Gulfster.com, Central Florida’s premier source of Gulf Coast surf culture for the last decade, is announcing its expansion. Gulfster Presents, the new addition, is devoted to bringing the region a steady supply of Reggae and Rock events that will kick off Sunday, April 1^st with a Reggae concert series hosted by Jannus Live.

The Sunday Night Reggae Series will include headliners Passafire, Lionize, Sashamon, The Movement and a yet unnamed surprise act, on every Sunday night in April. The show admits all ages, and tickets will be $5 for over 21 and $8 for under 21.

Over the past few month Gulfster.com partnered with and presented  over half a dozen shows at Jannus Live, bringing out more than seven thousand fans between the events. Based off of the response from the previous events, the Reggae Sunday series is expected to be the best party the bay area has to offer to Central Florida’s Reggae and Surf Rock fans.

For more information on Gulfster Presents and the details of the Reggae Sunday Concert Series click here.

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The Saw Doctors, formed in 1986 in Tuam, County Galway, have achieved eighteen Top 30 singles in Ireland, including three number ones. Renowned for their live performances, the band has a cult following, especially in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. They grace the Jannus courtyard Saturday, February 25th.

Opening support from The Ditchflowers.

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Jannus Live TV is a new music program showcasing the best live performances from Jannus Live and the best new music videos from around the world. We’re looking for on-camera hosts that can present the content, interview the bands and promote our brand. Actors, Comedians, and Musicians are ideal, but experience in front of the camera is NOT required. If you have a BIG personality, a cool look, can speak clearly, and a passion for music than we want to see you.

Come show us what you got at our Open Casting Call (first come first seen), December 10th in the Jannus Live Courtyard from 10am – 2pm. Please bring a headshot and/or resume if you got ‘em and check out www.jannuslive.tv for more info about Jannus Live TV.

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Get Yourself a Free Ticket to Friday Night’s Concert!

Simply share this page on your Facebook and tag Jannus Live and we’ll put you on a list for a FREE ticket to this Friday’s killer concert. We call it “Southern Routes” — ’cause it features The Constellations (Atlanta), Maylene and the Sons of Disaster (Alabama), Geri X Band (St. Pete), and Lonesome City Travelers (Orlando).

We are mad stoked about this show and want to get as many people in the courtyard as possible. Tickets are only $10, available at Ticketmaster (+ $1.80 sv ch) or at the gate.

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The Constellations are not a cluster of stars, but six seasoned, hard-working, committed musicians based in Atlanta. Their aesthetic, spearheaded by founder/leader Elijah Jones, is endemic of the New South’s musical melting pot, blending rock, hip-hop, funk, jam, a whiff of jazz, or — as Jones says — a bit of “everything.”

The Constellations headline the “Southern Routes” concert on Friday, Sept. 30, which also features Maylene & the

Sons of Disaster, Geri X Band, Lonesome City Travelers, and Aficionado. Tickets are a mere $10.

We caught up with singer/rapper/writer Elijah by phone yesterday to get the skinny on The Constellations, a band we’re very high on.

Since you’re more or less the architect of this interesting musical stew, can you run down your upbringing for us?

I grew up right outside of Atlanta in Decatur. I could get into downtown Atlanta on the MARTA [train] in about 15, 20 minutes. I grew up in the church. My Dad was a Baptist deacon. My Mom was a teacher. Our church got kicked out of its Baptist organization for allowing gay deacons and elders. I’m very proud of that. I grew up in, to use a politically correct term, a transitional neighborhood, which was difficult at times and amazingly awesome at other times.

My house had the only basketball hoop in the neighborhood, so all the boys would come over and hoop it up. They’d bring their 2 Live Crew, NWA and Public Enemy Records. I’d have my Guns ‘N’ Roses, my Misfits and Sex Pistols and all that stuff. Growing up in that era was more or less during the birth of hip-hop. Everything got mixed together from an early age. I was also influenced by my Mom playing piano. She’s played ‘Layla’ and stuff. I dove into my Mom and Dad’s record collection too.

My Dad was a songwriter. He’d write songs and make me sing ’em in church, which was nerve-racking and embarrassing, but it showed me you don’t have to be Paul Simon to write a song. An everyday man can write a song. (continued)

Growing up in your transitional neighborhood, what’s your earliest recollection of hip-hop?

I was in grade school and had to go to the boys’ room, so I got a hall pass. I was real young. I walked into the bathroom and these kids were in a circle, one guy beat-boxing, the others rapping. It was amazing. I figured it was all planned out, it seemed so right on, but then they started rapping about me walking into the bathroom and what a guy was wearing and I realized it was all spontaneous. So I would sit with those guys at lunch and beat on the table and everybody would rap until one of the teachers came over and told us to shut up.

You jumped right in and started rapping?

No, not right away. I was more beating on the table and maybe providing the hook, singing. Eventually I got into a free-styling, but I’d never claim to be good at it.

What were some of the difficult moments living in a transitional neighborhood?

Well, those guys grew up in that neighborhood and saw all these new folks moving in. So they were kind of protective of their own neighborhood. Like ‘This was ours before you came.’ It was in middle school that I started to get chased home from school, or I’d have to stand up and fight my own battles. I didn’t have my big brother around to protect me. But it taught me a lot. It taught me how to fight. It taught me that there’s ignorance and racism throughout the world. It taught me that you’ve got to understand where people are coming from before you can change anybody’s mind.

