest full-length, Paper Gods. Check out our Q&A with frontman Simon LeBon HERE. (MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa)
Ry Cooder, Sharon White and Ricky Skaggs If you need a real country fix — and who doesn’t, from time to time? — head to the Straz to hear guitar legend Ry Cooder with Sharon White, and her husband; you might know him as 14-time Grammy winner Ricky Skaggs. Cooder, Skaggs and White blend their strings and their voices into some sort of bluegrass magic, making you wonder why you ever need any other music. Someone described their performance energy as “barnstorming” and who are we to disagree? (Ferguson Hall at Straz Center for Performing Arts, Tampa) –Cathy Salustri
Joey Bishop Benefit & Memorial Concert Friends, local music scene peers and fans of late Luvdogz frontman Joey Bishop gather to honor him and raise funds for his family to help pay medical and funeral costs following his unfortunate passing. Confirmed to perform (and in the order they appear) are Stonegrey, The Defiant, Den Of Thieves, Kenny McGee's Machine, Crush Deluxe, The Luvdogz and Carnival Of Crue. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Zach Deputy with The Galbraith Group Feat. Danny Clemmons It would be all too easy for Zach Deputy to fall into the genre trappings of chill-dude-island-rock – but he doesn’t. Yes, his lyrics are on the blasé side, but he breathes fresh life into them with his voice. At any given moment, he might skyrocket into a falsetto, drop back to a soft hum, bust out some beat-boxing, or howl in a sweet Savannah drawl. And then there’s the matter of instrumentation, where he truly embraces one-man band unpredictability with his trademark playing, looping and layering of drum, guitar and bass. Add to this mix warm-up from classic rock power trio Galbraith Group featuring the added funky-soulful vocals of singer Danny Clemmons (from Holey Miss Moley) and you’ve got yourself one wild night. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa) –Leanne Castro
ALSO TONIGHT
Laidback Luke Sat., April 2, Amphitheatre, Ybor City
Tampa Bay Wine & Food Festival: Andy Grammar Sat., April 2, Busch Gardens, Tampa
Pete Merrigan/Dave Williamson/Cormac McCarthy Sat., April 2, Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg
Melanie Martinez (Make-Up Date) Sat., April 2, The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City
The Bronx Wanderers Sat., April 2, Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Local Noise Show 6 w/ Mingus Kingus/Nequam Sonitus/Rhetion/Trisma Sat., April 2, The Venture Compound, St. Petersburg
Rocket Man: A Tribute to Elton John Sat., April 2, Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center, Pinellas Park
Florence K Sat., April 2, Largo Cultural Center, Largo
Ace Frehley w/Geoff Tate/Operation: Mindcrime Sat., April 2, Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Four Star Riot CD Release Party Sat., April 2, Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin
Tampa Bay Premiere: Hair I Go Again at Gasparilla International Film Festival Sat., April 2, Muvico Ybor, Ybor City
3rd Annual Nerf or Nothin Spenjamin Bach/Pig Pen/Abortion Twins/The JPP Sat., April 2, Fubar, St. Petersburg
