Check out the concert highlights for this Fri., March 11, then peep what's coming up in live music this weekend.
Josh Hoyer & Soul Colossal Hoyer has earned comparisons to the likes of Otis Redding and James Brown, and his big booming vocals are definitely influenced by those two biggies. But he plies a wetter, more modernized fusion of soul, funk and R&B with his band that’s showcased with dynamic hot-blooded dynamism on up-tempo barn-burner “Soul Mechanic,” or in the more smoldering, slow-shuffling balladry of “Parts of a Man.” Both come off his third full-length, Running From Love, due in April. (Ella's Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa)
97X Freesome with The Struts, Declain McKenna, The Front Bottoms “Don’t want to live as an untold story, rather go out in a blaze of glory,” Luke Spiller croons in the opening lines of anthemic arena-ready rock tune “Could Have Been Me.” The first single off The Struts’ debut full-length Everybody Wants has been getting some decent play on alternative radio, and the British quartet has been invited to headline the next free show presented by the folks at Tampa Bay’s own alt rock station, 97X. Though it’s no charge to get into Freesome, you’ll need a ticket. Get ticket drop locations and more information at 97xonline.com. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
Florida Strawberry Festival: Tanya Tucker, Cole Swindell (Friday); Kris Kristofferson ///ADDD, Charlie Wilson (Saturday) The Florida Strawberry Festival draws to a close this weekend with a few rather noteworthy country music vets and an R&B mainstay sandwiched between the Oak Ridge Boys on Thursday and The Band Perry’s fest-ending performance on Sunday night. Tanya Tucker came up in the ‘70s, has clocked 10 No. 1 Country charters and 40 Top 40s overall, and was once romantically linked to country-western luminary Kris Kristofferson, who heads up the fest bill on Saturday night after Gap Band former Charlie Wilson (aka Uncle Charlie) delivers an afternoon set of his hip hop-soulful grooves. (FL Strawberry Festival Grounds, Plant City)
Colonel Bruce Hampton & The Madrid Express Anyone tapped into the jam scene is well aware of Col. Bruce Hampton, who’s led and played with numerous noteworthy bands over the years (most notably Aquarium Rescue Unit), and has been called the Godfather of Southern alternative music. He hits Dunedin Brewery with his current group of underrated musical talents, The Madrid Express, to play a three-night (Friday-Sunday) run of dates. (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin)
An Evening with The Joe Milligan Project with JCT 27 A listening room-style performance (intimate and hushed with pristine sound quality) featuring St. Petersburg’s fiddle-stroked folk-Americana rock outfit at the studio where they recorded last year’s full-length, Anticipation, with late founding member Chris Harmon. Uke fusion band JCT 27 warms the evening’s festivities; $5 suggested donation. (Pro Star Recording, St. Petersburg)
Leæther Strip with Ludovico Technique Leæther Strip is the EBM/post-industrial outfit of Danish music maker Claus Larsen, who’s lyrical style is one part personal, one part political, and all parts aggressive. The name of industrial Ludovico Technique is inspired by that horrifying therapy (brainwashing) technique in A Clockwork Orange by which a patient’s eyelids are held open using a specula, and he’s forced to watch violent images for long stretches while under the influence of nausea-, paralysis-, and fear-causing drugs, so as to create an aversion to violent behavior. The Orlando band’s sound has a similarly harsh, uninviting, industrial feel. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
Blessthefall with Miss May I, The Plot In You, Sirens And Sailors, A War Within Trend setters and Warped tour regulars, Blessthefall are credited for infusing heavier melodies and electronics into the ‘00s-era metal scene. Every song by the band utilizes the formula of pulverizing beats laced with a sonically dynamic overtone, best capitalized in three vocalists with stylings that swing from frantic growls to soaring operatics. Blessthefall is supporting their newest release, To Those Left Behind. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) –Justin Croteau
ALSO TONIGHT
The Lauren Mitchell Band (Ale And The Witch, St. Petersburg)
Tony Janflone Jr. (Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg)
Brokencyde/Justina Valentine/Challeneger (Brass Mug, Tampa)
T.B.H.C.’s 2016 Damn Dirty Irish St Pats Party w/Sniper 66/The Horribles/Shadow Laughter (Local 662, St. Petersburg)
Come Back Alice w/Groove Fetish (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
Dikembe/You Vandal/Teen Agers/Suck Brick Kid (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
Shawn Holt and the Teardrops (2 Palms Bar & Bistro, Clearwater)
3LAU (Amphitheatre, Ybor City)
Local Acoustic Showcase w/Hussar/Eric Best/Joshua James/Mia Bury/Drew Disparte (Fubar, St. Petersburg)
Crazy Toy w/Jackson Davis & The Jackettes/Johnny Mile & The Kilometers (The Bends, St. Petersburg
Mr. C w/Brian Busto (The Castle, Ybor City)
COMING UP THIS WEEKEND
Coheed and Cambria w/Glassjaw/Silver Snakes/I The Mighty (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
Gasparilla Music Festival w/Erykah Badu/Talib Kweli/Lucero/Houndmouth/Antibalas/The New Deal/many more (Curtis Hixon Park, Kiley Gardens MacDill Park, downtown Tampa)
Trinity 7 w/Badda Skat/Facility (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
The Nude Party w/Mo Booty (The Bends, St. Petersburg)
Scott Hopkins Retirement Bash w/Future Vintage/Juanjamon Band/Serotonic (Ringside Café, St. Petersburg)
Cruel Curses w/The Proper Crooks/The Skarz/The Cruz Brothers/Tranquill (Local 662, St. Petersburg)
Divine Science/Against My Will/Demented Truth/Rosedale/Time and Distance/Xployt (Brass Mug, Tampa)
Itzhak Perlman (Carol Morsani Hall at Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa)
The Black Atlas (Sacred Grounds, Tampa)
Somos w/Petal/The Superweaks (Epic Problem, Tampa)
Albert Castiglia (Ale And The Witch, St. Petersburg)
Get Happy – The Songs of Judy Garland + All-Star Jazz Jam Sun., March 13, Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
Gasparilla Music Festival w/Stephen “Ragga” Marley/Charles Bradley/Greensky Bluegrass/Futurebirds/Poetry n' Lotion/many more Sun., March 13, Curtis Hixon Park, Kiley Gardens MacDill Park, downtown Tampa
Mau5hax Bus Tour w/Attlas/Matt Lange/Rezz/Steve Duda Sun., March 13, Amphitheater, Ybor City
Rihanna w/Travis Scott Sun., March 13, Amalie Arena, Tampa
Mobb Deep Sun., March 13, Local 662, St. Petersburg
Jewel Sun., March 13, Capitol Theatre, Clearwater
Get Faded Barbershop Open Mic & Cypher w/Shock Da World/The Wave K.A.M*Ovg/Jamez Anthony/Blakknation Sun., March 13, Get Faded Barbershop, St. Petersburg
An Evening with Chaka Sun., March 13, Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa
Josh Haram Group Sun., March 13, Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa
Florida Strawberry Festival: The Band Perry/Echosmith Sun., March 13, FL Strawberry Festival Grounds, Plant City
Food and Wine Festival: O.A.R. Sun., March 13, Busch Gardens, Tampa
Sunshine Brass Band Sun., March 13, Tampa Covenant Church, Tampa
The World of Drum & Bass w/Grooverider/Drumsound & Bassline Smith/DJ SS/Delano/Popejohn/many more Sun., March 13, Honey Pot, Ybor City
