THURSDAY, SEPT. 28
EDITOR'S NOTE: An item previously on the Music Menu has been removed. The item stated incorrectly that the Little Steven's Underground Garage show featuring The Zombies and others would be taking place at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino. That show is NOT taking place. The item was based on erroneous information that had been posted on the Underground Garage website.
THE FRENCH KICKS/THE LITTLE ONES/SUMMERBIRDS IN THE CELLAR/MODERN New York post-punk/skewed-pop act The French Kicks came together just before the turn of the millennium. The group's latest album, Two Thousand, is fractured and ambitious but immediately listenable, an impressive balance of originality, rawness and hooks. West Coast guitar-pop outfit The Little Ones is comparatively straightforward, but in a good way; its song "Lovers Who Uncover" is awesome. Ace local/regional support comes courtesy of Winter Haven's Summerbirds and Tampa's Modern. All in all, an extremely strong indie-pop bill. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 29
SANTANA w/LOS LONELY BOYS An incendiary '60s/'70s rock guitarist turned sideman on his own albums, Carlos Santana knows the value of surrounding himself with popular singers and songwriters. His shows, however, take on a much more of Latin rock vibe, and focus on showcasing his still distinctive guitar work. The three Chicano brothers known as Los Lonely Boys have become increasingly mainstream during their relatively short tenure. (Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa) —ES
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE/EIGHTEEN VISIONS/ESCAPE THE FATE/DROP DEAD, GORGEOUS Murderous angst got you down? Welcome to teenagerdom during the Hot Topic years, kid. Bullet For My Valentine is England's entry into the Fifth-Rate Screamo Band sweepstakes. The band not only sucks, but also got kicked off what was supposed to be its breakthrough American tour supporting Rob Zombie after its singer whined online about not getting the rock star treatment he was used to in the UK. What a douche. Veteran metalcore act Eighteen Visions; new, incredibly generic Epitaph screamo combo Escape The Fate; and Denver screamo/spaz-core unit Drop Dead, Gorgeous round out a pretty uninspired bill. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
THE ENGLISH BEAT/PAULINE BLACK/LYNVAL GOLDING & RODDY RADIATION It's a night packed with big names from the second-wave Golden Age of British ska and two-tone. Formed in the late '70s, The English Beat was one of the earliest of the scene's key groups, burning brightly (and comparatively poppily) but quickly until '82, when it split into the two factions that became General Public and Fine Young Cannibals. The group has some very special guests in tow this evening — Pauline Black was the singer for the lesser-known but no less influential The Selecter, and both Golding and Roddy "Radiation" Byers were members of the Specials. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
ADRIANNE w/DEB HUNSEDER Los Angeles singer-songwriter Adrianne is building an audience through word-of-mouth and songs that bridge the various gaps between the contemporary folk, Adult Alternative and post-Lilith Fair scenes. She's a regular at L.A. hangout Room 5 Lounge's heavily buzzed Monday-night shindigs, which are a focal point of the most vibrant singer-songwriter scene that city has experienced since the late-'60s heyday of Gram Parsons and Buffalo Springfield. Deb Hunseder, of Tampa's beloved, on-again-off-again Halcyon, opens. (Cuban Club, Ybor City)
NANDISHKOR MULEY The santur is an Asian form of hammer dulcimer, and no one plays it better than Grammy Award-winning Indian virtuoso Nandishkor Muley. He's also a multi-instrumentalist and walking encyclopedia of East Asian musical traditions, but tonight he'll concentrate on the santur and be accompanied by Shripad Jail on tabla. (Friday Morning Musicale, Tampa)
PAUL WILBORN SINGS THE COLE PORTER SONGBOOK Tampa's very own Minister of Cultural Affairs and Oversight does a cabaret thing with the timeless repertoire of Cole Porter, a guy who wrote a few catchy ditties back in the golden era of American song: stuff like "Love for Sale," "I Get a Kick out of You," "Anything Goes" and "In the Still of the Night." Big Question: Why is Tampa's Minister of Cultural Affairs and Oversight performing in, of all places, St. Pete? Get me Mayor Pam on the phone! (Palladium, St. Petersburg) —ES
THESE GREEN EYES/A GENTLEMEN ARMY/NORTH These Green Eyes is actually in town right after a gig at the legendary NYC underground rock club Knitting Factory. That's pretty impressive and a little surprising. While the Factory has a reputation for risky and weird shows, Green Eyes is about as straightforward as new rock gets: crunchy guitars, wailing choruses, self-loathing. Let's just go ahead and say the word "emo." You like? Check it out. You'd rather draw on your tummy with a razor blade? Stay home. (Atlantis Pizzeria, Sarasota) —Cooper Levey-Baker
"UNDI ROCK" I smell the mad scientists/deviants/weird-scene nurturers that helm Tampa's Cephia's Treat Recordings behind this cavalcade of performances guaranteed to test your definition of the word "music." Free? Absolutely. All ages? You got it. Noisy? Don't get me started. Here's the list of aural astronauts who boldly go where very few human beings have gone before, sonically speaking: My(Left) Uterous; Mount Awesome; Then and Than; Golden Ax; Xingu; and Praew Jik. (Emerald Bar, St. Petersburg)
SATURDAY, SEPT. 30
DAN BERN w/LUKE DOUCET Prolific singer-songwriter Bern has been simultaneously embodying and defying folkie traditions for a decade now. His latest album, Breathe, makes the universal personal via a collection of tunes that run the gamut from rollicking alt-country to solo acoustic strum; for more on Bern, check out this week's music column. Countrified maverick solo singer-songwriter Luke Doucet provides apt support. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
