THURSDAY, Oct. 05
THE VIBRATORS Back in '76, this London punk act took the stage for the first time, opening for legendary cult-punk act The Stranglers. Thirty years later, band founders Knox (vocals/guitar) and Eddie (drums) are still at it, currently with bassist Pete. The band never regained the underground heights attained by its first (and still best-selling) album, '77's Pure Mania, but tonight's gig should serve as an interesting trip back to the heyday of Brit-punk. (Brass Mug, Tampa)
HEAVY HEAVY LOW LOW/ED GEIN/THE BANNER/NIGHTS LIKE THESE The appropriately named Heavy Heavy Low Low does that whole spaz-core thing that was kind of popular a couple of years ago, but does it with an interesting originality — you can actually follow the band's songs most of the way through. Having toured with just about every other noise-core group out there, HHLL is currently out with Ed Gein, a Syracuse trio with a slightly more straightforward and metallic sound. Generic New Jersey screamo act The Banner and Memphis' psychotic Nights Like These provide support. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
JAZZ NIGHT w/TOM CARABASI There's no reason for Tom Carabasi's gig at Sarasota's Khrome to be criminally neglected despite the just-barely-breathing jazz scene in town. No matter how many people show up, the full-time Ringling School of Art and Design professor and part-time drummer still leads one hell of a band, banging out the bebop and the swinging Brazilian tunes with aplomb. (Khrome, Sarasota) —Cooper Levey-Baker
FRIDAY, Oct. 06
SOUND TRIBE SECTOR 9 The hard-touring Sound Tribe Sector 9 was one of the first amid the East Coast jam scene to stand out by incorporating healthy portions of dance-music influence into its lush sonic tapestry. Elements of world styles, from dub to mystical Eastern and Central American, also find their way into an aural character that eschews lengthy solos in favor of ceaselessly building up and stripping down soundscapes established on repetitive grooves. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
GENT TREADLY w/TOM CONSTANTEN NYC jam act Gent Treadly makes another Skipperdome appearance. The band, a sort of supergroup whose core is made up of veterans of the Big Apple jam/post-jazz scene, is tighter and more musically literate than your average jam act; the fact that members of every group from the Dead and Phish to The Band have relished an opportunity to jump onstage with Gent Treadly should tell you something. This time around, second Dead keyboardist Constanten joins the musical fray. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
MOUNTAIN Black Sabbath gets most of the credit for unleashing heavy metal in the early '70s, but you could certainly make a case that Mountain was in the mix. Of course, it depends on your definition of metal, but to these ears "Mississippi Queen" certainly had the guitar crunch necessary to make the grade. And the song made the American charts six months before Black Sabbath's "Paranoid." Metal or not, Mountain had a good '70s run, and then faded, so the band's influence is not as pervasive. But we're betting that Leslie West can still spray around some nasty blues-rock licks. I can't absolutely confirm this, but it seems quite possible that original Moutaineers Felix Pappalardi and drummer Corky Laing are part of the current band as well. Oh, and for those of you who remember: Leslie West isn't fat anymore (if his website photo is still reasonably up-to-date). (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —Eric Snider
THE FLOWER KINGS Swedish prog-rock act The Flower Kings came together during a mid-'90s resurgence of the genre in its homeland. The group was considerably less heavy-handed and dark than most of its ilk, however — think more Yes, less King Crimson — and grew to become a popular attraction all over Europe. This is the group's second Bay area appearance in as many years; the Kings are touring to support Paradox Hotel, released earlier this year. (Largo Cultural Center, Largo)
THE CHASE THEORY/DAYLIGHT DISTRICT/TRULY SUNDAY/HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL Tonight's show at Rockerfellas raises cash for the new Southeastern Music Alliance local rock compilation. Headliner The Chase Theory keeps swearing online that it's got new material, but I'll believe it when it's streaming on MySpace. Who knows? Maybe the band has a hot track or two to debut at the show. Daylight District and Truly Sunday both hail from places you can get to via a short drive on the interstate, and Have Gun, Will Travel is the folk/country side project/alter ego of Chase Theory main man Matt Burke. (Rockerfellas, Bradenton) —CLB
SWINGDANCE USA The three-day celebration of everything swing returns to St. Pete's historic Coliseum, which has hosted more than its fair share of iconic names since the '20s — Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and a host of others have reportedly graced its stage in their times. This ain't no new-school resurgence fest; SwingDance USA is all about the Golden Age of the style, a convention that attracts instructors, dancers, musicians and fans from all over the world. Barbara Morrison and the George Gee Orchestra are among this year's featured attractions. For the full skinny, hit up SwingDanceUSA.com. (Coliseum, St. Petersburg)
SATURDAY, Oct. 07
