Nurse your post-Halloween hangover with some live tuneage. Here's the concert breakdown for this Sun., Nov. 1.
Murs with Red Pill, King Fantastic, Golden Rules, Noa James, Gat And Cris How the hell is a guy like Murs still playing clubs like Crowbar? Maybe it’s his birth name (Nick Carter — Backstreet Boys associations are a killer), but the 37-year-old emcee is arguably one of the most charismatic figures all of hip hop has ever seen, so it’s crazy that he hasn’t reached radio-ready levels of popularity. The world probably isn’t prepared for his hyper-cerebral approach to lyricism, but it’s been good enough for his hardcore fans and his very influential group of pals, which includes Def Jux figurehead El-P. Murs’ new album, Have A Nice Life, goes a long way towards his mission of “Making the Universe Recognize and Submit,” and this show will turn believers out of skeptics. (Crowbar, Ybor City) —Ray Roa
Boz Scaggs The beloved yacht rock singer-songwriter with blue eyed soulful grooving singles like “Lowdown” and heartening brass-dosed “Lido Shuffle,” Boz Scaggs, makes his way back to the Bay area behind a fresh release, A Fool to Care, which finds him reviving and refreshing jazz, soul, blues and country tracks like Curtis Mayfield’s “I’m So Proud” and Richard Manuel’s “Whispering Pines” with Lucinda Williams. He also delivered another duet in bouncing original, “Hell to Pay,” with Bonnie Raitt lending vocals and slide guitar. (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)—Leilani Polk
Triathlon with Hikes Their last stop in town was at a Seminole Heights stronghold of vinyl fandom (Microgroove), but Savannah Ga.’s Triathlon are bringing the party to Ybor this time around, hitting one of Cigar City’s most storied watering spots. Their new album Nothing Bothers Me is due in November, but expect the boys — Adam Intrator, Hunter Jayne, and Chad Chilton — to preview a whole lot from that 10-song effort and also dish out selections from last year’s supremely-excellent Lo-Tide, where they dole out the kind of lo-fi, dreamy geetar pop that a guy like Mac Demarco usually gets a boner for. (New World Brewery, Ybor City) —RR
Shinobi Ninja with Samurai Shotgun Amid the new school of Afropunk stars is Brooklyn ensemble Shinobi Ninja, their fusion of rock, hip hop, funk, reggae, soul, electronic music and even some reggae built by a few guitars, bass, drums and a set of turntables, and powered by the velvety lead vocals and flows of Baby G and brassier rhymes of Duke Sims. This year’s Artistic Visions was recorded live, described by the band as “a free style album with tons of air. Like Stax.” Apt support from the Bay area’s own post-hip hop ragers, Samurai Shotgun. (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin)—LP
Strung Like a Horse with Bloody Jug Band On the heels of releasing fresh fan-funded LP Free comes Tennessee outfit Strung Like a Horse, their rather colorful-eclectic string-fueled sounds a bouncing blend of gypsy jazz, punk-kicking grassiness and garage twang. Drawling lead vocals by Clay Maselle (who also plays acoustic guitar, mandolin and kazoo) are bolstered by bandmates B.J. Hightower (upright bass, backing harmonies), Ben Crawford (banjo), “Crispy” (drums, bells, found junk) and the Spooky Fiddler. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)—LP
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Jazz Ambassadors of the US Army Field Band Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
The New Music Conflagration Presents: Jim Ivy’s Tangled Bell Ensemble St. Petersburg Main Library, St. Petersburg
Left & Right w/Flat Stanley The Hub, downtown Tampa
