Daily Loaf

A veritable dance party erupted at Crowbar this past Tuesday evening during and between splendid sets by Vivian Girls (NYC), and Tampa’s Sleepy Vikings and Hippodrome.

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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 »

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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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 »