THURS 19

Psychostick w/Consinity/Potter Field/Drastic Fall/Fossor Silenti Phoenix-based Psychostick dishes out music dubbed "humorcore" — in sum, heavy metal with comedic lyrical tendencies. The band is currently working on Space Vampires vs. Zombie Dinosaurs in 3D, a third LP that they claim is their most humor-intensive to date. Fans who attend shows on Psychostick's current "Unleash the Dumb" tour and every tour henceforth are urged to come dressed in outlandish gear to start a new live tradition, "Show Up Dumb." The latest update on the band's news feed reads, "Don't you dare show up looking normal. From here on out before you come out to a Psychostick show, find the dumbest thing you can wear and put it on … Don't hold back." Expect cuts off the new album as well as Psychostick classics like "Scrotal-Torment" and "Beer Is Good … And Stuff." I couldn't make this shit up. (The Local 662, St. Petersburg)

COPE w/Saltwater Grass Two Florida jam-bands team up for a Thursday night bill — Tampa's own COPE, which doles out tasty servings of energetic rock with rootsy and funky flavors and electro-prog flare-ups; and Saltwater Grass, a Jacksonville sextet that adds percussive texture, gritty harmonica, wah-wah guitar, and Southern-soulful vocals to their groove rock sound. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

FRI 20

A Taste of Pinellas: Chris Isaak w/Josh Turner/Amanda Drake & the Barn Burners (Friday) Bonnie Raitt w/Buddy Guy/Josh Garrett/The Black Honkeys/Motel Funk/Rocky Ruckman Band (Saturday) Third Eye Blind w/Colbie Caillat/Allison Iraheta/Adam 812 (Sunday) If you're looking for fun that's more than a mouthful, Taste of Pinellas returns with a three-day event that brings big names from country, blues, pop and rock 'n' roll for to town a great cause: All Children's Hospital. The event highlights 50 restaurants with a parade, 5K run, and more. Headlining on Friday is retro-crooning rocker Chris Isaak while on Saturday, attendees get a double punch of blues with veteran Chicago-style axeman Buddy Guy followed by the easy slide guitar jams of Grammy-winning songstress, Bonnie Raitt, her set ending in a 10 p.m. fireworks show. And finally, Third Eye Blind closes out Sunday's music with their mainstream friendly pop-tinged alt-rock. (Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg). —Julie Garisto & LP

Light Up Clearwater w/Suite Caroline A family-friendly concert to raise money for restoration of the historic Capitol Theatre that's headlined by 13-year-old country-tinged singer-songwriter Suite Caroline and featuring students from Ruth Eckerd Hall's Marcia P. Hoffman Performing Arts Institute. (Hyatt Regency, Clearwater Beach)

Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights Rock 'n' roll isn't dead, and Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights are distilled proof of this. The Dallas fivesome packs a heavy punch on their second LP and major label debut, Pardon Me (2010). True rock stars emerge in heavy, Hendrix-style guitar riffs, heart-pounding basslines, and gritty yet soulful vocals that all come together in a perfect kick-ass, in-your-face kind of way. (The Local 662, St. Petersburg) —Kate Cillian

Fake Problems w/Laura Stevenson & the Cans/Into It. Over It./You Blew It! Fake Problems, a rising Naples foursome responsible for a compelling mix of retrofied rock and energetic post-punk, signed to SideOne Dummy in 2008 and plays a headlining gig in support of their second release on the label and third LP overall, 2010's Real Ghosts Caught On Tape. Also on the bill is Long Island, NY's Laura Stevenson & the Cans, a folk-punk-roots outfit led by the cotton candy sweet and stirring vocals of keyboardist/songwriter Stevenson, also a member of the music collective Bomb the Music Industry! (Crowbar, Ybor City)

Amos Lee After two sell-out shows at Capitol Theatre, blue-eyed folk-soul singer-songwriter Amos Lee upgrades to Ruth Eckerd for his current tour in support of his fourth and latest Blue Note Records release, Mission Bell. "I spent more time alone with these songs than I ever did in the past," Amos has said about the 2011 LP, which was produced by Joey Burns of Calexico and features backing by that band as well as noted appearances by guests like Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams and Sam Beam (Iron & Wine), among others. The result is a more organic, roots-flecked sound complementing Lee's warm, rich vocals. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)

An Acoustic Evening with Firefall and Pure Prairie I received the most hardcore piece of hate mail thus far in my career after a one-sentence jibe in my short write-up of Firefall's acoustic stop last year was twisted into a personal affront against the band and the Uberfan who sent the letter, and not only challenged my abilities as a journalist but pretty much condemned all future pieces I wrote to a shady spot under her litter box. So, Uberfan, in case you haven't completely forsaken me and are, indeed, reading this, I want you to know that I put a little more time into this write-up. Here are a few things the Interwebs taught me about the smooth AC rock band. 1. I actually do know their 1976 hit, "You Are the Woman." There's ever-dreaded flute solos and the classic line, "I saw your face and that's the last I've seen of my heart." 2. Their last album was 2007's Colorado to Liverpool — A Tribute To The Beatles, which means they have good taste but haven't released any new original material since 1994's Messenger. Co-headliners Pure Prairie League lean more heartland country-Americana (you know their rolling 1973 hit, "Amie") and their last release was 2006's All In Good Time. Both bands have several Billboard charting hits, though none recent. (Capitol Theatre, Clearwater)

