Tampa-based four-piece The Groves burst onto the local scene a little under a year ago and are celebrating the release of a new LP, In Season, released March 19 via Gnomic Records. Travis Bourguignon and lyricist/lead vocalist Justin Brown share in the guitar duties, one doling out searing solos, wailing slide and a touch of psychedelic noodling and pedal texturizing, the other strumming and riffing and singing in a slightly rusted twang, both backed by the resonant rhythm section of cousins Lane Smith (drums) and Jana Jones (bass). The album is a well-wrought effort mixing healthy measures of ambling Southern blues and country-roots stompin’ rock, from the Old West style narrative of “Down the Line” to the Lynyrd Skynyrd/New Americana appeal and poetic storytelling of "Compass of Olmec," to the dusty road gospel-praise and spirit-lifting in “Vunerable Predator.” On the whole, In Season is a surprisingly solid and well-put together effort for such a young Bay area band. Pick up a copy at either of their shows this week.
Details: with Ted Lukas & The Misled and Rich Whiteley Band Tue., June 15, 7 p.m., Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa, $7.
