Photos: Thirty years of Stormbringer comes to Clearwater’s BayCare sound

Stormbringer has whipped up three decades of ‘80s covers, and last Friday the Tampa Bay band celebrated its 30th anniversary with a…

By Ray Roa

Stormbringer plays The BayCare Sound in Clearwater, Florida on Aug. 9, 2024.
51 slides

Photos: Halestorm and I Prevail play Tampa’s MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre

Just days ahead of Tropical Storm Debby, Halestorm brought a wash of hard-rock to Tampa last Thursday when the band—along with openers…

By Ray Roa

Halestorm plays MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, Florida on Aug. 1, 2024.
49 slides

Photos: The Head and The Heart sings in the rain for St. Petersburg

Last Friday night, The rain stopped just in time for indie-folk romantic The Head and the Heart to hit the stage at…

By Yvonne Gougelet

The Head and the HEart plays Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida on Aug. 2, 2024.
33 slides

Aerosmith cancels rest of farewell tour, including Valentine's Day Tampa stop [PHOTOS]

Aerosmith has cancelled the remainder of its "Peace Out" farewell tour, including a Valentine's Day stop at Tampa's Amalie Arena. The four-time…

By Sanford Nowlin

Aerosmith, which was supposed to play Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on Feb. 14, 2025.
20 slides

Photos: Jonas Brothers strip down for intimate Tampa concert

While they’ve got the starpower to pack arenas, The Jonas Brothers stripped their big show down for an intimate show in front…

By Ray Roa

The Jonas Brothers play Hard Rock Event Center in Tampa, Florida on July 31, 2024.
23 slides

Review: Fuerza Regida brings emotional depth, surprise covers to three-hour Tampa show [PHOTOS]

Fuerza Regida, the acclaimed Mexican-American band hailing from San Bernardino, California, exhibited remarkable artistry and dynamic stage presence on its “Pero No…

By Isaiah Stephens

Fuerza Regida plays Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on July 27, 2024.
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Photos: Everyone we saw at the ‘Johnstock’ benefit concert in Ybor Heights

Tampeño scene supporter John Ames still has a long way to go after a major injury last April, but a bunch of…

By Ray Roa

John Ames at Deviant Libation in Tampa, Florida on July 27, 2024.
50 slides

The best Tampa Bay instrumental bands to listen to right now

Soft Cuff keyboard player Christina Sanchez recently described why instrumental music appeals to her as a musician and listener. “I think that…

By Ray Roa

Soft Cuff on the cover of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay's July 25, 2024 issue.
17 slides

Photos: Brooklyn indie-rock favorite Diiv plays Tampa Orpheum

Diiv's new album, Frog In Boiling Water, is easily one of the year's best rock releases, and last Tuesday, the Brooklyn  indie-rock…

By Ray Roa

Diiv plays Orpheum in Tampa, Florida on July 23, 2024.
22 slides

Photos: Geoff Downes' Asia, Focus, more celebrate prog-rock at Tampa Hard Rock

Asia is down to one original member, keyboardist Geoff Downes, and hasn't toured since before COVID-19. The the '80s supergroup also ended up…

By Josh Bradley

Asia
49 slides

Photos: Cartoon rock band The Aquabats play Ybor City

The M.C. Bat Commander was back in Tampa last Saturday, leading The Aquabats through another set of superhero cartoon ska. Left Alone…

By Ray Roa

The Aquabats play The Ritz in Ybor City, Florida on July 20, 2024.
51 slides

Photos: New Kids On the Block bring the ‘90s, and a whole lot of neon, to Tampa

Nearly four decades after its heyday, New Kids On the Block its still hanging tough. Last Friday, the boy band was back…

By Ray Roa

New Kids on the Block plays MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, Florida on July 19, 2024.
54 slides

Review: Steel Pulse brings unity and resilience to St. Pete [PHOTOS]

Last night in St. Petersburg, iconic reggae band Steel Pulse showed what “One Love” truly means. The U.K. outfit has been performing…

By Isaiah Stephens

Steel Pulse plays Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida on July 18, 2024.
28 slides

Photos: Steve Aoki literally brings the thunder to Hard Rock Tampa

Steve Aoki has a new album out, and he brought it to Tampa’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for another edition…

By Ray Roa

Photos: Steve Aoki literally brings the thunder to Hard Rock Tampa
59 slides

Photos: Sammy Hagar and friends salute Eddie Van Halen during 'Best of All Worlds' Tampa concert

It feels like yesterday when Eddie Van Halen and his giant of an eponymous band rocked the ol' Gary for the final…

By Josh Bradley

Photos: Sammy Hagar and friends salute Eddie Van Halen during Tampa concert
21 slides

