IPC aside, it's a pretty rad looking night of concerts on this Thurs., May 19. Take a look at the breakdown below.
STRFKR with Com Truise STRFKR’s 2008 self-titled debut is a seamlessly composed indie pop masterpiece that the Portland band led by cooing multi-instrumental songsmith Joshua Hodges (aka Sexton Blake) hasn’t come close to achieving in the three albums since, shifting to the disco-hued dance tones that’ve become so pervasive over the past several years; grooving new single “Never Ever” continues in this vein. Com Truise (the pseudonym for Seth Haley) doles out ‘80s-dosed made-for-late-night electro built on layers of bright synth textures and thumping technotronic beats; he’s dubbed his style “mid-fi synth-wave, slow-motion funk.” (Orpheum, Ybor City)–Leilani Polk
Alexander & the Grapes, Luxury Mane, Jensen Serf Company Crowbar presents a beautiful ménage à trois of St. Pete bands repping a variety of sounds all proving equally appealing in scope. Alexander & The Grapes deliver a unique blend of indie garage rock, effortlessly churning through airy reverb that balances a punchy focus of percussion and deeply contemplative lyrics showcased on fresh 2016 release Hyper Self. It's a mellow yet magnetic dichotomy that embodies the St. Pete scene. Luxury Mane's effortlessly cool soundscapes and blissfully psychedelic jams are rich in texture and harmony. And Jensen Surf Company's reverb-drenched surf-punk style soars on waves of feedback. (Crowbar, Ybor City) –Brian Roesler
Bobby Messano Band The guitar-slinging Blues Hall of Famer who once played sideman to Steve Winwood continues to tour behind his sixth studio LP, Love & Money, which climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Blues charts. (2 Palms Bar & Bistro, Clearwater) –LP
Vince Di Mura Trio Di Mura is a practiced jazz pianist, the current resident composer and musical director at Princeton, and an arranger who gained some prominence for his work on My Way: A Tribute to the Music of Frank Sinatra. On this evening, he premieres a new composition, “Brick and Mortar,” as joined by local musicians Kenny Walker and Peter Suarez on bass and drums, respectively. (Studio@620, St. Petersburg)–LP
Insane Clown Posse To some of us, two concerts in seven months by horrorcore’s most notorious duo is two concerts too many. But ICP released two LPs in 2015 and is likely making the rounds where their fanbase demands – and Tampa Bay has a rather large juggalo contingent that’ll converge in St. Pete on this night, along with the expected assemblage of protesters. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)–LP
