Tampa Calling

Though a naturally occurring gas, radon in the building world can be a big problem.  Luckily in the music world, recurrent Radon means rejoicing.  Radon version 1.0 was a stalwart of the Florida scene in the ’90s.  Since reforming they have put out a new album on No Idea Records and have been out playing shows in support. Sadly, this was my first time catching them since the reformation. On Saturday, December 27, Transitions Art Gallery was packed to welcome Radon back to Tampa and enjoy the opening acts. Alas, I only managed to catch Lemuria briefly before Radon took the stage.

Lemuria

Lemuria might just be my new favorite band of the minute. Hailing from Buffalo, NY, the trio creates an irresistible indie pop akin to [insert references to '90s indie bands here] but with their own unique twist.  In summary, Lemuria is just plain fun.

Lemuria = Sheena Ozzella - Guitar / Vocals, Alexander Kerns - Drums / Vocals & Jason Draper - Bass

Clapping along to Lemuria

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Have Gun, Will Travel performing at New World Brewery Sat., Dec. 27.

After the Radon show , I skedaddled over to New World Brewery just in time to catch Have Gun, Will Travel in another fine Thx Mgmt-hosted bill. HGWT is consistently one of my favorite live acts because they continue to innovate each time I see them with fresh improvisations on their material and inevitably a new song or two. (more…)

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Here are some shots from last nights show at New World Brewery. Despite the colder temperatures, about 100 folks came out to see the biggest full moon in 15 years and some good bands: Pielos, Super Secret Best Friends, Inertia! and the Unitards.

Lily of Inertia! welcomed Ryann Slauson and Nikki Navarro of Giddy-Up Helicopter!,for her set. I then found out Giddy-Up are calling it quits in the spring when Nikki plans to leave for Chicago.

Super Secret Best Friends played their first show at New World since their first-ever show early this year. SSBF drummer Alex told me it’s their favorite venue. Agreed.

Inertia!

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An otherwise ordinary Monday evening was transformed into a fantastic inferno of colors, costumes and characters at The Ritz featuring Of Montreal, Fiery Furnaces, and Fire Zuave. It was impressive how many people were in attendance given the competition with the Bucs game and it being a Monday.  Proof positive that the Tampa area has a plethora of indie music fans.

See photos after the break. Click here for Leilani’s in-depth review and killer video.
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Friday night, Orlando’s Matt Butcher debuted his new album, Me and My Friends, with a perfomance at Ybor’s New World Brewery with support from Will Quinlin and the Diviners and North Carolina-based Bombadil.

The diminutive troubadour Butcher (who sounds more like a young Neil Young with each listen) and crew of six knocked out some great harmonies, especially on the title track. Lead guitar and pedal steel work filled things out nicely. As a friend commented, “it’s just enough country, but never too much country.”

Bombadil overcame some questionable wardobe choices to knock out really tight set of twee pop/Indie/Irish sea chanties for children.

Matt Butcher:

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Dumbwaiters, Woven and Kingsbury @ New World Brewery 11/22/08

On a rather chilly Saturday night, Tampa’s New Granada Presents put together a show like only they can. Orlando’s Kingsbury drove over to serve up a most excellent set of atmospheric rock. Woven, from Los Angeles, brought more effect pedals on tour than most bands would know what to do with. And last but not least, Tampa’s long-running and highly reclusive Dumbwaiters came out of hiding just long enough to remind us why they are (and have been) one of the area’s best bands.

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Let’s face it - Gainesville always does things a bit differently.  So it is no wonder that the celebration of Festivus (aka Fest 7) Gainesville style is actually the amalgamation of more than 250 bands over 3 days in 8 venues throughout Hogtown wrangled by Tony Weinbender (of No Idea Records) and friends.   In its seventh year, Fest has grown up to become a destination for people from all over the world to see the best in independent music.  Special thanks to Tony for continuing to put this event together each year.

Over the weekend (10.31.08 - 11.2.08), I managed to see a myriad of music genres and capture no less than 26 bands: A Wilhelm Scream, American Cheeseburger, Ampere, Asshole Parade, Atom & His Package, Bouncing Souls (pictured above), Bridge and Tunnel, Building The State, Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves, City of Ships, Coalesce, Dillinger Four, Foundation, Have Gun, Will Travel, Japanther, The Menzingers, Paint it Black, Red Clay River, Rehasher, Strike Anywhere, The Takers, Tim Version, Triclops!, The Wading Girl, Whiskey & Co and Young Widows. Tampa Bay was well represented with lots of hometown heroes making it on the Fest schedule especially the Kiss of Death Records and ADD Records bands.

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Here are the pics from Saturday night’s CL in Concert show at the State Theatre.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tampabaystreetteam/sets/72157609270574884/show/

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