16 Second St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-896-2276, jannuslandingconcerts.com
If Creative Loafing's annual Best of the Bay Readers' Poll is any indication — and of course we think it is — Jannus Landing is the most beloved concert venue in Tampa Bay. The downtown St. Pete courtyard retains its rustic charm — although, given a few modest upgrades over the years, it's a little less rustic than it was. The joint stays busy year-round, hosting everyone from Snoop Dog to the Neville Brothers to Against Me!. Jannus' storied history dates back to 1980, when local shows started to crop up. (A more national programming approach took hold in 1984.) In the very late 1980s, the St. Pete City Council flirted with shutting the place down by using the city noise ordinance, but an outpouring of support helped Jannus survive, and it's not been threatened since.
Memories Pearl Jam's incendiary early-1990s local debut • A packed-to-the-gills double bill of Jimmy Cliff and African juju artist King Sunny Ade in the late '80s • Last year's confetti-fest with Flaming Lips •The Ramones dishing out downtown culture shock circa '84 •Lucinda Williams lovingly inviting audience members into her sweet, old world in 2001.
Capacity: 1,500
Grub: Pizza
Booze: Full liquor
This article appears in Nov 12-18, 2008.