A rather jam-packed Thurs., March 12, at least as far as high quality live music goes. Breakdown of what's happening below...
Big K.R.I.T. Soulful Mississippi rapper/producer Big K.R.I.T. dropped my favorite mixtape of 2013, King Remembered In Time, his production funky and beat-driven dosed with just the right amount of crunk, his flow tight, quick, cadenced and melodic, his observations wise, thoughtful and earnest with topics touching on anything from how he copes when things get tough (“Meditate”) to enjoying the rise of his star and dealing with all the inevitable haters (“Shine On,” “Talkin’ ‘Bout Nothin’”). He slings bravado in a way that seems far from self-important – in fact, you get to feeling that the dude deserves to pat himself on the back. Last year’s follow-up Cadillactica finds K.R.I.T. bringing on other producers like DJ Dahi and Alex da Kid to fully focus on his cerebral and poetic introspections while bringing on guests to spice up his game, like E-40, Wiz Khalifa, Lupe Fiasco and Raphael Saadiq, who croons the hook in things-just-ain’t-how-they-used-to-be single, “Soul Food.” (Orpheum, Ybor City)
Emilyn Brodsky with The Prettiots, Ella Jet She was once counted among The Best Thing Ever’s performance troupe/punk eclectic collective and is currently riding solo with her uke, finely-tuned chutzpah, and a 2014 album, Emilyn Brodsky Eats Her Feelings, which, she explained to Guitarworld.com, is about accepting the idea that “indulging in feelings is actually very delicious”; the songstress also appeared on an episode of HBO’s Girls. Fellow NYC compatriots The Prettiots – an all-femme trio of uke, bass and drums – join Brodsky on her current tour. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
Mason Jennings with Hannah Harber He plays acoustic guitar, ukulele, harmonica and piano, and crafts elegantly-arranged harmony-rich folk rock with relatable lyrics awash in humor and sentiment, his warm vocals tying together metaphors about rain gear and weather conditions in the dirt road bouncin’ balladry of “Rainboots,” or reflecting on the powerful love story of Patti Smith’s 2010 memoir Just Kids in the dusty driving “Patti and Robert.” Mason Jennings hasn’t recorded much since the album that spawned both tracks, 2013’s Always Been, and his limited 7” with Pearl Jam guitarist Stone Gossard sold out in less than an hour. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
River City Extension with Air Traffic Controller Despite the unexpected death of drummer Steve Tambone in December, River City Extension soldiered on with both the release of the album they recorded with him, Deliverance (out this week), and the tour they planned before his demise. Lucky for us; the New Jersey outfit’s third full-length is finely produced and lushly textured with keys, strings and soaring vocals that take their folk rock roots to progressive terrains ala the guitar arpeggios, dramatic piano progressions and “A Day in the Life”-style instrumental breakdown in set opener “Something’s Gotta Give.” (The Local 662, St. Petersburg)
