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Tampa Bay's top concert picks: Jonas Brothers, the Smithereens, Mystikal

 
On Saturday, the Jonas Brothers will perform at Amalie Arena in Tampa. [Courtesy of Peggy Sirota]
On Saturday, the Jonas Brothers will perform at Amalie Arena in Tampa. [Courtesy of Peggy Sirota]
Published Aug. 7, 2019

IT'S ABOUT TIME: Jonas Brothers

Watching the new Jonas Brothers documentary Chasing Happiness, you can't help but think their rise was inevitable. The developmental home movie footage, the preternatural potency of their early teenage performances, the fraternal connection that ultimately proved unbreakable — there's so much in there that most bands just don't have and can't get. So it's not surprising they returned this summer with a new album, Happiness Begins; a No. 1 single, Sucker; and a nationwide tour that kicks off this week in Florida. Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas went their separate ways for a while, forging careers and lives that proved fruitful and fulfilling on their own. But the chemistry between them kept holding this magical sway over their fans, who welcomed their 2019 comeback with wild, screaming, open arms. They're all still in their late 20s and early 30s, a time when some bands haven't even broken yet. So despite all they've been through — and it's chronicled in fascinating, occasionally affecting detail in Chasing Happiness — it feels like this isn't just a return that was always inevitable. It might be the start of something even bigger. Bebe Rexha and Jordan McGraw open. $59.50 and up. 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. (813) 301-2500. amaliearena.com.

NOT ONLY A MEMORY: Smithereens with Marshall Crenshaw

Back in 2017, New Jersey power-pop veterans the Smithereens performed at the Central Park Performing Arts Center in Largo. A few months later, singer Pat DiNizio died at 62 after battling multiple health issues. You'd think that would be the end of the Smithereens, right? But no, drummer Dennis Diken and guitarist Jim Babjak are forging on, with an intriguing lineup twist. At some shows, the Gin Blossoms' Robin Wilson is filling in for DiNizio. At others, including this weekend's return trip to Largo, it's singer-songwriter Marshall Crenshaw. Because this tour is meant to be a tribute to DiNizio, Crenshaw won't be singing his own hits (Someday, Someway; Whenever You're On My Mind). But it'll still be nice to hear someone, anyone, sing A Girl Like You again. $29.50 and up. 8 p.m. Friday. Central Park Performing Arts Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo. (727) 587-6793. largoarts.com.

BEEN SO LONG: Mystikal

On any other album, Mark Ronson and Mystikal's Feel Right would be a highlight among highlights, a jam among jams. Unfortunately, it happened to appear on the same album as Uptown Funk, an unstoppable behemoth that overshadowed every other song in its orbit. Too bad, because Feel Right was a glorious reminder of how raw and hilarious the former No Limit soldier can be. Folks at the Ritz Ybor know, which is why they've booked Mystikal to drop songs like Shake Ya Ass, (Danger) Been So Long and It Ain't My Fault at their new Throwback Thursday night. $10 and up. 10 p.m. Thursday. The Ritz Ybor, 1503 E Seventh Ave., Tampa. (813) 390-0397. ritzybor.com.

FLORIDA MAN: Tilian Pearson

A lot of singers probably have the fantasy of getting pulled from obscurity to join a famous rock band. Clearwater's Tilian Pearson got that call in 2012, when he was asked to replace the talented yet troubled Jonny Craig on lead vocals in Dance Gavin Dance. But he was already doing well on his own, having fronted the local-turned-national alt-rock band Tides of Man and taken steps toward a solo career. Since then, Pearson has released a handful of albums with Dance Gavin Dance and another handful solo. He still sings the occasional Tides of Man song live, though, and might feel especially nostalgic when he plays a hometown show next week. Landon Tewers, Brent Walsh and Rivals open. $17 and up. 6:30 p.m. Aug. 14. The Orpheum, 1915 E Seventh Ave., Tampa. (813) 248-9500. theorpheum.com.

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TWANGIN' AROUND: WMNF's Americana Fest

Put Patti Smith and Patty Griffin in a blender, with a splash of Patty Smyth spritzed in, and you might get something like Sarah Shook and the Disarmers. The North Carolina rockers have dished out a couple of albums' worth of gritty, tattooed twang, earning them critical acclaim and a lot of discerning, PBR-sipping fans. It makes them perfect headliners for this year's Americana Fest, organized by WMNF-FM 88.5. Also on the bill: Matt Woods and the Natural Disasters, Hannah Harber and the Lionhearts, Rebekah Pulley and the Reluctant Prophets, Cadillac Cowboys. $15 and up. 6 p.m. Saturday. Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa. (813) 971-0666. skipperssmokehouse.com.