Daily Loaf

North Tampa’s longtime outdoor venue and restaurant Skipper’s Smokehouse always promises a good time. This fabulous package includes dinner for two ($30 value) and two tickets to virtually any show of your choice that takes place at Skipper’s between November 19, 2009 and November 19, 2010. (Offer excludes New Year’s Eve.) Among worthy upcoming shows are roots purveyors the Eilen Jewell Band and Sara Borges & the Broken Singles (November 20), the bluegrass flavor of Dr. Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys (December 6), the Afro-beat rock of Toubab Krewe (December 13), and the NOLA funk of Trombone Shorty (January 9). None of those shows appeal to you? There are plenty of others TBA.

Estimated value: $100

Bid for this item now:

Are you a local musician who feels like your band hasn’t gotten the break it deserves? Music Editor Leilani Polk has just the solution: a band profile tailored to your specifications along with a photo (like this one of Geri X) taken by professional photographer James Ostrand.

Suggested opening bid: $75

Place your bid below:

Go indie music store shopping with CL Music Editor Leilani Polk and get six records plus a player for the price of a charitable donation. Three local independent record stores — Daddy Kool in St. Petersburg, Mojo Books & Music in North Tampa and Vinyl Fever in South Tampa — offer two records apiece. At each store, you pick one record of your choice, and based on your musical tastes, Leilani will pick the other (with your okay, of course). To sweeten the deal, Audio Visions South is throwing in a Vintage Refurbished Thorens TD 126 MK-III Turntable (retail value $400). Sound good enough for ya? (Note: This offer excludes box sets, imports and/or limited/special releases; and if the winning bidder prefers to purchase CDs rather than vinyl despite getting a pimp-ass record player in the deal, we can certainly oblige.)

Estimated value: $550.

Current High Bid: $100

Place your bid below:

It’s been a little while since I’ve written one of these, I know. I blame the relentless daily grind and its effect on my creative juices, which used to flow in a healthy torrent and now trickle in erratic drips and bursts. Phish has helped me through it, and I’ve hopscotched my way from one musical reprieve to the next to keep a firm grip on my mental well-being — a roadtrip to Knoxville via RV with some Bonnaroo-bound friends; a long weekend in the Midwest at the Deer Creek and Alpine shows, with some relaxing downtime at a lakeside resort and the small town surrounding it; and a long weekend in New England, the rather stellar Hartford and great Saratoga Springs shows serving as bookends to a good friend’s 40th birthday extravaganza. That last was a particularly fulfilling excursion because my husband and I met a diversity of like-minded music lovers, made new friends and re-connected with older ones, chowed down on delectable homemade cookies (gotta get that recipe, Stephen!) and other tasty eats all throughout, and generally took in some tranquil good times amidst one of the most pristine mountainside settings I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. [All photos by Phil Bardi.]

So basically, I’ve spent more time catching the grooves and enjoying the comforts of good friendships (i.e., taking real vacations), and less devoted to actually writing about the band that got me writing about music in the first place. Seeing Phish is a sort of soul cleansing, the metaphysical lift I need to get me through to my next phase of reality, and lately I’ve focused more on trying to soak up the time while it’s happening rather than trying to overanalyze it, or even analyze it at all.

But I digress. Yes I was wrong about the festival location — I’ll happily eat my words because Phish Festival 8 was … a little like paradise. Just imagine for a moment that last Phish festival in Vermont — the nasty weather, a hellishly long wait in miles upon miles of gridlocked traffic followed by Mike’s disheartening “Please turn around” radio announcement, the thousands of cars abandoned by fest goers who decided to hoof it in, Trey pretty much falling apart on stage, the mud, oh god, that awful, stinking, sticky dark brown mud …

Now, picture staying offsite in a big comfy bed and taking showers everyday, driving into the festival grounds amidst little or no traffic, the only real down side the kerchief covering your mouth, Old West-style, to fight the grainy dust of California’s Southeastern desert reaches. The surrounding landscape is gorgeous in an unforgiving sort of way, bursting with a multitude of earthy hues that change depending on the position of the sun — sooty brown, russet, cinnamon, amber, ochre, burnt sienna, rust, umber, terra-cotta … You enter the Empire Polo Club, park, make your way through amiable, if entrapment-attempting security personnel at the gate, then suddenly, you’re in and luscious food scents are drifting on the breeze along with snippets of excited conversation about the seeming ease of every single thing so far, postcard perfect surroundings — the clear cloud-free sky, the line of palm trees that seem to be everywhere you look, and behind those, the rugged peaks of mountains; the bars that serve beer and alcohol (Bloody Marys!!); and oh my god, can you believe the fucking grass?? Take your shoes off and dig your toes in it. Carpet-soft, clean and dry — no puddles of mud forming anywhere. Venture deeper into the circular, verdant stretch of lawn, and explore the scattered art installations and creative diversions, white tents set up over clusters of food vendors, retailers, not-too-nasty Port-o-Potties (with the fabulous option of port-o-trailers with toilets and running water — nonpotable and recycled, of course, everything here is green-friendly) … [Video after the jump.] Read the rest of this entry »

The inspiration for the title track off Eilen Jewell’s 2009 album, Sea of Tears, came to the alt-country songstress while she was sleeping. [Photo of Jewell and her band at right by Jennifer Lucey-Brzoza.]

“I had this dream about these two people in a marketplace, an open air space, and for some reason, they happened into each other,” Jewell explained to me via phone as she was gearing up for a co-headlining tour with friend and fellow Boston-based roots music rocker, Sara Borges. “He pretended like he didn’t see her, and she was saying these things to him, and he wasn’t really hearing her, either. When I woke up, I wrote down the words she’d said to him.”

Jewell stripped away the surreal details of her nighttime vision to reveal the stark, embittered emotion of a woman spurned by her man and trying to make sense of it in a crooning serenade: “You won’t even look my way / Is there nothing I can say / to make us how we used to be? / You won’t even notice me.” Resigned to her imminent loss and loneliness, she declares, “It’s gonna be a sea of tears for me / it’s gonna be a life of misery,” her sultry, forlorn vocals set against vintage rock ‘n’ roll with measured rhythms and the twisted twangy notes of steel guitar. Jewell credits the aesthetic of the Seeds’ 1967 single “Can’t Seem to Make You Mine” with influencing the sound of “Sea of Tears” and providing the perfect rhythmic fit for her lyrics. “The song kind of just wrote itself.”

While 2007’s Letters from Sinners and Strangers was considered her breakthrough LP, the delicate pale-haired beauty has made true believers of Americana audiences with her third; Sea of Tears held a Top 10 position on the Americana Radio Charts for more than seven weeks. Read the rest of this entry »

A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night…

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Monday, November 16: Wyclef Jean [pictured] with Cyndi Lauper (No doubt they’ll perform “Slumdog Millionaire” off Wyclef’s new album, From the Hut, To the Projects, To the Mansion.)
Tuesday, November 17: the Script
Wednesday, November 18: Ray Davies
Thursday, November 19: John Mayer
Friday, November 20: Lyle Lovett

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, NBC
Monday, November 16: Carrie Underwood
Tuesday, November 17: 50 Cent
Wednesday, November 18: the Brian Setzer Orchestra
Thursday, November 19: Leona Lewis
Friday, November 20: Bon Jovi Read the rest of this entry »

A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts beginning with Thursday, ’cause that’s when the weekend really starts, right? For a more comprehensive schedule of concerts, check out our Upcoming Events page.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 12
Pete Yorn [pictured] I’m an admitted fan of Pete Yorn’s 2001 debut, musicforthemorningafter. It’s full of alt pop gems like “Life on a Chain,” “For Nancy (‘Cos It Already Is),” and “Strange Condition,” the last featured on such romantic comedies soundtracks as Me, Myself & Irene, 40 Days and 40 Nights and The Sweetest Thing. The Jersey-based singer-songwriter has released four more albums since then, including his latest, Break Up, a collaborative concept album recorded with actress-singer Scarlett Johansson and inspired by Serge Gainsbourg’s duets with Brigitte Bardot. Yorn performs solo at this Bay area appearance. 9 p.m.,Push Ultra Lounge, St. Petersburg, $17.50.

Captured by Robots A one-human comedy-experimental rock act, JBOT (Jay Vance, actor, comic and former bassist for ska punk bands Blue Meanies and Skankin’ Pickle), is backed/enslaved by inhuman (robot, ape and ambiguous) players: DRMBOT 0110, a severed doll’s head on drums, assistant drummer AUTOMATOM, GTRBOT666 on bass and guitar, The Ape Which Hath No Name on tambourine halo, The Son of the Ape Which Hath No Name on monkey cymbals, and on horns, despite missing the parts that conduct air, the Headless Hornsmen. 7 p.m., Orpheum, Ybor City, $8 advance/$10 DOS.

Home w/Flexxehawk/Insect Joy NYC-by-way-of-Tampa experimental pop quartet Home return to the Bay area with their whimsical psychedelic sounds in tow. The band has self-released 15 albums since 1992 – seven cassettes, one 8-track, an internet-only download, and five CDs; Relativity Records put out the band’s sole major label release, IX, in 1995. 9 p.m.,  New World Brewery, Ybor City, $7. Read the rest of this entry »

Last year, Bradenton-based quintet Have Gun, Will Travel caught the attention of NPR with their stylistic and thematic take on Old West-flavored Americana in Casting Shadows Tall as Giants, their sophomore full-length.

The band’s self-released third effort, Postcards from the Friendly City (out Nov. 17) maintains the dusty trailblazing charm of its predecessor with rambling melodies, rustic musical textures — banjo, lap steel and acoustic guitar, viola, harmonica, percussive frills from cowbell to shakers — and the vivid storytelling of lead singer/songwriter Matt Burke, his lyricism continuing to draw from different moods of times long past.

The pervading call of crickets and other rural evening sounds open the ominous “Wolf in Shepard’s Clothes” as the underlings of a toxic leader plan a revolution: “We got the number while the captain slumbered, and we’re gonna cut him down.” Read the rest of this entry »

The siren wails of ascending notes, the speedy electro hammering of programmed drums and a fat and sinister guitar riff open Blackheart Revolution. And then the bestial growl of Genitorturers frontwoman/namesake Gen aggro blasts onto the track and demands your undivided attention: “Well no one cares about the rock star illusion / No one cares because the mystery is gone / Well, I know it’s time for evolution / Now I’m a savior and I’ve got a solution / I’ve whipped the masses and my legion’s grown strong / So I’m here to lead the revolution now.”

“It gets you, it grabs you,” Gen says about “Revolution,” the first song on her band’s fifth and latest studio release, which was co-produced by Genitorturers bassist David “Evil D” Vincent (Morbid Angel) and Scott Humphrey (Motley Crue, Rob Zombie, Ozzy Osbourne). “That’s definitely one of my favorites because it was a challenge trying to figure out how I was going to approach the vocals — the song needed to have a lot of attitude and it needed to be seething and powerful. David actually tracked a lot of the vocals on the record, and man, he just kept pushing me. He’d say, ‘Nope, not good enough. Nope, not good enough. Do it again.’ To the point where he got me so pissed off … there’s a scream on there that’s very heartfelt.”

Gen is a versatile singer — she can hit high notes, turn on the sweet croon, the sexy snarl, the commanding roar, the ferocious howl, the playful purr. Her vocals are set against big, ballsy industrial rock and electro-metal. The result is brutally seductive mayhem. Read the rest of this entry »

Just when you thought there was nothing to do on a Tuesday night, three quality acts make show stops right here in Tampa Bay.

Pretty Lights Derek Vincent Smith [pictured left] is the producer behind Pretty Lights, his song creations marked by hip hop high drama, pumping beats, swells of electro sonics, and layers of samples – fizzed-out basslines, laser beam shots, the occasional emceed hooks like “Fuck ‘em, I didn’t want to go to heaven anyway.” Smith is joined by drummer Cory Eberhard when playing live and their performances are accompanied by cutting edge lights and LED effects. The latest Pretty Lights album, Passing By Behind Your Eyes, is currently available for free download at prettylightsmusic.com. 8 p.m., Crowbar, Ybor City, $15.

