All entries by Eric Snider and Mark Sanders.
BRIAN WILSON The reclusive former leader of the Beach Boys performs Smile, which he completed last year after the music spent 37 years in the vaults. For more on the project, including a monosyllabic interview with Wilson, see the cover story. (Oct. 21, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa) —ES
THE ROMANTICS As Detroit rockers go, these bouffant-wearing new-wavers were relative girlie men. They were spawned from the late '70s Midwestern power-pop scene that included Cheap Trick and The Knack. All you really need to remember is five words: "What I Like About You." In case you were reading this blurb and wondering why the band was playing such a large venue, well, the show is free. (Oct. 21, St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa) —ES
STEEL PULSE w/LENI STERN The English reggae band specializes in effervescent vocal harmonies and terrific hooks. Steel Pulse started out in the late '70s as a protest-minded Rasta group, but incorporated more pop-crossover elements in the '80s. Leni Stern is a terrific opening act. She's long been a valued jazz guitarist (not a realm particularly hospitable to women), and she writes and sings as well. Stern is not just a straight jazzer; she's influenced by funk, rock and Indian music. (Oct. 21, Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg) —ES
BATTLE BASICS 5 Ready for another MC throwdown? Pre-registered rappers will compete for $300 in prize money and, more valuable that that, serious bragging rights. Battle Basics has gained a rep throughout Florida. All four of the previous winners return for this showdown. This geezer's never been, but word is that these shows are an absolute gas. Features DJs Nak and Blenda. Hosted by Surreal and Deacon. For more info, check www.peripheralrecords.com. (Oct. 22, Orpheum, Ybor City) —ES
LEON RUSSELL The 62-year-old Oklahoma native went from being one of rock 'n' roll's ace session men — he's collaborated with everyone from B.B. King to Gary Lewis & the Playboys — to a much-loved solo artist who deftly blends R&B, country, gospel and rock. He has that gargling-carpet-tacks voice and a funky way around a keyboard. (Oct. 22, Bourbon Street, New Port Richey) —ES
FIVE EIGHT w/LIVE'S PAGE/EVERSFIELD Athens, Ga.'s Five Eight has been around for quite a few years and has knocked on the door of the Big Time, but never really kicked it in. The band is experiencing renewed interest — again — based on its new, self-released album and an opening slot on the upcoming R.E.M. tour. For more, see the story elsewhere in the Music section. (Oct. 22, Masquerade, Ybor City) —ES
BILE/FINAL CHAPTER Bile is a shock-Goth group from New York who've been around longer than their peers Marilyn Manson, but whose antics never quite caught on. What kind of antics, you ask? Oh, the usual — fire breathers, a dominatrix and shitloads of dry ice. In their 12 years together, they've opened for Manson, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, Korn, GWAR, Type O Negative and others. They've paid their dues, so go see them. Final Chapter is a local act that specializes in detuned, rhythmic metal. (Oct. 22, Club Underground, Tampa) —MS
STING & ANNIE LENNOX One of the hurricanes blew this show away the first time. Sting, the former singer and bassist for rock band The Police, has become essentially a new age artist over the last decade or so. His world-music-influenced brand of rock is all soft edges and exotica. He used to matter. Annie Lennox, on the other hand, has retained a lot of respect in her post-Eurythmics career. Once a distant, androgynous diva, she's become more soulful over the years. (Oct. 22, Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa) —ES
TEEDRA MOSES She's a sexy neo-soul songbird touring in support of her debut CD, Complex Simplicity. Born in New Orleans and raised in Cali, Moses is still relatively new on the R&B circuit, and has enough talent to go as far as she chooses. See this show before she blows up, so you can say, "I remember back when …" (Oct. 22, Club Skye, Ybor City) —MS
IRIS DEMENT w/PIETA BROWN Folk-country artist Dement's music can be highly personal or highly political, but it's always intense and vital. And she delivers her songs in a sharp, rural warble voice. Her forthcoming album, Lifeline, is a set of antique country-gospel tunes that she heard growing up. Brown is an up-and-comer on the roots-country scene. (Oct. 22, Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg) —ES
