THURSDAY, AUGUST 30
INCUBUS w/THE BRAVERY Even though the band named itself after a demon and initially got lumped in with the nu-metal set, Incubus ultimately proved to be a more melodic, alternative rock band prone to earnest ballads like their recent single "Love Hurts," which should not be confused with the Roy Orbison classic of the same name — or the Nazareth song. The Bravery is among a small army of New York City bands doing the electronica-disco-rock thing these days. (Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa)
PAPERCRANES w/TEXTUAL/SUMMERBIRDS IN THE CELLAR/THE VERA VIOLETS/I LOVE U Singer/songwriter/actress Rain Phoenix's breathy, ethereal vocals mark the music of the two bands on this bill: Papercranes and Textual, both based in Gainesville — the former a marvelously melodic indie rock group, the latter an ambient electro-pop duo expanded into a full band for touring purposes only. Psychedelia-leaning acts Summerbirds in the Cellar and The Vera Violets provide support, as does I Love U, which skews toward lively garage pop. (Crowbar, Ybor City) —Leilani Polk
FRIDAY, AUGUST 31
POISON w/RATT In 1992, I would have never imagined, 15 years down the line, that Poison would be headlining a 20,000-seat venue with support from hair-metal partners-in-crime Ratt. What's next? A Vanilla Ice/MC Hammer stadium tour? (Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa)
HANGTOWN w/REBEKAH PULLEY/LANCE ROWLAND One of Tampa's top alt-country bands (Hangtown) teams with one of the Bay's leading alt-country women (Pulley) and a fellow (Rowland) who specializes in more poppy singer/songwriter fare. (Kelly's Pub, Tampa)
ALEXANDER AND THE GRAPES w/BRER/TRES BIEN Dunedin's Alexander and the Grapes' silly name undermines their sincere, often moving brand of Christian-informed (but not preachy) indie country/alternative folk. Tampa's Brer offers similar thoughtful reflections on life and love, but with more of a rocking, alt-country edge. Clearwater's Tres Bien does '60s-style garage-rock with hints of power-pop. (Royalty Theatre, Clearwater)
MIGHTY JOE PLUM w/AFTERGLOW RADIO One of a handful of Tampa Bay rock bands (not counting the death-metal bunch) to ink a major label deal, post-grunge rockers Might Joe Plum's 1997 single "Live Through This (Fifteen Stories)" reached No. 6 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks. However, their subsequent Atlantic debut album, Happiest Dogs, failed to register on the Billboard 200. The band broke up shortly after their brush with fame but has recently reunited. (Dave's Aqua Lounge, St. Petersburg)
CHRIS MCCARTY BAND w/STAND BACK Formed several years ago and fronted by husky-voiced McCarty, this Gainesville quintet performs a laid-back fusion of funk, acoustic rock, soul and reggae, with the occasional Jack Johnson and Bob Marley cover thrown in for good measure. Blues-rockin' power trio Stand Back opens. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa). —LP
NEUROTICA REUNION SHOW w/OBISHAWNKENOBI/MR. BELLA After a wildly successful romp through Europe with his first band, Atheist, last summer, Sarasota's Kelly Shaefer is getting together with another crew of old mates, this time the guys of Neurotica. The band built a solid local rep in the mid-to-late-'90s before landing an ill-fated deal with Smackdown! Records, the WWE's first foray into the music business. After Smackdown! flamed out, so did Neurotica, and this is the boys' first gig together in ages. Kind of a big deal. (Gallery Billiards, Sarasota) —Cooper Levey-Baker
SINGER/SONGWRITER SHOWCASE II w/JORAN SLANE/MATT BURKE/BEN BAKKER/MIKE MAGARELLI/GEOFF FORD/EMILY ROFF Tampa Bay's Southeast Music Alliance presents yet another exhibition of top-notch local rock, this time bringing the show south to Bradenton. One highlight is Matt Burke, main dude in The Chase Theory and best known lately for his work as Have Gun, Will Travel. Burke can handle the solo singer/songwriter thing without ever going soft. Another highlight is a set by Ben Bakker, who's been active on the Bradenton rock scene more as a promoter than as an artist since the demise of his old band, Rumors of War. (Rasher Tierney's, Bradenton) —CLB
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
YOUNG JEEZY w/LIL WAYNE Everyone's favorite coke-dealer-turned-rap-star makes his third Tampa appearance of '07, this time with New Orleans rhymer Lil Wayne, who just played Jannus in June. (USF Sun Dome, Tampa)
MEAT LOAF It seems not a year goes by without the man born Marvin Lee Aday stopping by Clearwater's premier concert venue to belt out stale oldies like "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" and his maudlin, bombastic, '90s comeback crapper "I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)." (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
BEDLIGHT FOR BLUE EYES w/PERMANENT ME/SCENES FROM A MOVIE Bedlight for Blue Eyes serves emo-by-the-numbers that is as at once catchy and dull. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
STONE SOUR It came as quite a surprise, to me at least, that a couple of guys from shock-rock, alt-metal ensemble Slipknot would go on to form Stone Sour, the post-grunge band that scored a huge hit last year with the sappy power ballad "Through Glass." (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
BUFFALO STRANGE The popular Tampa jam band returns to the Skipperdome to bring the shiny, happy hippie vibe. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
DOUG SPEARS An accomplished acoustic/folk performer from Orlando, Spears serves up poignant tales backed by charming melodies on his new CD Break Some Stones, which includes the evocative title track. (Sacred Grounds, Tampa)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
MORNINGBELL w/GIDDY-UP, HELICOPTER!/WIN WIN WINTER/BRER A Gainesville band that plays more Tampa shows than many of the bands actually living here, Morningbell offers fractured folk/psychedelic-leaning pop songs buoyed by quirky-yet-emotive lyrics expertly delivered by singer Travis Atria. Highly recommended for fans of bands like the Flaming Lips. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
SIZZLA The Jamaican dancehall star known for his anti-gay lyrics has apparently turned over a new leaf: In June, The Guardian (U.K.) reported that Sizzla and fellow reggae stars Beenie Man and Capleton had signed the Reggae Compassion Act. The newspaper noted that "all three musicians have suffered loss of revenue, which some reports estimate amounts to as much as [$3.8 million], over recent years following high-profile boycott campaigns from organisations such Stop Murder Music and gay rights group OutRage!" (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
SWEATSHOP FASHION SHOW w/THE URBANE COWBOYS/MOUSE FIRE/TRES BIEN Tampa alt-country stand-outs the Urbane Cowboys will be providing the musical backdrop for this evening of fashion and art exhibits. For more information go to myspace.com/sweatshop2007. (Czar, Ybor City)
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
MANDY MOORE W/RACHEL YAMAGATA In recent interviews regarding her new album Wild Hope, Mandy Moore has admitted in so many words that several songs refer to her not-that-recent ex, Zach Braff, a clever way to sell the album without really selling the album. She's a cute girl with an average-to-good voice, but regardless of what she's singing about, the album is barely mediocre mainstream contemporary pop. Hopefully, it comes off as more stimulating in a live setting. Sultry-voiced piano-playing songstress Rachel Yamagata, who we highly recommend, opens the show with a solo set of her soulful folk-rock. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg) —LP
Editor's Note: As originally posted, this column included a listing for a Kelly Clarkson show at the St. Pete Times Forum Sept. 2. That concert has been cancelled.
This article appears in Aug 29 – Sep 4, 2007.