SoundCheck: Triptico, Gaslight Anthem, Fun 'N Sun Concerts with Tommy James and Suite Caroline, Richard Shindell

In Print: Thursday, April 30, 2009

LANCE ARAM ROTHSTEIN | Times

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Fun 'N Sun Concerts

Details: Friday, 5 p.m. Featuring Tommy James and the Shondells, Herman's Hermits with Peter Noone, Thelma Houston. Sunday, noon. Featuring Craig Morgan, Jason Aldean, Heidi Newfield, Chris Young, Love and Theft, the Warren Brothers, Gloriana, Trailer Choir, Justin Moore, Carter Twins, Suite Caroline. Both shows are at Coachman Park, 301 Drew St., Clearwater. Free, but $20 for reserved seats. (727) 562-4800.

Jason Aldean, pictured here, gives contemporary country a firm slap to the rear with AC/DC-riffed stomper (and ringtone smash) She's Country. Don't miss Belleair singer-songwriter Suite Caroline, who at age 11 has already earned a comparison to Taylor Swift by a Nashville producer. Friday night's fest features Tommy James of Hanky Panky, Mony, Mony and I Think We're Alone Now fame as well as disco diva Thelma Houston (yes, that was her on American Idol last week singing Don't Leave Me This Way for Disco Night).

The Gaslight Anthem

With Heartless Bastards, a Death In The Family

Details: Saturday, 7 p.m. State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. $13. (727) 895-3045.

New Jersey's Gaslight Anthem upholds the working man rock-blues-soul traditions of Garden State great Bruce Springsteen while installing its own punk twist. Perhaps less gravelly than Against Me's Tom Gabel but scruffier and scratchier than the Boss himself, singer Brian Fallon and company recently rocked Coachella and Letterman — so hard, in fact, that they've got Rolling Stone asking whether they're "the band of our generation."

Oceana

With Confide, Therefore I Am, To Speak of Wolves, Of Angeline

Details: Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Czar, 1420 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. $10. (813) 247-2664.

One of most successful local acts of recent years, St. Petersburg's Oceana seduces with some pretty excellent atmospheric rock — at least in between waves of bloodcurdling screams. The group played more than 200 shows in 2008 and continues to average nearly 10,000 plays a day on MySpace. The moody, hard-core sound might go over well with fans of Norma Jean or the Deftones.

Got a concert tip for Carole? E-mail her at carole.giambalvo@gmail.com.

tbt* Ultimate Music Showcase

Featuring Triptico, Tailgunner Joe and the Earls of Slander, Will Quinlan and the Diviners, Geri X, Have Gun, Will Travel, the Beauvilles

Details: Saturday, 6 p.m. Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa. $5-$10. (813) 971-0666.

In tbt*'s annual Ultimate Local Music Guide, the editor put last year's local music showcase up there with the Beatles' performance at Shea (plus Skipper's had barbecue gator ribs). So, we're thinking this year's fest has U2-rooftop potential (the smoked mullet's a given, too). Brothers Gabriel and Alejandro Valdiva and James Farrell of the Latin-jazz-jam-rock combo Triptico, right, were voted tbt*'s 2009 Ultimate Local Band this week and will headline. Loud and rowdy Tailgunner Joe and the Earls of Slander commit wholeheartedly to pith and vinegar-type rock, but only after church. The band was recently chosen as one of Spin's "7 Undiscovered Bands Worth a Listen." And intrepid singer-songwriter Geri X mesmerizes with folk that's brimming with contrasts — classic yet contemporary, sweet yet haunting, earthy yet emotional.

. More local music, every day

Check out our SoundCheck blog at blogs.tampabay.com/tbt. This week you'll find features on The Mojo Gurus and The Spears, among others. You can also listen to music and get concert news and reviews.

[Last modified: Apr 29, 2009 04:30 AM]

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