A huge weekend of music ahead. Breakdown below.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4
Old 97’s with David Wax Museum One of those workhorse alt-country staples that came up with the likes of Uncle Tupelo and Drive-By Truckers in the early ‘90s, Dallas quartet Old 97’s have cranked out 10 full-lengths in their 21-year tenure. Frontman/primary songwriter Rhett Miller doesn’t seem to be slowing down, if 2014’s Most Messed Up is any indication, though the subject matter seems to have matured and mellowed like the 40-something musician who produced it. Support from David Wax & Suz Slezak-led David Wax Museum, their music bright "Mexo-Americana" style drawing on elements of roots rock and Mexican folk music; among the sounds found on fourth album Knock Knock Get Up — the leona (a deep-toned traditional Mexican guitar), stand-up bass, accordion, Brazilian drums, autoharp, organ and mariachi-style trumpet. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
Plan-B Fest with Those Darlins, Kishi Bashi, Matt Butcher, A.J. Vincent, SUNBEARS! & many more The Ybor-centric festival returns for a second go-round with a few national acts supported by high-quality local and Florida talent spanning the genres; more info right here. (Crowbar, New World Brewery, The Market On 7th, The Social, The Dirty Shame, Tequilas, Ybor City)
The Mojo Gurus Rock and Blues Revue w/Selwyn Birchwood/The Delta Swamp Rats Southern-fried rock ‘n’ blues band The Mojo Gurus continue their support of brand new rip-roaring full-length Who Asked Ya? at this Saturday-night St. Pete showcase with soulful warm-up from Best of the Bay-winning bluesman Selwyn Birchwood and the howling retro Delta sounds of the Swamp Rats as led by Ernie Locke. (Local 662, St. Petersburg)
Jinx Video Release Party w/Gwan Massive/Ron Marks This year’s Best Hip-Hop Artist award winner, Jinx, is at it again, this time with a brand new video for the heartening, groove-bumpin’ ode, “Let It All Fly,” which will be premiered on a 25-foot LED screen. The emcee performs, too, as does the high-octane band that he counts himself a member of. (The DrYnk, Tampa)
Citizen Cope It’s been at least three years since the soulful Memphis singer-songwriter has graced us with his warm, soulful vibes, and this round of dates was prompted by the 10th anniversary of The Clarence Greenwood Recordings, his breakthrough album that spawned the Santana-covered “Sideways” and launched his international career. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5
Rise Against with Touché Amoré, Radkey Serving up a fast, aggressive, politically-charged blend of punk rock and melodic hardcore since coming out of Chicago in 1999 is Rise Against, currently roaring and rallying behind a seventh studio LP, The Black Market, their second to peak at No. 3 on the Billboard 200. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
Bonobo with Kastle Among my favorite electronic music artists coming out of the UK, British producer/DJ/musician Simon Green, aka Bonobo, builds down-tempo sounds calling on jazz, trip-hop, R&B and soul influences as shaded in classical and world music textures. While his set at The Ritz on this night is a similarly exotically-hued groove-saturated affair, he’ll be behind the decks rather than joined by a band and mixing other tunes into a setlist of his own original re-mashed material. (The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City)
Rockin’ 2 Rescue This live-music benefit featuring sets by Soul Circus Cowboys, Woody & The Woodtones and whiskyfog supports Florida Doggie Paws Res-cue, a New Port Richey-based nonprofit that rescues, rehabilitates, fosters and finds permanent homes for unwanted, abandoned and abused dogs. (Centro Asturiano, Ybor City)
Karen’s Deal Benefit with The Lint Rollers, Coo Coo Ca Choo, Stormbringer Now in its fourth year, the annual charity concert held in honor of Marty Balin’s late keys-playing wife Karen Deal benefits Lifepath Hospice with a bill of three bands doling out classic-rock jams. (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
The Black Honkeys Red Carpet Video Release Party It’s another video release party from another BOTB winner — Readers’ Poll favorites The Black Honkeys (which took home Best Local Band and Best R&B/Soul/Funk awards) stage a red-carpet concert event to debut the music video for “Icebreaker” (shot at St. Pete’s State Theatre with upwards of 100 extras) and present third and latest studio album And So On… Surprise guests join the ensemble in a performance that kicks off after the video screening ends. The public is invited to get snazzed up and come throw down; a cocktail hour starts at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m., and admission includes a copy of the new LP. (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)
Glen Phillips Toad the Wet Sprocket primary Glen Phillips seems to dig the Tampa Bay area a whole lot; he’s hit Hideaway Café & Recording Studio a few times since 2012, brought his full band to town last summer, and he rolls back down here tonight, hitting the intimate listening room for his third solo serenade. (Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg)
Ol’ Dirty Sundays: Platurn The West Coast tastemaker finally returns to the ODS decks for the first time since his hip-hop party-rocking set here in 2012. Platurn helped found DJ/producer collective the Oakland Faders, and he’s also behind the well-regarded 45Sessions, a monthly 7” vinyl throw-down. The Face-book invite urges “This is one DJ not to be missed!” and you know DJs Casper and LeSage don’t throw it out there unless they really mean it. Warm-up set by Jay Marley. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
ALSO THIS WEEKEND
Damon Fowler Group Sat., Oct. 4, Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
Urban Gypsies Sat., Oct. 4, Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg
The Legendary JCs w/Soul 2 Earth Sat., Oct. 4, Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa
Punk Rock Benefit for WMNF w/Dementia/The Scurvy/Pig Pen/No Cheese/Moral Decline Sat., Oct. 4, Fubar, St. Petersburg
Jeneen Terrana Sun., Oct. 5, Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg
Funk Cancer Benefit w/Serontonic/Ajeva/Freelow/Holey Miss Moley/many more Sat., Oct. 4, The Amsterdam, St. Petersburg
Doug Deming & the Jewel Tones Sun., Oct 5, Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa