As most of you who are seriously plugged in know by now, the Tampa original-music scene suffered a heartbreaking blow two Mondays ago, when singer-songwriter and Unrequited Loves frontman Mike O'Neill took his own life. Mike played in uniformly top-notch bands around the Bay area for the better part of two decades; while he of the horn-rims and blazers and scratchy/warbly edge-of-control voice is missed terribly, his friendship and contributions to our scene and our lives are remembered fondly, and his impact on local music will be felt for years to come.
This Friday, we'll gather not to mourn Mike nor anguish over the questions we know will most likely never be answered, but rather to celebrate his life, his love for music and his unwavering support of homegrown tunes. In addition to the peers below, additional performers (both acoustic and electric) will be added as the days go by; everything from alt-country to Mike's beloved garage-fuzz will be represented, and the money collected will go to his family.
Mike O'Neill Memorial, feat. Ronny Elliott/Flat Stanley/Thee Four Shames/The 39 Steps/Rancid Polecats/Others, Friday, July 28 @ New World Brewery, Ybor City. 8 p.m.; $5.
This article appears in Jul 26 – Aug 1, 2006.