Jimmy Eat World and the awful, ongoing onslaught of emo
Look like I'm not the only person dazed, confused (and cranky) about the ongoing success of emo, especially genre pioneers Jimmy Eat World (pictured), the band most responsible for the Fall Out Boys of the world, and the former's highly overrated 1999 album Clarity. Here's an interesting slab of commentary from the L.A. Times:
Hoots & Hellmouth tonight at Skipper’s Smokehouse in Tampa
Editor's note: This just in from B. Treotch, who will be reviewing tonight's show. With just enough post-election buzz, feel-good Americana left in the air, Philly's Hoots & Hellouth is bringing their style of lively alt-country — juiced with a dose of gospel revivalism — to Skipper’s Smokehouse tonight for a gig that starts at…
Kid City closes.
Kid City, the miniature metropolis that's provided local children with fond memories for more than two decades (this writer included), has officially closed in preparation for the construction of the Glazer Children’s Museum (the new, more impersonal and not very interesting museum design is pictured at right). But never fear — if you never got…
Did Obama campaign asks Marilyn Manson to perform?
Let's say you were running for President and had the juice to recruit top-shelf pop stars to perform on your behalf. Who would you go after? I'll go out on a limb and say that Marilyn Manson would probably not be one of them. Manson ex Evan Rachel Wood claims that the Obama camp asked…
Reel Projections — Tuesday, November 11
Not your average Joe: Russell Crowe takes role slated for Heath Ledger in Australian film Dirt Music. Concept art for Terminator Salvation. Billion-dollar Batman: The Dark Knight nears $1 billion in box office. Like father, like son: Will Smith's kid Jaden to star in Karate Kid redo. Six new Watchmen posters dedicated to each of…
Dan Aykroyd’s Crystal Head Vodka might make me actually drink vodka
When the promo video for Crystal Head Vodka was posted about a month or so ago, I sort of thought it might be a joke, or maybe a little early viral promo for Ghostbusters III. Dan Aykroyd hammed it up admirably, detailing a somewhat-based-in-fact legend of 13 crystal skulls (like the Mitchell-Hedges skull featured in…
The Short List: Scarborough drops the F-Bomb
I don't know which is better: Joe Scarborough saying "fuck you" live on MSNBC or Mike Barnacle's mouth-agape expression right after it happens. Keep up the good work, Joe. Obama starts measuring the drapes as Bush looks on. The only different between AIG and common thieves is sometimes thieves have honor. Wither the South in…
Do It Today
Inkwood Books stages an out-of-store book signing with Tampa Bay Buccaneer and NFL Pro Bowl running back Warrick Dunn in honor his new bio, Running for My Life: My Journey in the Game of Football and Beyond. The event is held in the alternative space next to Milagros Soap Shop, 1605 W. Snow Circle, Hyde Park…
First official Chinese Democracy review running in Rolling Stone
It's official. The most highly anticipated release in modern rock history, Guns N' Roses' Chinese Democracy, has finally arrived. RollingStone.com has run a 4-star review. Here's the opening 'graph: Let's get right to it: The first Guns n' Roses album of new, original songs since the first Bush administration is a great, audacious, unhinged and…
Read to the beat
William McKeen is chairman of the University of Florida’s Department of Journalism and author of several books, most recently the Hunter S. Thompson biography Outlaw Journalist. His books on music include Rock and Roll is Here to Stay and Highway 61. MUSIC TO MY EYES: I don’t know about you, but the imminent arrival of a full-scale…
Girl kissing Katy Perry coming to St. Pete
Katy "I Kissed a Girl" Perry is embarking on a worldwide tour that will bring the vibrant vixen to Jannus Landing in St. Petersburg on April 28, 2009 for her final date of the far-flung jaunt. By then, you have to wonder, will pretty Perry (aka "titties magee" in this cleavagely awesome pic) still be…
Barack and Michelle Obama arrive at White House
Watch the video now:
Tampa Bay History Center to open Jan. 17
Rendering via tampabayhistorycenter.org The newly constructed Tampa Bay History Center is now set to open Jan. 17. (Up until last week, I'd heard December, but the History Center's PR person recently sent me the January date.) This is not only exciting news for those of us who live in downtown Tampa and are glad to…
Anti-apartheid artist Miriam Makeba has died
