Acoustic Shows
Purveyors of original Bay area music of every stripe are finding out what beach-bar strummers, coffeehouse pros and just about everybody who frequents Skipper´s Smokehouse have always known: that stripped-back performances are a great way to connect with crowds, particularly crowds not composed exclusively of other band members. The State Theatre´s In The Raw series returned this year (curated by Natty Moss-Bond and Martin Rice of Sparky´s Nightmare) to become a big, big hit, and a plethora of acoustic shows sprang up in its wake. There was veteran songstress Anna O´s memorable spring marathon one-off at New World Brewery, which featured a dozen acts. There´s iconoclastic singer-songwriter Jen Shamro´s monthly Minus the Band shindig at the same venue. There´s new venue/bistro/music store The Music Spot on S. Dale Mabry in Tampa, which hosts original low-volume music more days a week than it doesn´t. From Temple Terrace´s traditionally acoustic-friendly Sacred Grounds Coffeehouse to Clearwater rock-joint Gasoline Alley, the number of band guys and girls turning in solo or seriously pared-back sets has risen dramatically over the last 12 months. And in addition to renewing the interest of scenesters a little too familiar with the artists´ usual shows, the trend has drawn in pedestrian night lifers who just want some drinks and background music, as opposed to having their faces rocked off all weekend.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2004.