Daily Loaf

If Radiohead and the Beatles had a lovechild that grew up to kick your ass and take your girlfriend, it would be Harry Dash.

Everyone can remember one moment that he/she felt alive, where that one spark fueled a true passion. My personal catalyst was an oddly-named band called Harry Dash.

Harry Dash is a local New Port Richey band that means “flash” or “cool” in British cockney slang. I had heard of the band quite a bit growing up, since they’ve been on the local Tampa band scene since the mid ’90s. Their amazing covers of songs such as Pink Floyd’s “Run Like Hell” and “Muscle Museum” by Muse, and the high energy sound of original songs like “Spies.” Not to forget the soulful, powerhouse vocals behind lullaby ballads and inspirational “get off your butt and do something” anthems such as “Tank.”

I was 16 and like many teenagers, trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to do with my life.

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This weekend proved to me once again that I am getting too old to party like a rock star two nights in a row. [All photos by Nicole Kibert.]

The self-abuse began this past Friday night, when I set out to, and I quote myself here, “get Lucero drunk.” [Frontman Ben Nichols pictured at left.] I am happy to report that my mission was a complete success. The trade off, though, is that my recollection of the show is slightly hazy. A lot of the reviews I read leading up to Lucero’s Tampa show were about the crowd, that the frat boy concentration levels were reportedly getting dangerously high. I didn’t really notice it being a problem here, though my only complaint about the show was the crowd — a completely expected complaint all things considered. See, as a band’s popularity and attending crowds grow, the devotion level of the crowd begins to get diluted. While there was no shortage of people at Czar who where there to be seen rather than to see Lucero, they didn’t hurt the quality of what was happening on the stage, so let’s talk about that … and the horns. 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 »

Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves made their Tampa debut at Crowbar this past Friday, November 6, with support from Mike Hale and How Dare You.

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I stumbled upon one of my favorite area bands while meandering through Ybor City several months back: Asilo, a Lakeland-based fivesome whose music caught my ear, stole my heart and rocked my socks off. The show was not enough for me. I was addicted and needed a daily Asilo fix. Thankfully, they granted my wish and self-produced an amazing album that I’ve been spinning nonstop for the past week.

Fine Goods is their debut full-length that features 12 unforgettable songs. Pop it in and be prepared to be taken back in time to the late ’60s classic rock era. (Think Pink Floyd meets The Doors flavored with hints of jazz, blues and Motown; you can thank Sean Thomas and his trumpet for that.) Musically, the album starts out with lazy bass lines and jazzy piano intricately dispersed in and out of a slow-moving guitars riff. The song picks up along with frontman Ben Strok’s vocals. At one point, he sounds so much like Jim Morrison that he makes me feel like singing “Break on Through.” Classically trained, but very experimental and jazzy, Walter Gutowski adds so much to this band, his piano playing mimicking that of Ray Manzarek from The Doors, but with his own twist. And he plays barefoot, which is awesome. 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 »

In advance of the big CD release party for the new Have Gun, Will Travel record, Postcards from the Friendly City, Creative Loafing is giving away a free download of their new single, “Sons and Daughters of the Gilded Age” for a limited time only (See below for the link).

Show info:

Saturday, November 14th
Have Gun, Will Travel (CD Release Show)
with Special Guests: Lauris Vidal & The Whiskey Gentry
New World Brewery
1313 E. 8th Ave. Ybor City. (813) 248-4969
9 p.m. $7, 21+

Download after the jump …

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Some reviews are tough to write because you like the record but seriously dislike the people in the band; others are tough to write because you love the album but just can’t think of anything to say about it beyond the simple fact that you love it. And then there are reviews such as this one…

Full disclosure: I like Truckstop Coffee as people. I sent the CD to other blogs in the hopes they’d get some more press and I’ve even helped hook them up with a booking agent. If those facts make reading this a problem for you, skip to the bottom, listen to the songs and to hell with my typing about it.