There was a time, in the mid and late '80s, when South African apartheid was a prominent theme among more socially conscious musicians. Singer Miriam Makeba, a South African artist much at the nexus of the turmoil, has died after collapsing on stage in Italy. She was 76. Paul Simon's 1986 album Graceland was at…
New Menu Monday: Bowled Restaurant in St. Petersburg
Bowled (3451 4th. St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-895-2695) is built on a gimmick, but that doesn't mean the food isn't good. Everything at this new restaurant is served — you got it — in a bowl. First time restaurateur Michael Cecere, who's worked at the Melting Pot and the Ciccio & Tony's clan, put some…
New Menu Monday: Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion lunch menu
Roy's — one of the prestige brands of Tampa's OSI Restaurant Partner's — has opened for lunch at the Tampa location (4342 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, 813-873-7697). On the whole, it looks like the menu devised by chef/partner Kiel Lombardo is largely smaller portions of the usual nighttime fare. Lots of options, though. Check…
Merle Haggard convalescing after lung surgery
I woke up happy to learn that honky tonk hero Merle Haggard — country music's greatest living singer, songwriter and guitar badasss — is recovering from successful lung surgery. Here's the press release: MERLE HAGGARD arrived home five days after having lung surgery in a Bakersfield hospital last Monday morning. It was discovered during a…
New Menu Monday: The Table in downtown St. Petersburg
Earlier today I detailed the re-opening of The Table (535 Central Ave. St. Petersburg, 727-823-6372) under new owners Michael Stewart (of 717 South in Tampa) and building owners George and Linda Rahdert, with former Table co-owner and awesome chef Pedro Flores in the kitchen. Check after the break for the new menu, featuring lower prices…
A couple of Bucs bits
Bucs coach Jon Gruden has what some pundits are calling a crucial decision to make this week: Whether to take RB Cadillac Williams from the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and put him on the active roster. I don't see this as a tough decision at all: Don't do it. Williams blew out his…
The Cranky Copy Editor — Monday, November 10
Given an infinite amount of time, a monkey banging away at a typewriter could produce the works of Shakespeare. Perhaps given the same amount of time, the New Orleans Saints could eventually win a Super Bowl. But are you willing to wait for that day? And if/when it arrived, would you even care? It’s not…
Tampa and St. Pete Restaurant Openings and Closings
The Table (535 Central Ave. St. Petersburg, 727-823-6372), which closed rather quickly the day they won our Reader's Poll award for Best New Restaurant, has re-opened. Former manager Joe Moledo teamed with the building's owners and Michael Stewart of 717 South in Tampa to re-open the doors with food from former Table co-owner and chef…
The Short List: Obama used to be funny
Bill Maher is worried that an Obama administration isn't going to be very funny. After seeing this video of Obama roasting his now Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel back in 2005, I think we might see a few laughs ahead. Rahm Emanuel outlines the early ambitions of the Obama administration. In the fight against al-Qaeda,…
Do It Today
The Black Crowes (pictured below) bring their blues infused rock 'n' roll to Ruth Eckerd Hall. 8 p.m., $37.50 and $45.50. Michael Grote, Gulf Coast program manager for Architecture for Humanity’s Biloxi Model Home Program, appears as part of USF's Sustain it(!) – Strategies + Tactics for Sustainability in Architecture and Urbanism lecture series. His discussion topic…
Publix Greenwise in South Tampa has dazzling debut
The Publix Greenwise Market in SoHo, which opened Thursday, rocks. That's right. It rocks. I have never been so enamored by a grocery store. The place has everything from freshly prepared sushi to organic bread to a deli to an indoor/outdoor dining area to a real butcher to a massive wine selection to Rogue beer.…
Artsqueeze Weekend Roundup, Nov. 7-9
Late-breaking weekend roundup so you can get your art on. Friday 6-10 p.m. – Mind the Gap, a one-night exhibit and fundraiser for the Ellis-VanPelt Santaella Cigar Factory at 1906 N Armenia Ave (home to the West Tampa Center for the Arts, 5[art] and Three04). Additional information available at www.five-art.com and www.three04.com. 7-9 p.m. –…
The Cranky Copy Editor — Friday, November 7