Golden Gardens w/Florida Night Heat/Sous-Marin/Cavalo An East Coast-West Coast duo made up of former local Aubrey Bramble (who now lives in Seattle) and current Tampa inhabitant Gregg Neville, who met when they both lived here in 2006, but didn't start collaborating as Golden Gardens until last year, when they began trading ideas via email and recording their respective parts in home studios on opposite sides of the country. The duo dropped their first recording, the Somnambulist EP, in December. The album is marked by Bramble's high and hauntingly girlish croons and Neville's dreamy pop-gaze sonic arrangements, the result pretty ethereal soundscapes with an undercurrent of darkness. This Tampa show is being dubbed "An Extra Fancy Croon Saloon: Special Swoon" and is rounded out by three fully-local outfits — instrumental prog-post rock power trio Florida Night Heat, sous-marin (which features light-haired Living Arches vocalist Michael Hooker, formerly of Dear Old Liar), and two-piece "swoonworthy" tunemakers Cavalo (Leanne Dunn and Gracieli Scremin). (Café Hey, Tampa)

SAT 21

Mustard Plug w/Victims of Circumstance/Unchecked Aggression/The Long Johns Hardworking horn-toting dub-and-surf-tinged ska punk sextet Mustard Plug (est. 1991) hasn't released a record since 2007's In Black and White, but they make their bread on the road playing energetic live shows to devoted fans all over the country. They dropped a new track last year, "Aye, Aye, Aye," and more recently, contributed a previously unreleased track, "Blame Yourself," to Community Records' Head Above Water compilation. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

Nic Fanciulli A ranking UK export and founder of Saved Records, Grammy-nominated house music producer/ DJ Nic Fanciulli has worked with UNKLE, Kylie Minogue, and Underworld, among others. His current 23-date U.S. tour follows a sell-out Saved Records residency in Miami this past March. (Jackson's Bistro, Tampa)

Beach Art Center Bluegrass Festival w/The Crystal Beach String Band/Gator Grass The first-ever bluegrass fest within reach of the beach is hosted by Beach Art Center and features two local bands performing two sets each from 3 to 7 p.m.: the Crystal Beach String Band, a five-piece that mixes folk, old time, gospel and originals into their sets; and newer outfit Gator Grass. (Kolb Park, Indian Rocks Beach)

Harvey Milk Festival w/Ha Ha Tonka/A Fragile Tomorrow/Sons of Hippies/Charles Reynolds/meteorEYES/Friends of Giants/many more Hot on the heels of the release of their new Bloodshot Records LP, Death of a Decade, Midwest alt-country rockin' Ha Ha Tonka hits Sarasota to head up a festival celebrating the country's first openly-gay politician, Harvey Milk. A huge bill of local acts support. (1376 5th Street, Sarasota)

Coco Montoya w/Standback Band Lauded as one of the country's top blues rock guitarists — and he began as a drummer — Coco Montoya was mentored by legendary bluesman Albert Collins and shaped by the decade be played in the Bluesbreakers with British musician John Mayall. He's been rolling solo since he left that band in 1993, and has released eight LPs, the last 2010's AC soulful I Want It All Back. Like Hendrix, Montoya's a left-hand player; unlike Hendrix, who had his Stratocaster restrung, Montoya wields am upside down right-handed guitar, with the bass strings at the bottom of the fretboard, treble strings at the top. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)

Peter Mulvey w/Emily Kopp Milwaukee folkie Peter Mulvey evokes a country road feeling with his percussive style of guitar playing, warm lightly sanded vocals that carry a subtle note of irony, and songs ranging from his swinging Randy Newman-easygoing reflections on "Some People," to a slinky dirt road ditty about a woman looking for "Dynamite Bill." He plays both sides of the Bay this weekend — Saturday night in St. Pete with Orlando folk-soul artist Emily Kopp and Sunday at Skipper's Smokehouse with guitarist/songwriter John Wesley. (Hideaway Café, St. Petersburg)

SUN 22

The Human Abstract w/Scale The Summit/This or the Apocalypse/more There's a technical prowess to the shredding of The Human Abstract in direct opposition to the primal harshness of the grunted-growled-roared vocals. The LA prog-metal outfit just dropped their third studio album and first release on eOne/Koch Records, Digital Veil, in March. This stop is part of their "Pull Me from the Gallows" tour. (Orpheum, Ybor City)