WAYNE WONDER w/LION KING/ADONAI/FIFTH ELEMENT Veteran dancehall artist Wayne Wonder has consistently veered more and more toward hip-hop. He's supported by a bevy of like-minded acts. (Oct. 22, Club Empire, Ybor City) —ES
FELIX CAVALIERE'S RASCALS w/HENRY GROSS The Rascals were one of the great bands of the '60s, purveyors of blue-eyed soul, with such hits to their credit as "Good Lovin'," "It's a Beautiful Morning," "Groovin'" and "A Girl Like You." Because they bubbled just under the first tier of rock's superbands, the Rascals, like the Lovin' Spoonful, don't get the credit they deserve for shaping rock 'n' roll. This is one of those oldies shows that has plenty of cred because Cavaliere was the band's primary lead singer and organist. He'll probably be backed by able sidemen, but that won't matter 'cause it'll be him at the mic, belting out those songs. Henry Gross, one of the founding members of the cartoon oldies band Sha Na Na, forged a solid career in the '70s. He scored one Top 10 hit in 1976, which is called "Shannon," which I don't recall at all. Oct. 22, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg) —ES
EDDIE "THE CHIEF" CLEARWATER The veteran bluesman favors a good-timey party sound. Born in Mississippi, based in Chicago, he's called "The Chief" because he likes to wear Indian headdresses onstage. (Oct. 22, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) —ES
BLACK DAHLIA MURDER/UNEARTH/TERROR/ REMEMBERING NEVER Here're a few song titles from death metal heavyweights Black Dahlia Murder's debut album: "Hymn for the Wretched"; "Closed Casket Requiem"; "The Blackest Incarnation." Is that descriptive enough? They're joined by Unearth, a band whose delightfully sick brand of metalcore has gained them Next Big Thing status among fans. Not to be missed. Terror calls itself "the most uncompromising band in hardcore." Remembering Never, according to Harrell, sucks. "Generic cash-in screamo" is the term he used, I believe. (Oct. 22, State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —MS
RED ELVISES These loony surf-rockers, who formed in Siberia in '96, hit big as a high-energy novelty act, but the gimmick has grown a tad stale over the years. Even so, if over-the-top, hi-jinx-laden performances are your thing, you can hardly go wrong with Red Elvises. (Oct. 23, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) —ES
NUCLEAR BEER'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW w/PHOENIX/DREAD LEG/DUKES OF HILLSBOROUGH What is it with crusty old punk guys? They live in perpetual adolescence, yet so many of them continue rocking into their nursing home years. Nuclear Beer is one such act, hailing from the swamps of South Florida to shake their geriatric guitar-slinging asses for you one more time. The anniversary concert unfolds as follows: Phoenix, an all-girl group playing their first-ever show; Dread Leg, an East Coast (Boca Raton) group specializing in politically inspired hardcore and featuring one of Nuclear Beer's former guitarists; and perennially popular local act Dukes of Hillsborough. (Oct. 23, New World Brewery, Ybor City) —MS
AUTHORITY ZERO This hard-working modern rock band from Mesa, Ariz., has been together now for 10 years. (Oct. 23, Boomerz Boiler Room, Seminole) —ES
THE LAST DAMN SHOW FEAT. KANYE WEST/TRICK DADDY/TWISTA/LIL' FLIP/MASE/PETEY PABLO/ J-KWON/PITBULL/OTHERS These Last Damn Shows keep coming. This one's number six. Like the others, this Wild 98.7 bash will be an orgy of hip-hop and modern R&B. By my count, 16 acts are slated to perform. (Oct. 23, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg) —ES
ROCKTOBERFEST Back in Black: The Ultimate AC/DC Tribute Band is at least the second AC/DC tribute act to play in the Suncoast in recent months. The other one, Hells Bells, plays regularly at Rockerfellas. And Brian Johnson, lead singer of the real AC/DC, lives here full-time. Why the fuck AC/DC is so popular down here, I'll never understand. But Back in Black is playing this benefit concert (imaginatively dubbed ROCKTOBERFEST), so you can ask them. Twinkle's also playing. (Oct. 23, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota) —MS
QUEENSRYCHE Prog-metal fans unite! Queensryche is playing their classic concept album Operation: Mindcrime in its entirety on this tour. That should be all you need to know. Oct. 24, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) —ES
