THURSDAY, JUNE 01
BETTY This empowering, eclectic all-female modern-pop outfit has been garnering loyal followers as a cult act for two decades now. Recently, however, the band's theme song for this season of Showtime's The L Word (not to mention various members' appearances on it) and the underground acclaim afforded its off-Broadway show Betty Rules have made the group something of a breakout success story. Also, they once put out an EP with the wonderfully filthy title Kiss My Sticky, so they rule. (The Bank, St. Petersburg)
VITAL REMAINS/INCANTATION/SCENT OF ANGELS/DAWN OF AZAZEL Rhode Island death metal act Vital Remains visits the erstwhile American capital of its genre. The band has been around almost since death metal's heyday, having formed around '89, and has released something like six or seven albums of relentless pummel over the years. Fellow veteran Upper East Coast (Pennsylvania, to be precise) act Incantation joins Vital Remains on the road, along with comparatively newer black/death/grindcore bands Scent of Angels and Dawn of Azazel, the latter of which hails from the thriving death-metal Ground Zero that is Auckland, New Zealand. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
FLATFOOT 56 The group hails from Chicago — home to about a billion other Celt-punk bands, most of whom are more well known to the pedestrian listener. But these guys are good, full of blistering energy and social commentary. Hell, the Chicago Tribune recently named them one of the 10 best bands in town. (688 Skatepark, Clearwater)
THIRD ANNUAL TAMPA MUSIC CONFERENCE A five-hour seminar/panel/meet-and-shmooze type deal aimed at motivated urban/electronic/dance artists from the Bay area and beyond. Looking at the list of panelists, which includes industry types both local and national, inspires the suspicion that this event might be more than worthwhile. For more info, check out the rundown in our Planet Picks section. (The Event Factory, Tampa)
FRIDAY, JUNE 02
TIM MCGRAW & FAITH HILL The king and queen of the pop-country prom take the family on the road in a double-headliner spectacle that will certainly thrill any contemporary C&W fan. Hell, I mostly hate the stuff, but I saw McGraw's surprise show at the State years ago when he played during the NCAA Final Four, and I gotta admit I was impressed with the man's live presence. (St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa)
JACK'S MANNEQUIN/CUTE IS WHAT WE AIM FOR/MONTY ARE I Jack's Mannequin is the conceptual, slightly more angst-y side project of Andrew McMahon, singer/songwriter/keyboardist for modern power-pop fave Something Corporate. The group sounds, well, like Something Corporate, only a lot less glib. It's pretty good stuff, and the barely promoted album Everything in Transit has taken on an inspiring word-of-mouth life of its own while McMahon, terribly, has been away recuperating from complications from the chemotherapy he had to undergo after being diagnosed with leukemia in '04. Looks like he's feeling up to a tour now, though, so that's good news. Cute Is What We Aim For is a passable post-emo hard-pop unit from Buffalo, but the irritating emo combo Monty Are I seems to have adopted all of the worst, most self-indulgent qualities of arena rock, from overdone production and overwrought vocals to cheesy, barely-there single-note riffs. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
C-RAYZ WALZ/KOSHA DILLZ/DJ LAZY/DJ NAK1 Battle champion-turned-recording artist C-Rayz Walz is one of the best and most original MCs out there right now. His perceptive, multifaceted style is alternately hilarious and devastating, bridging the chasm between street and collegiate scenes — he could be the next Nas, were a label with deep pockets ready to take a chance on a rapper that refuses to be boxed into a one-dimensional character. For more on C-Rayz, check out this week's music feature. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
CHERYL WHEELER Singer-songwriter Wheeler is another artist who doesn't fit into the most boiled-down and easily digestible oversimplifications of her genre. She can do the quiet, evocative folkie thing quite well, but she's also an energetic, outspoken and hilarious performer. NOTE: This performance is at Clearwater's Octagon Arts Center, not Tampa's UU Dome as previously listed. Please update your travel plans accordingly. (Octagon Arts Center, Clearwater)