Here are 10 horrible puns I'm glad I didn't have to write as headlines after our president-elect secured the Oval Office (though I probably would have used the first one). 1. Barack to the future 2. Obamination 3. Baracking the vote 4. Obamania 5. Barack Star 6. Obamawesome 7. Barack and roll 8. Obama-lama-ding-dong 9.…
No photos, please
I’ve been following the lives of celebrities ever since I was old enough to flip through the pages of People at the beauty salon while my mom was getting her hair done, though I didn’t really begin to enjoy the juiciness until I hit puberty. I won’t call it a guilty pleasure because I am…
Black Crowes, Coldplay, The Toasters and more playing Tampa
It's Friday morning and I already have my eye on the weekend. Chances are, you do, too. Here are the shows that matter — well, at least to us — going down in the next seven days. What am I most excited about? The Black Crowes (pictured), performing with added firepower courtesy of Luther Dickinson,…
The new Z-Grille opens, while Zurritos keeps the old flava’
This morning I posted a review of Zurritos — the Zack Gross outlet that used to be Z Grille. Perfect timing, since the new Z Grille (727-822-9600) is officially opening today. Gross moved down the street to the new Signature Tower development at 104 2nd St. S, giving his casual and relaxed restaurant a more…
The Short List: “Giraffes!” + Buddy Johnson
Thank God NBC finally got around to posting "Giraffes!", the hilarious skit/mini-movie that ran on last weekend's Saturday Night Live. That was the same night as the "John McCain on QVC" skit. That was very funny. This is so bizarre it's transcendent. Our long, county-wide nightmare is over. Would you believe Obama's agenda includes "Getting…
Do It This Weekend
Remember the The Presidents of the United States of America, that band who had such goofily catchy alt hits in the mid-90's, like "Lump," "Kitty" and "Peaches"? They reunited in '04 and released two albums since, the most recent, These Are the Good Times People, this past March. PUSA (pictured) is currently touring in support of the…
Songs about hair
So, here it goes, I got terrifically drunk recently and shaved my head. Yep. Been planning on doing the deed for some time. Not exactly sure why I finally went through with it. Still waiting for my coworker/personal shrink Joe Bardi to give his analysis. Anyway, here are the songs that go through my naked…
Proud to be an American
It was often difficult to take pride in being an American during these trying years of the Bush administration. Sure, Obama probably won't turn out to be the messiah many are expecting but for now, at least, I have faith that he'll lead our country in the right, or at least a better, direction. And…
Is local radio host Mark Larsen a racist?
Kudos to the Times' Eric Deggans for his piece on local radio host Mark Larsen's choice to wear blackface on his show yesterday — the day after the nation elected its first black president. Larsen insists his little stunt wasn't racist; he made a bet last year that if America elected a man with the…
Thursday Night Football
TNF returns with tonight's Browns/Broncos showdown. The game looks to be a shootout, as both teams feature comically inept defenses. Vegas slightly favors the hometown Browns; I'm inclined to agree, even though Denver's taken all five meetings between the two thus far. Joe Bardi predicts the impending slopfest will be won by "anyone except the…
Bolster your resume by working for change
The Obama-Biden Transition Project (not a rock band name, and not a mad scientist experiment) has a new, official website up, aptly named change.gov. After suffering through a post-election bit of funk, maybe this is my chance to catapult into our glorious future world of happiness and light (and in the process flee journalism) by…
Re-Geek: Fensler Films GI Joe PSAs
Remember how every episode of GI Joe ended with a public service segment teaching kids about not getting into cars with skeevy Cobra agents, or how to field-strip an M-16 and the like? Thrilling, useful information in every one. About five years back, independent filmmaker Eric Fensler took 25 of those PSAa and re-edited them…
Oakland Raiders: When it rains it pours
I do not, never have and never will, sympathize with the Oakland Raiders, but if you're so inclined, feel free to feel sorry for the beleaguered franchise. Oakland gave up a 2nd round pick to Atlanta to get cornerback DeAngelo Hall, then signed him to a 7-year, $70 million contract. The team just cut him.…
The Audacity Of Disappointment: Why hasn’t anything changed?
