THURSDAY, JANUARY 17
FOO FIGHTERS w/JIMMY EAT WORLD/AGAINST ME! Following in the footsteps of Ringo Starr and Phil Collins, Dave Grohl became that rare skinsman to step out from behind the drum kit and sing center stage — perhaps something he'd petitioned for while in Nirvana, only to be shot down by that troubled tyrant Kurt Cobain. Whatever the case, Grohl's most definitely enjoying the last laugh, playing packed arenas with a big grin on his face while his old bandmate rocks the big sleep. The Foo Fighters' legacy will never match Nirvana's, but Grohl and company have ranked among rock's elite for more than a decade thanks to their streamlined grunge and a consistent output of radio-and-ringtone-friendly singles like last year's "The Pretender" — which recalls just about every other hit the band has had since 1996. Anyone making the I-4 trek is advised to arrive on time for Gainesville's Against Me!, the most deserving rock band to enjoy commercial success in recent memory. Jimmy Eat World, one of the few emo acts I'd gladly watch perform for maybe even an entire 60-minute set, rounds out this potent roster. (Amway Arena, Orlando)
TINSLEY ELLIS He gets no points for originality, but when it comes to SRV-style guitar fireworks and gritty vocals about bad women and bad luck, few guys bring it like Ellis. (Ace's Lounge, Bradenton)
TOAD THE WET SPROCKET W/STEPHEN KELLOGG & THE SIXERS Appropriating everything but Michael Stipe's weird onstage hand gestures, Toad the Wet Sprocket scored hits in the '90s with titles like "All I Want," "Walk on the Ocean" and "Something's Always Wrong" — basically all the songs that you hear and go "What R.E.M. album is that on?" (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
JAY BLACK/GARY PUCKETT In the '60s, there were a handful of male artists who sang big, bombastic pop tunes that had a glancing relationship to R&B. The best of these was Tom Jones, but you could also throw in Jay & the Americans and Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. The former scored such hits as "Come a Little Bit Closer," "Cara Mia" and "This Magic Moment," while the latter — and to my ears, better — gave us "Woman, Woman," "Young Girl" and "Lady Willpower." Both Jay Black and Gary Puckett have discarded their bands' names, but you can bet they're still singing all those '60s hits. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) —Eric Snider
BISHOP WAYNE A self-described "alternative rhythm-and-blues singer" (and songwriter) originally from the U.S. Virgin Islands, Tampa's Bishop Wayne has established himself over the past year as one of the area's top soul singers, creating a buzz when he opened for Ryan Shaw at a well-attended WMNF gig in October. (Tre Amici at the Bunker, Ybor City)
JEREMY GLOFF w/NICKY CLICK/DJ BECCA A quirky singer/songwriter/keyboardist with an unchecked love of the1980s that's either endearing or annoying depending on your taste, Tampa's Jeremy Gloff has built a loyal following with his energetic shows and often poignant, synth-driven originals. This is being billed as a birthday bash for Gloff, so if you attend be prepared to buy the man a shot or something. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18
BIG HEAD TODD AND THE MONSTERS w/GEORGE STANFORD Offering smart, earnest, blues-based pop with a mellow jam-band bent, Colorado's Big Head Todd and the Monsters enjoyed heavy airplay in the '90s with tunes like "Bittersweet," "Broken Hearted Savior" and "Resignation Superman." Formed in '86, the band has retained a strong following through the years, thanks to regular touring and noteworthy live shows. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
THE VERA VIOLETS Tampa's Vera Violets, a garage-rock outfit that nails the '60s psychedelic vibe, performs a free, unplugged record-store gig that kicks off at 9 p.m. (Vinyl Fever, Tampa)
THE SUBDUDES w/GUMBO BOOGIE BAND A Skipperdome fave from New Orleans, the Subdudes specialize in laid-back, feel-good rhythm-and-blues with a Cajun flair that's marked by sweet vocal harmonies. Bradenton's Gumbo Boogie Band, founded in 1996, brings the good-time roots sound, with an emphasis on zydeco and swamp-rock. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
THE MACHINE This NYC-based Pink Floyd tribute band has been paying homage to the ultimate space-rockers for two decades, peppering their sets with "deep cuts" and Syd Barrett solo material. No word on the inflatable pigs. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
STORYHILL w/RADIO FREE CARMELA AND TANYA RADTKE With rootsy pop ballads that have drawn comparisons to the Indigo Girls and The Jayhawks, Storyhill's Chris Cunningham and John Hermanson have had a good year — a well-received set at SXSW, critical raves for their Red House Records debut and a newly minted win at the Kerrville Folk Fest. Sarasota's own acoustic songstresses Radio-Free Carmela and Tanya Radtke open, making for a night of pure harmony. (Holley Hall, Sarasota) —Amanda Schurr
