THURSDAY, DEC. 30
THE B.B. KING MUSIC FEST A solid package tour to end the year on an up note for blues fans. I've always felt that B.B. is overrated as a guitar player: his handful of stock licks hasn't grown over the years; his tone is tinny and often ineffectual. But he's a solid singer and, more than that, a great ambassador for the blues. The show also includes the New Orleans piano wizard (and gravel-voiced singer) Dr. John and powerhouse vocalist Shemekia Copeland (daughter of the late Johnny Copeland). The Muddy Waters Blues Band is undoubtedly made up of several of the roll call of players who barnstormed and recorded with Muddy over the years. (USF Sun Dome, Tampa) —Eric Snider
AGAINST ALL AUTHORITY/THE KNOW HOW/RUDESQUAD The crusty ska-core kids' favorite South Florida ensemble heads north for another State show. Even those who don't get into AAA's chaotic, diverse sound can appreciate the energy with which they attack every set. Gainesville ska-punk vets The Know How and our own long-running RudeSquad provide support; I checked out the 'Squad for the first time in a while just a month ago, and I can tell you that they've got their own infectious, heavily pop-punk-influenced take on the ska thing down cold. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
BRENNEN LEIGH w/JOHN HANCOCK & EDDIE PARSHALL Straight outta high school, young songstress Leigh left her native Fargo, N.D., for Austin's roots-intensive music scene, and has quickly made a name for herself in the few years since. Expect a variety of seminal Americana styles — and more than a few classic tunes mixed in with the originals — from Leigh and her brother Seth. Local guys Hancock & Parshall have been familiar faces both on and offstage at Bay area singer-songwriter-friendly venues — Hancock, in fact, has acted as soundman on more than a couple of occasions. (Jimmy Mac's, Tampa)
FRIDAY, DEC. 31
WMNF PRESENTS DONNA THE BUFFALO I forget exactly how many years it takes for an event to officially become tradition, but stalwart community radio station WMNF's annual New Year's party and Donna The Buffalo show qualifies in any case, I reckon. Bring your own booze, hug everybody you can, and do that swirly little-girl-turning-in-circles dance to the roots-heavy jam-clique sounds of a band so obviously meant for a community-radio crowd that it's crazy. (Coliseum, St. Petersburg)
FIRST NIGHT ST. PETERSBURG Every year, portions of the greater (but still pretty small) downtown St. Pete area are earmarked for the alcohol-free, family-friendly, conscientiously organized and relentlessly chaperoned end-of-the-year revelry that is First Night. And this year, it's freakin' huge — First Night events will be slammin' in an appropriately clean manner in no less than 30 locations, from Central Avenue's Arts Center to multiple stages in Straub Park down by the Bay. There's way too much going on to go into here (for additional highlights, see this week's New Year's roundup on p.27), but allow us to hit you with a handful of live-music highlights. Brilliant Brazilian jazz combo O Som Do Jazz will hold court from 7 to 11 p.m. at the First Methodist Church Chapel (212 Third St. N.), while the Sanctuary next door will host a plethora of gospel acts, including Belinda Womack and The Gospel Praise. For pop, hip-hop and alt-country, The Piano Building (232 Second St. N.) has you covered, with Starduster (featuring former Barely Pink principal Brian Merrill), Red Tide, and The Urbane Cowboys, in that order. Insanely talented singer-songwriter Rebekah Pulley will be onstage at 330 Fifth St. N. for a 45-minute set starting at 7 p.m. The Hallelujah Singers give praise at The Studio @ 620 (620 First Ave. S.). There's all kinds of Celtic music on display at Artist Gallery Royale (200 Second Ave. N.), and steel drum action on the Central Avenue Stage, between Second and Third. Singer-songwriter Lorna Bracewell and Aussie roots purveyors Didg Revolution swap sets at The Plaza (111 Second Ave. N.). And finally, The Gumbo Boogie Band wreaks aural Cajun havoc on the Finale Stage, in North Straub Park, all night long. We highly suggest you hit up www.firstnightstpete.com for all the info, and plan your evening carefully. (Downtown St. Petersburg)
DAVE MATTHEWS COVER BAND They promised not to come back after their last Jannus show, but they lied. Everyone who can't think of a better way to ring in the New Year than trying to pick up other office workers who haven't bought a CD since the first Matchbox Twenty record came out while listening to a one-dimensional cover band, raise your hands. OK, now, kill yourselves. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
