BEST CATEGORY-SMASHING SERIES: Tastemakers

No, it’s not just because they invited me to “curate” an installment several months ago — in fact, I think Tastemakers heads Deacon and Colonic were a bit nonplussed with the Faith No More and the tunes from Monty Python movies. For nearly a year, this twice-monthly Wednesday-night New World phenomenon has brought all styles of music together, and successfully drawn a crowd while doing so. Where else are you gonna get hip-hop, techno and power-pop one week, and alt-country, indie-rock and New Wave the next? Many kudos to the several local agencies (primarily USF radio station WBUL, WMNF, Aestheticized Presents, tampahiphop.com and the New World) who come together, juggle schedules and promote hard to keep this thing interesting. www.myspace.com/tastemakers. - Scott Harrell