White Tie Affair w/Every Avenue/Stereo Skyline/Runner Runner White Tie Affair opened for Lady Gaga the last time they came to town; this time around, the electro pop rock foursome headlines. 7 p.m., State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $15.

The Goddamn Gallows w/Viva Le Vox/Blind Buddy Moody The Goddamn Gallows produce twangy gutter-flavored psychobilly steeped in hardcore-punk. Fishgutz plays fast and furious upright bass, lead singer/shouter Mikey Classic handles riffs, Baby Genius pounds out the beats, Avery scrub-rubs the washboard, and newest member Jayke (formerly of 357 String Band) brings mandolin and banjo action into the mix. 8 p.m., The Emerald, St. Petersburg, $6.

Check out video of all three after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Bay area singer-songwriter David New picked up guitar as a kid, but never really got serious about being a musician until he was in his mid-20s.

“At the time, I was bored, hating my job really bad and just kind of searching for something else,” New told me last week when we chatted at the St. Pete Beach loft apartment-cum-recording space where his band, The Hip Abduction, spends much of their time. Bassist Chris Powers actually lives there, but the rest of the band members reap the benefits of the place, likely getting much inspiration for their vibrant tropical sounds from the scenic view of the Gulf off the third-floor porch.

Back then, New was working as an environmental scientist and it wasn’t anything like he’d imagined. “I thought I was gonna be green and save the world straight out of college, but it ended up that I was working for the oil company and standing up for big oil, which was awful. Writing took me somewhere else.” New says he endured it for about two years before he bailed. Then he spent a few years soaking up the sounds and culture of the Caribbean. “I ran a sailing program and taught marine biology and diving on the side. A lot of my lyrics come from what I experienced there. I grew up in Virginia, so I never listened to reggae very much. Then I really, really got into it down there and I’ve never been able to shake it.” Read the rest of this entry »

The bump-and-groove crew was in high spirits as we enjoyed a brief reprieve from our regular lives and shed the stresses of the week to take a ride on the Junior Boys’ indie train to electro jam land. [All photos by elawgrrl.]

The stage was bathed in saturated lights and scattered with Halloween trimmings; flickering jack-o-lanterns, a crow perched on the keys, a huge skull and crossbones hanging over the drums, rainbow spears of light shining up and out of the drumkit and into the audience, and occasional blasts of fog for extra effect. Read the rest of this entry »

A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night…

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Monday, October 26: Harper Simon (son of Paul, who just released his self-titled debut)
Tuesday, October 27: Florence and the Machine (Florence pictured, photo by Alex Lake)
Wednesday, October 28: Sting
Thursday, October 29: Weezer
Friday, October 30: Weezer

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, NBC
Monday, October 26: Wolfmother
Tuesday, October 27: Julian Casablancas
Wednesday, October 28: Uncle Kracker
Thursday, October 29: the Swell Season
Friday, October 30: Alice in Chains Read the rest of this entry »

A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts. For a more comprehensive schedule of concerts, check out our Upcoming Events page.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23
Revolting Cocks [pictured] w/Jim Rose Circus/Blownload/Left Spine Down Purveyors of down and dirty industrial dance music since 1983, Revolting Cocks have passed the torch of their music, at least temporarily. Three musicians hand-picked by RevCo frontman Al Jourgensen – singer Josh Bradford, guitarist Sin Quirin, and keyboardist / electronics specialist Clayton Worbeck – helped record RevCo’s fifith and latest album, Sex-O Olympic-O (out March 3). Then he sent them on the road for the current “LubricaTour” to play the songs live, with Bradford, Quirin and Worbeck joined by drummer Aaron Rossi and bassist Murv, and “special guest” appearances by Jourgensen in select cities. No telling if he’ll show at the reformed band’s Bay area stop. 7 p.m., State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $9.

Richard MacLemale and Steve Vaclavik Dual CD Release Party Two local artists unveil their most recent studio efforts at this co-headlining concert – Tampa’s twangy Americana singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Steve Vaclavik (with his new band, The Woeful Ones) presents The Roof Needs More, while New Port Richey’s Richard MacLemale’s lays down his soft rootsy rock in Every Single Day. 8 p.m., Pro Star Recording Studio, St. Petersburg, $5.

Junior Boys The Canadian indietronica duo is on their second-ever headlining tour in America and returns to Ybor City in support of their third album, Begone Dull Care. For more info, click here to read this week’s feature. 8 p.m., 18 & up, Crowbar, Ybor City, $12.

EMIT Concert Series: Masik EMIT offers Bay area folks yet another chance to enjoy adventurous music at this concert by Masik, an experimental trio/multimedia hybrid performance ensemble from Gainesville that peppers its off-the-wall free form jazz with samples, electro bleeps, cascading and skipping sonics, and out-of-sync beats, all of it coming together in a deconstructed space transmission from Mars. The improvisations are paired with digital audiovisuals. 8 p.m., doors open 7 p.m., Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, $10 general; $8 for seniors and students; $5 Dalí Members. Read the rest of this entry »

Just got this canceled show alert about alt rockers Blue October (of “Into the Ocean” fame). Apparently, lead singer Justin Furstenfeld (photo by Lauren Voneper) hasn’t been dealing with his issues properly and needs a couple of Xanax, not to mention a new psychiatrist. Here’s the release:

The Pick Up The Phone Tour 2009 has been canceled due to the hospitalization of Justin Furstenfeld, lead singer of the tour’s headlining band Blue October. Furstenfeld, who was also the spokesperson for Pick Up The Phone Tour 2009, is being treated for suffering from an extreme mental anxiety attack. His doctors have ordered that the tour—which was committed to reducing the stigma associated with mental health, depression, and suicide—be canceled to allow for his recovery.

“Mental health diseases are unpredictable,” says Furstenfeld. “And on the eve of this tour in support of a cause that means the world to me, I am in need of time to heal from a setback in my own personal life, which is severe enough for me to seek hospitalization. I hope that my action to seek the strength and safety of treatment will inspire others that are suffering to do the same.” Read the rest of this entry »

Will she cry, or won’t she? Will she cry, or won’t she?

That was the third-person sentence running ’round and ’round my head, referencing myself, as I made my way through the hefty crowd of Leonard Cohen fans who’d come to see the grandmaster of songwriting play Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center this past Monday, October 19. [All photos by Sam Goresh.]

I tend to get sentimental when it comes to music anyway, and my husband had just left town for a month-long journey across America to shoot his Routes Music documentary, so I was feeling rather blue. This was one of the few concerts I’d attended without my other half since we met more than eight years ago, and considering that he was the one who turned me onto Leonard, I wasn’t sure how the music would hit me.

But the longtime troubadour allowed me no opportunity to dwell on my loneliness and managed to lift me up from the gloom in my heart, even making me laugh at various points in the evening.

Debonair as always in his grey pinstripe suit and matching fedora, the 75-year-old held the audience mesmerized with his deep breathy baritone and occasional witty stage banter. He sang against his rootsy, jazz-flavored, gospel-tinged folk rock with his hand alternately cupped around his face or around his mic, at times bending into a crouch to deliver his lyrics from the floor with his trademark self-possessed passion. Read the rest of this entry »

It’s another Tuesday night and there’s not one, not two, but three shows to choose from featuring three very different artists.

Outlaw country music icon and good-natured, pot-loving, bandana-wearing Willie Nelson kicks out so many albums that it’s hard to keep up — 31 the last time I checked, the most recent a collaboration with jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. This show makes up for a canceled date back in March, and is Nelson’s first show in the Bay area in four years. 8 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; call for ticket info.

The rapid-rising all-girl Brookyn trio Vivian Girls combine surf rock, Ramones-raw punk and jangly garage pop with three-part vocals that drone in girlish harmony. The two-year-old band just released their sophomore album, Everything Goes Wrong, in September. Sleepy Vikings open. 8 p.m., Crowbar, Ybor City, $10 (all ages).

The Nashville singer-songwriter and harmonica rager Jason Ricci [pictured] brings his fiery, blues-infused roots rock back to the Skipperdome; rumors are his last show was “un-fucking-believable” and he’s sure to tear the roof off the sucker at this one, too. 8 p.m., Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa, $10.

Video of all three after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

You catch the mid-tempo beat as the night fades to black and the lights on the dance floor fall in saturated reds and blues, your body slipping into a supple, hip-shaking groove, ass grinding lightly against the anonymous partner moving at your back, then not so lightly as he draws you closer, and suddenly his breath is on your neck and in your ear and you can smell the musk of invitation on his skin. The music has loosened you up, made you comfortable in your sensuality, so maybe you’ll accept. Or perhaps you’ll realize it’s the hypnotizing effect of the Junior Boys’ indietronica, a heady fusion of electro-pop, R&B, disco and UK garage buoyed by the falsetto caress of singer Jeremy Greenspan, his tender whispery tone seeming to encourage the mating dance. [Photo by Joe Dilworth]

“I definitely don’t do that on purpose,” Greenspan laughed after I asked him about his music’s inherent sexiness when I interviewed him last week. “I’ve always wanted my music to feel like pop songs, and the easiest way to make a pop song is to put it within the context of love or relationships or sex or whatever. But most of the themes of our music and most of the lyrics have very little to do with sex.” Read the rest of this entry »

Today, the Bay area’s 93.3-FLZ announced the lineup for its holiday concert, 93.3 FLZ’s Jingle Ball, set to takes place on Sun., Dec. 13, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the St. Pete Times Forum. Among the featured Top 40 acts scheduled to perform thus far are piano rock quartet The Fray, R&B pop singer and American Idol winner Jordin Sparks [pictured], Miami rap artist Pitbull, electro pop purveyors 30h!3, reggae lovin’ hip-hopper Sean Kingston, emo rock four-piece Boys Like Girls, and British electro rock duo the Ting Tings. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, October 24. The first 1,000 tickets sold in person, at the St. Pete Times Forum Box Office, will be offered for $9.33. Regular-priced tickets start at $33.

Leonard Cohen’s subject matter tends toward the morbid and the veteran Canadian singer-songwriter delivers his dark messages in a deep, gravelly baritone that drapes itself inside your subconscious like a warm but not quite comforting blanket. His songs about marriage and infidelity, Judaism and Christianity, depression, suicide, the facade of U.S. Democracy, the gaping disparity between the rich and poor, abortion, war, and the underdog are dosed with humor and irony, his rambling roots and folk tunes marked by the dulcet-toned vocals of gospel-style backup singers. (You know him from the Natural Born Killers soundtrack, which features a few of his songs.) Cohen took a fall on stage while performing in Spain several weeks back (doctors cited food poisoning), but he should be perfectly well-rested for tonight’s show in Tampa. I’ll be there, flying solo; my husband hits the road today and will be away for a month, driving across America and recording his music documentary, Routes Music. I have a feeling I’m gonna be feeling a bit lonely and depressed tonight, so I’ll likely shed some tears at this show, although Cohen’s dry banter between songs will hopefully bring some cheer to my soul. I’ll give you the full breakdown tomorrow… [Photo by Lorca Cohen.] Mon., Oct. 19, 8 p.m., Carol Morsani Hall at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, downtown Tampa, $74.50-$252.75 ($19.50 and $49.50 tickets sold out).

Check out a video of Cohen performing “Democracy” from the new PBS special/DVD release Leonard Cohen Live in London, after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night…

The Jay Leno Show, NBC
Monday, October 19: Rod Stewart
Tuesday, October 20: Ludacris (likely there to promote his latest film)

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Monday, October 19: Rosanne Cash (rerun, 10/7)
Wednesday, October 21: Paul McCartney (7/15)

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, NBC
Tuesday, October 20: Cobra Starship feat. Estelle (8/11)
Wednesday, October 21: Phoenix (9/15)
Thursday, October 22: Dave Matthews Band (9/14)
Friday, October 23: All Time Low (8/13)

Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, CBS
Wednesday, October 21: Laura Izibor [pictured] (9/29)
Thursday, October 22: Lynyrd Skynyrd (10/2)
Friday, October 23: the Avett Brothers (10/6)
Read the rest of this entry »

Jason Bonham, who was set to appear at State Theatre tonight, has canceled his appearance. To be honest, I really kind of thought this would happen. When I wrote up this show in the Music Week calendar, I found virtually no info about what John’s prodigal son was doing right now, no info on his band, no reviews of recent shows. So when I got the notice about the gig not happening, I was not surprised in the least.