Last night's South Park send-up of McCain and Obama was pretty white-bread stuff, but I have to admit I identified with the b-plot about Stan's dad. Although I avoided his drunken antics, I still woke up on Wednesday morning only to find that much of the joy and ebullience of the night before was gone.…
Reel Projections — Thursday, November 6
Silk stalking: Behind-the-scenes Watchmen production video dedicated to the very sexy Silk Spectre II. Trick or treat? Sequel to Rob Zombie's Halloween in the works. Jurassic Park author Michael Crichton died at 66. Rays of light: Ray Winstone and Ray Liotta sign on for 13, joining Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke and 50 Cent. New photos…
The Short List: CNN has holograms!
CNN went all Star Wars on viewers election night with Princess Leia stand-in Jessia Yellin reporting via hologram. Help us Barack Obama, you're our only hope! Come on Hillsborough, this is ridiculous. Election day was ugly for supporters of gay marriage. Next move in the modern civil rights battle: Lawsuits. It's all over but the…
Do It Today
A one-act play by James Leo Herlihy, Terrible Jim Fitch, makes its debut at the Studio at 620 in St. Petersburg; Bob Devin Jones directs. Nov. 6-7, 8 p.m., $25 general/$15 students and seniors. Tom Stovall and Hersha Parady in Terrible Jim Fitch. Find out more about architect Teddy Cruz's sustainable design and building ideas…
Barack Obama parties across the United States
Last night (and into today), Obama supporters across the country erupted into spontaneous celebration — dancing and cheering in the streets. I didn't find nearly the exuberance in St. Pete last night, but the rest of the country got downright crazy:
MySpace is my master
Every pervs favorite "social networking site" is offering a slew of new music videos. Like any good MySpace bitch, I'm gonna pass on this killer info that found its way into my inbox. Here ya go: ***MYSPACE MUSIC VIDEO EXCLUSIVES*** MYSPACE MUSIC PROUDLY PRESENTS EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE OF NEW MUSIC VIDEOS FROM OASIS AND KINGS OF…
Bad Plus tackles Pink Floyd, Nirvana, Heart
Experimental Jazz piano trio Bad Plus has become an unlikely jam band fave in recent years. Secret weapon? Superbly screwing with classic rock and grunge staples like Black Sabbath's "Iron Man," Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and Rush's "Tom Sawyer." Sure, the threesome composes originals, but that's not what gets these guys paid. So it…
A quick message for right-wing talk radio hosts …
Hey, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly and Tampa's very own Todd Schnitt — I've got two words for ya: [youtube]\\<\/iframe\>]
The one truly amazing thing I witnessed on election night
In my semi-intoxicated random postings on election night, I mentioned the guy who ran out into the street yelling. I didn't have the time at that moment to really convey what it was that I saw; but now that I'm mostly recovered from last night (didn't sleep until about 4:30am), I feel that I can…
The Cranky Copy Editor — Wednesday, November 5
The day after Barack Obama became our president-elect and delivered a moving, eloquent speech in Chicago, I decided get myself all riled up and read some right-wing rants. It worked: After Obama's big night, conservative pundit Michelle Malkin was her usual bitter self. This jerk is predicting everything but doomsday under Obama (including a smug…
Election Night Wrap-Up
The 2008 election lived up to the hype, and proved to be the most historic and exciting election in a generation (if not more). It was a hectic night, but we at CL kept you up to speed with constant dispatches from around the Bay area. If you missed it, or just want to relive…
Election night photos
Here are some shots from the Florida Democratic party's election night rally held at the Marriot Waterside in downtown Tampa:
Watch Obama’s victory speech
Here it is, in two parts: Part two:
Do It Today
See V for Vendetta for free when St. Pete for Peace stages its Wednesday night film presentation. Based on a comic about a futuristic totalitarian Britain, the film follows a meek young woman and her association-by-rescue with a masked revolutionary, who urges his fellow citizens to rise up against tyranny and oppression. 8 p.m., Cafe…
Surveying SoHo on election night
I got all giddy last night and posted this at TampaCalling.com. It should have been posted here. Wed. A.M. UPDATE: Obama wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, here I am. It's just past 10 p.m. and I'm cranking my Obama Victory Mix. My man is winning, and I'm feeling good about life, my country, humanity in general. Damn it…
The Short List: Obama wins it!