For the remaining folks, yes, I consider Pete, Caleb and Larry friends, but I also consider them a terrific band. I first heard of them play back in 2006 in the infancy of Ninebullets. At the time they were doing a pretty good Lucero-meets-Drive-By Trucker’s impression in support of their debut, One Damn Thing To Redeem. Throughout the years, they’ve made it up to Tampa a couple or four times, but rarely have they strayed from the tracklisting of that first album. There were rumors of a new album one day, but, as any struggling musician knows, recording, mixing and mastering an album requires money and there ain’t much of that coming in from playing little bars and backyard parties. Eventually, Pete self-recorded a solo acoustic album and I just assumed the eventual next release, For Dear Life, would just be full band arrangements of some of the songs from that release.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Read the rest of this entry »

The Skipperdome was packed this past Sunday, October 11, for WMNF’s Woodstock Flashback. Having been to Skipper’s Smokehouse more than anywhere else in Tampa, I was shocked to find so many people there, both in the restaurant and the outdoor venue. The parking lot was packed to overflowing.

Due to the lack of parking and the fact that we had to pay $5 for the spot we found, we didn’t see the opener, Soul 2 Earth, playing Jimi Hendrix, though we heard it the tail end of their set on our way in. We got our wristbands as they were exiting the stage.

It was practically standing room only at the ‘Dome, patrons with drinks and food in hand, and wearing smiling faces. Indeed, the WMNF regulars I’d spotted at previous events were in full attendance, but like always, the audience was a diverse bunch, ages ranging from infant to senior, and everyone was there to have an amazing Woodstock Flashback experience. Read the rest of this entry »

An evening of something new (Chris Tolan), something borrowed (Mr. Vidal and Mr. Zipf) and something blue (stage lighting – though in truth it was mainly pink) was enjoyed by all at Crowbar on Friday, October 2, the bill featuring Chris Tolan & Friends (pictured below), Lauris Vidal, Andy Zipf (who replaced Old North East) and Philip Pietri & the Manatees. (I was running late so I missed out on their set!)

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Rocktober started off with a bit of twang with tunes by Greenland is Melting, Rebekah Pulley and Jon Gaunt at New World Brewery this past Thursday, October 1.

Greenland is Melting with Jon Gaunt

Greenland is Melting

Greenland is Melting plays simply splendid soulful roots rock, music meant for listening to while you’re kicking back on the front porch or sitting around the kitchen table. Greenland is Melting channels old timey bluegrass with lines like “My grass is blue,” but with a chorus of “I know, I know, if there’s blood on the banjo tonight, then I really must have done something right,” you know they also bring a bit of ruckus. 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 »

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 »

New Granada Presents hosted a fine Friday evening of indie rock featuring The Tape Delay, Slow Claw and The Tenant at New World Brewery this past Friday, September 18.

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Oh, Tampa/St. Pete. Please, please, please don’t let me down. The DJ and his records and that theme night at [insert club here] will all be there next weekend, and every monotonous weekend thereafter, but Truckstop Coffee and Joe Buck are only gonna be here this weekend. Get out and see a show…

TRUCKSTOP COFFEE @ NEW WORLD BREWERY, YBOR CITY

One of the bands routinely championed on ninebullets.net and on the podcast is Lake Worth’s Truckstop Coffee (pictured above, photo by elawgrrl). Saturday night they’ll be at New World Brewery celebrating the release of their excellent new CD, For Dear Life. The album has been out for a couple of weeks now, and if I hadn’t been such a lazy bastard lately, there would already be a glowing review of it posted here for me to link to, but if you like your rock ‘n’ roll in the vein of Two Cow Garage and Lucero, you’ll dig the band.  If you wanna maximize your drunken sing-along opportunities, then head on over to their site, buy a digital copy of the album and listen to it nonstop from now until Saturday night (it’s offered on a pay-what-you-want basis). Then we’ll all raise a glass and sing them old sad songs together whilst buying lots of merchandise and supporting our Florida-grown talents. Read the rest of this entry »

And now for something completely different … An anomalous evening of music was presented by ThxMgmt at New World Brewery featuring Orlando’s Vasti (pictured below), and Tampa’s Acho Brother and Chris Tolan this past Saturday, September 12.