BARENAKED LADIES Did you know that the Canadian New Year starts on the same day as the American New Year? It's true! Soulful breakthrough single "The Old Apartment" aside, this obviously smart and talented group worked the hey-we're-clever strum-pop thing a little too thoroughly for my taste. On the other hand, a New Year's Eve show hosted by these guys would probably be a blast in a more intimate venue — c'mon, you've seen 'em on various VH1 clip shows, and you know you want to have a beer with 'em. (St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa)
NEW YEAR'S EVE HEADBANGER'S BALL It's another South Florida moshfest, featuring both seasoned veterans and kids who've promised to deliver mom's minivan safe and sound no later than 2 a.m. (determining which is which is for you to figure out). Fort Myers outfit Dolt is perhaps the best act on the bill, matching technical mastery with cataclysmic grooves. I keep hearing they got signed to Universal, but no one, not even the folks at the label, could confirm it. Whatever. RiPa JoDa, fronted by the dynamic Paul Beach and backed by some fellow scene veterans, plays inventive and ambitious straight-ahead rock. Blinded by Saturn, despite the horrific band name, plays some New Order-y synth stuff combined with what passed for "hard rock" on FM radio in the early '90s. SuddenDeath plays some more old school metal in the vein of Megadeth, and sing about never-ending war and stuff. Warp is fronted by the Cookie Monster and backed by members of Sepultura and Suicidal Tendencies. No, I'm kidding. North, aside from being a cardinal direction, is also an emo band. In Crowd is a punk band that plays Rockerfellas a whole lot. (Rockerfellas, Bradenton) —Mark Sanders
SATURDAY, JAN. 1
UNHOLY GHOST/LEFT IN ASHES/DIABOLIC INTENT/LOKYATA Bay area death metal band Unholy Ghost is the latest in a string of locally based acts to get a lot of attention elsewhere while remaining largely un-buzzed (or even unknown) in their hometown. The group, which features several former members of acclaimed death outfit Diabolic, put out a well-received disc titled Torrential Reign on extreme-metal biggie Century Media Records this year, and played all of the monster festivals worldwide. Show some evil love, people. Rising thrash/death-core outfit Left in Ashes also hails from Tampa; Myrtle Beach, S.C., acts Council of The Fallen and The Classic Struggle didn't make the trip, but Orlando's Diabolic Intent and Jacksonville's intriguingly named Lokyata stepped in to fill out the bill. (Pegasus Lounge, Tampa)
SUNDAY, JAN. 2
FRANK SINATRA, JR. Talk about being in someone's shadow. Frank Sinatra Jr., the Chairman's son, how hard was that? By most accounts, Frank Junior has been a talented singer who does not hide his pop's influence but doesn't live by it either. (A friend just told me over lunch that he does cameos on The Sopranos as one of the guys playing in a private, high-stakes poker game. I can neither confirm nor deny.) The guess here is that Sinatra's an able entertainer; just don't go expecting to see his dad reincarnate. (Floyd's @ Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa) —ES
MONDAY, JAN. 3
THE DUQUESNE UNIVERSITY TAMBURITZANS Founded in 1937, The Duquesne University Tamburitzans is the longest-running live stage show still chugging in America. That's wonderful, you say, but what the hell is it? Well, I'll tell ya. It's a celebration of the music and dance traditions of Eastern Europe, representing more than 100 nationalities, that's what the hell it is. The Tamburitzans will perform a second show on Wednesday, Jan. 5; both gigs begin at 7:30 p.m. (Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, Tarpon Springs)
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 5
IN THE RAW SEASON THREE KICKOFF You loved it last year. I know, because I saw a buttload of you at many of Season Two's extremely well attended shows. Well, this year's either gonna be better, or the same, and even if it's the same, that's still pretty damn fine. The acoustic original-music showcase series — originally spearheaded by Auditorium principal/Southeast Music Alliance founder/Planet graphics guy Joran Oppelt, and kept in fine running order last year by Sparky's Nightmare members Natty Moss-Bond and Martin Rice — is back. In The Raw consistently features the best original talent the Bay has to offer in a cool, communal setting. Filling out Season Three's kickoff show are Rebekah Pulley, Shawn Kyle (The Beauvilles), Moss-Bond, Will Quinlan (The Diviners), Tina Chapman (Knowing Stu), Steve Alex (Four Star Riot), and Oppelt. And keep your eyes peeled for the second installment of this bi-weekly event, coming Jan. 19. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
This article appears in Dec 29, 2004 – Jan 4, 2005.