THURSDAY, APRIL 26
Malcolm Holcombe w/Ronny Elliott Since his 1996 debut, N.C. native troubadour Malcolm Holcombe has lingered on the fringes of the insurgent folk-Americana scene, and he’s managed to earn his fair share of street cred and critical attention without ever really changing his underground status. Holcombe pits his crusty backwoods drawl against vigorous guitar strums, and each of the 12 tracks on his eighth and latest album, To Drink the Rain, were recorded in a single take. (Dave's Aqua Lounge, St. Petersburg) —Leilani Polk
An Evening with Yanni Greek musician and composer Yanni is on the road in support of a 2011 live CD/DVD release, Yanni Live at El Morro, Puerto Rico. Backed by an energetic 12-piece orchestra, Yanni leads instrumentals that combine New Age, classical music and pop rock. He doesn’t read or write down his music, but his perfect pitch means he can deliver a dynamic performance regardless. Last year, he was honored by China when the government invited him to adopt a panda. He’s since partnered with the World Wildlife Fund to promote conservation and sponsors a program in which he's guaranteed $50k in donations from April 17 to August 19, a time frame that happens to coincide with his current 80-show North American tour. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) –Rebecca Forman
Roy Schneider A singer-songwriter from Ft. Myers who produces downhome folk-Americana music, his vocals a rich lower-toned timbre and his instrumentation encompassing guitars, mandolin, harmonica and light percussion; Schneider is usually accompanied by his wife, Kim Mayfield, on piano and backing vocals. (Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg) —LP
FRIDAY, APRIL 27
Out Go The Lights w/DieAlps!/Lights At Night/Rising Down Three fresh-faced Orlando-based musicians make up Out Go the Lights – singer-guitarist Alex Clements, drummer Allen Clark and bassist Elliott Lane, who craft upbeat, jangly guitar pop marked by piping vocal harmonies and moments of tinkling prettiness as displayed on their self-released 2011 debut full-length, Sun. Live, the trio is joined by manager/best friend/aux player Sean Egan (backing vocals, keys, samplers). (Crowbar, Ybor City) —LP
Bill Wharton, "The Sauce Boss" Bringing another round of slide guitar-drenched boogie woogie blues and bowls of his trademark spicy gumbo to town is Tallahassee-based musician Wharton, who seasons and stirs a giant steaming pot of gumbo all through his set, adding plenty of his own "Liquid Summer" hot sauce, and personally serves it at the end. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) —LP
Casanova's Blast Friday w/Firefall The concert at this week's free Blast! Friday street festival is Firefall, formed in Boulder, Colo. in the 1970s. Their soft and mellow country rock hits still get airplay, including biggest single, "You Are the Woman." ("You are the woman that I've always dreamed of, I knew it from the start / I saw your face and that's the last I've seen of my heart"). The band has been through its ups and downs, including a break-up and enough band shuffling that only a single original member remains today, lead guitarist Jock Bartley, though drummer Sandy Ficca and vocalist/guitarist Steven Weinmeister have been official players since 1984. (Cleveland Street, downtown Clearwater) –RF
Florida Rules Fest This all-ages two-day (Friday-Saturday) fest showcases an array of Florida bands practicing regular hardcore, progressive hardcore, melodic hardcore, powerviolence, grindcore, post-metal, death metal, emo, pop punk, thrash, and good old-fashioned punk rock. (Orpheum, Ybor City) —LP
Lit w/Devil Made Microphones/Nine Mile Drive/Red Calling Remember the heavy punk-pop hit from 1999, "My Own Worst Enemy," that became a sort of WTF-happened morning-after anthem? (Chorus: "Please tell me why, my car is in the front yard? And I’m sleeping with my clothes on? Came in through the window last night and you're gone…"). The quartet is getting ready to release a fifth full-length and their first album of new material in eight years, The View from the Bottom, out in June via Megaforce Records. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —LP
Roadkill Ghost Choir Lightly mournful and haunting Americana from Orlando area sextet Roadkill Ghost Choir, their indie influences leaning to My Morning Jacket and Fleet Foxes – less heavy than the former, less pastoral than the latter, a sound they've described as "cosmic American music." (Ella's Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa) —LP
SATURDAY, APRIL 28
Halcyon w/simply.abigail The monthly Skipper's appearance by acoustic guitar-wielding, powerfully harmonizing femme duo Halcyon (Deb Hunseder and Steph Callahan), who've been playing together for more than two decades. Young folk pop songstress simply.abigail opens. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) —LP
The Birthday Takeover A glitch-hop, drum 'n' bass and dubstep birthday throwdown in honor of three Bay area DJs celebrating another year's pass – Tuff Love Dubs founder ClrH2o; West Coast implant and owner of Low Pass Records, Polish Pat; and Turbo Tuesday founder, St. Pete's King Krow, who is joined by the other half of Low Pass, Thee Joker. The Social has added 10,000-watts of bass to its upstairs lounge and promise "to shake the foundation." (The Social, Ybor City) —LP