Last night, Sen. Barack Obama defeated Sen. John McCain and was elected the 44th President of the United States. He then delivered the following speech to the incredible crowd in Chicago's Grant Park. Here's looking forward to the next four years … Election wrap: Here, here, here and here. Even more election wrap: Here, here,…
Ugly Men pull hot women
From Ugly Men to bodacious babes, it was a wild Halloween weekend.
This week’s wine and food events
WEDNESDAY: TASTINGS Wine and cheese sampler features Rembrandt two-year aged Gouda paired with world-class wine selections. $15. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Nov. 5, Tastings, 149 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-894-2255 or awineexperience.com). THURSDAY: WEST PALM WINES "Connoisseur Series" presents an in-depth look at the wines, estates and trends in France's famous Bordeaux region. Limited to 20…
History of the Devil: Jobsite Theater puts Satan on trial
Ten years ago, I saw The History of the Devil at Jobsite Theater, and was mightily displeased by a sloppy production of what seemed a tiresome script. Ten years later, Jobsite has brought Clive Barker's play back — and this time the production is so expertly polished that it almost makes the play tolerable. Almost,…
New movie Happy-Go-Lucky is Mike Leigh’s cup of cheer
Poppy, the high-spirited heroine of the comedy Happy-Go-Lucky, wants to cheer people up. Sally Hawkins plays Poppy as such a bubbly, joking motormouth, she reminded me of a remark by C.S. Lewis: "She's the sort of woman who lives for others — you can always tell the others by their hunted expression." Poppy all but…
Reviews: Hank Williams III: Damn Right Rebel Proud *** 1/2
Damn Right Rebel Proud HANK WILLIAMS III (Sidewalk ) Shelton Hank Williams III continues his reign as the ultimate death-defying Nashville badass/head case. The antithesis of pop-country acts such as Tim McGraw, the hellbilly renegade's fourth album finds him melodiously yelping about fighting, fucking, drinking, suicide, broken hearts, Satanism and snorting coke — all this…
Audience & Avatar: Virtual and real art worlds collide at USFCAM
Attendees at last week's Sarasota International Design Summit were treated to an impressive survey of the game industry's influence and economic clout courtesy of Phil Holt, general manager of Orlando-based EA Tiburon. Holt, whose company produces the multimillion dollar-grossing Madden NFL football and Tiger Woods golf games, described an ever-expanding audience for video and online…
Zurritos serves cheap eats in downtown St. Petersburg; Z-Grille re-opens
The only thing that changed when Z-Grille became Zurritos – besides the name, I guess — was the menu. It’s still the same casual, relaxed restaurant staffed by attractive thirty-somethings (I’d call them hipsters, but that always gets people in trouble). Owner Zack Gross might be edging out of that range, but the tattooed chef…
Bootleg Bob Dylan at the Lakeland Civic Center
"If You See Her, Say Hello" (live; 4/18/1976) BOB DYLAN (tampacalling.com) Recorded at the Lakeland Civic Center during the messy end of the famed Rolling Thunder Revue Tour, this bootleg recording finds a feisty Dylan performing solo with acoustic guitar and harmonica, recasting a once gentle, Blood on the Tracks goodbye-to-his wife number as a…
Monofilament fishing line a danger to Tampa Bay’s wildlife
Once Ann Hodgson brushes aside the leaves, the little white body isn't hard to see. There, hanging from a mangrove branch, is the dried-out, desiccated body of a snowy egret. Wrapped around its neck is a thin piece of fishing line. "It apparently just hung to death," says Hodgson, sanctuaries manager for Audubon of Florida.…
Political overindulgence: Post-election hangover begins
We knew we shouldn’t have had that last round of attack ads.