Give us an overview of The Constellations. Is it a collective? There seems like a lot of people contributing.

The band was a revolving cast for a while, but we’re at six folks right now and have been touring like that for over a year. We have two keyboard players who also do percussion. A drummer, bassist, guitarist. And me doing vocals, percussion and a little bit of guitar. We have five vocalists in a six-person band.

This is the band that will be on the next record. The original idea [of the Constellations] was to go into the studio with a loose idea of what we wanted to do — which was to do everything. Not pigeonhole ourselves into a style. Let the song dictate where it went. We recorded with a lot of musicians. With the new recording, we all know eachother, so, I don’t wanna say we’ll be more comfortable, hopefully we don’t get too comfortable. But it should be a smoother process.

I’ve written a bunch of skeletons, and done some home recording. So we’ll go in and jam and build from there. I want to approach each song differently so all the musicians will be on their toes.

Do you think the new record will be identifiable as the Constellations the way we know them?

I think so. There are certain signature things we’ll definitely throw in there, not as a gimmick, but sounds that we enjoy. On the other hand, you don’t want to come up with a sound or a style that’s too limiting. You should come by your sound and style accidentally.

The new album will probably be more introspective than that last one, which was a dirty, grimy Atlanta party. We’ve seen a lot of the world since then.

Is there a timetable for the project?

No (laughs). I’d like to say early next year, but you never know.

I love the Fender Rhodes sound that seems to be at the core of a lot of the rhythm tracks.

Yeah, that was a real Rhodes, real Wurlitzer, real B-3. We put some synthesizers in there so that it didn’t sound too dated. But with those vintage keyboards you get a much better sound from the real thing than from a patch.

I’m going to assume it’s not practical to bring those analog keyboards out on the road.

It’s absolutely not practical, so we don’t. Unless you’re Coldplay, with a crew that can tune them every night. A Wurlitzer is impossible. It’s crazy to travel with one. Maybe someday.

Do The Constellations on stage put jam influences or improvisation into the songs?

Oh yeah. We improvise every night. That’s part of the joy of playing live — reinterpreting the music you’ve recorded. So when people come to a show they witness something new each night.

Does the improvisation manifest in regular solos and such.

Yeah, for sure.

When you were writing and recording “Perfect Day,” did you realize that the chorus could’ve been pulled off an ’80s New Wave song?

Probably a lot of that came from Iggy Pop. What you’re picking up on is the way he’d have those deep, throaty vocals and a higher vocal above that.

It sounds like it could’ve been on a Thompson Twins song, although I’m not saying you lifted it from the The Thompson Twins.

(Laughs) That’s kind funny, ’cause I’m a huge Thompson Twins fan.

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Free Admission — No ticket necessary / Guitar Hero Tournament / Doors open at 7

Live Music: Paint the Town Red

Jannus Live presents a whole new and novel way to spend your summer Thursday nights. We call it, simply, the Hang. It’s a mixture of games, drink specials, live music, ballgames on a giant screen and more, all adding up to pure fun.

• A Guitar Hero Tournament that takes place on stage with a big-screen and heavy amplitude.

• Beer Pong (need we say more?)

• Cornhole, more

DRINK SPECIALS: $2 domestic drafts; $3 Bombay Sapphires; $4 Jager Bombs

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w/Absolute Queen and just added: KISS America (opening)

FREE SHOW — No ticket needed, Gates open at 8 pm

Back a few months, we brought in this double bill of tribute bands and they crushed it, riling up the big crowd — even though it was like 40 degrees in the courtyard. For this encore performance on First Friday, we can expect a much more comfy night, and we can expect these bands to bring the heat just like the last time. Highway to Hell will be fresh off an appearance at an international AC/DC festival in Lima, Peru (June 25), so we can expect them to be even more inspired than usual!

Don’t miss the double bill of Highway To Hell: The Ultimate AC/DC Experience, and Absolute Queen: The Ultimate Tribute to Queen. It’sgonna be a heavy night combining ’70s crunch and glam, operatic high notes, skyscraper shrieks, monster beats and nasty guitar riffs. Nothing but hit after hit after hit.

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Swagg Fest

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Three of the fastest rising hip-hop acts based in Tampa Bay pool their talent and charisma to present Swagg Fest, an event that’ll give fans the opportunity to say, “I saw them when…”

Lil Kee (Tampa), Famous Kid Brick (St. Pete) and Shawty (Largo) represent three communities in the Bay area; their message is unity and they’re all about having a good time. “They don’t have time to be hatin.’” says Teddy Britton, who is producing the concert. “They’re music is not gangsta rap. It’s booty-shakin’ music, meant to get everyone dancing in the club.”

Only this time it’s not in a club — it’s on the big stage at Jannus Live.

All three acts are getting airplay on local airwaves and in the clubs. Lil Kee’s infectious “Buss It Wide Open” (see video) is gaining wider and wider exposure day by day, as are Famous Kid Brick’s “I’m On It” (video) and Shawty’s “I Made it Rain” (video).

Britton Promotions has tapped a few other up-and-comers to flesh out a show that’ll give fans a vivid snapshot of Tampa Bay’s vibrant hip-hop scene as it stands right now!

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