Although, it is kind of weird considering that Bonham put this statement up to his Myspace page on Wednesday:

If you are one of the Jason Bonham fans that happen to be luck enough to live in CA or FL, be sure to go check him out taking part in his latest project. Jason has assembled a group of friends…old and new…and they are playing a few shows to honor his friend, the late Daniel MacMaster, lead singer of Bonham. It sounds like they will be playing a wide variety of songs from his whole career. What fun! Check out the article for more info.

The cancellation release had no further info as to why Bonham bailed. Here’s a link to the aforementioned article. Said article was printed after this week’s paper was printed…

The dance party was in full swing by the time we made it to the Ritz Theater in Ybor City a little after 11 p.m. last Saturday, October 10, right at the tail end of Thievery Corporation’s set. In fact, they launched into the last song as we threaded our way through the thick crowd of sweaty, blissfully writhing bodies. The place was packed, everyone seemed to be having a blast, and you could tell the adrenaline was still running on high when the band said their goodbyes. The cheers hadn’t yet dissipated when Thievery Corporation returned to the stage for an encore. And then another. And then another. [All photos by Phil Bardi; bassist Ashish Vyas and singer Natalia Clavier pictured left]

There were a lot of players up there adding their own unique essences to the vibrant, driving worldtronica. DJ Rob Garza [pictured below, after the jump] provided the foundation, spinning mid-tempo backbeats on a raised platform behind a long, horizontal LED screen, at his back a huge rig with vertical lights that blasted different washes of bright color at key moments, and two vertical LED screens on either side of the rig, with all three of the LED screens displaying images and animations on their textured surfaces. (Eric Hilton, Garza’s producer partner-in-crime, was absent when I got there, and I don’t know if I just missed him, but he never showed for the rest of the set.) Read the rest of this entry »

The grainy black-and-white imagery in The Bravery’s new video is meant to disturb. A smudge of spotlight allows glimpses of a scantily-clad woman — a flash of her legs and gas mask-covered face, a pale arm drawing a bath that fills with inky water, hands mixing noxious cocktails into clear plastic party cups, cracking eggs and sprinkling salt and garnishing each one with a little mermaid before pouring her voodoo cocktails out the window and into the bathtub.

The same smudge of light shows glimpses of various band members rocking out and falls on the unshaven face of frontman Sam Endicott, his blank-eyed stare a stark contrast to anguished singing and probing lyrics: “If I put my hands around your wrists, would you fight them? / If I put my fingers in your mouth, would you bite them? / So many things that I would do / If I had my way with you…”

A man wearing a devil mask with a cruel black smile leads the woman through a door and into the next scene, and the two begin taking off each others’ clothes, pressing their ugly masked faces together in an dreadful imitation of a kiss, and engaging in a grotesque sort of sexual foreplay. He pushes her onto a bed to the driving chorus: “And there will be no tenderness / No tenderness / There will be no tenderness / No tenderness / I will show no mercy for you / You have no mercy for me / The only thing that I ask / Love me mercilessly.” (VIDEO AFTER THE JUMP.) Read the rest of this entry »

Just when you thought there was nothing to do on a Tuesday night, two hot acts — psyche rock pioneers and an electro indie buzz band — stop right here in Tampa Bay.

Merging elements of ’60s psychedelic rock and pop with traditional Brazilian rhythms, Os Mutantes (“the Mutants”) carried the Tropicália movement torch after leaders Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso were jailed on a false charges, then exiled to London in 1968. The band’s distinctive, riotous sound was marked by unorthodox song structures, lyricism tending towards cultural irony and political activism, and experiments that incorporated distortion, feedback, Musique concrete recording techniques (looping, mixing, filtering), field recordings, and various other avant-garde sonics that have influenced anyone from Nirvana to Flaming Lips to Beck and David Byrne. Os Mutantes released seven albums and went through several lineup changes from 1968 to 1976 before calling it quits in 1978. But after playing a string of dates with Os Mutantes in 2006, founding frontman Sergio Dias Baptista found himself revitalized and ready to write. His new incarnation of the band signed with ANTI- and released the first new Os Mutantes studio record in 35 years, Haih or Amortecedor, in September. Their Tampa appearance, which is supported by Brooklyn world music quintet, DeLeon, is a rare treat and this show has definite sell out potential. Get your tickets ASAP. Tues., Oct. 13, 8 p.m., Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa, $25. Read the rest of this entry »

A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night…

The Jay Leno Show, NBC
No music on Leno this week.

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Monday, October 12: Tim McGraw
Tuesday, October 13: Dead by Sunrise
Wednesday, October 14: Mika
Thursday, October 15: Built to Spill (Click here to check out a review of the new album, There is No Enemy.)
Friday, October 16: Tim McGraw

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, NBC
Monday, October 12: Grizzly Bear
Tuesday, October 13: the Flaming Lips [pictured]
Wednesday, October 14: Rascal Flatts

Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, CBS
Monday, October 12: Dierks Bentley
Friday, October 16: Toby Keith Read the rest of this entry »

All photos by Phil Bardi.

Upwards of 70,000 people were crammed into Raymond James Stadium, waiting for musical liftoff, and were rewarded with a colossal production spectacle steered by the voices, instruments and magnetic charismas of the Irish mega-foursome.

The stage was a four-legged spaceship and U2 was central command.

I was among the thousands, a diverse crowd composed of every sort imaginable from families (kids included) to groups of ladies in their night-on-the-town best, some in heels I’d never wear out, let alone to a concert, to jocks and goths and tattooed types, to fathers and their adult sons, to scattered groups of non-English speaking tourist types (which made me wonder how many people had flown in from other countries to see the show, and why they chose Tampa), to middle-age couples attending their sole concert of the year. Some were mega-fans, other curiosity seekers and everyone seemed to be in good spirits.

The 360 Tour four-legged spaceship monstrosity (which had a huge spire in its very middle that reached into the sky and had a disco ball at its very top) was set-up at the Galley end of the stadium. A huge 360-degree screen hung over the round main stage, which was located in the very middle and was encircled by an outer platform connected to the round with moving bridges for crossing back and forth, and a crowd jammed in between the platform and stage in a half-circle of bodies where the “front” of the stage was set up. (I imagine these were the $250 tickets.) Rather than try and clumsily explain the layout in any detail, I’ve included pictures and some interesting facts at the end of this post. (In case you’re wondering, the 360 Tour has its own comprehensive Wiki page. For real.)

U2 set the mood for the evening with David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” the song blasting through the sound system speakers and heralding the band’s entrance — drummer Larry Mullen, Jr. coming across one of the “bridges” to sit behind the drums in the round, bassist Adam Clayton and guitarist The Edge appearing through “holes” in the round, and Bono bursting onto the round with much fanfare and to a screaming, enthusiastic crowd. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve seen the Black Crowes a few times over the years — once at Langerado in the Spring of ‘06, and again later that summer at the Ford Amp, when there were so few people showed because of it raining all day that everyone was packed into the pavilion. The security was so tight that lead singer Chris Robinson felt the need to call them out and complain about them not allowing people to come up to the front of the stage to dance, since there were all of a few thousand in the whole damn place.

At the time, I appreciated his candor and wasn’t surprised when they finally made their way back to the Bay area in 2008 and stopped at a different venue: Ruth Eckerd Hall. I wasn’t at that show, but I was there for their return to Clearwater this past Wednesday, October 7, and Robinson has some choice commentary that night, too, only this time his seeming ire was directed at the audience. [all photos by Phil Bardi]

The hall was about half-full, a scattered crowd of casual fans and die-hards mixed with the overdressed groups of season ticket holders. The smell of Nag Champa wafted through the air, a bundle of incense sticks burning in a clump at the corner of a stage bathed in saturated light. Read the rest of this entry »

A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts beginning with Thursday, ’cause that’s when the weekend really starts, right? For a more comprehensive schedule of concerts, check out our Upcoming Events page.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
Johnny Winter w/Damon Fowler Group Progressive blues guitarist Johnny Winter, brother to “Frankenstein” keytarist Edgar, was ranked 74th in Rolling Stone’s list of “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” for taking blues into hard rock territory and producing a series of Grammy-winning albums for Muddy Waters. In recent tours, Winter performs seated due to various health issues, and avoids playing rock music all together to focus solely on the blues. Don’t expect a “Rock ‘n’ Roll Hoochie Koo” (one of his few hits), though you might hear his renown blues-out rendition of Bob Dylan’s “Highway 61 Revisited.” 8 p.m., State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $25 dos.

Afroman The “Because I Got High” tongue-in-cheek rap artist has released 11 albums in 11 years; his most recent, Frobama: Head of State, dropped in May. 8 p.m., Bourbon Street Night Club, New Port Richey, $15.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9
U2 w/Muse There’s no denying the sheer superstar power and awesome dynamism of U2, the foursome’s longevity earned after years of solid hits and a consistent effort to evolve without losing their distinguishing Dublin-brewed alt rock sound. Aside from the shady 12-year $100 million deal with Live Nation (which gives the live events company control of U2’s merchandise, sponsorships and official website), the band has been pretty good about retaining a sense of decorum and integrity, donating some of their billions to charitable causes around the world, bringing global issues of poverty, disease, and social injustice to light via performances, appearances, campaigns and fundraisers, and even starting their own nonprofits or backing initiatives to help those in need. No Line on the Horizon is their 12th and latest studio album, and critics (myself not included) are falling all over the thing like it’s Irish gold. But when has U2 ever really disappointed? The current “U2 360° Tour” features a 360-degree staging/audience configuration, which should make for quite the RayJay spectacle. Not sure who can afford the $250 seats in this economy, but someone’s gotta pay for that stage show and it ain’t the $35 nosebleeds (those go towards Bono’s wardrobe). 7 p.m., Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, $35, $55, $95 and $250. Read the rest of this entry »

As Thievery Corporation, DC-based DJ/producers Rob Garza and Eric Hilton (pictured) have taken electronica to new heights of international appeal. The duo’s richly textured mid-tempo dance grooves are spiced up with elements of lounge, trip hop, acid jazz, dancehall and dub reggae, Indian classical, psychedelia, afro-beat and bossa nova. Thievery’s 2008 album, Radio Retaliation, was spurred by election season and is a politically-charged suite of songs, from the anti-establishment tone of “Sound the Alarm” to the Darfurian metaphors used in “Vampires.” A new cast of musical collaborators were brought on to give the album its kick, among them, Brazilian vocalist/guitarist Seu Jorge, Nigerian afro-beat prince Femi Kuti, Indian sitar virtuoso Anushka Shankar, Slovakian chanteuse/violinist Jana Andevska, and DC’s own “Godfather of Go Go,” Chuck Brown. Thievery Corporation’s live show incorporates a dynamic 15-member multi-cultural ensemble of vocalists and instrumentalists, with Garza and Hilton spinning in the middle of it all to create the music’s soundscape of rhythms and hues. Read the rest of this entry »

Baltimore’s Wye Oak (made up of Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack) produces big beat ’60s-influenced indie folk rock with dreamy melodies, washes of swirling symphonics and electro-psychedelia, and vocals rising in blissful choral harmony. The duo signed to Merge Records (Neutral Milk Hotel, M. Ward, Conor Oberst, Camera Obscura) last year and released their Merge debut and sophomore effort, The Knot, this past July.

The band is currently on tour with Blitzen Trapper but stages a free acoustic in-store at Vinyl Fever today, and plays a special one-off set (their only headlining show of the tour) later tonight at New World. Locals Zillionaire and The Holy Slow Train (Will Quinlan’s new Diviners side project) provide support.

Wed., Oct. 7: 5:30 p.m. in-store at Vinyl Fever, 4110 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-289-8399, and 9:30 p.m. show at New New World Brewery, 1313 E. 8th Ave., Ybor City, $8.

He’s a hefty backwoodsman type with dark, merry eyes, a thick black beard, working man’s suspenders, worn pork-pie hat, and a booming Hoosier-country drawl that howls to the heavens or digs deep into the earth.