Tampa Bay History Center nears completion
Between Channelside and the St. Pete Times Forum, a future cornerstone of Tampa's waterfront attractions nears completion. The Tampa Bay History Center — a 3-story, 60,000-square-foot structure — holds the promise of a permanent destination for history buffs (both current ones and those likely to be seduced into a new passion by the History Center's…
Did Rep. Gus Bilirakis violate East Lake’s weapons policy?
On Aug. 9, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis invited Pinellas County residents to East Lake High School in Tarpon Springs for a Military Day and Veterans' Resources Fair. It was the congressman's second such event, organized to connect veterans with benefits and provide activities for the general public to learn about the armed forces. Bilirakis paid…
Review: Roy Orbison: Soul of Rock and Roll
The Soul of Rock and Roll ROY ORBISON (Sony) "It's hard to understand, but the touch of your hand, can start me crying." Roy Orbison was easily the most sensitive and vulnerable of the first generation of rock 'n' rollers, with a high operatic voice and those weeperoo lyrics. One of a kind. You could…
Great Expectations this holiday season at Dunedin fine Art Center
For the past 22 years, Dunedin Fine Art Center has hosted an annual holiday invitational with the idea being that folks who come to check out the featured works can actually afford to take one (or several) home — and can do so that very same day instead of having to wait for the show's…
Review: Ani DiFranco: Red Letter Year
Red Letter Year ANI DIFRANCO (Righteous Babe) She has settled into a life of motherhood and domestic bliss, but that doesn't stop Ani DiFranco from opening her new album with a killer line. "New Year's Eve we dropped mushrooms and danced round the house," she sings, creating a clever metaphor for the surreal horror of…
Review: Smashing Pumpkins at the Fillmore: If All Goes Wrong
If All Goes Wrong The Smashing Pumpkins (Coming Home Studios) When Billy Corgan relaunched the Smashing Pumpkins, the new band performed two extended residencies: eight nights at Asheville's Orange Peel and 11 nights at San Francisco's famed Fillmore Auditorium. If All Goes Wrong documents this period, showcasing a band finding its way under the crushing…
Bad boyfriends and a dominant girl seeks young submissive
Savage Love I feel ridiculous e-mailing you about this, but I figure that if anyone has seen or heard of all manners of asshole behavior during sex, it would be you. I'm a 17-year-old girl, and I've only had one boyfriend — who was, at the time, 21 and, I thought, completely perfect. I'm glad…
Tampa’s City Council sows the seeds of local agriculture
Michael Pollan is known for illuminating the darker side of food. In Omnivore's Dilemma, he detailed the impact corn refiners and corporate agriculture have on what we put into our mouths, with a shout-out to more pastoral ways of farming and eating. In Defense of Food was more of the same, with a chilling examination…
Dashboard Confessional, Coldplay and Wild 98.7’s Last Damn Show 10
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6 DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL w/PANIC AT THE DISCO/PLAIN WHITE T'S/THE CAB The envy of nearly all emo purveyors, Dashboard Confessional's Christopher Carrabba has ruled the oh-so-earnest genre with a gentle hand since the early '00s. (USF Sun Dome, Tampa) METRO STATION w/SHWAYZE/TYGA/CASH CASH Damn, that Cyrus clan knows how to work the music biz.…
Black Crowes shake their moneymaker at Ruth Eckerd Hall
The Black Crowes were in a flightless funk for the past decade-plus. I saw 'em at the Ford Amphitheatre two years ago, and it was a psychedelic snooze-fest. The once-fierce Southern rock 'n' roll outfit responsible for the excellently gruff 1990 album, Shake Your Moneymaker, had sunk into a jam-band purple haze of rudder-less rambling…
Post-World Series, Are the Tampa Bay Rays any closer to a waterfront Stadium?
