M. Ward plays St. Petersburg May 1

   M. Ward, everybody's favorite alt-folk singer/guitarist, is coming to St. Petersburg.

   The Portland-based musician has received almost universal critical acclaim for his solo work as well as for She & Him, his duo with Zooey Deschanel, and Monsters of Folk, his band that also includes Conor Oberst, Jim James from My Morning Jacket and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes.

M. Ward

   If that's not enough indie cred to impress you, he's also performed or recorded with Neko Case, Yo La Tengo, Jason Lytle and Cat Power and a bunch of other cool alternative folkies and rockers. 

   He's not a sideman, though. His own low-tech, quiet, beautiful music is at least on a par with that of the people he plays with. He's apparently just happy to let the spotlight shine on other musicians.

    But he'll be performing solo for his show at the State Theatre on May 1, which is what most of his fans would prefer.
   The show's set for 7:30 p.m. May 1. Tickets are $20 in advance (they go on sale Friday, Feb. 28) and $23 day of show. Go to www.daddykooltickets.com/osconcert-GA/product_info.php?cPath=31&products_id=1390.

Against Me! plays St. Peterburg's State Theatre

   Against Me! is one of the best bands in the country, and they're going to be at the State Theatre in St. Petersburg Jan. 24.
   That's just three days after the band will releases its sixth album, "Transgender Dysphoria Blues," their first since frontman Tom Gabel announced that he would change his name to Laura Jane Grace and start living as a woman.

Laura Jane Grace

   The Gainesville-based Against Me! made a splash in 2002 with their acclaimed debut album, "Against Me! Is Reinventing Axl Rose," and the band's 2007 album "New Wave" was named Album of the Year by Spin magazine.
   The Sidekicks and the Shondes open.
   Tickets are $15. You can get them at
www.daddykooltickets.com/osconcert-GA/product_info.php?products_id=1291.
   The State Theatre is at 687 Central Ave, St. Petersburg. Call 727-895-3045.

The 1975 plays St. Peterburg's State Theatre

The 1975

   "Esquire" called the 1975 one of the 15 bands to watch in 2013. Listen to the band's new EP, "IV," and its relentlessly catchy first US single, "Sex," and you're likely to agree.
   The quartet from Manchester, England will be at the State Theatre in St. Petersburg Wednesday, June 12. They're opening for the Neighbourhood, a solid but much more conventional-sounding pop band that you may know from its song "Sweater Weather."
   The 1975 has great hooks and (at least on their EPs) a phenomenal drum sound. Matthew Healy's passionate vocals elevate the music from power pop into something that feels more substantial. Lots of people on both sides of the Atlantic think this band is going to be huge.
   The State Theatre is at 662 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg. Tickets are $12 in advance and $14 day of show. Doors open at 7 p.m. 727-895-3945 or www.statetheatreconcerts.com.

Prog, surf, Louisiana funk in St. Petersburg

   The State Theatre in St. Petersburg has three shows in the coming week  that could be phenomenal.

   Prog-rock king Steven Wilson, whose band Porcupine Tree makes stunningly beautiful music,  performs a solo show at 7 p.m. April 16. Tickets are $26.50.

Dick Dale

   Guitar legend Dick Dale, who pretty much invented surf-rock guitar, comes to the State at 8 p.m. April 19. He’s 75 years old now but the smart money says he still rocks. Tickets are $20.

   The next night  offers the best buy for your music buck, a concert by a supergroup called New Orleans Suspects. The lineup includes Reggie Scanlan, the bassist from the Radiators and Professor Longhair;  Neville Brothers drummer Mean Willie Green and guitarist/vocalist Jake Eckert of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. You can hear influences of all those bands in the Suspects’ music, which is kind of good-time New Orleans R&B funk. That one  starts at 8 p.m. April 20 and tickets are only $4.20. ($4.20 on 4/20.)

   The State Theatre is at 687 Central Ave. in downtown St. Petersburg. Call 727-895-3045 or visit www.statetheatreconcerts.com