Josh “The Reverend” Peyton is the driving force of Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, a family trio featuring vocalist/fingerstyle guitarist Peyton, his washboard playing wife, Breezy, and his younger brother/drummer Jayme. Peyton’s music is straightforward, rough-hewn country blues with a punk rock stomp and a folk heart. He writes about what he knows — the people, the places, the problems, the potatoes — and says exactly what he means, coloring his simple truths with humor to keep things light.

“I find that when I’m the most honest and the most truthful, it seems like people respond the best to it,” Peyton told me in a recent interview from his Indiana home. “And for me, it makes it that much easier to play the songs, when I don’t hold anything back.”

The wild romping “Mama’s Fried Potatoes” was penned while Peyton was on tour and pining for a favorite comfort food [quality video below]. “Your Cousin’s on Cops” relates the amusing but too-true tale of seeing his wife’s cousin get busted on TV. Peyton says the song has taken on a life of its own at the band’s live shows. “I had no idea that people’d be so into that song. It’s kind of a silly song but at the same time, you know, it’s a true song — her cousin was on Cops.” Read the rest of this entry »

It was a mild Saturday night in Ybor City this past weekend, New World Brewery’s indoor bar and outdoor courtyard scattered with 100 or so people, small groups of friends drinking and chatting and waiting in patient anticipation for the two out-of-towners to hit the stage – support act Royal Bangs, and headliners Tigercity. [All photos by Phil Bardi.]

My husband and I met up with our crew and grabbed beers just before Royal Bangs [pictured left] kicked off their set at around midnight. The Knoxville, Tenn. synth-rock five-piece seemed almost too big for the space, the band and their music ready to burst at the spirited seams. Scrappy guitarists Brandon Biondo and Sam Stratton played off each other with skill, lean and towering bassist Henry Gibson leaped all over the tiny area without ever knocking anyone down (as I feared he might), drummer Chris Rusk kicked out the lively beats, and frontman Ryan Schaefer performed on a two-tiered keyboard and picked up the odd percussion instrument while singing with New Wave-affected vocals that were dead-on Robert Smith and out-of-sync with his sensitive bearded appearance.

Brooklyn’s Tigercity brought a bigger crowd to the dance floor — the majority of those who remained by the time they started around 1 a.m. — and the dance party was in full swing by 1:30 a.m. to the band’s disco-meets-‘80s electro rock. Lead singer Bill Gillim [pictured right] has that certain captivating something that makes you want to keep your eyes glued. Bald (nicely shaped) head, dark and penetrating eyes above a full-on unkempt beard, an expressive face and a powerful vox that conveys deeply-felt emotion, whether in a full-throated wail or high-note-hitting plea. Gillim and goofy-cute long-haired bassist Joel Ford (who was in the tightest jeans this side of NYC) shared some nice fal-soultto harmonies and Ford jammed with fuzzy synthed-out bass. Read the rest of this entry »

Hip-hop artist/producer Q-Tip has premiered a new video on YouTube for “Life Is Better,” a smooth, funky-jazz duet featuring Norah Jones. The song, from Q-Tip’s 2008 critically-acclaimed album, The Renaissance, celebrates the history of hip-hop starting with Kool Herc all the way through to current chart toppers like Jay-Z and Kanye. The video is animated with a cool effect that makes the two artists look like drawings (still shot at right). Check out the video after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

Just got a press release from the Backstreet Boys‘ PR machine about Brian Litrell’s newly diagnosed illness. Not sure if getting swine flu is something you want to be broadcasting to God and his creation, but hey — I guess they’re of the mind that all press is good press, even if it’s about something icky.

Anyway, here’s the release:

The Backstreet Boys are sad to announce they have cancelled today’s NYC PINKTOBER Hard Rock Café signing due to member, Brian Litrell having been diagnosed with the Swine Flu. The other 3 members, Nick Carter, Howie Dorough and AJ McLean have seen a doctor and are not showing any symptoms. As a preventive measure, the doctor has prescribed Tamiflu to the group and their touring party, who had just returned to the states from Tokyo. Read the rest of this entry »

Mind Chaos is a debut littered with hit songs. In fact, the album was already pretty damn good when Portland-based foursome Hockey initially self-released it as an EP in 2008. But after getting picked up by Capitol Records, Mind Chaos was remixed, remastered, and rounded out with several new songs for its major label re-release this Tuesday, October 6.

Post-punk strut with an electro disco swagger, the music on Mind Chaos is made for dancing with too cool ‘tude. Hockey singer Ben Grubin’s smokey growl oozes Rod Stewart sexiness and he delivers his verses with cocky ease, from his back-and-forth with himself in the snotty opener, “Too Fake,” to his blasé weariness in the supple grooves of “Work,” to his flippant spoken word lyricism in the lively “3AM Spanish,” to his unselfconscious wish in “Wanna Be Black,” to his howling and crooning soulfulness in “Curse This City.” Read the rest of this entry »

A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night…

The Jay Leno Show, NBC
Thursday, October 8: Ben Harper & Jack Black

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Tuesday, October 6: KISS
Wednesday, October 7: Rosanne Cash [pictured]
Friday, October 9: Brett Dennen & Natalie Merchant

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien , NBC
Monday, October 5: Dierks Bentley
Tuesday, October 6: Anvil
Wednesday, October 7: Toby Keith
Thursday, October 8: Backstreet Boys
Friday, October 9: Lady Antebellum Read the rest of this entry »

With singer Tim Yehezkely’s girlishly sweet, breathy opening vocals in “No One Said It Would Be Easy,” The Postmarks introduce their latest turn: cinematic pop fit for a 007 soundtrack from the late ‘60s, subject matter ranging from saving the world to saving a girl to the “Lucky Charm” paramour who keeps his lady safe from harm (“Dangerous explosives all disarm / whenever you are on my arm”). Memoirs at the End of the World dazzles with drama and effortless elegance, a near-dozen guest musicians joining the Miami trio and giving the album its luscious sound. Read the rest of this entry »

Three rounds, nine bands, one fatty recording studio package for the winner. Yes, it’s a battle of the bands competition. Yes, I generally think these things are bullshit maneuvers staged by sponsors with questionable motives to get the word out on bands that no one really knows or cares about.

But “The 9” isn’t your run-of-the-mill band vs. band playoff.

First, respected Vermont craft brewery Magic Hat — known for its support of emerging acts across the country — is staging the affair, and in association with Skipper’s Smokehouse, Creative Loafing and Morrisound Recording.

Second, the competition isn’t meant for young unknowns, but for bands that already have a buzz going and can really benefit from the chance to record at Morrissound. Read the rest of this entry »

A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts beginning with Thursday, ’cause that’s when the weekend really starts, right? For a more comprehensive schedule of concerts, check out our Upcoming Events page.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1
Between the Trees w/Action Item/Farewell/Punchline The music of Orlando’s Between the Trees is unexpectedly melodic for a band on the road as part of Absolutepunk.net’s “Next Favorite Band” tour – emo expressive vocals that tend to hit the high notes against the easy-going tempos of tastefully radio-friendly Brit invasion-style pop rock, like Keane meets Travis with a hint of Coldplay. The trio – made up of lead singer/guitarist/keyboardist Ryan Kirkland, and rhythm section brothers Josh and Jeremy Butler on drums and bass, respectively – just released their sophomore album, Spain, which debuted on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart at No. 4. 7:30 p.m., Orpheum, Ybor City, $12.

Third Eye Blind [pictured left] I have a grudging respect for Third Eye Blind, an alt rock trio that emerged in 1997 with a self-titled debut and catchy-as-hell hooks in tow. Of their Billboard charters, you probably know the melancholy relationship-ending ode, “How’s It Going to Be” best, though their songs have been used in various films and TV shows for the past 10 years, from “London” and “Graduate” in 1998’s Can’t Hardly Wait, to “Semi-Charmed Life” in 1999’s American Pie and 2005’s A Lot Like Love, to “Jumper” in the 2008 Jim Carrey comedy, Yes Man. The band’s August release, Ursa Major, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and is their first new album since 2003. 8 p.m., The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City, $28.50.

Side Door Jazz: Belinda Womack Quintet The homegrown contemporary gospel-jazz vocalist plays an intimate concert as part of the Palladium’s Side Door Jazz series. 7:30 p.m., Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, $20.

Greenland is Melting w/Rebekah Pulley/Jon Gaunt/Me & the Devil Gainesville trio Greenland is Melting produces pleasant acoustic bluegrass melodies of the back porch sort with three-part harmonies, rhythms made from stomping feet, and the merry strumming and plucking of a banjo all throughout. The band is currently offering their new self-released album, Our Hearts are Gold, Our Grass is Blue, for free download at greenlandismelting.com. 9 p.m., New World Brewery, Ybor City, $7. Read the rest of this entry »

Some fab, A-grade videos out right now that were released online over the past few months. Enjoy!

Dan Deacon, “Paddling Ghost”
Type of music: Freak-out noisetronica by the solo Baltimore electro artist
Album: Bromst, out March 24 on Carpark.
Description: Stuffed animals and craft art characters make up the cast of this story, which follows a one-eyed pirate/ghost as he travels through various settings in search of … well, I don’t think you ever really know what the little guy is looking for. But boy is he adorable. The low-cost production matches the music’s whimsical childish feel. Directed by Natalie van den Dungen.
Rating: A+, for making me giggle alot.
Read the rest of this entry »

By Aly Carr

Let me introduce you to… The Coop-Miester … The Cooper Mini … The Coop Boop Be Doop … The other words that rhyme with Coop or Cooper …The one and only super duper SCOTT COOPER!

“Robots and monkeys are just about my favourite thing on this earth. Goddamn they make me laugh. Especially retro looking robots with accordion arms,” the Canadian singer-songwriter told me when I talked to him a while back. Oh, and since he is a musician, he sort of likes music too. He told me about a really extraordinary show he played recently: “It was the best thing I’ve ever done. Played with the full band in a 150-year-old church theater. No religious affiliations or anything, it was just stunningly beautiful and had the best natural reverb I’ve ever heard. The whole point was to do something totally different than the usual bar show. It was something for myself and serious music lovers.”

When Scott became a part of my world I was consumed by his song, “Tilt-A-Whirl,” which I featured on Episode 11 of the Merry Andrews show. With his voice and Caroline Brooks’ swirling together in lyrics like, “You say I took your heart on a joy ride like an old Tilt-A-Whirl, I won’t waste anymore of your time, you’re a beautiful girl,” I was hooked like the Captain. “Caroline is a great friend with a breathtaking voice. She’s in an amazing female roots trio called The Good Lovelies, everyone should check them out. When I started hanging out and singing with her, all I could think about was ‘I need to have her on my record.’ So I re-wrote ‘Tilt-A-Whirl’ to be this linear story song, with the payoff being the perspective flip from me to the woman I’m singing about. The song is about a few things … mostly recognizing and trying to break bad patterns and callousness with other people’s hearts. It’s a dark tune about self-involvement that turns into one of hope. Rather than rest on the pain and regret of a broken heart (or the guilt of breaking of someone’s heart), this woman flips the switch, so to speak and instead turned those behaviors into something positive and changed a life. Hope that makes sense. Sorry if I’ve ruined any kind of meaning for you. Hahaha,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »

White Stripes’ frontman Jack White takes a behind-the-scenes role in his latest project, The Dead Weather, which brings together lead singer Alison Mosshart (of London-based lo-fi post-punk duo The Kills), Raconteurs’ bassist Jack Lawrence, and Queens of the Stone Age guitarist Dean Fertita.