FRIENDS OF FLORIDA FOLK @ FOUNDERS DAY The big 10th-anniversary installment of New Port Richey's annual weekend-long Founders Day celebration kicked off yesterday, but today's the day the Friends of Florida Folk get involved with a slate of singer-songwriter talent that runs through the rest of the party. The schedule includes, ahem, folks like Mike Jurgensen, Bobby Hicks, Keith Hope, Pamela Jo Hatley and Susan Boyer Hadley, and includes everything from jam circles and open mics to a gospel singalong. For the full schedule, go to foff.org. (Sims Park, New Port Richey)
MARIA ZOUVES Greek-American opera soprano Zouves has sung leading roles from Baltimore to Orlando to Florence and once played a command performance in Athens for Greek and American ambassadors. Expect a program that includes both familiar favorites and works specifically chosen to highlight her prodigious vocal talent. ((Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, Tarpon Springs)
PALANTINE CD RELEASE PARTY Palantine is the new project by Vinnie Cosentino, charter member of extremely long-running Tampa trio Lukali. His songs were/are usually my favorite Lukali tunes, because they were/are more muscular, straightforward and rocking, and Palantino doesn't skimp in that department — the new disc Sight and Concrete Hills is full of meaty, fuzz-toned guitars and big drums. It's awesome, not to put too fine a point on it. She Screams Ambulance, The Redliners and These Green Eyes help Cosentino (and fellow Lukali members Brian Johnson and Scott Becker, who'll back him live) announce his new effort in fine indie-rock style. (Bombshell Gallery, St. Petersburg)
LAST LAUGH/DEAD CELEBS/EVENTIDE Signed to California's Suburban Noize Records and hailing all the way from across the state of Florida — Stuart to be precise — Last Laugh is punking-up The Tavern on Main. The band has an all-right way with the galloping rhythms and snotty singing of punk in the mold of Green Day and Rancid. Tampa's Dead Celebs branches out into some reggae stylings and Sarasota's EvenTide gives the night some metal. (The Tavern on Main, Sarasota) —CLB
SUNDAY, OCT. 01
SUNCOAST BLUES SOCIETY PRESENTS BARNYARD BOOGIE 2! The SBS hosts another worthwhile blues event to benefit the Diamond Teeth Mary "Really Got the Blues" musicians'-aid fund, this one a harmonica-heavy tribute to the Bay area's own late, beloved Rock Bottom. Harp-masters TC Carr, Jim Bukiet, Earl the Pearl, Kim Harpo, Howlin' Buzz, and Liz Pennock & Dr. Blues will be backed by noted, energetic Bay area combo The Venturas. In addition, local activist/musician/archivist Pete Gallagher will screen his short documentary film about Diamond Teeth Mary, and a special double-disc CD of Rock Bottom's best-loved material will be offered for sale. Things kick off at 5 p.m. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
QUEEN OF SWING Local lounge/jump-blues combo Lounge Cat plays this special screening of Queen of Swing, a new documentary on the life and accomplishments of world-renowned dancer Norma Miller. Proceeds from tonight's event will go to Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp Foundation, a nonprofit that provides instruments and instruction for disadvantaged children. (Tampa Theatre, Tampa)
MICHAEL ROYAL TRIO He's a jazz pianist of considerable intellect and sensitivity who plays tunes from a broad array of the post-bop repertoire, as well as his own compositions. As always, the intimate Gorilla Theatre is an enchanting place to witness an acoustic jazz show. For directions and info, go to gorilla-theatre.com (Gorilla Theatre, Tampa) —ES
TUESDAY, OCT. 03
XIU XIU/CONG FOR BRUMS/BARR I've always felt that arty San Jose post-punk combo Xiu Xiu's releases were missing, um, what's the word? Oh, yeah — songs. This time around, with the newly released Air Force, the group has managed to work some actual tunes into its "challenging," "utterly original" (two phrases that are often used as euphemisms for "unlistenable") milieu, and I'm deeply thankful and satisfied. Thanks, Xiu Xiu. See 'em do that thing they do, along with the enigmatic, vaguely ominous-sounding Cong for Brums and crazy-ass boom-bap "motivational rapper"/wordsmith Barr, tonight at Orpheum. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 04
SOULFLY/FULL BLOWN CHAOS/SCARS OF TOMORROW/INCITE Though primarily known as "that band Max Cavalera started when he left Sepultura," Soulfly has nonetheless contributed mightily to extreme metal's legacy by giving the Brazilian Cavalera a platform to continue his daring, if occasionally ill-advised, stylistic experimentation. When anonymous metalcore dabblers like Full Blown Chaos and Scars of Tomorrow are completely forgotten, say, 17 months from now, Soulfly will still be getting Es for effort. The Incite on this tour is the one from Arizona, with the Blood for Blood-meets-Hatebreed sort of sound, not the one from Ontario with the Thrice-meets-Taking Back Sunday sort of sound, or the one from Homewood, Ill. that didn't do any homework before it picked a band name. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
PANDIT JASRAJ Indian singer Jasraj is a guest-in-residence at USF, teaching a unique performance-based class on Indian classical music. What's particularly interesting about this course is, if hearing and learning about Indian classical music sounds interesting to you, you can pay eight bucks to sit in on it each/any Wednesday you like (10-11:50 a.m.) through Nov. 1. For tickets or more info, call 813-974-2323. (USF Music Recital Hall, Tampa)
This article appears in Sep 27 – Oct 4, 2006.