You'd think that with a spectacular Cinderella season — in which they made it to the World Series and, more importantly, beat Boston for the pennant — that the Tampa Bay Rays would have it teed up for an easy shot at a new ballpark. Think again. For a variety of reasons, mostly out of…
This week’s wine and food events
WEDNESDAY: TASTINGS Wine and cheese sampler features Rembrandt two-year aged Gouda paired with world-class wine selections. $15. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Nov. 5, Tastings, 149 First Ave. N., St. Petersburg (727-894-2255 or awineexperience.com). THURSDAY: WEST PALM WINES "Connoisseur Series" presents an in-depth look at the wines, estates and trends in France's famous Bordeaux region. Limited to 20…
California dreamin’: Cheap wine for the recession
Dear California winemaker, I've been kinda broke lately, and since (insert name here) has won the White House, who knows what's going to happen with my bank account? I wondered if you might be able to produce some tasty wine I can afford? Most in my price range ($10 and under) are mega fruit bombs…
Bush, McCain and other creatures of impulse
… and maybe if she'd stayed lonely she might have made something of herself, even if something really dumb and superfluous, like a tax attorney, or a poet, and that would have been nice, to be able to say what one was … —from Atmospheric Disturbances, by Rivka Galchen (2008) One perverse choice I made…
Is Hank Williams Jr. a McCain/Palin sellout?
Editor's note: Wade recaps a recent hit from his blog,tampacalling.com., posted Oct. 29. I've always had a soft spot for Bocephus, especially the artist's early material. For instance, his 1976 album Hank Williams Jr. & Friends is a genuine honky-tonk classic. But the Monday Night Football, right-wing buffoon Hank Williams Jr. caricature has long eclipsed…
Surveying SoHo on election night
Wed. A.M. UPDATE: Obama wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So, here I am. It's just past 10 p.m. and I'm cranking my Obama Victory Mix. My man is winning, and I'm feeling good about life, my country, humanity in general. Damn it all if he loses, eh? Here's what I reported tonight: 8:03 P.M. Middle-age(d?) white man at Tiny…
We have a winner?! Election night in Seminole Heights
It's a little after 10pm in Seminole Heights/Sulphur Springs, one block from the Corner Club. We've got s'mores, beer, a fire, a cat named "Killer B" and hope. Lots of hope. MSNBC is on the tele and WMNF is on the radio. MSNBC is talking about the "grey states". WTF? Are the aliens from The…
Conor Oberst streaming new solo album?
OK, I am a little confused on this one. I just received an email from a legit PR firm that reads: Two weeks before the release of Conor Oberst’s highly anticipated solo album Conor Oberst, the album will be available for streaming in its entirety on www.conoroberst.com and www.mergerecords.com. These streams will be active from…
Police returning to Fla. with Costello
The Police are revisiting the Sunshine State — but not Tampa again. Sting & co. will perform at the Amway Center in Orlando on May 16 and at Cruzan (formerly Sound Advice) Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach on May 17. Elvis Costello & The Imposters open both dates. Photo credit: Jeff Kravitz/Film Magic. The idea…
Grammys, Mastodon, Marley, Langerado and more
Sunday music links: "Rehab" singer (and current patient) Amy Winehouse allowed into U.S. — but "chooses to stay home." She'll perform at today's Grammy Awards show via satellite. Atlanta prog-metal quartet Mastodon has teamed with Slipknot and others for the Rockstar Energy Mayhem tour, which comes to Ford Amphitheatre in Tampa on July 29. Here's…
Best of the Bay music winners announced
UPDATE TUE., SEPT. 25: BEST OF BLOWOUT Allow me a minute to brag on the bangin' bash Creative Loafing threw last night at Tampa Theatre. The turnout was terrific, and I think it's a safe bet to say a good time was had by all in attendance. Hopefully, we'll have pics to post by the…