The foursome involved weren’t fucking around when they went into the studio to produce the 11 tracks on Horehound (released July 14 on Third Man Records). Written and recorded in a mere three weeks, the hard rock album is deeply rooted in the greasy, blues-infused sounds of the ’70s and each member adds his or her own distinctive zing to the mix. (Official video + footage of a live performance at The Roxy after the jump.) Read the rest of this entry »

A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night…

The Jay Leno Show, NBC
Monday, September 28: Brad Paisley & Sheryl Crow
Wednesday, September 30: Vince Gill & Emmylou Harris

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Monday, September 28: the Avett Brothers
Tuesday, September 29: Miranda Lambert [pictured left]
Wednesday, September 30: Madonna, Harry Connick Jr. (don’t know if either one is actually performing)
Thursday, October 1: Tom Russell

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, NBC
Monday, September 28: Paramore
Wednesday, September 30: Brad Paisley
Friday, October 2: Joshua Bell with Tiempo Libre Read the rest of this entry »

Phish announced they were calling it quits a month before dropping their 10th official studio album in 2004. Their last release under Elektra, Undermind was a brilliant work, moody and driving psyche rock studded with upbeat pop and the odd goof-off. But its dark and melancholy moments were too much a reflection of Phish’s own unhealthy state at the time and the shadow of their imminent demise hung over the music, making it easy to appreciate but hard to enjoy.

This year, Phish reunited, hit the studio with producer Steve Lilywhite (who’d worked with the band in 1996 on the masterful Billy Breathes), and laid down the tracks to their 11th full-length, Joy, which finds the foursome revitalized and at ease with each other again. It shows in the songwriting, their lyricism more introspective and sentimental than ever before. Much of Joy deals with the passage of time and touches upon grim subject matter — like the death of frontman/guitarist/singer Trey Anastasio’s older sister and his recovery from his very public substance abuse problems. But the dour cynicism and melancholy you’d expect are absent. Instead, the tone of the album is bright and buoyant as the band reminisces about the past, celebrates the present, and appreciates friends and family who’ve been there throughout. Read the rest of this entry »

A quick breakdown of this holiday weekend’s most worthy concerts. For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Events page.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
JJ Grey & Mofro w/Shooter Jennings/Earl Greyhound [pictured] A good ol’ boy from the backwaters of Jacksonville, JJ Grey is the creative force and frontman of Mofro, their music swamp-stomping, finger-licking, funked-out rock ‘n’ roll with a solid R&B groove marked by Grey’s husky soulful drawl. LA alt-country rocker Shooter Jennings (the sole spawn of country singers Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter) just released his first compilation, Bad Magick: The Best of Shooter Jennings and the .357’s, which includes select tracks from his first three studio albums, a few live recordings and a cover of Hank Williams Jr.’s 1976 single, “Living Proof.” And NY’s Earl Greyhound features afro-thrashing bassist/singer Kamara Thomas, who brings charismatic energy to the power trio’s fiery, heavy-handed blues rock. 8 p.m., The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City, $20.

Tom Goss w/Mara Levi Goss is an out-of-the-closet singer-songwriter who abandoned seminary school and impending priesthood to pursue social justice issues and his love of music. His vocals are high and pleasantly emotive, his acoustic pop touching and uplifting. He’s currently touring in support of his 2009 release, Back to Love.  4:30-6:00pm, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg,  free (students only). Read the rest of this entry »

Some free MP3s for your aural pleasure:

Miami-based indie trio The Postmarks present the pop-pretty “My Lucky Charm,” off their new record, Memoirs At The End of the World (Unfiltered Records); they stop at New World Brewery on October 29.
The Postmarks, “My Lucky Charm” Read the rest of this entry »

My parents played me The Beatles while I was still in the womb and in the end, I was compelled to make a break for the light so I could hear those sweet melodies all the better. (It was perfectly warm and comfortable in there, but the acoustics were simply awful.)

I don’t ever remember living without the Beatles. I grew up playing my mom’s vast collection of LPs, got to know the early, uncomplicated incarnation as a child, moved through the catalog to their later albums as I matured, and gained a new appreciation of songs I’d avoided or just didn’t get when I was younger: the morbid humor of “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,” the not-so-subtle sexual innuendo of “Happiness is a Warm Gun,” the intense, simplistic beauty of “Across the Universe,” the ahead-of-its-time experimental flourishes and rhythms of “Tomorrow Never Knows,” the drawn-out groove and swagger of “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” the psychedelic nonsensicalness of “I Am the Walrus.” John, Paul, George and Ringo were always there, and I’ve returned to the comfort of their music time and time again. (Pictured: The Beatles, 1969, [c] Apple Corps Ltd. 2009) Read the rest of this entry »

The debate on file-sharing continues in earnest, with UK artists Radiohead and Lily Allen taking opposite sides. From a September 10 article in the Times Online, about musicians speaking out against a British government proposal to cut illegal file-sharers’ internet connections: “Every generation has a different method,” said Radiohead guitarist and FAC Board of Directors member Ed O’Brien. “File sharing is like a sampler, like taping your mate’s music.” From a blog post on Lily Allen’s Myspace page: “I think music piracy is having a dangerous effect on British music, but some really rich and successful artists like Nick Mason from Pink Floyd and Ed O’Brien from Radiohead don’t seem to think so. Last week in an article in the Times these guys from huge bands said file sharing music is fine. It probably is fine for them. They do sell-out arena tours and have the biggest Ferrari collections in the world. For new talent though, file sharing is a disaster as it’s making it harder and harder for new acts to emerge.”

Flaming Lips debuted a new video on Myspace for “I Can Be a Frog.” The song is kind of slow and ambient for the Lips, and I can’t figure out if the animal sounds are genius or an effing nuisance. Check it out: Read the rest of this entry »

Montreal rock ensemble Islands made an indie splash in ’06 with their breezy, mellifluous popadelic debut, Return to the Sea. The adventurous and progressive second effort, Arm’s Way, followed on a wave of dramatic symphonics in ’08. The third, Vapours (out Sept. 22, today, on Anti-), finds the band moving in a New Wave-wheeling and dance music-dealing direction. Vapours also marks the return of drummer and founding member Jamie Thompson, who split shortly after the release of Sea.

“I wanted to make this record in a very particular way, that was really analogous to his approach to music at this point in time — with drum machines and electronics,” frontman and creative force Nicholas Thorburn (aka Nick Diamonds) explained about his decision to invite Thompson back in a recent pre-tour interview with CL. “I just wanted a really fresh, minimal and immediate sort of approach to the record. And he was willing …” Read the rest of this entry »

Moody neo-folk rock songwriter/vocalist Geri X skipped town last year to pursue a blossoming relationship and work the Milwaukee music scene. She returned with a brighter outlook, a boyfriend/band member, and a mission to make a career of her music in the city she had admittedly taken for granted. She re-submersed herself in the scene and returned to gigging regularly with her new three-piece, staged a re-launch party for her sixth album, Anthems of a Mended Heart, and played to a near 300 people, and produced and released a well-styled, well-made video for “Kiss on Both Eyelids” at a show featuring special guest artists who flew in for the occasion. Overall, she filled a hole we never even realized was empty. (Photo by James Ostrand.) myspace.com/gerix

For a complete list of Best of the Bay winners, click here.

From the review of the 12/08/08 show: “Of Montreal put on a stage show that was an aural and visual hallucination brought to dazzling life. The six-member band played against a huge backdrop of vivid, psychedelic animations and under washes of saturated lights. Two sets of drums were mounted on risers on either side of the stage and a revolving screen set up between them hid-or-revealed a motley cast of performers, who acted out all manner of scenes and scenarios with and without frontman Kevin Barnes, and in costumes and masks that ranged from cute to freakish. Barnes himself disappeared behind the screen to change outfits a dozen or more times, from fur to sequins to spandex to centaur, a performer serving as his second set of legs for that last ensemble. He covered himself in red paint, in shaving cream, in glitter. He sang and played guitar, pranced from one side of the stage to the other in nothing but a pair of sassy gold trunks, climbed up a riser to sing from its heights or play drums a few minutes, climbed back down to be executed in a faux-gallows, and appeared to have a grand old time all throughout.” (Barnes pictured, photo by Phil Bardi.)

For a complete list of Best of the Bay winners, click here.

A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night…

The Jay Leno Show, NBC
Thursday, September 24: Smokey Robinson with Joss Stone (They’ll likely perform the duet, “You’re the One for Me,” from Robinson’s new LP, Time Flies When You’re Having Fun.)

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Wednesday, September 23: Mary J. Blige
Thursday, September 24: Snow Patrol
Friday, September 25: LL Cool J

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, NBC
Monday, September 21: Lynyrd Skynyrd
Tuesday, September 22: Monsters of Folk (the new project featuring M. Ward, Jim James, Mike Mogis and Conor Oberst; pictured, photo by Jenniver Tzar)
Wednesday, September 23: Wynonna
Thursday, September 24: India.Arie
Friday, September 25: Rodrigo y Gabriela Read the rest of this entry »

When the former Masquerade got a $2 million makeover and re-opened as The Ritz last June, it didn’t seem like many shows were making it to the marquee and some of us wondered whether the booking folks set the bar too high in their selections or if the 1,000-capacity place had become a bit too fancy for just any show with its new open and airy feel, higher stage, in-house lighting rig, and walls draped in red velour for superior sound quality. But gradually with help from No Clubs Productions, The Ritz began beefing up its events schedule and in a matter of months, went from hosting tribute acts to a range of top notch talents – Lady Gaga, of Montreal, Jesse McCartney, Ben Folds, Gogol Bordello, Ghostface Killah & Raekwon, Three Dog Night, Rabbit in the Moon and many others. The Ritz has also picked up several shows lost by Jannus Landing due to that venue’s pending legal issues. 1503 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa, 813-247-2555, ritzybor.com.

For a complete list of Best of the Bay winners, click here.

Made up of Ryan Wood (guitars/vocals), Jack Pfiester (bass/vocals) and Byron Clark (drums/vocals), this prog rock trio produces spirited, accessible, hot-jamming prog rock with lots of good clean shredding by Wood and Pfiester, a surprise since it’s not often you see a bassist traveling up and down the neck of his instrument and coaxing out notes like some sort of second lead guitarist. And he still manages to maintain a solid rapport with the drummer while engaging in occasional guitar-versus-bass dueling with Wood. And Clark — geez, that dude can pound some skins and brings the syncopated rhythms with much ease and flair. myspace.com/mogulstreetreserve. (Photo by Phil Bardi.)

For a complete list of Best of the Bay winners, click here.

The perfect place to sip tea and nibble sweet and savory treats with your girlfriends, whether it be a few enjoying a casual afternoon tea, or a few dozen celebrating a birthday, bridal or baby shower at a private tea party. Special occasions get special treatment – choose an ostentatious hat from the rack on the wall, don a red feather boa, and take on grandiose airs while being served a hot tea and a three-tiered caddy of warm and crumbly scones with Devonshire cream (a most sumptuous and delicious dessert), mini-quiches, finger sandwiches, chocolate-covered strawberries, lemon squares and other tasty fare. Milk & Honey also carries a range of gifts, from handmade jewelry to stationary to tea accessories. 2092 W. Busch Blvd., Tampa, 813-931-1462, milknhoneytearoom.com.

A quick breakdown of this holiday weekend’s most worthy concerts. For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Events page.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Slow Claw /The Tenant/The Tape Delay Cincinnati indie trio Slow Claw doses their alt rock with dulcet-toned melodies and unexpectedly complex arrangements, proggy in an appealing and accessible sort of way. Slow Claw is currently celebrating the release of their debut album, Grandfather Clocks, which they recorded over 10 days in Charleston, S.C. The Tape Delay is Tampa’s own post rock outfit, their drawn-out instrumentals ranging from ambient wanderings to heavy layers of driving sound, two guitars responsible for the music’s range of textures, from distorted riffage to screaming wails to warped or bent or twisted notes and lots of finely-placed reverb. And the new Orlando rock quartet led by Brad Register of the now-defunct Summerbirds in the Cellar, The Tenant, has its local debut at this show. 8 p.m., New World Brewery, Ybor City, $7.

Sara Haze [pictured] w/Mark & James/Friends of Giants/Nick Shanahan There’s a lovely husky quality to the vocals of flaxen-haired pop songstress Sara Haze, who plays piano and fronts a five-piece band that features a violinist and a drummer-percussionist who bring atmospheric vibes to Haze’s breezy uplifting songwriting. Haze self-released her debut, Ladder, in 2008 and is currently touring in support of its eight-track follow-up, Lovely EP; download it via iTunes and get three bonus tracks, too. 9 p.m., Orpheum, Ybor City, $10.

