THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14
WIN WIN WINTER w/BEAUVILLES/DJ MEGA Melodic yet subdued, Tampa indie-rock quintet Win Win Winter pairs angular guitar riffs with emotive vocals that hover just above the mix. The band is also effective on the occasional sparse acoustic number. Local alt-rock quartet the Beauvilles grab listeners with a darker, more sinister sound, their live shows marked by the assured stage presence of frontman Shawn Kyle Beauville. (Push Ultra Lounge, St. Petersburg)
WMNF JAZZ SERIES: PATRICK BETTISON 'MNF opens its swanky studio for a jazz show featuring versatile Bay area multi-instrumentalist Bettison, who plays bass, piano, harmonica and percussion. His latest CD, Walkin' All Around, is a richly textured affair that combines world-music elements with a Weather Report vibe. On stage, I've only seen Bettison play chromatic harmonica in a battle of blues organists. I was blown away. He's clearly an accomplished bassist, but if it appears that Bettison is not going to pick up his harp, then storm the stage and demand he do so. For info, go to wmnf.org. (WMNF broadcast studios, Tampa) —Eric Snider
THE ASSOCIATION For all their ultra-poppy hits in the latter half of the '60s — "Windy," "Along Comes Mary," "Cherish" and "Never My Love" — the Association also had a psychedelic and a garage-rock side. They even played Monterey Pop in '67, although they got cut out of the film. As to whether the current Association grimes it up and rocks out as well as stacking their vocals on the hits, well, what do you think? (Largo Cultural Center) —ES
COUNTRY GOLD TOUR w/BOBBY BARE/LEROY VAN DYKE/JIM ED BROWN/HELEN CORNELIUS/STEVE AND RUDY GATLIN (OF THE GATLIN BROTHERS)/NARVEL FELTS/RONNIE PROPHET/MOE BANDY/T.G. SHEPPARD Bobby Bare's folk-informed country hits date back to his 1959 Elvis Presley ode "All American Boy." "Detroit City" and "The Streets of Baltimore" (covered by Gram Parsons) are also among the numerous singles he landed on the charts through the early 1980s. In 2005, Bare's namesake son dragged him out of retirement to record The Moon Was Blue. Produced by Bare Jr., it's a highly recommended album that was criminally overlooked upon release. (Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa)
WIL MARING A singer/songwriter steeped in old-time country and folk, Wil Maring's lithe voice has a touch of twang, and her lyrics possess a timeless bucolic quality — especially on numbers like "Keeper of the Farm." (Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa, Tampa)
RANCID POLECATS The local bar band with a punk sensibility performs at the second annual "Valentine's Day '80s Prom." (Crowbar, Ybor City)
CHRIS DUARTE Texas native Chris Duarte has been peeling faces off with his axe work for some 20 years now. With his latest release, Blue Velocity, the blues-rocker once most often referred to as a Stevie Ray Vaughan clone shreds into shades of The Nuge and early Zeppelin on a record that's been hailed for capturing his incendiary live solos. Better still, Duarte and band have been launching into more exploratory jams on their latest tour. That may sound like minor surgery, but the licks are worth a few O-face antics. (Aces Lounge, Bradenton) —Amanda Schurr
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15
THE LEGENDARY J.C.'S w/NERVOUS TURKEY Vintage-sounding soul/funk ensemble The Legendary J.C.'s have expanded their fanbase well beyond Florida's borders since forming a couple years ago in Orlando. Earlier this month, the eight-piece elated a packed house at the famed Tipitina's in New Orleans. But one of the band's favorite venues remains the Skipperdome, where many of us regard the J.C.'s regular appearances as a guaranteed good time. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
EARLY DAY MINERS w/ZILLIONAIRE/WHEN TIDES COLLIDE/PETROGRAD IN TRANSIT Dripping with melancholy and moving slower than an uncomfortable conversation, Early Day Miners' atmospheric indie rock has its merits — but while listening you can't help but wonder if the Indiana band might need a little counseling. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
KY-MANI MARLEY Ky-Mani began his career in the mid-1990s singing roots- and pop-reggae indebted to his legendary father Bob Marley. But following a six-year recording hiatus, he found his voice, releasing the rap- and R&B-leaning Radio. It hit No. 1 on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums chart last year and peaked at No. 38 on the R&B/Hip-Hop survey. Ky-Mani is also opening for Van Halen this week. Read about him in this week's music feature. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
TRISHA YEARWOOD Hubby Garth Brooks made headlines this month with a triumphant return to the stage. Meanwhile, Yearwood maintains a hugely successful country career of her own and a consistent touring schedule that dates back to the early '90s. The big-voiced singer's numerous hits include "She's in Love with the Boy," "Thinkin' About You" and "Perfect Love." (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
RUDE SQUAD w/SPY FOR HIRE/SEMI SOUL/THE CRASH MODERNS/HEY RUBE St. Pete ska quintet Rude Squad has built a loyal local following with peppy performances that speak to serious love for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Fishbone, etc. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
