A few shows this Thurs., Aug. 7 that are spaced just right and located near enough to each other that you can start at one, then end your night at the other...Rock the Park: UNRB, Kenosobi with Gwan Massive, Boxcar Motel The free monthly concert showcase in downtown Tampa delivers its usual eclectic array of local sounds for its August edition: uke-driven brass-blasted ska fusion from UNRB; funk and soul-fused hip-hop from Gwan Massive with guest spit-and-flow duties headed up by emcee Kenosobi Hercules; and Boxcar Motel, a jamgrassy four-piece plying string-fueled sounds soaked in Southern Appalachia flavors. 6:30-9:30 p.m., Curtis Hixon Park, Tampa, all ages, free admission.
Daikaiju with Round Eye, Tidal Wave Give Daikaiju’s bio a cursory skim, and you’ll likely dismiss the Alabama foursome as a novelty act: musicians who assume false action-hero identities while keeping the real ones mum, perform in Japanese Kabuki masks, and maintain a healthy fascination with Japanese monster movies. But Jesus H. Christ, can these dudes ever play the shit out of some music, a brawny mix of psycho-surf and prog-metal marked by complex rhythms, guitar shreds and reverbed solos. I’ve heard folks rave about Daikaiju live shows, and this one has the added bonus of support from China’s Round Eye, their sinister, pulsing sax-fueled tunes marrying the weird parts of punk, doo-wop and free jazz into a rather fast-paced and intriguing John Zorn/Morphine evocative stew. Tidal Wave kicks things off with their unique twist on surf-rock classics. 8 p.m. doors, New World Brewery, Ybor City, $10.