Summer concert jam packed with bands

By Julie Garisto
Published June 22, 2007

Summer Jam 3

Crowbar: Voxtrot, the Dark Romantics, Blac Soap, the Sugar Oaks, Aych & E.P, Roppongi's Ace and various DJs. Starts 6 p.m. Saturday at the bar, 1812 N 17th St., Ybor City. $9. 18 and older admitted. (813) 241-8600.

New World Brewery: D'Visitors, Red Room Cinema, Black Reign, Mumpsy, Bongo, the Same, Rocwell and various DJs. Starts at 5 p.m. Saturday at the bar, 1313 E Eighth Ave., Ybor City. $7. 21 and older admitted only. (813) 248-4969.

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Music heads can celebrate the onset of Florida's steamiest days with some of its hottest music at Summer Jam 3.

Hear touring acts and DJs. See some mind-blowing eye candy to go with the audio goodies - and we mean edgy visual art, not just the hipster babes.

For the past three years, local promotional gurus Tastemakers and Aestheticized Presents have presented the annual all-day festivals of local, regional and national music at New World Brewery in Ybor.

This year is the biggest Summer Jam yet, expanding to two venues, New World and Crowbar, a relatively new music venue that in its first year has established itself as one of Tampa's premier spots for live music. And it's a just a few blocks from New World, across the street from Gameworks in Ybor City - so you can bop back and forth.

"Expanding to more than one venue is something we flirted with for a while, and it seemed like a good opportunity because we had a ton of bands who've wanted to do it, " says Aestheticized's Jack Spatafora.

Summer Jam features some of the best in local, regional and national under-the-radar music, bands that don't conform to the formulas of FM radio pop, rock and hip-hop. As far as musical styles go, there's something appealing for all listeners.

Providing the visual stimulation this year will be Sauver Apparel artist Jay Giroux, who'll be doing live painting at Crowbar.

Don't miss

Here's a rundown of some must-hear acts at Summer Jam 3:

Voxtrot Sweeping melancholic moods contrast sing-along choruses and catchy beats. The Austin band sports the universal appeal of '80s new wave pop (like Modern English) updated by the visceral energy of indie dance bands (like Hot Hot Heat).

Blac Soap New Tampa hip-hop act on the scene that will remind you of Outkast and Rick James, though that might be redundant.

The Sugar Oaks Orlando/Tampa Bay pop that combines the stirring atmospherics of folk and accessibility of '70s-style soft rock.

Aych Passionate, stylish hip-hop with a forceful but positive feel.

D'Visitors World beat, rock, pop, reggae and ska swirl together in fun and frolicsome fashion. If the party ain't started yet, D'Visitors will be certain to set it in motion.

Red Room Cinema Moody, dynamic art rock befitting its name.

The Same Angular riffs go schizo between urgent anthems, theme songs for 20-something collegiate males with aggression to unload.

[Last modified June 21, 2007, 12:03:16]