Hey, it's Friday — who wants to twist and shout with me? Here's a breakdown of live music happening tonight...
Love Axe CD Release Show with The Vesper Bell, Empire Cinema LA-based multi-instrumental composer Chris Hatfield leads Love Axe, the latest acquisition of Tampa label New Granada Records. The group plies a particularly bright, enchanting, ’90s-hued power pop fueled by catchy melodic hooks and driving rock ‘n’ roll thrust á la “Only Gonna Tear You Apart,” the first single off sophomore album and New Granada debut, South Dakota. (RIYL: Matthew Sweet, The Posies, Superdrag.) This party celebrates its March 26 release with The Vesper Bell (a brand-new project helmed by singer-songwriter Will Quinlan) and Empire Cinema. (New World Brewery, Ybor City) —Leilani Polk
Young Rapids with Saskatchewan, LUULS The DC-based art-rock foursome’s new album, Pretty Ugly, is actually pretty beautiful. Its name is indicative of a dichotomy that each track possesses: a slow, synthesized start that builds into a glorious wall of euphoric pedal effects, crashing cymbals and howling vocals. Young Rapids share the stage with two slightly more mellow, electro-driven acts, Saskatchewan and LUULS. (Crowbar, Ybor City) —Adam Hardy
The Original Wailers with UNRB Guitarist/songwriter Al Anderson played with Bob Marley and the Wailers in the mid-1970s, appearing on a few albums (including the iconic Natty Dread) and touring with the group through 1980. His “Original Wailers” (not to be confused with The Wailers as led by Aston “Family Man” Barrett) perform music by Marley & Co. along with select fresher cuts off 2012 Miracle EP. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) —LP
tUnE-yArDs If you’re like me, you heard tUnE-yArDs’ hit single “Bizness” and thought to yourself, “Wow, this must be a new Dirty Projectors track.” But you’d be wrong, as was I. While the groups have similarly eclectic manners of sonic experimentation, tUnE-yArDs take a more flamboyant, loop-heavy, tribal approach. The project led by multi-instrumental songstress Merrill Garbus cultivates a sound that defies any single genre descriptor, channeling elements of Afrobeat, pop, folk and psych-pop while maintaining a rather catchy and appealing quality. (Beacham Theatre, Orlando) —AH
Selwyn Birchwood with Savants of Soul Winner of the 2013 International Blues Award Selwyn Birchwood rocks the Skipperdome behind new album Don’t Call No Ambulance. The Tampa-bred bluesman has a distinctive vocal style, delivering each track on the album as if telling a story. Birchwood’s vocals are only eclipsed by his absolutely killer guitar work. Gainesville 10-piece Savants of Soul, a self-described “theater act,” warms the stage with its own mix of blues, Motown-hued soul, and rock ‘n’ roll.(Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa) —Seth Peterson
ALSO TONIGHT
George Pennington Band Tequilas, Ybor City
Ramblegrass Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
The Lauren Mitchell Band Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
Andy Brey and Friends Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa
