FRIDAY, JULY 30
Rays Concert Series: Los Lobos The next post-Rays concert features three-time Grammy-winning Chicano rockers Los Lobos. The veteran East LA quintet incorporates elements of Tex-Mex, blues, folk, roots and traditional Spanish and Mexican music into their sound, and famously covered the Richie Valens tunes used in the 1986 bio drama, La Bamba. They also wrote and performed much of the music in Robert Rodriguez’s 1995 action thriller, Desperado, and scored their third Grammy (for Best Pop Instrumental Performance) with “Mariachi Suite” from the film’s soundtrack. This tour, the group is pimping their first album of new material in four years, Tin Can Trust; click here to read Eric’s review of the album. The band is due to start at the end of the Rays game, likely 10 p.m. or later, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg; price of tickets to the game includes admission to show.
[image-1]Anders Osborne [pictured right, photo by Jerry Moran] w/The Lee Boys Soulful, wooly-faced singer-songwriter and accomplished guitarist Anders Osborne purveys a heavy stomping brand of Southern roots rock dosed generously with the blues and funk flavors of his New Orleans hometown. He’s on tour in support of his latest album and Alligator Records debut, American Patchwork, which was produced by fellow Crescent City musician and Galactic drummer Stanton Moore. Live shows are said to be sweaty, high energy affairs. 8 p.m., Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa, $12 in advance/$15 dos.
Rihanna w/Ke$sha Arguably one of the biggest names in R&B today, Rihanna’s been making the Billboard charts say uncle for about five years now with consistent, ultra-catchy, radio-ready hits like “Pon De Replay,” “SOS,” and “Umbrella.” Early last year, she hit the headlines when a fight turned physical with her then-notable R&B artist boyfriend, Chris Brown. Brown got lambasted in a domestic violence case while Rihanna vigorously bounced back with her dark and critically-acclaimed late 2009 album, Rated R. Now she’s bringing her worldwide, multi-million dollar “Last Girl on Earth Tour” to Tampa with special support guest and current pop radio darling Ke$ha. No word yet if complimentary barf bags will be given out before Ke$ha’s set. We’ll keep you posted. 7:30 p.m., ASK-GARY Amphitheatre, Tampa, $25.75-$95.75. —Andrew Silverstein ,
Nessie w/The Pretty Voices/George Daher & the Royal We A bill of raucous rock n’ roll headed up by the heavy alt country stomp and power pop whine of Nessie, and the dissonant lo-fi garage leanings of The Pretty Voices. 9 p.m., The Local 662, St Petersburg, free admission.
Robert Plant and the Band of Joy Before he shrieked, rattled and rolled his way around the world with Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant led The Band of Joy and a rotating cast of musicians that briefly included Zeppelin drummer John Bonham. He revived Band of Joy this year, although he’s the only original member and the current lineup is basically just a prestigious backing band for Plant to do his solo thing while attempting to revive the feeling of his early music days. Notable players in the Americana-leaning lineup include twangy velvety-voiced singer Patty Griffin, guitarist/producer Buddy Miller, and multi-instrumentalist Darrell Scott, who’s adept on mandolin, guitar, accordion, pedal steel, and banjo. Expect to hear some songs from the forthcoming Band of Joy album, due out on Rounder this fall, as well as selections by Plant spanning his four-decade career (Zeppelin tunes included). 8 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, $49.50-$99.50; call the box office to see if there are tickets left available.
[image-2] [pictured left, photo by Tim Harmon] w/Analog Rebellion/Surly/Aria Novos Sometimes bands just can’t work it out and the latest casualty of irreconcilable differences is Lydia. The Arizona indie rock outfit led by throaty-voiced singer/guitarist Leighton Antelman has enjoyed moderate exposure over the years with two well-received albums and relentless touring that included slots on Warped and Bamboozle as well as support and headlining gigs with acts like The Dear Hunter and Copeland. After losing yet another backing vocalist, Antelmen announced that Lydia’s third album, the just-released Assailants, is the best and last music Lydia would ever put out. And it is a rather stellar swan song, ambient and melodic moments of pretty marked by textured riffage, washes of percussion, appealing electronic embellishments, and the heart-squeezing feeling in Antelmen’s vocals, her wails of “My God, what a mess I’ve made,” in “Empty Out Your Stomach” delivered with such melancholy resign, you have to wonder if she’s talking about her life. 7 p.m. doors, Orpheum, Ybor City, $10 in advance/$12 dos (all ages).
SATURDAY, JULY 31
Carlos Santana w/Steve Winwood There are few guitarists who achieve a guitar tone so distinctive that you can name the player responsible only a few notes into one of their songs. Carlos Santana ranks as one of them, and he’s been hosing fans for more than four decades with his fiery blues, jazz and Latin-infused brand of rock. Earlier this year, Sony Legacy released a 10th anniversary re-issue of his multi-Grammy-winning album, Supernatural. Later this year, Santana presents Guitar Heaven: Santana Performs the Greatest Guitar Classics of All Time, another guest-filled solo album that has Santana reuniting with singer Rob Thomas in Cream’s “Sunshine of Your Love,” and teaming up with other artists ranging from rapper Nas in AC/DC’s “Back in Black,” to Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell in Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” On his “Universal Tone Tour 2010,” Santana will play songs old, new and forthcoming; British blue-eyed soul rocker Steve Winwood supports. 7:30 p.m., ASK-GARY Amphitheatre, Tampa, $25.50-$125.50.
Jeff Black Nasville-by-way-of-Kansas City troubadour Jeff Black is a storyteller with a warm, rawhide drawl who delivers songs that celebrate individuality and offer an honest man’s perception of American life without going overboard on sentimentality. He hasn’t released a studio album of new material five years, but is currently working on one and has several others to draw from, including his 1998 debut, Birmingham Road (recorded with members of Wilco). He also has all-manner of new and previously unreleased material that he’s offered up in his “Black Tuesdays” podcast, so you can expect to hear just about anything during his intimate concert and third visit to St. Petersburg. 8 p.m., The Studio@620, St. Petersburg, $20 general/$15 students and seniors.
[image-3]SUNDAY, AUGUST 1
Male Order Brides [pictured right] w/The Mantics/From This Fire Young and fresh local foursome Male Order Brides took home second place in “The 9” battle of the bands contest earlier this year with their proto punk attitude and Rolling Stones-style blues rock swagger, delivering punchy rock that was fun and spirited and flippant in an appealing snotty sort of way. They even sported classic punk wear and hair; the bassist wore a foot-tall mowhawk and tuxedo shirt under his leather jacket, the drummer was a dead ringer for Sid Vicious, and the squat lead singer did Joey Ramone with longish shaggy bangs falling onto his dark sunglasses. 5 p.m., Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa, $5 (all ages).