TUES 24

Bob Dylan's 70th Birthday Bash w/The Mojo Gurus/Radio Free Carmela and the Transmitters/Johnny and the Wranglers/Sara Mac Band/Judy Tampa and Bunko Squad/Saint Hill/Elysian Sex Drive/Grant Peeples, Maggie Council and Jim Mason/Scott Elliott and Kate Bradshaw/Big Wiggler WMNF has put together a huge bill of area talent for its latest tribute show, with the featured performers doling out a total of 70 Dylan songs in honor of the crusty folk rocker's seventh decade of existence. (Skippers Smokehouse, Tampa)

Manchester Orchestra w/Cage the Elephant On Simple Math, Atlanta alt-rock outfit Manchester Orchestra delivers a narrative as told from lyricist Andy Hull's own perspective, about a young man who questions everything he encounters and offers a haunting apology in the lovely opening track, "Deer": "Dear everyone I ever really knew / I acted like an asshole so I could keep my edge on you / Ended up abusing even those I thought immune / I killed the kingdom with one move and now it's time to move." Manchester Orchestra co-headlines their current tour with Cage the Elephant, a melodic indie rock five-piece from Bowling Green, Ky., that's earned glowing reviews for their sophomore LP, 2011's Thank You, Happy Birthday, and made some impressive sales with a No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200 and more than 39,000 copies sold in the U.S. that week. (The Ritz, Ybor City)

Clutch w/Maylene and the Sons of Disaster/Groundscore Maryland four-piece Clutch mixes heavy blues-saturated riffs and organ runs and pulsating heavy-groove rhythms into a brew of stoner grimy hard rock marked by the gripping howls of frontman Neil Fallon. The band has released nine LPs since forming in 1990. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)

The Deftones w/The Dillinger Escape Plan/Le Butcherettes After a serious car accident left bassist Chi Cheng completely incapacitated, alt-metal outfit Deftones abandoned the album they'd begun working on, eventually returning to the studio with stand-in musician friend Sergio Vega to record 2010's loud, raw and menacing Diamond Eyes with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains). Cheng is still recovering, and while he's considered a member of the band (and they play frequent charity gigs to help defray his medical costs), Vega will continue to perform in his place indefinitely. This is Deftones' second stop in the Bay area since their LP dropped last May. Opening the St. Pete show is New Jersey mathcore/experi-metal outfit Dillinger Escape Plan and Mexican punk-garage rockers Le Butcherettes, which is led by wild femme vocalist/guitarist/pianist Teri Gender Bender. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

Machinedrum w/Soft Rock Renegades Get ready for some ass-shaking good times when Soft Rock Renegades (DJs Jack Spatafora and Cameron Correa) throw a dance party in celebration of the three-year anniversary of All Good Tuesdays, their weeknight residency spinning jams in the Crowbar courtyard. The twosome is joined by Machinedrum, a Brooklyn sonic engineer whose juicy glitchy experimental electronica is treated with hip-hop overtones and IDM/dubstep undertones. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

WED 25

Jackson Browne Acoustic The vet rock singer-songwriter plays acoustic guitars and piano, and draws on his entire repertoire for his acoustic tours, from his '72 eponymous debut to 2008's Time the Conqueror. CL Contributor Gabe Echazabal named Browne's 2009 acoustic stop in Clearwater as one of the best shows he attended that year. "Browne has managed to retain his sharp vocal abilities throughout his 40-year career while many of his contemporaries haven't been as lucky," he wrote in his review. "His timbre and pitch are as strong and recognizable as ever. The enunciation and phrasing of his words and breaths are still as cleverly paced as ever. Throw in his underrated yet exceptional guitar skills and you've got yourself the makings of a memorable show." (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)

Raekwon w/Dynasty/B.C./Infinite Skillz/Sandman/The Rukus While the title might suggest otherwise, Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang isn't a group effort but rapper-member Raekwon's fifth studio LP. Its A-list roster of hip-hop guests — Black Thought, Busta Rhymes, Lloyd Banks, Havoc, Estelle, Nas, Rick Ross — is rounded out by some of his Wu crew, however, with appearances by Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck and Method Man. The album peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard 200, No. 2 on the Rap Albums charts, and has earned generally positive reviews; Pitchfork.com gave it a 7.9 out of 10 and called Rae's rapping "as flashily dense and intensely percussive as ever" and "one of the Clan's renewable resources." (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)

Minus The Bear w/SkySaw/The Constellations With a good mix of heavy grooving synthesizers, tempo-changing guitar riffs, a vibe that jumps between brooding, blasé and bold, prog-rock-poptronic outfit Minus the Bear eases into their 10th year on the heels of the release of their fourth full-length and Dangerbird Records debut, 2010's OMNI. Joining the Seattle five-piece is labelmates SkySaw, the new project of ex-Smashing Pumpkins drummer/producer/songwriter Jimmy Chamberlin with Reina and Pirog of Fairfax, Va.-based psychedelia group, The Jackfields. Their sound is "brilliant, tuneful and whip-smart pop music that can loosely be described with words like 'progressive' and 'symphonic,' while at the same time deserving their own category." Their first LP, Great Civilizations, drops June 21. (The Ritz, Ybor City)

This article appears in May 19-25, 2011.