So much is happening this weekend that I've broken up the traditionally single-post weekend round-up into two — one for Saturday, one for Sunday. Here's what's happening on this Sat., April 18...
Peter Hook & The Light: A Joy Division Celebration Some nostalgia reunions reek of the desperation to make a buck. Disputes with former bandmate Bernard Sumner aside, ex-New Order/Joy Division bassist Peter Hook’s current tour retreading turn-of-the-’80s Joy Division albums Unknown Pleasures and Closer has some added value, even if it’s a little bittersweet. With the suicide of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis in 1980, most fans never got a chance to see the proto-New Wave band’s haunting and often somber — yet uncannily rhythmic — tunes performed live, nor did the generations that discovered Joy Division decades later. The 59-year-old rocker does a formidable job resembling though not blatantly ripping off Curtis’ foreboding vocal (Hook used to sing backing vocals), all while delivering his signature high, melodic basslines. Hook’s current band – which includes son Jack Bates, also on bass, guitarist David Potts, keyboardist Andy Poole and drummer Paul Kehoe – may be even more solid than those upstarts from Manchester were 35 years ago. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —Julie Garisto
From Indian Lakes with The Soil & The Sun, Lemolo From Indian Lakes showcases the musical prowess and creative musings of Californian drummer-turned-singer-songwriter Joey Vannucchi. The band is an extension of his solo project, Songs From Indian Lakes; Vannucchi ultimately added four band members to the roster and dropped “Songs” from the moniker. Last year’s Absent Noise earned some well-deserved attention. It channels Vannucchi’s rhythmic beginnings, departing from the typical 4/4 time signatures that plague most pop music, and its more post/alt-rock sound features catchy syncopation behind Vannucchi’s angelic voice. (Epic Problem, Tampa) —Adam Hardy
Flat Land Just when you think you’ve got an idea of Flat Land’s sound, the next track makes you wonder, “Is this the same band I was just listening to?” The unpredictability of the Gainsville-based four-piece isn’t only on a song-by-song basis, however; Flat Land is capable of soothing, invigorating, entrancing and charming all in the same track, leaving you guessing at what lurks around the next refrain. Maybe a funky guitar riff or a crescendo of crashing cymbals? Perhaps a lulling violin solo? Your guess is as good as mine. And just think: if Florida wasn’t so vertically challenged, it may not have inspired such musical genius. (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin) —AH
Mainsail Arts Festival feat. Pure Prairie League, Legendary JCs & many more The weekend visual arts extravaganza by the water ups the ante with its 40th edition, bringing in big name entertainment by way of country-folk rock mainstays Pure Prairie League, which head up the music on Saturday as preceded by (in order of appearance) Sol Caribe, Trae Pierce & the T Stone Band and Wendy and the Soul Shakers, while funk-soul revue-ers Legendary JCs close out the festivities on Sunday after sets by De Lei’ed Parrots and Dropin Pickup. (Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg) —Leilani Polk
Iska Dhaaf with Jensen Serf Co., Atlantic Oceans Iska Dhaaf was made in America, even if the name – which means “let it go” in Somali – was not. The Brooklyn-by-way-of-Seattle psych-punk duo made up of vocalist/guitarist Nathan Quiroga and vocalist/drummer/keyboardist Benjamin Verdoes dropped debut opus Even the Sun Will Burn last year, with tracks like “Everybody Knows” exhibiting definitive Dark Wave persuasions, all sinister and brooding and urgent as driven by buzzing synths and fuzzed-out guitars, though the album has some ‘60s pop-trippy qualities ala twinkling, bopping-and-swaying ode, “Two Ones.” This isn't only a solid live music bill but a celebration of New World Brewery's 20th Anniversary, presented by THX Management and Suburban Apologist. Be there, yo. (New World Brewery, Ybor City) —LP
Inter Arma with Yautja, Set And Setting Boundary-pushing Virginia metal Inter Arma followed up the much-acclaimed Sky Burial LP last fall with an EP, The Cavern, that contains just one song stretching over 45 minutes. It changes tempos from melodic lulls to shredded land blasts, and weaves through black, doom, stoner, prog and even acoustic sonic terrains as powered by the unhinged growls, roars and more clear and straightforward wails of vocalist Mike Paparo. (Fubar, St. Petersburg)—LP
Hyperbolic Chamber Music 4: Works for Percussion The latest installment of the series that seeks to re-define the boundaries of classical music showcases a performance by Hyperbolic co-founder and USF New-Music Consortium head Sean Hamilton (percussion and electronics), whose program encompasses his own original work along with the world premiere of Stuart Saunders Smith’s “Queen Anne’s Lace,” and pieces by Mark Applebaum, Tyler Kline, Peter V. Swendsen and Jerod Sommerfeldt. (The Venture Compound, St. Petersburg)—LP
Jimmy Buffett What is there to say? Mr. Margaritaville himself rolls back through town with a set full of the swaying, alternatively upbeat and meditative strum-pop tunes every Parrothead knows by heart. (MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa) —Scott Harrell
Johnny G Lyon Band 30th Anniversary Skipperdome recurring rockers JGLB celebrate three decades in Tampa Bay (the first gig played here was in April of 1985) and are joined by various TBA guests and longtime friends and collaborators of the band. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa) —LP
ALSO TONIGHT
Tommy Trash w/Wax Motif Amphitheatre, Ybor City
Sara Rose w/Dean Johanesen Green Bench Brewing, St. Petersburg
Andre Roy Jazz Trio Firehouse Cultural Center, Tampa
The Reactions w/Florida Mountain Boys Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
BlessEd and the Divine Derelicts/Catatonic Scripts Neptune Lounge, Tarpon Springs
Bride of Chaotica The Hub, downtown Tampa
Acme Jazz Garage The Blind Goat, Tampa