ENGINE DOWN/GUILTMAKER Engine Down might have fit in perfectly with this summer's Curiosa tour — crisp vocals, vaguely new wave guitars and lots of reverb dominate their self-titled album. Much like the Cure. Guiltmaker is a new local group composed of guys from other bands (Combat Wounded Veteran being among them). Their music, resembling post-hardcore heroes Quicksand, fits in well with Engine Down. (Oct. 24, Orpheum, Ybor City) —MS
CELLDWELLER/CROSSBREED/DEAD STAR ASSEMBLY Grand Blanc, Mich., produced Klayton (nee Scott Albert), aka Celldweller, a guy obsessed with the darker, dirtier side of industrial Goth music. His newest recording, a 30-song CD titled The Beta Cessions, is a collection of instrumentals, remixes, demos and one song from Klayton's former project, Circle of Dust. Crossbreed is a Tampa act whose industrial-meets-circa '95 alternametal should make fans nostalgic for early Ministry (you know, the good Ministry). Dead Star Assembly are four guys who raided the makeup aisle at Hot Topic and wound up selling the store their CDs. Seriously — Hot Topic pimps these guys' albums now. (Oct. 24, State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —MS
BONEY JAMES/VAN HUNT Sarasotans love their smooth jazz. Saxophonist Boney James plays smooth jazz. What could go wrong? Probably nothing, but if R&B vocalist Van Hunt — a suave singer who's been lumped into the same category as crossover artists Maxwell and D'Angelo (not at all bad company) — you might find James and his ego cowering in a corner somewhere. (Oct. 24, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota) —MS
KARATE/CHRIS BROKAW/THE PLOT TO BLOW UP THE EIFFEL TOWER You could say that Boston-based act Karate plays the same kind of jazz-rock vein that Steely Dan did years ago, but their lyrics and guitar work belie such convenient classification. These three guys have been bringing fans of hardcore, avant-garde punk and post-rock together for a decade, and their newest release, Pockets, should continue that trend. Chris Brokaw, who played guitar on Pockets, has also lent his help to such indie rock luminaries as Come, Codeine, Bedhead and Thalia Zedek. The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower is an experimental jazz/hardcore group from Southern California who say that every group but them and The Locust are slack-ass derivative acts. I recently spoke with Plot frontman Brandon Welchez, who said (about Interpol, one of his favorite whipping posts), "If they have a jet, I hope it crashes." Jeez. For more on Karate, see the Music feature. (Oct. 26, Orpheum, Ybor City) —MS
PAUL GEREMIA Since 1966, Geremia has traversed the land as a blues troubadour. He's a renowned blues picker on six- and 12-string guitars, a singer possessing a husky, soulful voice and an expert on early jazz and blues. (Oct. 26, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) —ES
CASUALTIES/LOWER CLASS BRATS/FRONTLINE ATTACK The Casualties have been around since the early '90s, which were dark times indeed for their intense, manic brand of punk. You gotta give them some points for stamina. Now that wave after wave of Warped Tour-inspired lil' guys have come along, the Casualties too often get lumped in with them, but as their new record, On the Front Line, shows, the guys still have much to say. Tour supporters Lower Class Brats play some generic, hackneyed punk revivalist shit. Frontline Attack shares their name with some new WWII-type computer game. Shouldn't they have checked www.frontlineattack.com before coming up with that name? (Oct. 27, State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —MS
SKINNY PUPPY After 22 years, Skinny Puppy, which formed in Vancouver, B.C., have become bona fide legends of industrial music. They've spread crunchy beats, noise and mayhem all over the world, and there doesn't seem to be any quit in them. (Oct. 27, Masquerade, Ybor City) —ES
DAVID BYRNE w/THE TOSCA STRINGS Since leaving the Talking Heads, Byrne has endeavored into all sorts of music, from heavy Latin to African to quasi-classical. Like Elvis Costello, he appears to have a free pass to delve into whatever kind of project suits his fancy (due in no small part to owning his own label, Luaka Bop). Byrne still has a quirkily engaging stage presence, although his latest, ballad-oriented album, Grown Backwards, is tough to penetrate. (Oct. 27, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa) —ES
This article appears in Oct 20-26, 2004.