Photos: At Crowbar, Christian Restrepo repeats as Tampa’s Hot Dog Party champ

On the Fourth of July, a Tampa Bay woman broke the record for hot dog eating at the Nathan’s contest on Coney…

By Ray Roa

Photos: At Crowbar, Christian Restrepo repeats as Tampa’s Hot Dog Party champ
110 slides

Photos: Walker Hayes brings ‘Same Drunk’ tour to Tampa

Walker Hayes was at the Hard Rock Tampa last Sunday night with his “Same Drunk tour. The 44-year-old pop country songwriter wore…

By Ray Roa

Photos: Walker Hayes brings ‘Same Drunk’ tour to Tampa
19 slides

Photos: Red Hot Chili Peppers bring ‘Dream Canteen’ tour, Ice Cube, to Tampa

Despite rocking an ortho boot on his left leg, Red Hot Chili Peppers frontman Anthony Kiedis still led his band through a…

By Ray Roa

Red Hot Chili Peppers play MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, Florida on June 21, 2024.
40 slides

Review: In Tampa, Melanie Martinez mesmerizes in theatrical journey through her discography [PHOTOS]

Melanie Martinez has ascended to stardom with minimal reliance on radio airplay or conventional media coverage. Her initial breakthrough came as a…

By Isaiah Stephens

Melanie Martinez plays Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida on June 18, 2024.
31 slides

Photos: Frank Turner and friends spend a few good hours rocking St. Petersburg

For a lot of people, rock music is what keeps them going in life. Last Tuesday, lots of them spent a good…

By Ray Roa

Frank Turner plays Jannus Live in St. Petersburg Florida on June 18, 2024.
98 slides

Photos: Silversun Pickups return to St. Petersburg’s Jannus Live

After visiting Jannus Live in 2022, stalwart indie-rock hero Silversun Pickups was back in the St. Petersburg courtyard last Monday night. It’s…

By Ray Roa

Silversun Pickups plays Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida on June 17, 2024.
54 slides

Review: 21 Savage electrifies fans at sold-out Tampa show

Grammy award-winning artist 21 Savage captivated audiences with a sold-out performance at the MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre last Saturday, marking the second…

By Isaiah Stephens

21 Savage plays MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, Florida on June 15, 2024.
15 slides

Photos: Everyone we saw going Down Under with Ocean Alley at The Ritz Ybor

The Ritz Ybor went Down Under last Saturday night with a set from Australian psych-rock outfit Ocean Alley in support of its…

By Ray Roa

Ocean Alley plays The Ritz in Ybor City, Florida on June 15, 2024.
42 slides

Everyone we saw at Ocala's Rock The Country music festival

Considering the way the bro-country music community embraced Jason Aldean's "Try That In A Small Town" last summer, it shouldn't be a…

By Josh Bradley

Everyone we saw at Ocala's Rock The Country music festival
89 slides

Photos: Idles tears up Orlando, with a little help from Tampa luthier Mike Ingold

The mood was swinging, elbows that is, during a neck-breaking set from Grammy-nominated U.K. rock band Idles which is in America playing…

By Ray Roa

Idles plays the House of Blues in Orlando, Florida on June 11, 2024.
64 slides

Photos: Tulsa hardcore band Outline In Color plays Tampa Orpheum

Outline In Color had its touring van go up in flames last month, but that didn't stop the Oklahoma hardcore band from…

By Ray Roa

Outline In Color plays Orpheum in Tampa, Florida on June 11, 2024.
64 slides

Review: In Orlando Gunna’s ‘Bittersweet’ tour gets icy, with high-octane results

Last Sunday night, Gunna elevated his performance to an extraordinary level at the Kia Center Orlando. The Atlanta rapper delivered a high-octane…

By Isaiah Stephens

Gunna plays Kia Center in Orlando, Florida on June 9, 2024.
32 slides

Photos: The Kid Laroi tears up Yuengling Center in rowdy Tampa debut

The Kid Laroi must have been anxious to get on stage after opening act Glaive's set last Sunday night, because the 20-year-old Aussie…

By Josh Bradley

The Kid Laroi plays Yuengling Center in Tampa, Florida on June 9, 2024.
26 slides

Photos: Knocked Loose gets sweaty as hell with St. Petersburg fans

The heat didn’t stop massive mosh pits from opening at Jannus Live last Sunday when the St. Petersburg venue played like a…

By Ray Roa

Knocked Loose plays Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida on June 9, 2024.
70 slides

Review: Hunxo turns in short, tenacious, set for St. Pete [PHOTOS]

“When is Hunxho coming on?” That’s what fans kept asking security in St. Petersburg last Thursday night as Billboard-charting artist Hunxo brought…

By Isaiah Stephens

Hunxo plays Jannus Live in St. Petersburg, Florida on June 6, 2024.
15 slides