By Vlad, Detroit Rock At Night and Chyrisse Tabone, Tampa Rock At Night
Festivals often are a mix of enticing tastes and smells, bringing the palette a choice of flavors. The 2019 Gasparilla Music Festival in Tampa, FL delivered goers a potent stew of blues, soul, and Americana—with fresh ingredients from throughout the United States.
Gasparilla is an annual festival in Tampa that celebrates a part of the region’s pirate lore; the music festival keeps the “Gasparilla” moniker, but brings a greater diversity of perspectives and performers than the rest of the festival. Rock at Night paid a visit to the Sunday set of the musical proceedings and found more than enough to feed its eyes and ears.
The main course of the day was a stirring set from headliner and Grammy winner Gary Clark, Jr. Clark, a highly noted blues/rock/soul fusionist with a commanding presence as front man, delivered intense, blistering renditions of tracks like the provocative “This Land.”
The biggest sampling of flavors this day found their way from sunny host Florida. Blues guitarist Roosevelt Collier from Miami brought it with spicy fretwork, while Orlando’s Hannah Lorber & the Lionhearts blended Americana tones with charming notes of longing and hope.
Meanwhile, Gainesville’s Savants of Soul, a colorful, full-bodied ensemble, showed its roots in Memphis soul with its energetic, horn-laden attack. (One can imagine how profusely they sweat in the hot midday sun, decked out in black suits befitting Jake and Elwood!)
But other areas of the country also acquitted themselves convincingly. New Orleans Suspects’ Tribal Gold, merging two established musical forces from the Big Easy, delivered a highly theatrical, percussion-heavy tribal-funk set that was as much a flamboyant parade of feathers and rhythms as a showcase of the city’s funk and soul traditions.
And bringing a rustic Midwest take on folk rock were the Michigan Rattlers (hailing from scenic Petoskey) with a freshly earnest, observational style that provided a sonic shade to a scorching afternoon.
PHOTO GALLERY
I grew up in a household full of rock music, studied journalism in college, and then became a scientist.Although my science career has served me well, music has always played a major role in my life. I grew up reading "Creem" magazine; I play several musical instruments as a "hobby";and it seems a camera has always been in my hand. Now, I am combining what I love the most--music and photography--serving as editor of Rock At Night. I travel between the US and UK seeking my dream! My motto: life is short...no regrets. Chyrisse
