Daily Loaf

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 »

It’s the last day to see Swing Your Empire, a mysteriously titled exhibit by Tampa artist Roger Chamieh, who created an installation of mixed media and “kinetic sculpture” that challenges traditional ideas of stay-in-one-spot sculpture with art that appears fluid and in motion with the use of a variety of materials — from latex inflatables to steel (which sounds pretty kinky, if you ask me.) (Pictured: “Eventually You Will Say Something of Interest”) Through Sept. 30, HCC Performing Arts Building, Corner of Palm Avenue and 14th Street, Ybor City, 813-253-7674. —Franki Weddington

Frank X. Gaspar opens the University of Tampa’s new literature series, Writers at the U. The Discover Award-winning poet and author of the novel Leaving Pico, who has been anthologized in Best American Poetry, discusses his work. Contact Audrey Columbe at acolombe@ut.edu for more info. Wed., Sept. 30, 8 p.m., R.K. Bailey Art Studios, Scarfone/Hartley Gallery, University of Tampa, 310 N. Boulevard, Tampa, free.

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Well, I broke the cardinal rule of concert going and dared to wear my Queers shirt at the  “Punk Goes Pop” show. TA-80, The Leftovers and The Queers rocked the Orpheum in Ybor City this past Friday, September 25, and proved that perhaps it isn’t so terrible for punk to go pop … occasionally.

Mohawks, leather and Converse hi-tops abounded, the ambiance set for a loud and proud night. I hadn’t seen the Queers perform in at least five years, although it was in the single short year of living South Florida that I fell in love with their music. The show has the feel of a homecoming, and I knew Joe Queer wouldn’t let me down. 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 »

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 »

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 »

In case you missed them, here’s the latest batch of concerts announcements from the past week for your concert planning convenience. For a complete breakdown of area shows, visit our Upcoming Concerts page.

Saturday, Aug. 29 Summer Jam 5 The Honorary Title w/Cory Branan/The Beauvilles/The Sheaks/Guiltmaker/Shunda K/Mogul Street Reserve/How Dare You/Blind Man’s Colour/MORE TBA (New World Brewery and Crowbar, Ybor City)

Thursday, Sept. 10 Trauma Deville w/Sore Eyes (Orpheum, Ybor City)

Friday, Sept. 25 The Matt Kurz One (New World Brewery, Ybor City)

Saturday, Sept. 26 Lydia (pictured) w/Play Radio Play/Leone (Orpheum, Ybor City)

Saturday, Oct. 03 Tiger City w/Royal Bangs (New World Brewery, Ybor City)

Friday, Oct. 23 Revolting Cocks w/Jim Rose Circus/Blownload/Left Spine Down (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) Read the rest of this entry »

Eric Hutchinson may be embarrassed to admit that he hit the iTunes Store’s top 10 after he was plugged by gossip blogger Perez Hilton, but the impressive numbers also got him a record deal with Warner Bros. The label recognized that Hutchinson’s infectious, intellectual blend of piano pop and acoustic soul was Top 40-friendly enough to deserve a re-release of his self-produced debut, Sounds Like This. The album sold so well that the NYC-based artist put out a companion EP, Sounds Like This Live, in April. Also featured on the bill is singer/songwriter/guitarist Serena Ryder, who hails from Canada and sets her throaty soprano against rootsy, country-flavored AC rock. 8 p.m., Orpheum, Ybor City, $12.50.

Also today:

Reduce your risk of stroke with free Stroke Awareness Health Screenings at MOSI. Reps from University Community Hospital give body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure screenings for free, in conjunction with the museum’s BODY WORLDS exhibit. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Tues., May 19, Museum of Science and Industry, Tampa, 813-987-6300, mosi.org.

Electronica meets screamo in the music of Denver duo Breathe Carolina (pictured at right), who perform at Orpheum tonight. 8 p.m., $10.

The newly rejuvinated monthly open mic night at the Studio at 620 — now dubbed Live@The Studio — continues its showcase of Bay area word artists with special guest musicians. The featured guest poet tonight is J.B. 8 p.m., $5.

Each semester, USF’s Jazz Studies department invites acclaimed musicians to perform with students and faculty in its Monday Night Jazz concert series. This month’s guest is pianist Steve Allee. 8 p.m., USF Tampa Music Recital Hall (FAH 101), $15 general/$10 students and seniors.

See Game 5 of the World Series on the big screen at the beer-, liquor-, and bar food-serving Muvico Centro Ybor 20 in Ybor City. 8 p.m., free admission. For more info, call 813-248-2323.

USF Patents & Licensing and USF CONNECT welcome four successful entrepreneurs for a panel discussion titled, “You Want To Do WHAT?!: Start‐ups, Spin‐outs, Bootstrapping & Other Tales.” Among the panelists are IRX Therapeutics President and CEO John Hadden II, Larry Dunleavy of Modelithics, Chairman and Co‐Founder of Saneron‐CCEL Therapeutics Paul Sanberg, and Stephen Sundarrao, CEO of Rehab Ideas. 2-4 p.m., free admission, USF CONNECT Building, 3802 Spectrum Blvd, USF Tampa campus. Call 813-866-3802 or e-mail mail@connect.usf.edu to reserve a spot.