SATURDAY, JANUARY 19
GEORGE STRAIT w/LITTLE BIG TOWN One of country's all-time classiest, most accomplished and commercially successful singers, George Strait continues to score new hits like last year's "How 'Bout Them Cowgirls" a quarter century after first becoming a Nashville star with songs like "Amarillo by Morning" and "Marina Del Rey," just two of the dozen or so recordings he has made over the years that are now regarded as honky-tonk classics. (St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa)
ROBIN TROWER The British guitarist/singer scored a trio of hit albums in the mid '70s: Bridge of Sighs (his signature work), For Earth Below and Robin Trower Live!. Although a forceful player, he has long been criticized as being too indebted to Jimi Hendrix. If there's one truism about classic-rock acts, it's this: Old axe men never die. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg) —ES
NIGHT RANGER I caught these hair-metal has-beens a couple years back at Vinoy Park while waiting to see Dickey Betts perform, and by the time they got around to cranking out their horrid power ballad "Sister Christian," I was seriously considering jumping into the bay to save my ears from further punishment. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
OTEIL BURBRIDGE & THE PEACEMAKERS w/COPE The Allman Brothers bassist skews more jazz and funk with his long-running side project that has built a solid rep on the jam-band circuit. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
AUTOMATIC LOVELETTER w/ERIN SOLARI Clearwater's Automatic Loveletter distinguishes itself from the overpopulated emo field with gritty vocals and thoughtful (for the tween set) lyrics by frontwoman Julie Simms. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
SOULFOUND w/GREY MARKET/THE PROSPECT Soulfound — a standout local alternative rock quartet with a sharp ear for memorable hooks — headlines this strong triple bill at Largo's newest music venue. (Trax Music Hall, Largo)
LEFT IN ASHES The Tampa death-metal outfit grinds out the requisite Slayer riffs and the unintelligible, ghoul growls that have become a hallmark of the genre. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 20
RONNY ELLIOTT & THE NATIONALS CD RELEASE PARTY Tampa's most celebrated troubadour will unveil songs from his exceptional new album, Jalopypaint, which I four-starred in last week's CL. Steve Connelly and the rest of The Nationals, the ace band that has accompanied Elliott in the studio and on stage for about a decade, will be on hand to enhance the singer/songwriter's fresh, distinctive tales of dragsters, bandits and matters of the heart. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
TUESDAY, JANUARY 22
SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS w/IVAN MILIV BAND Highly recommended for enthusiasts of raw, classic soul — and/or anyone who rightfully jumped on the Amy Winehouse bandwagon this year, the gloriously old-school Sharon Jones returns to the Skipperdome with her superbly funky, horn-intensive, eight-piece backing unit the Dap Kings for what will surely be a performance that puts audience members on the proverbial good foot. For more on Sharon Jones, see the music feature on p. XX. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
PINK LINCOLNS w/TEENAGE REHAB/THE NEW THREAT/THE ATTACK Fans of taut, traditional, in-your-face punk know you can't go wrong with a sweaty performance by nationally recognized Tampa vets the Pink Lincolns. (Transitions Art Gallery at Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa)
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER w/3 INCHES OF BLOOD/HATE ETERNAL/DECREPIT BIRTH Motor City metalcore quartet The Black Dahlia Murder took off after a winning 2005 Ozzfest run. Their third album, last year's Nocturnal, reached No. 72 on the Billboard 200 despite minimal airplay on commercial radio. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23
FRICTION FARM This coed duo from Georgia plays a poppy brand of folk that occasionally dips into darker terrain. (Sacred Grounds, Tampa)
KRAIG KENNING Chicago singer-songwriter Kraig Kenning, National Slide Guitar Champion and 20-year road horse, is in the area for a spell with his earnest brand of bluesy Americana. Such Kottke-esque stylings are a perfect fit for the rustic charms of the Old Packinghouse, so throw on a pair of denims, grab a cold one, and gather 'round his self-described "campfire and tiki torch" approach. (JR's Old Packinghouse Cafe, Sarasota) —AS
This article appears in Jan 16-22, 2008.