THURSDAY, MARCH 27
Second Annual Spring Beer Jam w/Serotonic & Displace (Thursday)/The Heavy Pets & Sophistafunk (Friday)/The Breakfast, Dangermuffin & Shoeless Soul (Saturday)/Uncle John’s Band & Between Bluffs (Sunday) With fledgling breweries cropping up all over the Tampa Bay area, Dunedin Brewery continues holding down the Northern Pinellas territories with excellent and varied offerings in addition to its seven standard ales. For the second annual Spring Beer Jam, the Brewery presents four days’ worth of (free) jam-centric live music and introduces a few dozen seasonal beers in addition to special and limited-edition flavors, including Stout For the Reaper (a chocolate cherry milk stout) and a collab with 7venth Sun & Cigar City, Subtropical Farmhouse. Among the high-quality bands that play each day are South Florida rock favorites The Heavy Pets joined by upstate New York hip hop-vibing Sophistafunk on Friday, and a Saturday bill headed up by Connecticut psych-prog jam scene vets The Breakfast. (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin) —Leilani Polk
Fortunate Youth w/Sheffield Crew/Sidereal If being almost nominated for a Grammy counts, then don’t write off SoCal outfit Fortunate Youth. Their latest LP was one of 50 finalists for ‘Best Reggae Album,’ and while they didn’t make the final cut (we’re betting Snoop Lion snuck into the nominee spot Fortunate Youth should’ve had), the 12-track effort is still pretty impressive. All 40 minutes of All A Jam ooze with a kind of beach-born, rocksteady, island-friendly vibe Sublime would be proud of, and if the band digs into earlier material like "Get Up" from their debut EP or cuts like “Jah Music” from their 2012 debut LP, then fans might be getting lifted and spiritual at the show, too. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —Ray Roa
Selwyn Birchwood CL intern Tyler Killette referred to Selwyn Birchwood as her 'future best friend' after witnessing his crowd-rousing Tropical Heatwave set on night one of last year's festival, and her sentiments about the Orlando-based bluesman couldn't be more spot on. Birchwood and his band serve up a can't-sit-still, firebrand, born-of-the-swamp style of blues that comes with a side of warmth and hominess that can only be learned in the South (Birchwood did get his start touring with Texas legend Sonny Rhodes, after all). He plays this free gig at what is officially The 'Burg's best use of a restaurant/office plaza, which puts him on ground level and eye-to-eye with old fans, new fans, and soon-to-be admirers alike. (Ale and the Witch, St. Petersburg)—RR
The Independents w/Death By Convictions/Flat Stanley/Slade and the Wasters/No Loves We’re still a solid six months away from Halloween, but that doesn't mean we don't need a little horror punk to darken our summer days, amirite? This Florence, S.C.-based outfit has been at it since 1992, collecting die-hard fans (like Joey Ramone, who produced The Independents' 1998 EP) by the fistful thanks to their blend of ska, punk and doo-wop, which is the kind of stuff reserved for scary movie sock-hops and late-night make-out sessions at the drive-in. A new LP — this year's Into The Light— continues the saga, and while songs like "Corpses In The Rain,""Sound Of An Angel's Wings" and "So Depressing" tread a lot of the same sonic territory as previous material, it's not going to make jumping around and swinging hand in hand to all of it any less fun. (Local 662, St. Petersburg) —RR
Still on the Hill/Moonshine Holler Tampa's UU Dome brings an extra dose of twang to its concert series. Bluegrass duo Still on the Hill has the Ozarks pedigree and traditional instrumentation to back it up, while Moonshine Holler hails from Massachusetts and incorporates both traditional southern and more northeastern old-time music styles into its repertoire. (UU Dome, Tampa) —Scott Harrell
FRIDAY, MARCH 28
Dio Disciples Dio Disciples consists of former bandmates and personal friends of Ronnie James Dio and pays tribute to the life and achievements of the extraordinarily influential and universally renowned heavy-metal vocalist. Singers Mark Boals and Oni Logan (Lynch Mob), guitarist Craig Goldy (Dio), bassist Bjorn Englen (Yngwie Malmsteen), keyboardist Scott Warren (Dio, Heaven & Hell), and drummer Simon Wright (Dio, AC/DC, UFO) have made it their purpose to carry on the spirit and energy of Dio's legacy, and shouldn't be missed by fans of this legendary and iconic figure in American heavy metal history. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —Shawn Ohtani
Blast! Friday w/Firefall Those of you who grew up in the 1970s may recall the mellow pop goodness of Firefall hits like "Strange Way" and "You Are the Woman." Back in their heyday, Firefall collaborated with Crosby, Stills and Nash, and included ex-members of the Flying Burrito Brothers and the Byrds. Rockin' Randall and his Honkabilly Blues Band will be bringing their energetic mix of vintage rock and blues to the party, too. (Cleveland Street, Downtown Clearwater) —Julie Garisto