Dive Bar Stalkers Local psychobilly outfit that brings the smokin’ good times with its brand of twangy rocking ‘n’ rolling — big coarse vocals, springy rhythms, fiery slide guitar and raucous riffing, and the sort of straightforward lyricism that’s both fun and funny. 8 p.m., Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa, $10. Read the rest of this entry »

Given props by Kanye West and Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste in January, featured on NPR this past August, Blind Man’s Colour is the new hip unknown and they happen to hail from right here in St. Petersburg. Co-visionaries Kyle Wyss (guitar and lead vocals) and Orhan Chettri (keys, laptop and back-up vocals, both pictured at right) are some damn talented kids who front an experimental foursome most often compared to Animal Collective. But the duo relies more on organic instrumentation rather than sonicboards and synthesizers to get their driving sound, and are joined by a bassist and drummer to bring the low end throb and punchy dance beats to their songs. BMC also relies very little on grandiose washes of sound and aimless barrages of noise so beloved by experimental acts, instead focusing on the delicacies of melody with ’60s pop-inspired vocal harmonies reminiscent of The Beach Boys, sweet and high and charming, and a driving electromagnetic sound with just enough psychedelia, ambient trance and moments of tropical hop to keep things interesting. myspace.com/weareblindmanscolour.

For a complete list of Best of the Bay winners, click here.

Clad in all white, white hair standing on end, Byrne led a seven-piece ensemble (three back-up singers, a percussionist, a drummer, a bassist and a keyboardist/programmer, also all clad in white) through a concert of songs from his latest Eno collaboration, Everything that Happens Will Happen Today, as well as older crowd-pleasing cuts – “Houses in Motion,” “Take Me to the River,” “Burning Down the House,” and “Crosseyed and Painless.” A trio of petite, athletic (dressed in white) modern dancers bounded onto the stage to perform choreographed routines with and around Byrne and the band, adding to the show with their spirited, carefree capering. Byrne’s distinctive warbling falsetto was as clear and strong as ever, and he seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself and soaking up the crowd’s enthusiasm, which carved an already fantastic performance into memory. Read the full review of the December 12, 2008 show here; photo by Phil Bardi.)

For a complete list of Best of the Bay winners, click here.

Ghetto Love Sugar, a local experimental jazz jam outfit that enjoyed its heydey several years ago and played their last gig in ‘03, re-banded for a show on Friday, May 8, when drummer/percussionist Jon Priest – who’d re-located from Tampa to Boone, N.C. a few years ago – returned for a weekend of performing. That night, Priest sat in with nearly every group he helped shape during his time in the Bay area. But his set with former Ghetto Love Sugar bandmates Philip Booth (bass), Raulton Reichel (keyboardist/effects) and Joel Lisi (guitar) was one of the most spirited parts of the night, and bittersweet because it was a one-shot deal. (Video after the jump). Read the rest of this entry »

Just imagine what you’d see after dark on the only slice of beach in Pinellas County that allows drinking directly on the sand – all-manner of outrageous behavior, from impromptu nude photo shoots with cell phones to uninhibited alcohol-fueled canoodling. Off West Gulf Boulevard, from 77th Avenue to Blind Pass Road, Treasure Island. (Photo courtesy of BeachHunter.net.)

Soul pop diva/former Bobby Brown punching bag Whitney Houston has been making a slow but steady comeback this year, re-building her tattered cracked-out image with the seeming normalcy of getting her life and career back on track, earning self-respect one sexy dress and public appearance at a time, and keeping us interested with the occasional single to prove her vox is still strong. Houston has just debuted her latest new video, “Million Dollar Bill,” a fluffy bumpin’ R&B number that’s good enough, if you can get past the high school lyricism and rah-rah chorus. Houston’s looking mighty fine, in an airbrushed, tasteful plastic surgery sort of way, and it’s apparent that she’s begun to get her groove back. Check out the video after the break.

Read the rest of this entry »

Two smartly-dressed, energetic guys — Cave McCoy on lead vocals, guitar and pedals (left), and Michael Gargiulo on drums, laptop and backup vocals (right), and  — make more rock-your-face-off noise than I’ve heard bands with twice the amount of members, and they even have a quaint little light show to go with it. (Photo by Jon Paul Douglas.) myspace.com/greymarket

For a complete list of Best of the Bay winners, click here.

WMNF hosts another one of its fundraising film events, this one a James Brown film spectacular held at the food and alcohol-serving Tampa Pitcher Show. The evening kicks off with The Night James Brown Saved Boston, which documents the funk father’s legendary performance on April 5, 1968, at Boston Gardens, the evening after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The film also tells sheds light on the crucial role that Brown and this particular concert played in the political, social and cultural climate of the era, and how Brown used his dynamic musical powers and uplifting energy to nurse the wounds of an aggressively mourning public. In addition, ‘MNF also screens the entire April 5 concert as well as a clip from the fiery T.A.M.I. show from a few years earlier, where organizers made the mistake of scheduling the Rolling Stones to close the concert after Brown. In later interviews, Stones guitarist Keith Richards claimed that choosing to follow Brown & The Famous Flames was the biggest mistake of their careers, because no matter how well they performed, they could not top Brown’s cape-flaring, dancetastic showmanship. Wed., Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m., Tampa Pitcher Show, 14416 N Dale Mabry, Tampa,  $10, 813-963-0578.

Check out a few performances from the TAMI show after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »

The heavy drive of metal, the old-timey bounciness of swing jazz and groovin’ slinkiness of funk jazz, the organic backporch feel of roots, the swagger of ’70s prog rock, the easy-going sway of reggae – all these elements and more are thrown into the fusion fabulous sound of Poetry n’ Lotion, a mostly instrumental fourpiece that includes mandolin player Jim Page, guitarist Matt E. Lee, bassist Tom Murray and drummer John Nowicki. Whether they’re playing original tunes like the lively party closer, “Skinsuit,” performing lively renditions of the Knight Rider or MASH themes, re-interpreting the music of anyone from Mungo Jerry to Dusty Springfield, or pairing together songs – like their Pink Floyd “Fearless-Mother” combo and a mash up of Dave Brubeck’s “Take Five” with Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” – PNL fuses all the right elements with seeming ease. (Photo by Phil Bardi.) myspace.com/poetrynlotion

For a complete list of Best of the Bay winners, click here.

Trumpeter/warm drawling vocalist Jim Morey leads this capable quartet featuring bassist Ann Van Atta, banjo player David Crisler, and drummer Billy Carr (all four of them also current members of Lounge Cat). The band offers a fresh take on old jazz using swing and muddy river Creole as their foundation, incorporating elements of gypsy, ragtime and stumbling roots rock, and then spicing things up with electronics (Crisler has a synthesizer hooked up to his banjo), humorous textures (kazoo, washboard, bike horn, slide whistle), and the occasional one-man low-end display by Carr, who plays bass and drums simultaneously (and quite proficiently) when Van Atta can’t make a gig. myspace.com/jimmorey

For a complete list of Best of the Bay winners, click here.

Mark your calendars — the latest batch of concert announcements has arrived. For a more comprehensive list that includes both local and national acts, check out our Upcoming Concerts page.

Thursday, October 1: Third Eye Blind (The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City, $28.50; on sale now)

Friday, October 9: Luke Bryan (Dallas Bull, Tampa, $15 admission includes a copy of his new CD, Doin’ My Thing)

Saturday, October 17: The Bravery (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg, $15; on sale now)

Tuesday, Oct. 20 Vivian Girls [pictured] (Czar, Ybor City, $8 in advance/$12 dos; on sale now) Read the rest of this entry »

Tampa area art rockers Lush Progress premiered their tasteful video for “Even Now” back in May. Produced by frontman Drew Cutler and directed by Jesse Newman, the video has a lush and dreamy feel, and showcases the song’s drifting, despondent melody with all the right elements of fantasy and easy-but-pretty special effects. Proof that with some imagination and the right technology, a band can create something pretty remarkable on an extra low budget. myspace.com/lushprogress

For a complete list of Best of the Bay winners, click here.

(Video after the jump.)

Read the rest of this entry »

A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night…

The Jay Leno Show, NBC (he’s baaacckk!)
Monday, September 14: Jay-Z with Rihanna & Kanye West (likely performing their single, “Run This Town,” pictured right)
Wednesday, September 16: Miley Cyrus
Thursday, September 17: Bruce Hornsby & Eric Clapton

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Monday, September 14: Cage the Elephant (rerun, July 30)
Tuesday, September 15: Care Bears on Fire (August 26)
Wednesday, September 16: John Fogerty (September 3)
Friday, September 18: Gary Mule Deer (August 20) Read the rest of this entry »

Dr. Shannon has been treating animals for nearly three decades, and although she’s run a string of veterinary clinics over the years, the Cat Hospital is her pet dream: a fully loaded feline-only care center that opened last November in a new plaza on the edge of St. Petersburg. The Cat Hospital is within easy reach of Tampa residents as well as native ‘Burgians and the trip is well worth it – Dr. Shannon is a true treasure who exudes calm and manages her testy four-legged clients with a firm but gentle hand, making both you and your cat feel at ease all throughout her examination. Read the rest of this entry »

CORRECTION TO MUSIC WEEK, 9/9 PRINT EDITION OF CREATIVE LOAFING: THE FOLLOWING ACTS ARE PLAYING ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, NOT SATURDAY SEPT. 12 AS PRINTED IN THE PAPER.

Benefit for Children’s Cancer Center w/Patrick Foy & The Conch Critters/ De Lei’ ed Parrots: Music for a good cause, featuring country blues about Florida by Foy and his Critters and tropical rock by the Parrots, who are known to play more than a few Jmmy Buffett covers. 5 p.m., Sun., Sept. 13, $10 suggested donation, Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa

Rod Picott and Amanda Shires (pictured): Sweet-voiced singer/fiddler Shires (who plays WMNF’s birthday on Saturday) is currently touring with co-collaborator and longtime roadmate Picott. The duo just released an acoustic record, Sew Your Heart with Wires, and will likely perform unplugged at this intimate concert. 7 p.m., Sun. Sept. 13, $20 general, $15 student/seniors, Studio@620, St. Petersburg.

She raps in a lightning-fast, tightly reined, tongue-twisting, furious style, with her solid rhyming interrupted by occasional sung verses set against a backtrack of well-produced beats that make you wanna shake your rump. After getting dumped from UK-based Domino Records (Junior Boys, Arctic Monkeys), Shunda K (formerly of Yo Majesty) decided to give her entire Domino catalog away — for free. Both LPs, The Best Eva Written: Outkast and Kollaborations (featuring her much celebrated duet with Peaches), are available for download on her website along with other Shunda K recordings. Get them now. (Photo by Phil Bardi.) shundak.com

For a complete list of Best of the Bay winners, click here.

He is the Bay area’s most entertaining and engaging frontman by far, leading his blues-rockin’, barroom-stompin’ trio with ball-blasting vigor and tongue planted firmly in cheek. Wielding his bulk like an oversized sex symbol, he swings his belly and swivels his hips in exaggerated twists, rubs his nipples through his always sweat-drenched shirt, makes fake sexy-lecherous comments to the ladies up front, and in the midst of it all, belts out first-rate gritty-growly vocals and plays harmonica ‘til that thing smokes. (Photo by Phil Bardi.) myspace.com/nervousturkeyband

For a complete list of Best of the Bay winners, click here.

In this week’s issue, I wrote about NYC indie rap artist Cage appearing at State Theatre this Wednesday, September 9, when, in fact, the band that’s playing at State is San Diego heavy metal fivesome Cage (pictured at right). Please take note and my apologies if I got your hopes up.

Community radio has enjoyed a short but storied history in America, beginning on the West Coast in 1946 with the launch of KPFA at Berkeley by journalist/pacifist Lewis Hill and a group of like-minded individuals dedicated to fostering “a lasting understanding between nations and between individuals of all nations, races, creeds and colors.” Community radio really blossomed in the 1960s during our country’s cultural revolution, when the appeal of breaking down prevailing traditions and boundaries became more widespread. Listener-supported stations were free from the corporate sponsors that exercised control over commercial stations, their minuscule budgets both a burden and benefit — virtually no money to work with, but a staff of community volunteers who actively participated as disc jockeys and producers, and brought color and variety back to radio with a diverse range of programming. By the 1970s, community stations had carved out a place amidst the corporate radio structure and were broadcasting in almost every state.

