By Chyrisse Tabone, Rock At Night Tampa Bay
Live Review: 97X Next Big Thing – BayCare Sound, Clearwater, FL – December 7, 2024
It has been a longstanding holiday tradition for folks in Tampa Bay to attend the 97X Next Big Thing. This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the festival, which showcases up-and-coming bands in the indie alt-rock music scene. On Saturday, December 7th, the festival featured All-American Rejects, Something Corporate, Dayglow, Judah & the Lion, Gigi Perez, Jonah Kagen, and local bands at the BayCare Sound, Clearwater, Florida.
Rock At Night arrived at the outdoor theater on a chilly Florida afternoon. It was time to drag out the puffer jackets since it was in the 60s and expected to drop to the low 50s in the evening. At 4:45 pm, the 7-piece band Judah & the Lion appeared on the stage to tout their new album The Process, which delves into the topic of mental health. I saw them a few years back, and the music was more folk and reminiscent of Mumford & Sons. I really like their grittier and harder style, and every song off of The Process is a banger.
With the stage’s backdrop decorated in the colorful stripes featured on the album cover, lead singer Judah Akers (vocals, guitar) led the band into deeply emotive songs like “It Is What It Is,” featuring the beautiful mandolin work of Brian Macdonald. Gravelly-voiced Akers led the audience into a chorus of “Only Want the Best” as audience members waved colorful light sticks with the beat. Songs like “Alright (frick it!) and “Take It All Back” were uplifting and well-received. Akers noted that a portion of the merch would be donated to 97X DJ Sam, whose home was hit hard during the last two hurricanes, before leading into the next song with the lyrics, “My head is shaped like a basketball…” The tongue-in-cheek song, “Sportz,” parodies hypermasculinity and was the perfect way to end the set as the audience chanted, “We Love sports…we don’t care who knows.” The last advice Akers gave the audience was, “Be kind to people, eat more chocolate, and listen to more Judah & the Lion.”
At 6:15 pm, Austin boy wonder Sloan Struble, AKA Dayglow, emerged with his full band. He noted, “I haven’t been here in two years,” before launching into their new single “What People Really Do.” As the sun was setting, the temperature dropped into the low 50s. Struble, wearing only a t-shirt, remarked, “It’s cold! My hands!” Highlights of the energetic set included “Hot Rod” and “Then. It All Goes Away.” Struble prompted the audience, saying, “OK, Tampa. Let’s frickin’ dance!“ as he segued into “Crying on the Dancefloor.“
At 7:50 pm, a beat-up grand piano sat at the front of the stage. Andrew McMahon, AKA Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, jumped on the piano seat, looking very “dad-ish“ with dark dress pants, a striped business shirt, and a white sweater draped around his neck. Now sporting platinum hair, he is not a bit conservative. McMahon thanked 97X for playing them in 2002 and being one of the first radio stations to support them. Reminiscent of Jack Antonoff, he performs wildly on the piano, runs frantically around the stage, hops on top of the piano, and even jumps offstage to cavort with the punters. I was aghast as he walked on the keys with his green sneakers. What a showman!
McMahon announced a new song, “Happy,”—and found a new fan here. Highlights include “Space,” “Ruthless,” “Only Ashes,“ and “Punk Rock Princess.“ McMahon dedicated the song “Hurricane“ to “all that battled two hurricanes“ and indicated a portion of the proceeds will be donated to survivors.
At almost 9:30 pm, the stage was smoky and laden with colored lights as All-American Rejects graced the stage. Actor and musician Tyson Ritter belted “Swing Swing,” which put the band in the spotlight during the early Millennium. Often at times, Ritter appeared to be channeling Jim Morrison or even Roger Daltrey as he posed and swung the mic cord. They continued working their way through the years with the catchy “I Wanna,““Beekeeper’s Daughter,“ and “Sweat.“ The encore included “Gives You Hell“ and Harvey Danger’s “Flagpole Sitta.”
Seeing these old (and new favorite) bands was the perfect way to end the year.
PHOTO GALLERY
(In Order of Appearance)
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
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- 97X Next Big Thing warms Tampa with an alt-rock celebration - December 9, 2024
- Chatting with Sam ‘Spade’ Morris of The Midnight Devils - December 2, 2024