Jake E. Lee's Red Dragon Cartel w/Eddie Trunk While most veteran metalheads know Jake E. Lee as the six-stringer who replaced the late Randy Rhoads in Ozzy Osbourne's band, the gifted guitarist has continued to churn out good music since leaving the Ozzy fold, first in the more blues-oriented Badlands and now with Red Dragon Cartel, which reportedly does break out some of Jake's Ozzy-era tunes live. Eddie Trunk, host of VH1 Classics'That Metal Show, will play special-guest MC after a book signing for his latest tome. (Largo Cultural Center, Largo) —SH
Zach Deputy w/JCT27 Eclectic live-looping songwriter and performer Deputy has build a rabidly loyal following, one fan and one show at a time. His sound incorporates everything from Southern rock and hip hop to calypso, reggae and soulful Motown touches, and his commitment to working the road has made him a compelling and entertaining live presence. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) —SH
Scotty McCreery If the name is ringing a distant bell somewhere in the back of your memory, that's because McCreery won Season 10 of American Idol. But not everyone went 'Yay!' and then totally forgot about the deep-voiced, baby-faced country performer — he's enjoyed gold and platinum record sales, as well as impressive chart figures, since the days of TV victory. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) —SH
Gang Green w/Springa's S.S.D./Antagonizers ATL/The Scurvy/Moral Decline/Abortion Twins/Little Jerks Despite numerous breakups, reunions, and lineup changes, Chris Doherty's influential hardcore act Gang Green are still alive and kicking more than three decades after their first material was released on the This is Boston, Not L.A. compilation in 1982. Gang Green is well known in the scene for their songs "Alcohol" and "Skate to Hell," which are defining moments in the history of hardcore. Fans are encouraged to arrive early in order to catch other great punk and hardcore acts including Antagonizers ATL, The Scurvy, and Abortion Twins. (Brass Mug, Tampa) —SO
Zulu Wave w/Bees and Enormous Tigers/Pan Out of touch with the local music scene? Catch up with one of Tampa Bay's best, Zulu Wave, whose tsunami of dynamic musicianship and exuberant showmanship comes with a dash of psychedelic weirdness to keep things interesting. Bees and Enormous Tigers, who hail from the backwoods of Tallahassee, should be the perfect complement with their big, eerie and otherworldly vibe. South Carolina's Pan has a more smiley-emoticon appeal, but just as energetic. All in all, a show to rouse you from the workweek doldrums, fer sure. (New World Brewery, Ybor City) —JG
SATURDAY, MARCH 29
Avett Brothers If live shows were an Olympic sport, the Avett Brothers would be gold medalists. They never seem to stop touring and the crowds never stop coming, growing in number every year. These days the band is supporting its 2013 release, Magpie and the Dandelion, an album dominated by lovely folk-rock ballads with a little banjo and classic rock-style electric leads — but rest assured, past Avett shows following mellower releases have not slowed Scott and Seth. They should still go gonzo live. Expect impassioned harmonies, cathartic jams, hushed ballads and a fun onslaught of banter throughout. (USF Sun Dome, Tampa) —JG
Empire Cinema/Your 33 Black Angels/Luxury Mane I have a soft spot for brainy boys who deliver a big, brawny sound with geeky eccentricities. Empire Cinema's one of those bands. They can be lush without receding into the background, blending dissonance and angular riffage into their smooth n' chunky mix. Expect to hear some old and new tracks — selections from their first self-titled EP, the four-track follow-up, Esse Quam Videri, and four new songs from their upcoming debut full-length. Your 33 Black Angels, from Brooklyn, has a moody, introspective appeal with psychedelic meanderings. Luxury Mane, featuring members of longtime rockers the Semis, plays luminously lush, surf-influenced rock. Solid show indeed. (New World Brewery, Ybor City) —JG
Flat Stanley/Y Los Dos Pistoles/Pilgrimage/Radarmen? One of the Bay area's longest-running punk acts, Flat Stanley, is a perfect example of the old adage about some things just getting better with age. Lineup changes and other projects haven't tempered the volume and energy one bit, as the group recently showcased at a New World gig. If you haven't been out to see a hometown gig at downtown Tampa's legendary watering hole in a while, this is a great opportunity to get reacquainted with the scene. (The Hub Bar, Tampa) —SH
SUNDAY, MARCH 30
An Evening with Larry Garner Baton Rouge bluesman Garner returns to the Skipperdome. Like many others updating seminal American styles, Garner cut his teeth overseas, becoming a festival attraction in England and the European mainland before breaking through to U.S. audiences in the mid-'90s (Skipper's Smokeouse, Tampa) —SH
Ol' Dirty Sundays: Deejay Theory ODS resident DJs LeSage and Casper welcome San Francisco's Deejay Theory, a member of the Faction Sound Crew and leader in the tropical bass movement, who's described his sonic stomping ground as thus: 'Think dancehall meets club music, bass meets soul, turntablism meets rave, tropical disco meets the pool, and we're literally just getting warm.' He also throws some hip-hop joints in there, as you'd expect from his presence at ODS. (Crowbar, Ybor City) —LP