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Have Gun, Will Travel (pictured below), Matt Butcher, John Ralston, and Mike Dunn & The Kings of New England created a mini-Americana fest at New World Brewery this past Friday, September 11, a show brought to you by New Granada Presents.

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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 »

I have a confession to make: I went to the REAX Magazine multi-band benefit concert a few nights back at Crowbar. Does that make me some sort of traitor? In my mind, I simply love music, so I support any publication out there with musical content. But that’s not the point. The point is, I went to this show with no expectations (I had never seen any of the bands before) and I left with a new obsession: King of Spain.

Picture this: a guy sitting on stage with his electric guitar gleaming in the stage lights and a little Mac book sitting next to him on a stool. Intrigued, right? Of course you are — it’s not necessarily something you see everyday. This mastermind and sole member of King of Spain is Matt Slate.  When he took the stage, laptop and all, I wasn’t sure what to think. With a press of a button and a strum of his guitar, I was done. His ambient soft rock put me in a trance-like state where all I could do was listen (and drool). The Tampa native mixes sharp, witty lyrics with spacey, reverb-laced vocals. The result is a beautiful but edgy sound that brings you to your happy place. And this was a live show! 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 »

ThxMgmt’s Summer Jam 5 was a resounding success with a plethora of diverse bands, acts and DJs — The Honorary Title, Cory Branan, Damion Suomi, Carter Hulsey, The Beauvilles, Shunda K (formerly of Yo Majesty!), Da Goldminerz, How Dare You, S.L.I.M.M. H.U.S.T.L.E, Blind Man’s Colour, Larcen, GreyMarket, The Tape Delay, The Sheaks, Deficit, Alexander & The Grapes, StereoType & The Treble Makers, DJ Sandman, DJ Mega, DJ Deacon, DJ Colonic, and DJ Chris Golden — at two Ybor City venues, New World Brewery and Crowbar this past Saturday, August 29.

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Pulling up to Skipper’s Smokehouse this past Sunday, August 30, I was bombarded with the sounds of the first annual WMNF GrooveFest, already in full swing at just after 3 p.m. Shak Nasti opened the nine hours of jammin’ fun in the sun. The greeters and ticket sellers were in high spirits and there wasn’t a single patron sitting still, whether they were getting food or drinks, chatting, or swaying to the beat. (Pictured: Middle Rhythm Session)

For a moment I actually forgot where I was. If it weren’t for the humidity and the menu of alligator bites and grouper sandwiches, I would have thought I was back on the West Coast at a reggae festival, or even the Oregon Country Fair. The dreadlocks, tie-dyes, friendly faces and a crowd ranging from ages 2 through maybe even 92, were straight out of Eugene or Portland, Oregon (where I lived before I moved here a few months ago). I felt silly for not sporting my handmade batik dress and Birkenstocks. Read the rest of this entry »

As any regular reader here knows, there are certain bands I champion on ninebullets.net. Long before I knew the guys in Truckstop Coffee personally, they were one of said bands … and they still are.

Admittedly, I have not heard the whole album yet (I’m playing it right now) but from what I’ve heard/seen of the new album at their live shows, they’ve started to move away from the Lucero-esqe country sound of their previous album and towards more twang-tinged straightforward rock ‘n’ roll ala Two Cow Garage.

Anyhow, Truckstop Coffee officially released their new album, For Dear Life, today. In an effort to get the album heard by as many folks as possible, the band’s offering an .mp3 download of the album on the pay-what-you-want platform. I paid $10 for it and so far, I’d say it’s money well spent.

Check it out. Buy it. Tell me what you think of it.