WMNF, the Bay area’s own beloved community radio station, first went on air in 1979 and celebrates 30 years of broadcasting on Saturday with its annual birthday party. This year’s event features 12 bands on three stages — national headliners Paul Thorn, Samantha Crain and the Midnight Shivers, and Amanda Shires, all pictured, as well as local and regional players like Nervous Turkey and the Legendary JC’s — at the Ritz Ybor. Here’s the complete breakdown, with video. Read the rest of this entry »

Capitol/EMI has done little with the Beatles’ music since 1987, when it first re-released the foursome’s catalog and did little to ensure the sound quality stood up to the transfer from vinyl to disc; 2004’s The Capitol Albums, Vol. 1 and the soundtrack to Cirque de Soleil’s Love revealed just how good the Beatles’ songs could sound when given the right treatment.

This Wednesday, September 9, 2009 (9-9-09) is an important date for Fab Four fans – The Beatles: Rock Band hits the racks along with long-awaited, much-anticipated digitally-remastered versions of all of the Beatles’ studio albums. This re-release encompasses Please Please Me, With the Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night, Beatles for Sale, Help!, Rubber Soul, Revolver, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The White Album, Abbey Road, Let It Be, Yellow Submarine as well as Magical Mystery Tour and Past Masters Vol. I and II packaged as a single collection. Each album features the songs and artwork as they were originally released in the U.K. and come with expanded booklets of rare photos and original and newly-inked liner notes. For a limited time, each of the 14 albums will also be “embedded” with a brief documentary about its making. There are all kinds of other tasty bonuses that I won’t go into here, but I will tell share some info with you about some special events being held all over town in honor of the re-release. Read the rest of this entry »

A quick breakdown of this holiday weekend’s most worthy concerts. For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Events page.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
Depeche Mode (pictured) w/Peter, Bjorn and John English electronic music pioneers Depeche Mode have influenced anyone from Radiohead to Rammstein to Crystal Method, and are among the too-few bands that emerged from the 1980s with dignity intact and more than a just few charting singles (45 in the UK, 18 in the U.S.). I enjoyed a brief but torrid love affair with Violator in high school during a period when all the music I wanted to listen to had to be dark and intense and danceable. DM’s simple yet weighty lyrics — “Words are meaningless and forgettable” “Because when you learn / You’ll know what makes the world turn” “Never before is what you swore the time before” — were just what I needed at that moment in my life and to this day, frontman Dave Gahan’s affected vocals evoke very specific memories. The band just released their 12th full-length, Sounds of the Universe, and are supported this tour by Peter Bjorn and John (read my feature on PBJ here). 7:30 p.m., Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa, $43.50-$83.50

REAX Rent Party w/Glasgow/Geri X/Nessie/Memphis Train Union/Will Quinlan & The Diviners/Military Junior/King of Spain/The Basiqs/Vera Violets/Life of Pi The print industry is experiencing some rather dark times right now, with newspapers across the country desperately trying to figure out how to survive in an era where the general public consume their news and information for free via the internet. Grassroots publications have been hit hardest, including Florida’s own REAX, which is hurting so bad it won’t go to press this month and is actively seeking donations of money and supplies to stay afloat. A bill of quality local acts have banded together to help by playing this benefit show, and the music ranges from the introspective roots rock of Will Quinlan & The Diviners, to the psychedelic fuzzed-out shoegaze of the Vera Violets, to the experimental dancetastic hip-hop of The Basiqs. Admission is cheap, so dig deep when the donation bucket is passed. 6 p.m., Crowbar, Ybor City, $5 (ages 18 & up) Read the rest of this entry »

The stickiest whistling of the 21st century was conceived in Sweden, nurtured in the collective musical subconscious of three Stockholm musicians, shaped by their distinct creative personalities and love of New Wave, alt rock and ’60s pop, and born several years later in a catchy, charming pop ditty, “Young Folks.”

By that time, Swedish trio Peter Bjorn and John — singer/guitarist Peter Morén, singer/bassist/keyboardist Bjorn Yttling and singer/drummer/percussionist John Eriksson — had enjoyed some minor fame, but still worked day jobs to support themselves. “Young Folks” was the first single off their third album, 2006’s Writer’s Block, and by mid-2007, the song seemed to be everywhere — sampled by Kanye West, covered by Pete Yorn, used in TV shows ranging from Grey’s Anatomy to Gossip Girl and in ads by Budweiser, Napster, American Eagle Outfitters and AT&T, among others.

“It changed everything,” de facto leader Peter Morén tells me from a hotel in Utah a few weeks ago in the midst of his band’s current gig opening for Depeche Mode. He says that up until that point, they did the band for fun. “But now we do the band for money and other stuff for fun… no, no, it’s still fun,” he laughs, adding, “It’s just not something that we really expected.” Read the rest of this entry »

So far, we’ve given you a heads up about a range of this fall’s best bets in music — Leonard Cohen, electronica artists from Paul Van Dyk to Junior Boys, Yo Yo Ma, a quintet of quality indie artists (The Decemberists and MuteMath, among others) who are not stopping in Tampa but at least gracing us with their presence in nearby Orlando, and a couple of worthy jazz shows. Here are rest.

The Big Drawers
We get most of the big tours in Tampa because we have the audiences and venues to support them. This fall is no exception and the biggest among them are longtime barn burners Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band (Sat., Sept. 12, Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa, $36-$98); U2, the first band to play Ray Jay solo, i.e., not for any Super Bowl festivities. (Fri., Oct. 9, Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, $30-$250); and the queen of teeny bop pop herself, Miley Cyrus (Tues., Dec. 1, St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, $39.50-$79.50). Read the rest of this entry »

Mogul Street Reserve pictured at right; all photos by Phil Bardi.

Despite being bone-weary and mentally exhausted, I slagged my tired ass down to Ybor City and made it to Summer Jam 5 just before sunset to enjoy the mini-fest’s variety of musical offerings, a huge roster of quality local acts as well as the few necessary nationals (The Honorary Title, Cory Branan, Carter Hulsey) to round things out.

We cruised into Crowbar just in time to see Blind Man’s Colour (pictured after the jump), a new experimental outfit made up of some young and green but super skilled musicians who are so hot that Kanye West gave the little known St. Petersburg outfit some love with a “Some Dope Shit for My Apartment” post on his blog this past January, and Grizzly Bear’s Edward Droste followed suit with a tweet about the band around the same time. BMC was also featured recently on NPR’s All Things Considered for a “Music from the Sublime to the Old Time” artist spotlight a few weeks ago, so it appears like they’re on the upswing. Read the rest of this entry »

THX Management, Aestheticized and even New Granada bring in a tidy bunch of indie acts to town. But more often than not, said acts genearlly opt for the Orlando stop instead — it’s close enough to draw folks from Tampa but far enough away to make the bands feel like they’re playing a big city. The worthiest of the 90-minute trek are Scotland’s indie rock foursome Frightened Rabbit, fronted by brothers Scott and Grant Hutchison (Tues., Sept. 29, The Social, Orlando, $12); chamber rockin’ Portland quintet The Decemberists and their “A Short Fazed Hovel” tour (Wed., Sept. 30, Hard Rock Live, Orlando, $26-$30); another Portland-nite, the folk-meets-Rolling Stoners Blitzen Trapper (pictured) (Tues., Oct. 06, The Social, Orlando, $12 in advance/$14 dos); the electro-dance punk freakers Ghostland Observatory (Thurs., Oct. 29, House of Blues, Orlando, FREE courtesy of Southern Comfort); and Grammy-winning New Orleans electro-psyche rockers MuteMath (Thurs., Nov. 05, House of Blues, Orlando, $20-$56).

A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night…

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Monday, August 31: Dirty Projectors
Tuesday, September 1: Black Crowes (which plays Ruth Eckerd Hall October 7)
Thursday, September 3: John Fogerty
Friday, September 4: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros (pictured)

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, NBC
Monday, August 31: Pitbull (the Miami rap artist plays The Ritz this Friday, September 4)
Tuesday, September 1: Cheap Trick (read Gabe’s write up and see Mike Wilson’s pics from their August 14 show with Poison and Def Leppard at Ford Amp) Read the rest of this entry »

Tastemakers and THX Management team up for the fifth annual summertime mini-fest, Summer Jam 5. Originally organized as a way of merging musical genres, uniting their respective audiences, and introducing original local music to the Bay area masses, the event touches upon Americana, hip-hop, experimental electronica, punk rock and more. This year’s national headliners are neo-folk artist Cory Branan, who delivers his intelligent, droll and occasionally melancholy lyrics in a raspy drawl; and The Honorary Title, a Brooklyn-based indie rock outfit fronted by singer-songwriter Jarrod Gorbel (pictured at left). On this tour, Gorbel sheds the majority of his band (save keyboardist Dustin Dobernig) to perform a series of acoustic shows and preview new material from his forthcoming solo debut.

Summer Jam 5, Sat., Aug. 29, 5 p.m.-late: The Honorary Title, Cory Branan, Damion Suomi, Mogul Street Reserve, Shunda K, Larcen, Slim Hustle, Blind Man’s Colour, Da Golminerz/Rook and The Sheaks at Crowbar ($10 advance/$12 dos), and Guiltmaker, Carter Hulsey, Alexander & The Grapes, GreyMarket, Deficit, How Dare You, The Tape Delay, Stereotype & the Treble Makers at New World Brewery ($6 advance/$8 dos), both in Ybor City; tickets to both venues are $13 advance/$15 day of show.

Miami’s annual Winter Music Conference and its corresponding Ultra Music Fest first drew electronica artists to Florida. But once they discovered audiences ripe and ready to get down rave-style, any time of the year and not just in South Florida, music makers spanning the electro spectrum began appearing in Tampa more and more often. We are fortunate enough to see a virtual who’s who of hot talents in the upcoming months. DC’s Thievery Corporation — made up of DJ duo Rob Garza, Eric Hilton and their vibrantly diverse ensemble of performers — produces a lounge-lush fusion of electronica, reggae, acid jazz, psychedelia and the world flavors of India and Brazil. Sat., Oct. 10, The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City, $42). Tiësto (pictured) is a famed Dutch DJ and progressive trance producer (Sun., Oct. 18, The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City, $40). (Video after the jump) Read the rest of this entry »

Used to be you could hit an ’80s dance party nearly every night of the week in Ybor. New Wave, Dark Wave, glam and hair metal, synthpop, pop punk — pretty much any music from that era does well here, and we tend to get some high-caliber performers in addition to the wankers. Influential electro alt rockers Depeche Mode bring the final leg of their U.S. tour to Florida in support of their 12th and latest album, Sounds of the Universe. Frontman Dave Gahan should be in tip-top shape and fully recovered from the tumor removal that forced the band to postpone more than a dozen shows in May and June. (Fri., Sept. 4, Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa, $10-$83.50). British dance music twosome Pet Shop Boys have sold something like 100 million records worldwide, but will always be remembered in the states for their 1984 hit, “West End Girls.” (Thurs., Sept. 10, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, $39.75-$69.75). Read the rest of this entry »

In his speech for Leonard Cohen’s induction into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last year, Lou Reed said Cohen belongs among the “highest and most influential echelon of songwriters.”

No question, Cohen is one damn talented man; though he’s been doing his thing since the mid-1960s, he found new popularity in the last 15 years beginning when three of his songs from The Future — “Waiting for the Miracle,” “The Future” and “Anthem” — appeared on the soundtrack for Oliver Stone’s 1994 film, Natural Born Killers. A whole new cult audience fell in love with his husky, mournful baritone and evocative lyrics. Read the rest of this entry »

Eleanor Friedberger of the Fiery Furnaces; all photos by Phil Bardi.

To satisfy the ravenous music-consuming beast inside me, I end up making the 90-minute trek to Orlando rather frequently. Far too many bands don’t or won’t stop in Tampa for whatever reason and some of these bands I simply have to see.

