A nice fatty live music Friday to usher in the weekend. Breakdown below...
THX-Mas Holiday Party with Underhill Family Orchestra, The Sh-Booms, Little Sheeba & the Shamans Juggling both the IGO show at New World and this seasonal shindiggy is THX Management, its the diverse lineup carried on the strength of Alabama roots rock sextet Underhill Family Orchestra, bringing extra bright vigor to the occasion with an upbeat mélange of swinging jazz, Applachia-flavored folk-soul and foot-stomping gypsy music. Their colorful antiqued narratives are marked by masculine-feminine lead vocal trade-offs and harmonies, his higher rusted tenor balancing her rich sultry-sweet intones. Orlando ensemble The Sh-Booms prove another highlight, their hip-shaking Motown-inspired brand of soul boosted by a three-piece horn section and co-led by a sequin-shimmering, throaty-belting female vocalist with help from her male bass bumper/party marshal counterpart. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
Christmas Show with Goodnight Neverland, Colours, Kodiac, Denim Blue & Miclain Keith Album Release This seasonal-themed show is brought to you by Goodnight Neverland, their sound atmospheric, melody-drenched alt rock with lovely two-part vocal harmonies led by guitarist Kerry Courtney with support from bassist Jordan Tellone. Brother drummer Jeremy Tellone is back from China and will be sitting in for a few songs during this very special gig, which also features sets by sound-changing Sarasota trio Colours, indie pop outfit Kodiac (the next evolution of Drake & Sofia), and Denim Blue & Miclain Keith, an electro-rooted duo (ages 16 and 19 respectively) celebrating the release of their debut full-length, The Abyss. (Local 662, St. Petersburg)
Cyhi the Prynce Associated with such hip hop movers-and-shakers as Kanye West and Akon (Cyhi puts out music on both artists’ labels and has appeared on several recordings by the former, including 2010’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and the G.O.O.D. Music Cruel Summer comp). His intellectual lyrical style and effortless mid-tempo flow can be found on six mixtapes, the last executive produced by West, Black Hystori Project (2014), a conscious hip-hop concept album examining the history of blacks in America. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
Killer Christmas with Into The Grave, Psykotribe, Kadaver Dolls, Judicator, Hate Tank, Counted Out, Grasping at the Shadow, Frostfang According to the Facebook invite for this holiday metal showcase headlined by Brandon four-piece Into the Grave, “We hold the elves hostage and take Santa for his goods!! A night of Yule time insanity!!!” How many vocalists will be barking and roaring through Christmas carols? Which bands will spread the most crushing seasonal cheer? Are elves so easy to kidnap? (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Sacred Lands Christmas Music Benefit for the Homeless with Joel and Keri Clintara, The Dunn Deal, Rose Island Band, Junction 27, The Joe Milligan Band The historical waterfront site hosts this charity show featuring a range of acts, from a chanting duo to a folk rock four-piece, to raise funds and donations for the homeless at St. Vincent de Paul. Bring something to share at the Xmas Potluck along with your donation (new undergarments, socks and non-perishable food are requested); all proceeds from the $10 admission goes to St. Vincents. (Sacred Lands, St. Petersburg)
Blue October Texas alt rockers Blue October had a platinum-selling album in 2006’s Foiled, and though the ones that followed haven’t sold so well, all managed to make it to the top 5 of the Billboard Alternative and Rock charts; though you wouldn’t know it by the songs that get played all the time, “Hate Me” and less frequently, “Into the Ocean,” both off Foiled. At least they’re good ones. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
Jordan Esker CD Release Show with House of I, Press, Eden Shireen Hints of old school emo, blue-eyed soul and grungy alt rock soak the debut album of Tallahassee-Tampa area singer-songwriter Jordan Esker, who got some musician friends to sit in on the recording of Best Supporting Actor so textured full-bodied instrumentals back his earnest high-toned vocals and solo instrument juggling. For his local album release party, he’s joined by “The Hundred Percent,” which includes some of his favorite TBA local and touring musicians. (Market on 7th, Ybor City)
Operation Coexist Unplugged Holiday Showcase Healing power of music nonprofit Operation Coexist welcomes four local singer-songwriters – Jeremy Thomas, Will Erickson, Amber Lynn Nicol and Kristopher James – as well as a student from the Noisemakers Music School, Amy Diaz, for an intimate evening of performances and storytelling. (Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg)
Gunther Doug with Concord America, Sonic Graffiti, Archaic Interest Two Southern indie outfits bring their co-headlining tour to The Fuzz Factory. Gunther Doug hails from Nashville and purveys a particularly unhinged yet musically adept brand of garage toasted in elements of psych, metal and punk with howling twangy yodels for vocals. Concord America has a more raw and raucous power-pop and surf bent to their punk-garage songs, which are littered with rah rah choruses. (The Fuzz Factory, Gulfport)
The Outlaws with Blackhawk One of the handful of Tampa Bay acts to make considerable waves beyond their hometown, The Outlaws first came together toward the end of the ‘60s, and are best known for their ‘70s Southern rock hits “There Goes Another Love Song” and “Green Grass and High Tides.” FUN FACT: Tampa singer-songwriter Ronny Elliott briefly held down the low end as bassist for the group in an early incarnation. The band has reformed several times over the years; this time around, they’ve been occasionally active since the mid-’00s. (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater) —Scott Harrell
The Mistletoe Show with Matt Nathanson, Train, Mary Lambert Get your AC vanilla holiday cheer on with Mix 100.7’s Mistletoe Show, its lineup encompassing “Come on Get Higher” guitar-strumming folk(ish) singer-songwriter Matt Nathanson, who has an earnest high-toned vocal quality, and platinum-selling “Hey, Soul Sister” pop-roots rockers Train, behind a seventh full-length, 2014’s Bulletproof Picasso. (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg)
ALSO THIS WEEK
Applebutter Express Fri., Dec. 19, Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
Grid Lock/Superstar Loveshack Fri., Dec. 19, Brass Mug, Tampa
Everything But Normal X-Mas Partay w/Slade & the Wasters/Boney Fiend/Housebroken Fri., Dec. 19, Fubar, St. Petersburg
Lefty Williams Fri., Dec. 19, Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin
Friends of Fil Jazz Trio Fri., Dec. 19, Yeoman’s Road Pub, Tampa
The Lee Boys w/Parker Urban Band Sat., Dec. 19, Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa
Serious Soul Xmas Party w/DJ Spun/Brian Busto/Andy Mara Fri., Dec. 19, Hyde Park Café, Tampa
More concerts for this week HERE.