Truckstop Coffee – Ghost or an Angel (from the new album, For Dear Life)

In celebration of the album release Truckstop Coffee will be embarking on a small tour. Here are the dates: 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 »

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.

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.

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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.

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.

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 »

All right, I must confess that I caught my real “first Florida” show before my St. Pete Times Forum/ Green Day experience. Stick Martin performed at Skipper’s Smokehouse in July, and it was a great introduction to the Tampa music scene, but the lineup at New World Brewery in Ybor City this past Saturday, August 15, was indeed the actual initiation. (King of Spain pictured at right.)

As a veteran Northwest concertgoer who recently re-located from Oregon to Florida, a place my sister described as “not being able to get any further away,” I had my suspicions that perhaps the music, the performers, the bands, the whole scene could also be “further away” from anything I was used to. Unaware as to whether or not those differences would be good or bad, I walked into New World with the “Ybor Square” sign looming in the backdrop and I felt completely comfortable, a surprise and delight.

First of all, it was my grand introduction to Ybor City. I’d heard many people say I needed to go there but the closest I’d made it was IKEA, which doesn’t exactly count. NWB was tucked in and pretty quiet when I arrived. I walked past a few people running around the stage area and a DJ setting up. A quick scan of the place left no indication of who was performing and who was just grabbing a drink or ordering pizza that smelled really good. It was still early. Read the rest of this entry »

Candy Bars are darlings of the Tampa indie music scene and things have been, well, a bit sour since they’ve been on hiatus. Sweetness returned this past Saturday, August 8, at New World Brewery with a New Granada Presents show featuring Candy Bars, Venice is Sinking and The Pauses.

Candy Bars
Frequently, scene darlings don’t deliver when push comes to shove. Happily, Candy Bars trashes that stereotype. Both recorded and live, Candy Bars play a beautiful sort of dream pop with a note of something a bit dark resonating in their introspective lyrics and instrumentation. Their record, On Cutting Ti-Gers in Half and Understanding Narravation (New Granada Records) earned positive reviews from lots of national music publications including Pitchfork.com. Read the rest of this entry »

This past Friday, August 7, a great crowd of enthusiastic music lovers bravely fought the torrential Tampa downpours for a full evening of fabulous music by Fake Problems, Ninja Gun, Glasgow, and John Gold at Transitions Art Gallery, with a few freezer pops thrown in for good measure.

Fake Problems

Fake Problems is FUN. This might be the one thing the many positive reviewers of their new record, It’s Great to Be Alive (Side One Dummy Records), agree upon. Otherwise, there seems to be much debate about how to classify the Naples-based band. Are they more punk, or more twang? Who cares as long as they’re splendid? 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, August 06
Hot Sun Quartet (pictured) As part of its Side Door Jazz series, the Palladium welcomes Hot Sun Quartet (aka Quarteto Sol Caliente), an instrumental ensemble that performs Latin-flavored jazz with two flamencoguitarists, a percussionist on congas, and a stand-up bassist. Thurs., Aug. 6, 7:30 p.m., Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, $15.

So. Cal Punk Invasion w/Fear/Agent Orange/D.I./Total Chaos Plastic and fakery incites some pretty strong feelings of disgust and So-Cal is a hotbed of punkified antipathy. This bill spotlights some of the region’s finest. Fear has been rocking LA since 1977 and is credited with helping shape the sound of hardcore punk via thrashtastic, tongue-in-cheek songs about anything from beer to women to beef baloney; you may remember them from 1981’s punk documentary, The Decline of Western Civilization. Agent Orange hails from Orange County and gets props for being the first group to combine punk and surf rock. Fullerton’s D.I. features ex-Social Distortion drummer Casey Royer on vocals while Total Chaos out of Ponoma Valley is fronted by vocalist Rob Chaos, who’s also co-owner of Cali-based punk label SOS Records. Thurs., Aug. 6, 7 p.m., State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $23. Read the rest of this entry »