DON CARLOS w/RAS MATTHEWS Say what you will about some of the dubious and/or dated mainstream shows that get booked into Jannus Landing, the venue's dedication to bringing the good stuff to fans of world music, from reggae to Latin to eclectic jammage, is more than admirable. Tonight's entry is a headlining set by reggae vocalist Don Carlos, who co-founded Black Uhuru in '74, then left the group after one single only to return 16 years later to lead a brief but spirited comeback. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
EMIT PRESENTS MATTHEW SHIPP The avant-garde jazz pianist, who has been something of a darling with the indie-rock set, plays a solo concert as part of the treasured EMIT series of challenging music. For more of the lowdown, check out the lead music feature, and/or hit up emitseries.org. (St. Pete College, St. Petersburg) —ES
MURIEL ANDERSON After studying her instrument at Chicago's DePaul University, the acclaimed, eclectically masterful classical/folk guitarist went on to learn from both Chet Atkins and Christopher Parkening. She's been composing and releasing her own compositions since '89, as well as starring in several instructional videos for guitar. Yep — she's good. (Spirit of Life Unitarian Universalist Pavilion, 18412 Burrell Road, Odessa)
STACEY EARLE AND MARK STUART Yep, Stacey's the sister of country wild-man Steve Earle and got her start playing rhythm guitar in big bro's touring band. She married Mark Stuart back in 1992 and has been writing and recording with him since. The two trade songs and lead vocals back and forth, but the song(writing) remains the same: jaunty acoustic folk, country and blues. I know, I know. Surprise, surprise: a solid folk show at Fogartville Café. Don't start taking this stuff for granted, though. (Fogartyville Café, Bradenton) —CLB
SOUTHEAST MUSIC ALLIANCE CD RELEASE PARTY Apart from a couple of fundraisers and its quarterly events, the SMA has been pretty quiet since the last In The Raw acoustic series ran down. Here's why. The Alliance has been putting the finishing touches on its second compilation of studio recordings by local and regional unsigned talent. If it's not exactly hot on the heels of 2002's maiden voyage, Volume One: Tampa Bay, we're certainly happy to hear that Volume 2: Tampa Bay and Beyond is finally ready for mass consumption. Come celebrate its release into the wild with a nine-band all-ages party that includes performances by Soulfound, Auditorium, Hat Trick Heroes, Truly Sunday, Knowing Stu, Geri X, John McNicholas, Four Star Riot's Steve Alex, and The Human Condition. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
SUNDAY, Oct. 08
SUNSET '06 Could it be the biggest DJ/electronic-music show the Bay area has ever seen? I rather believe it could. A host of labels, clubs, beers and others have come together with the city of St. Pete to make this all-day turntable-worship session a reality. There's not enough space here to list all of the big names doing their thing at Sunset '06, but here's a partial rundown: Rabbit in the Moon; Carl Cox; Ferry Corsten; Baby Anne; Mondo; Darude; Rick West; and CLRH2O will be there, among many, many others from near and far. The shindig kicks off at noon, and various tickets are available, from general admission to VIP to backstage action — check out sunset06.com for all the info. (Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg)
BANE/STRIKE ANYWHERE/A GLOBAL THREAT/THIS IS HELL Metallic Massachusetts new-school hardcore act Bane started off in '95 as a side project where members of Converge could blow off some more straightforward steam. We saw the group coming through town fairly regularly up until about 2000, when it sort of dropped off the map, but Bane came roaring back last year with The Note, its first album since '01. You should know and love politically conscious Richmond hardcore act Strike Anywhere by now, and the more old-school-reverent unit A Global Threat has made countless stops in Pinellas County as well, though usually as part of a more gutter-punk-oriented bill. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
THE AMERNET STRING QUARTET This group, formed by and comprised of Juilliard graduates, is currently the ensemble-in-residence at Florida International University (after a four-year stint at Northern Kentucky University) and has been racking up competitive awards and critical accolades since '92, just a year after its inception. (Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, Tarpon Springs)
TUESDAY, Oct. 10
JAMIE CULLUM w/JOSH RITTER Twenty-seven-year-old British singer-songwriter Jamie Cullum comes from the post-Sinatra-Connick tradition, but brings a fresh spin to his swinging, jazz-based sound. Cullum has worked with DJs and programmers, lending his essentially retro music something of a contemporary flair. His singing has the same Chairman-influenced swagger, and his piano work is solid if undistinguished. But he doesn't stroll the stage in a tux, and word is that he brings a youthful verve to his performances. Ritter, from Idaho, plies far more rootsy, conventional singer-songwriter fare. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) —ES
NEEDTOBREATHE What, do these guys live here now or something? The South Carolina-forged, Lava Records-signed modern-pop act seems to hit the Orpheum more often than Yellowcard came to the State in 2001. Needtobreathe deals in the same sort of effects-heavy, '80s-meets-late-'90s anthemic pop-rock that about a thousand other groups are doing these days; it's not bad, but man, it could use a little attitude. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
This article appears in Oct 4-10, 2006.