THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
RAHIM w/MOGUL STREET RESERVE/THE TAPE DELAY NYC quartet Rahim's guitar-with-keyboard-effects indie rock is definitely of the cerebral bent, with the songs often hinting at sonic and lyrical ideas more than actually realizing them. This can be compelling, because it pulls the listener in on an almost participatory level. On the other hand, it's a lot to ask of someone seeking a night of entertainment. Rahim's latest full-length, Laughter, came out earlier this month on the Big Apple boutique label Pretty Activity. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
BRAD PAISLEY w/JEWEL/CHUCK WICKS It's easy to knock Nashville star Brad Paisley for lightweight singles like "Mud on the Tires," "Online" and "Ticks." But the singer/songwriter (he cowrites most of his material) is also capable of expertly interpreting a tragic number such as "Whiskey Lullaby," the 2004 hit he recorded with Alison Krauss. Concert attendees will also have the opportunity to witness Paisley's prodigious guitar chops, which are sadly minimized on record. Folkie-turned-country-crooner Jewel is one of the supporting acts. (Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa)
JOHN PRINE w/JOSH RITTER Prine has enjoyed a sizeable cult following ever since his self-titled debut dropped in 1971. A classic of the singer/songwriter genre, the disc includes such timeless cuts as the old-folk ode "Hello in There," the Vietnam vet lament "Sam Stone" and the hippie anthem "Spanish Pipedream." Prine was diagnosed with throat cancer in the late-1990s but bounced back with the 2005 full-length Fair & Square, which won a Grammy for Best Contemporary Folk Album. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
THE SHACKELTONS w/LIFE OF PI/THOMAS WYNN AND THE BELIEVERS WMNF steps outside its rootsy wheelhouse and brings to town Pennsylvania's The Shackeltons. Smart band choice. The quintet, which has been lauded in Rolling Stone, nails the visceral post-punk approach, matching edgy vocals with stinging guitar riffs that build into thick, barbed washes. The band also enjoys a rep as an impressive live act led by explosive frontman Mark Redding. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
MERCY MERCEDES w/MY FAVORITE HIGHWAY/WE SHOT THE MOON North Carolina five-piece Mercy Mercedes offers upbeat guitar rock of the emo variety. The band also throws in the occasional electronica touch. Nothing new but well executed. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
ELLIOTT COHN'S COSMIC SWEAT SOCIETY w/CHRISTIE LENEÉ Tampa native Elliott Cohn has spent the past several years in New Orleans, where his Hendrixian guitar fireworks and funky originals have landed him on bills with such Big Easy favorites as Galactic, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Papa Grows Funk. This homecoming gig will find Cohn fronting his Cosmic Sweat Society with special guest Marty Balin, yes, that Marty Balin, of Jefferson Airplane/Starship fame. I'm told he has ties to the Tampa Bay area. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
THE ONCE AND FUTURE KINGS w/SONS OF HIPPIES/THE PROSPECT With catchy power-poppers like "Do You Want to Go to Buffalo" and "Live to Be Miserable," emo indie four-piece Once and Future Kings deliver their self-proclaimed "non-threatening rock 'n' roll." If you say so, guys. More intriguing are Sons of Hippies, the latest from former Nous Rapport frontwoman, Katherine Kelly. Shimmery new tracks "Suntan" and "Get Down" spin atmospheric alt-psychedelia that's worth staying tuned for. (Pastimes Pub, Sarasota) —Amanda Schurr
BOBBY LEE RODGERS AND THE CODETALKERS Atlanta axe-man Rodgers and his funky bunch return to Bradenton for the second time this summer. The band's high-energy live shows are its calling card: Expect a superb set of jazz, Southern rock, soul and bluegrass. (Ace's Lounge, Bradenton) —AS
GREG POULOS On the heels of his impressive solo debut, Angels from Hazard, former Silvertone and current Venturas guitarist Poulos wields his sophisticated jazz-blues chops. (Five O'Clock Club, Sarasota) —AS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
SOULFOUND ALBUM RELEASE CONCERT Clearwater-based power-pop outfit Soulfound celebrates its freshly minted full-length, Soulfound Is a Rock Band, with a gig at the new Gasoline Alley, which opened in July. For those not familiar with the band, it's a quartet that plays catchy guitar rock marked by the robust vocals of singer/bassist Ivan Pena. As for the venue, it's not the same, intimate two-tiered rock den that closed a year ago — but at least its back and booking original live music again. The new location is 14042 66th St., Largo, myspace.com/gasolinealleycafe. For my interview with Soulfound, see music feature p.XX. (Gasoline Alley, Largo)
SOUNDFX: LIVE: GIDDY-UP, HELICOPTER!/JEREMY GLOFF/VENUS IN FURS/CRATE BROTHERS/DJ BRIAN OBLIVION This concert produced by Mitzi Gordon, Pyramid Photography and Aestheticized features local indie rock standouts Giddy-Up, Helicopter!, which returned to the studio recently to record the follow up to their debut full-length from last year, I Am Secretary. Local electro-popper Jeremy Gloff celebrates the release of his new disc, 1987, which lives up to its title by sounding like it was recorded two decades ago — synthed-out bliss, if that's your bag. Venus in Furs is an all-girl Velvet Underground tribute act featuring, among others, St. Pete singer/songwriter Rebekah Pulley. Lastly, the event also features a photo slideshows by Nicole Kibert/elawgrrl. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
DONNA THE BUFFALO For the past 20 years, Ithaca, N.Y.-based Donna The Buffalo has delighted its loyal following with jammy folk-rock buoyed by the crystalline vocals of singer/fiddler Tara Nevins. The band has recorded on and off for the Sugar Hill label (Nickel Creek, Dolly Parton) since 1998. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
2 LIVE CREW Smut-rap pioneers return for another set that will surely include a sing-along of the Full Metal Jacket-sampling sex anthem "Me So Horny" (Channelside, Tampa)
FACEPLANT!/BURY THE BROKEN/MURDER IN MOTION/WARFIELD/BURN THE KINGDOM Local thrashers and regional hardcore scream-scenesters share the bill for an all-ages metal mashup. (VFW Post 3233, Sarasota) —AS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
NIGHTWISH w/ SONATA ARCTICA Opera metal from Finland? Yeah, music doesn't get much whiter than Nightwish, which is fronted by diva-in-training Anette Olzon. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
BLACK KIDS w/THE VIRGINS/MAGIC WANDS Florida's most hyped indie band, Jacksonville's Black Kids, return to Ybor City to play Crowbar after performing to a packed house at New World Brewery in November. Purveyors of synth-y dance rock, the Black Kids' much-ballyhooed full-length debut, Partie Traumatic, came out on Columbia in July. Sales? Not so good. The disc only reached No. 127 on the Billboard 200. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
CORY BRANAN w/URBANE COWBOYS/NESSIE Memphis-based singer/songwriter Cory Branan has drawn comparisons to Ryan Adams and Conor Oberst. I'm hearing the former more than the latter. Luckily, on numbers like "Prettiest Waitress in Memphis," Branan displays a sense of humor, something Adams and Oberst largely lack. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
ENRIQUE IGLESIAS The pop crooner has reportedly sold more than 50 million albums. Greatest accomplishment? Balling Anna Kournikova on a regular basis. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
This article appears in Sep 17-23, 2008.