We got lucky.
Youäó»ve probably heard that plenty in the last few days, and itäó»s true enough. Irma could have been a catastrophe of historic proportions äóñ everyone was so busy boarding up and getting out of town that we didnäó»t even run an event listing last week.
But just because Irma downgraded to Category 2 doesnäó»t mean everythingäó»s fine. Power is still out for millions of Floridians, and there are plenty of trees to chop up, carpets to frantically dry out, and roofs to repair. Whether you want to celebrate the good luck, or give yourself a well-deserved break from recovery work, this week offers several options, including some great concerts.
Further down, weäó»ve also pointed towards some events that have been rescheduled, and local arts institutions that suffered damage. Some of them will need help, so read on for details.
2 Chainz – Friday, Sept. 15
2 Chainz calls his current tour äóìPretty Girls Like Trap Music,äó which is a surprisingly accurate claim about the now-dominant rap subgenre (at least based on a scientifically invalid survey of my fiancí©e). Though the style comes out of Texas and Atlanta gangsta rap, trap has morphed into something thatäó»s as much experimental pop as hip-hop, full of autotuned vocals, dumb-fun choruses, and absurdist antics. 2 Chainz was one of the subgenreäó»s earliest, and biggest, breakout stars.
5 p.m.
Sold out, but tickets are currently $89 on Stubhub.
Jannus Live, 200 First Ave. N., St. Pete
Webbäó»s City, The Musical Concert äóñ Through Sunday, Sept. 17
This oneäó»s a must-see for post-hurricane recovery and inspiration. It was originally commissioned in 1999, and tells the story of a St. Pete legend. J.E. äóìDocäó Webb, a retail impresario who turned a corner drugstore into a sprawling, ten-block megastore that attracted 60,000 visitors per day. Previous productions have shattered local box-office records, and this concert version promises to be as over-the-top as its subject, with historic photos and multimedia complementing the songs.
$29-$39, various times
Palladium Theatre, 253 Fifth Ave., St. Pete
Awkward Age, Broken Things, No Bueno, Sandspur City äóñ Saturday, Sept. 16
St. Peteäó»s sickest record shop, Planet Retro, was still without power as of Sept. 12, but theyäó»re committed to making this showcase of local punk happen. Headliners Awkward Age are stamped firmly in the mold of late-’90s emo-pop-punk, with soaring, heartsick vocals and hooky, chunky guitars. The rest of the lineup are in similar territory. Support bay area recovery by supporting bay area bands!
Planet Retro Records, 226 Martin Luther King Jr æSt., St. Petersburg
$4, 8 p.m. (And Planet Retro sez be on time)
Bleachers – Saturday, Sept. 16
Bleachers is the ’80s teen heartache-themed solo project of Jack Antonoff, the songwriting and producing powerhouse behind a few of the most recognizable songs of the last five years that also donäó»t suck. His resume includes work with Lorde, Sia, Carly Rae Jepsen, and the big mama herself, Taylor Swift. All those tracks, and Bleachers, share the trademark anthemic joy most of us first heard on äóìWe Are Youngäó from Antonoffäó»s band fun. Sure to lift dampened spirits.
$24 and up, 7 p.m.
Jannus Live, 200 First Ave. N., St. Pete
Wordier Than Thou Storytelling Open Mic äóñ Tuesday, Sept. 19
This is a monthly event, but we thought it was worth highlighting this week in particular. In part, thatäó»s because the featured reader is Eckerd professor and high-profile novelist Lee Irby. But mostly, itäó»s because it should be an amazing chance to share stories about what Pinellas has just weathered (literally) and find meaning in the aftermath.
$5, 7 p.m.
The Studio @620, 620 First Ave. S., St. Pete
Notable Delays and Cancellations
freeFall Theateräó»sæ<i>White Fang</i> opening will be delayed from Sept. 30-Oct. 7, as freeFall deals with as much as $90,000 worth of hurricane damage to its building. The performance will be moved to a nearby auditorium.
Marlon Wayansäó» performance at the Mahaffey Theatre has been delayed, with no reschedule date announced yet.
Steve Earle, who we were excited to see at the Capitol Theatre on Sept. 9, will instead come down on Dec. 17. TBT has a roundup of several more concert delays and cancellations.
