THURSDAY, OCTOBER 31
Nine Inch Nails w/Gary Numan Trent Reznor took a break from Nine Inch Nails in 2009, got married, worked on various side projects (How to Destroy Angels, his band with wifey Mariqueen Maandig and Atticus Ross, the latter also Reznor’s collaborator on The Social Network and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo soundtracks), and finally started writing new NIN material last year. Hesitation Marks — Reznor’s eighth studio LP of dark, pounding industrial music — dropped in August. Reznor returns to the road in support with a new lineup that includes Telefon Tel Aviv’s Josh Eustis. Warming up the stage is “Cars” star Gary Numan, also touring behind a new LP, Splinter (Songs From A Broken Mind), his 20th. (Amway Center, Orlando)—Leilani Polk
Morgan Page On his latest foray on the road, LA-based EDM producer/DJ Morgan Page is joined by a rotating cast of rising international talents (this date features Audien and Maor Levi), and promises a totally immersive 3D experience of light and color; apparently, the rig he’s using was originally created for Michael Jackson's “This Is It” tour. (Amphitheatre, Ybor City)—LP
Story of the Year w/Like Moths To Flames/Hawthorne Heights/Capture the Crown/Set It Off/I Am King The fourth annual all-ages “Scream It Like You Mean It” tour reps heavy music aesthetics as headed up by St. Louis, Mo.’s Story of the Year. The emo/post-hardcore/metallic-tinged quintet is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of their breakthrough album, Page Avenue, by playing it front-to-back along with select fan favorites. A re-imagined version of the album was self-released on Oct. 8. (Orpheum, Ybor City)—LP
The Pangaea Project No. 45: Ventureween 2013 The impish demons of Venture Compound offer a special treat on Halloween: 10 bands for 10 bucks. See L.A.-based Kevin Greenspon and Memphis’ Offerings — both big hits at past Pangea shows. Locals include Mark Castle, Terminus Cursus, Raef, Abstract Machine, Magick Slags, Snacking, Hiatus and Cork. According to Jesse Thelonious Vance, “there will be a costume contest with some sort of shitty prize (shitty prize to be determined).” (The Venture Compound, St. Petersburg) —Julie Garisto
Ponderosa w/Sons of Hippies/Saskatchewan I know where I’ll be on Halloween — partying down at Crowbar with Ponderosa, a personal fave from the Atlanta area that brews up heady haunting indie rock with Southern, psychedelic and soulful influences, ties them all together via driving riffs and organ swells, and pits sweetly ethereal vocals over top. Grinding psych-rockers Sons of Hippies and haunting dream pop outfit Saskatchewan make it a holiday bill that’s impossible to pass up. Come in costume (the giant grand prize is a bar tab and free pass to all shows from aestheticized presents, Brokenmold Entertainment and Thx Mgmt Presents for the rest of the year) and be prepared to get down. (Crowbar, Ybor City)—LP
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Sleigh Bells w/Doldrums St. Petersburg has become a regular stop on the Sleigh Bells tour itinerary, so much so that force-of-nature frontwoman Alexis Krauss posted directly to local fans on the Brooklyn noise pop duo’s Facebook page; the photo of herself holding up a backstage pass was paired with a reminder to pick up a copy of the band’s latest: “St. Pete, Bitter Rivals is out today! Can't wait to see you on 11/1 at State Theater with Doldrums. Save your costumes. xo Bells.” Doldrums — the electro-experimental breakbeats-and-patchwork-sounds project of Airick Woodhead — supports. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)—LP
Mike and Ruthy Mike Merenda plays guitars (regular and high-strung), banjo and harmonica. Ruth Ungar also strums a six-string as well as resonator-style ukulele; she also plays fiddle. Both sing in gentle, breathy, lovely harmonizing intones that waft over their blend of alt folk, Americana and alt country sounds. (Craftsmen House Gallery, St. Petersburg)—LP
Tim Kasher w/Laura Stevenson Tim Kasher is the frontman of Nebraska indie rock band Cursive, which has never really interested me too much; nor, before Kasher’s latest, Adult Film, had I ever given Kasher's solo material more than an obligatory listen, pretty much enough to write about him the last time he came to town. His sophomore full-length grabbed me via first single "Truly Freaking Out" with its rubbery bouncing synthline (or is it an effected bassline?) and smart lyrics discussing his feelings about the impeding end of a relationship (“And I know, I know, I know the end is near, and I know I know it's all downhill from here / we're all cascading to our graves, tugging back at gravity's reins"). There's something very earnest about the music at times, yet it's somehow also charming and lighthearted, and the outside-of-box alt rock/post-folk mix of pianos, fuzz, female guest vocals, and Kasher's own sweetly youthful intones come together quite nicely. (Crowbar, Ybor City)—LP
Day of the Dead Fest w/Everymen/Hail Abigail/Funeral Dazies/Housebroken/South of Holly/UNRB/many more Seventeen bands throw down on three stages at this fest, repping a range of sonic realms that encompass varying styles of ska-punk vigor (UNRB, Saganaki Bomb Squad, Broseph Skalin, Electric Landlady), alt rock and punk-pop drive (Cash For Soul, Escape Tonight), experimental dance music bounce (Abstract Machine), straightforward punk (Lemon Law), horror rock (Funeral Dazies), and even some folk-crusty, gypsy-flavored punk-abilly (Everymen, from Lake Worth). An art show featuring pieces by nine local talents, face-painting and a silent auction round out the night’s festivities, with all proceeds to benefit local nonprofit CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse). (Local 662 and Fubar, St. Petersburg)—LP