Yes, the Fiery Furnaces were headlining a show in Tampa on Saturday night. But they were also playing The Social in Orlando the Sunday after (August 23), and that particular bill featured the White Rabbits. I’m a big fan of both, so it seemed like a no brainer to set up review coverage for the O-town show. I made all the proper press arrangements with Thrill Jockey (the indie label that reps FF), jumped in a car with some like-minded friends, and set out to enjoy a night of great music and fun times.

Only, the night didn’t start out so fun. In fact, I had to deal with some authentic, grade-A machismo bullshit that has turned this concert review into a partial rant against the “Man In Charge” at The Social. Read the rest of this entry »

If you missed the premiere of Geri X’s new Michael McCourt-directed video at her release show this past Friday, never fear — the lovely songstress was kind enough to post it online this week for the consumption of the Geri X-loving public. Geri looks pretty phenomenal, a classy rockin’ chick with grit (great job, stylist!), and the video itself is dazzling, sumptuous eye candy. Check it out after the jump.

Read the rest of this entry »

A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night…

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Tuesday, August 25: Jet
Wednesday, August 26: Care Bears on Fire
Thursday, August 27: Mutemath
Friday, August 28: Imogen Heap (pictured, photo by Michael Crook

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, NBC
Monday, August 24: Kings of Leon
Tuesday, August 25: Smokey Robinson
Wednesday, August 26: Franz Ferdinand
Thursday, August 27: Matisyahu
Friday, August 28: Colbie Caillat

Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, CBS
Wednesday, August 26: Camera Obscura (rerun, June 15)
Thursday, August 27: Gavin DeGraw (June 16) Read the rest of this entry »

It’s another Best of the Bay Reader’s Poll race you want to know about, especially if you’re a musician working the local scene and are actively encouraging your fans to vote. This category has always been a popular one since it gives Tampa Bay bands the chance to receive much-coveted props from the people who actually go out to see their music.

Currently, it’s a rather interesting race, with six very different bands jockeying for the lead: funkin’ reggae makers Tribal Style, metal maniacs Mr. Bella, up-and-coming alt rockers Not Tonight Josephine, jazz fusionists Poetry n’ Lotion, driving and stomping rock purveyors The Beauvilles, and Southern-countrified barn burners Roppongi’s Ace.

There’s still time to vote on your own local favorite, folks. Click here to do it now; polling ends Aug. 31.

California foursome Pennywise has been spitting out the hardcore fun punk rock for nearly 20 years. Apparently, lead singer and frontman Jim Lindberg has had enough. The remaining members — Fletcher Dragge, Byron McMackin and Randy Bradbury — issued the following statement regarding his departure:

“After 19 years with Pennywise, Jim Lindberg has decided to step down as lead singer. Pennywise has long stood behind the motto that you should always follow your heart and pursue what makes you happy, and we wish Jim the best of luck in his new ventures, whatever they may be. Pennywise has become a way of life for a lot of people, and has definitely become a way of life for us. As the three remaining members of Pennywise we feel that we are not done delivering our message to our fans.

”The band has always been about moving forward in life no matter what obstacles stand in front of you. We will begin our search for a new singer immediately. We will continue to tour the world and we are looking forward to writing new music. We’ve had a lot of good times and survived the hard times thanks to the undying support of our fans. We’re looking forward to what the future may bring.”

We don’t see many house concerts around here, those musical events hosted by some brave soul with a big enough living space for performers and an audience, and just enough trust to open up their home to the public and invite them to enjoy an intimate evening of live acoustic music. Heights Atelier welcomes the next featured artist in its new House Concert Series: Atlanta native singer-songwriter Rebecca Loebe (pictured, photo by Kate Culver), whose music has a buoyant rootsy feel, her voice rich and sweet against gently-picked acoustic melodies with a healthy dose of Southern twang. Seating is very limited. Mark Vaughan opens. To reserve a spot, click here.

Thursday, August 27, 7:30 p.m., Heights Atelier, 210 E. Frances Ave., Tampa Heights, $5 suggested donation (not required; ages 21 and up only). For additional info, e-mail heightsatelier@yahoo.com.

Everything seems hunky-dory over at the Jannus Landing website — shows are still booked and no notices of any cancellations have actually been posted. But things aren’t looking so great for the beloved venue, which has seen several shows pull out since the man who runs it, John C. “Jack” Bodziak, had a run-in with the law due to alleged tax evasion. Bodziak recently confirmed with the St. Pete Times that some more shows still listed on the calendar have, indeed, been moved.

Here’s how it stands right now:

Motörhead (pictured) with Reverend Horton Heat and Nashville Pussy (Sept. 15), Robin Trower (Oct. 16), and the All Time Low, We the Kings and Hey Monday (Oct. 26) are all set to move to The Ritz Ybor. Johnny Winter has moved his Oct. 8 show to State Theatre. There’s no word yet on the Nov. 28 Skinny Puppy show, which mysteriously disappeared from the Jannus calendar over the past few days and is still listed on their site as taking place at Jannus.

Motorhead and Robin Trower ticketholders should exchange their tickets via Ticketmaster; see RitzYbor.com for details. Johnny Winter tickets can also be exchanged through Ticketmaster, or, if purchased through Daddy Kool records, can be exchanged there.

A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts. For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Events page.

Friday, Aug. 21
Sick Puppies / Hurt w/The Veer Union/From This Fire/The Stand LA-by-way-of-Australia trio Sick Puppies make aggro-sexy alt rock with muscular basslines, crunchy guitar riffs, and vocals either crooned, sung-yelled, growled, or processed through fizzy effects. They bring a generally fresh feel to the hackneyed alternative market and are currently on tour in support of their recent release, Tri-Polar, which features the hot hit single, “You’re Going Down,” also the theme song of WWE’s Extreme Rules PPV broadcast last month. Co-headliners HURT are also on the non-traditional alt rock bandwagon, their sound marked by much more drama, heavier washes of sound with symphonic flourishes, and a lead singer who delivers lyrics in soft pained pleas or shrieks that come straight from the pit of his soul. The foursome is also pimping a new album, Goodbye to the Machine, which was released on indie label Amusement in April. Fri., Aug. 21, 8 p.m., State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $15.

Geri X Video Release Party w/Eric McFadden and James Hall/Thomas Wynn & The Believers/Have Gun, Will Travel Neo-folk rock songwriter/vocalist Geri X has a strong voice that’s rich, grainy sharp and hypnotizing, and she sings with raw power, plays a confident guitar and leads her band looking like tattooed porcelain. She’s been back in town less than a year and has already put out her sixth and latest album, Anthems of a Mended Heart, played a launch party to a near 300 people at State Theatre in January (pictured above, photo by James Ostrand), and has been working the scene ever since. Now she’s moved onto the next phase of her career: music video. Geri X unveils the Michael McCourt-directed vid hot off the digi-reel for the Anthems song, “Kiss on Both Eyelids,” at a video release celebration with special guest artists: Atlanta guitarist/songwriter James Hall (Kommander, Jane’s Addiction) and San Francisco guitarist/vocalist Eric McFadden (Les Claypool, P-Funk), as well as Tampa purveyors of fiery Americana Have Gun, Will Travel and Orlando’s roots rockin’ Thomas Wynn and the Believers. For those who can’t make it out to the show, the video will be broadcast nationwide on Geri X’s Myspace page beginning at midnight that night. Fri., Aug. 21, 8 p.m., Crowbar, Ybor City, $8 (all ages). Read the rest of this entry »

I just spend the past few hours updating CL’s concert listings and in case you missed them, here’s the latest batch of additions from the past week for your concert planning convenience. For a complete breakdown of area shows, visit our Upcoming Concerts page; for last week’s most worthy additions, click here.

Friday, Sept. 04 Pitbull w/DJ Laz (The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City)

Tuesday, Sept. 08 Groundation (Plaza Theatre, Orlando)

Saturday, Sept. 19 Deva, Premal & Miten (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg)

Friday, Sept. 25 Cowboy Mouth (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)

Tuesday, Sept. 29 Railroad Earth (Plaza Theatre, Orlando)

Thursday, Oct. 01 Side Door Jazz: Belinda Womack Quintet (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)

Friday, Oct. 02 Alice Cooper Theatre of Death Tour ‘09 (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)

Friday, Oct. 02 Bettye LaVette (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg) Read the rest of this entry »

The Fiery Furnaces have been lauded for their ingenuity and ambitiousness, for breaking the indie rock mold and becoming true sonic adventurers. Conversely, they’ve have been criticized for being too prolific, for producing music too challenging or unfocused or overindulgent for a good sit-down-and-get-to-know-ya.

Darlings or misfits, one thing is certain: The Fiery Furnaces are crafty, inexhaustible artists who may be too inspired for their own good. The core members, brother and sister duo Matthew and Eleanor Friedberger (pictured), don’t seem to take any downtime — they’re either touring or creating music or brewing up new and better ways to play, present, record, arrange and engage their fans in their music.

“It’s something we take very seriously, but it’s something we would do anyway, so it makes us want to do it a lot,” Matthew told me by phone a few weeks before their August 22 Tampa stop. “Make records, write songs — you wanna do that as much as possible really, because that’s what you do for fun.” Read the rest of this entry »

Michael Franti believes music is the world’s greatest unifier. The 15-year frontman of Spearhead is so dedicated to it and so unwilling to disappoint his fans that he’ll continue to perform even if he’s experiencing debilitating pain.

But you can only play through the pain for so long — especially when said pain turns out to be a burst appendix.

The singer/guitarist faced this reality a dozen shows into his band’s co-tour with Counting Crows. Following one misdiagnosis after another, steadily increasing abdomen pain finally landed him in Cedars-Sinai Medical Center following the band’s July 22 gig in Temecula, Calif. By the time doctors discovered the untreated problem and performed an emergency appendectomy, an abscess had formed and infection was running rampant, the toxins working their way into his blood. The surgeon described it as one of the worst cases the hospital had ever seen.

“I went through a pretty close call and I’m just happy to be alive,” Franti tells me by phone less than two weeks later, still recovering from the ordeal. “I have a big four-inch incision inside of my body that needs to close itself up before I can really do anything.”

Franti kept fans up to date on his condition via a series of videos uploaded to his ongoing FrantiV tour diary. The videos are funny, heartwarming, and in one case, uncomfortably graphic (a clip showing his wound being cleaned by a nurse; check it out after the jump). Read the rest of this entry »

The night was hot and post-rainstorm muggy this past Friday, August 7 at New World Brewery, where an ever-swelling crowd of Bay area folks (270 paid) had stopped in to enjoy a double bill of quality local music — Poetry n’ Lotion (pictured at left, photo by Phil Bardi) and Nervous Turkey — and toast the man of the hour, scene stalwart and birthday boy Sean O’Brien.

Everyone seemed to be in generally good spirits and casually sipped brews and bobbed heads to the pre-show spins by DJ Minihorse, waiting with seeming patience for the live music to commence. (More pics by Bardi + video after the jump) Read the rest of this entry »

DC’s Thievery Corporation — made up of DJ duo Rob Garza, Eric Hilton (both pictured) and their vibrantly diverse ensemble of performers — produces a lounge-lush fusion of electronica, reggae, acid jazz, psychedelia and the world flavors of India and Brazil. They put on a pretty heady stage show and are bringing it to the Ritz Theater in Ybor City on Saturday, October 10; Ancient Astronauts provide support. Tickets go on sale this Saturday, August 15 ($38.50 GA/$60 VIP).

Here’s the press release/band bio/info about their latest album, Radio Retaliation (videos after the jump): Read the rest of this entry »

A weekly bulletin about who’s playing on late night TV; set your TIVOs or DVRs if you’ve got an early bedtime. See a day missing? No musical guest that night…

The Late Show with David Letterman, CBS
Tuesday, August 11: Elvis Costello (pictured) (rerun, June 4)
Wednesday, August 12: Rob Thomas (July 7)
Thursday, August 13: Paul McCartney (July 15)
Friday, August 14: MSTRKRFT with John Legend (June 23, performing “Heartbreaker”)

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, NBC
Monday, August 10: Lyle Lovett
Tuesday, August 11: Cobra Starship feat. Estelle (REGINA SPEKTOR AFTER THE JUMP) Read the rest of this entry »