Randy as Ever
Way before he became a prolific composer of movie music and the guy who sang "You've Got a Friend in Me," in that folksy-friendly voice, Randy Newman was probably the most biting satirist in popular music. Example: In "Sail Away," assuming the role of a pitchman luring slaves onto the boat, he sang, "In America you'll get food to eat/ Won't have to run through the jungle and scuff up your feet/ You'll just sing about Jesus and drink wine all day/ It's great to be an American."
When Newman performs alone at his piano at Tampa Theatre, you'd be foolish to think he might've gone soft. His 2003 album Songbook, Vol. 1, which features a similar solo format, is terrific. Such treasures as "It's Money That I Love," "Rednecks," "Louisiana 1927," "You Can Leave Your Hat On" and "God's Song" are rendered more intimately than their original recorded versions. Newman doesn't tour much — no one can seem to remember when or if he played Tampa Bay — so this show sails in as one of those rare treats.
Randy Newman, 8 p.m. Fri., Oct. 27, Tampa Theatre, Tampa; $46, $36.
—Eric Snider
Dog For Life
The last King of Hardcore Rap got kind of shunted to the side with the arrival of Southern styles like bounce and krunk; in recent years, the record of DMX's that's made the most headlines has been his criminal one. He's stayed in the mainstream consciousness via soundtrack work, high-profile roles in action flicks, and a new album, Year of the Dog … Again, on the racks. Plus, the commanding, gruff-voiced rapper is inarguably one of the few solo hip-hop acts with the presence to get across in a live setting.
DMX, 7 p.m. Fri., Oct. 27, Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg; $26.50 adv./$30 d.o.s. —Scott Harrell
Get Freaky
The Tampa-based Screw Music Forever collective has spread its tentacles far and wide. But the always-anticipated Come The Freak On homecoming show seems to be establishing itself as an annual institution, pairing Bay area groups with those friends and peers who've taken the noise elsewhere over the years. The '06 installment is an ambitious two-night, two-venue, two-county stand. Friday's event has been moved from New World Brewery to the Skatepark of Tampa's Transitions Art Gallery, but you'll still get exciting, challenging sets from Dumbwaiters, Candy Bars, Jarvik 7 and expatriates Leels, and proceeds will still go to the MS Society of Tampa. Saturday's concert takes place at St. Pete's Bombshell Gallery. Happy to See You in Your Jammers, Go Jenny, Kids Fly Free, Errant Strike, the all-star Home tribute act Homehunters, Monarch and Tongues of the Heartworm will rock you, with receipts benefiting the Mike O'Neill Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Come the Freak On 2006, 9 p.m. Fri., Oct. 27, Transitions Art Gallery @ Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa, $7; 7 p.m. Sat. Oct. 28, Bombshell Gallery, St. Petersburg, $7. —SH
This article appears in Oct 25-31, 2006.