Night Ranger w/Robin Zander Unplugged"Don't tell me you love me! I don't want to know!" Now that I've gotten that out of the way, if you want some throwback fun, catch the '80s arena rockers responsible for the hit power ballad "Sister Christian" and an intimate set with Cheap Trick's locally residing frontman. (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater) —JG
Wine & Rhyme w/Jinx/Mighty Jai/Free WiLL In his second event geared at drawing Tampa's hip-hop scene out of the clubs and into unexpected venues while at the same time classing up its identity, local emcee Mike Mass has helped organize this special event and follow-up to his October 'A Start Called Fresh' party. Downtown Tampa's wine and cheese bar hosts Wine & Rhyme, which features performances by three fine local rhyme slingers (CL favorite Jinx along with Mighty Jai and Free WiLL), as well as comedy by Kyle Porter, artwork and live painting by Keturha Singleton, and men's fashions by Debonair District. (Crumb & Cork. Tampa) —LP
Operation Coexist Jam Fest w/Cope/Applebutter Express/Come Back Alice/Between Bluffs/Juanjamon Band/Copious Jones/Serotonic/Galbraith Group/The Wizards/J.A.D.E. Nonprofit musical-education charity Operation Coexist sets up another worthy show/fundraiser featuring a wide range of local and regional music, from reggae-infused jamnation to pop and more. The entity helps improve the quality of life of those with various illnesses through sharing the power of music. (3 Daughters Brewing, St. Petersburg) —SH
Get The Led Out - The American Led Zeppelin Tribute It's not so often that a tribute band gains national attention, but in the case of Get the Led Out, people are taking notice. Careful to distinguish themselves from 'impersonators,' this band of professional musicians would rather be regarded mainly as fans who have made it their purpose to do justice to the 'mighty Zep.' Fellow fans of classic Led Zeppelin will not be disappointed, as these guys are the next best thing. (Tampa Theatre, Tampa) —SO
MONDAY, MARCH 31
USF Monday Night Jazz: Maria Schneider For this special presentation, Grammy winning jazz orchestra composer and big band leader Schneider — whose lush, classy, Latin-spiced arrangements have a very effortless, sensual feel — directs the USF Jazz Ensemble through a program of her own works, and gives a talk about her process and her work with US Poet Laureate Ted Kooser. (USF MUS-Concert Hall, Tampa) —LP
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2
The Original Wailers w/Badda Skat Wait ... what ... weren't the Wailers just in town two months ago? Is this some kind of post-April Fool's joke? Not quite. Sure, 'The Wailers,' led by bassist Aston Barrett (who played with Bob Marley from 1970-1981), recently played the Palladium, but the band that stops in St. Pete on on Wednesday goes by 'The Original Wailers' and is led by guitarist Al Anderson (who played with the band for a year in the mid-'70s before leaving then rejoining in for a six-year run in 1975). You could get all technical and see who played on which tracks and when, but the real star here will be Bob's legacy, which hopefully gets celebrated without drama at this Jannus show. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) —RR
Deltron 3030 Deltron 3030 is the alt-hip hop-tronic supergroup made up of producer extraordinaire Dan The Automator, DJ/scratchmaster Kid Koala, and raps-like-he's-just-shooting-the-shit emcee Del the Funkee Homosapien, each a powerhouse talent in his own right. As collaborators they've worked together numerous times and in various projects over the years, Gorillaz included. Newish sophomore outing Deltron 3030: Event II was more than a dozen years in the making, and got the kids buzzing when the threesome finally released it after an entire year's worth of hype leading up to its actual drop date. Event II is a groovin', funkin' conceptual work set in a post-apocalyptic, post-technology U.S., with Zach De La Rocha, The Lonely Island, Emily Wells and Mike Patton among others dropping guest vocals into the mix. In his official statement, Del explained, "I don't know if you could even categorize this as a hip-hop album — it's more like a rock opera, but using rap." No special guests on this tour, though the threesome will be backed by a full band. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —LP
BBQ Wednesday Acoustic Series: Dean Johanesen Dean Johanesen is workhorse. There's rarely a week that doesn't have his name on the live music itinerary, and when he's not playing locally, the Lakewood Ranch-based singer-songwriter is usually on the road spreading his cheerful, warm brand of easy-listening folk to any part of the country who'll have him. Johanesen played New World's Acoustic BBQ series in late January, but the smorgasbord of smoked chicken and sausage should make it easy to convince yourself to see him again. (New World Brewery, Ybor City) —RR
CLICK HERE to see a complete rundown of shows taking place this week and in the coming weeks.