POPA CHUBBY Though he's displayed a noticeable eclecticism over the years — he worked as a sideman for Richard Hell, released an album in '01 that incorporated elements of rap and mainstream pop, and re-emerged after 9/11 with a conspicuously political lyrical bent — Ted "Popa Chubby" Horowitz is at his core a bluesman. Weaned on the white British blues-rock of the '60s and inventively soulful Americans like Hendrix and Sly, Chubby's got a little funk to his six-string action, but raw, stinging electric blues is ultimately what he's all about. (The Bank, St. Petersburg)
SATURDAY, JUNE 03
EVERGREEN TERRACE/CALICO SYSTEM/CASEY JONES/NOW SOLDIERS Metal-freaking-core. Jacksonville's Evergreen Terrace boasts a rabidly loyal fanbase, and while its music often comes off as conventional screamy metallic hardcore these days (if only because so many bands have ripped the group off in recent years), ET does an admirable job of balancing humor and heft. Calico System's sound possesses a little more slash-and-burn grindcore influence; Casey Jones is Evergreen Terrace guitarist Josh James' more straightforward and outspokenly straightedge hardcore outfit; and Now Soldiers is one of the Bay area's tightest and finest metalcore units. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
THE PRODIGALS A great Celtic pub-pop band with as much impressive instrumental technique as true Irish tradition, The Prodigals are regular visitors to Tampa's Four Green Fields, and fine men to drink a pint with before and after the set, as well. The quartet's fifth album, Momentum, is full of the same blend of hook, heart and prowess that first got them noticed, but like other Prodigals records, doesn't quite capture the energy and spirit of the group's performances. Which is just to say, you've gotta see 'em live to really get it, and here's another opportunity. (Four Green Fields, Tampa)
BOURBON STREET'S EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY PARTY Has it been eight years already? Bourbon Street's about the only home base for original music in New Port Richey, so let's hope it keeps its oddly engaging slate of locals, tribute bands, blues/roots/jam acts and national touring artists going for another eight. Tonight's entertainment comes courtesy of early-'90s hair-pop hitmakers Firehouse ("Don't Treat Me Bad," "Love of a Lifetime"), old-school metal covers band Dreamzfate, and whichever hometown act wins Friday night's battle of the bands. Yes, this is the prize. (Bourbon Street, New Port Richey)
DREW STREET MARY CD RELEASE PARTY It's important that a band's press release ooze confidence; Drew Street Mary's certainly does that, by declaring that the band will do for Tampa Bay "what Pearl Jam did for Seattle." I don't know about that, but DSM does ply a familiar, easily accessible brand of pop-rock. Tonight, the group celebrates the release of its brand new sophomore disc Duck and Bullet. Killer, super-spazzy Bay area punk-funk outfit Weaksauce helps 'em do it. The Majestic is located at 22 N. Fort Harrison Ave. in Clearwater. (The Majestic, Clearwater)
THOUGH I'M TOLD/WEZST/HANGAR/DRAGONFLY RIPPLE Spearheading this night, Boston's Though I'm Told is a breath of fresh air. Definitely not one of those countless "harder than thou" rock bands, the group has a throwback sound somewhere between power-pop and arena rock, played with just enough sloppy dive-bar attitude. If this were the early '90s, Buzz Bin placement and a slot opening for Cracker would be in the bag. (The Tavern on Main, Sarasota) Cooper Lane Baker
MUSIC FOR THE PEOPLE Another in a long line of quality acoustic shows holds the Globe Coffee Lounge hostage from the kids for a few hours. This time around, the bill consists of Geri X, whose neat, evocative style possesses its own interesting sort of swing; Acho Brother, a bilingual, Latin-flavored guitar-and-percussion duo; James McFarland, that guy from The Mercy Seat with the amazing, brooding voice; and The Peabodies, better known to some as Gina and Curtis. (Globe Coffee Lounge, St. Petersburg)
SUNDAY, JUNE 04
RASCAL FLATTS w/THE WRECKERS Poppy, vocally driven contemporary country trio Rascal Flatts still pretty much owns the genre in several markets; the fact that they're attractive young men with chiseled features might have at least as much to do with it as their admittedly impressive harmonies, methinks. In the support slot, The Wreckers are a pleasant surprise — it's former pop princess Michelle Branch's country outing, a duo with her friend (and frequent backup singer) Jessica Harp. And sure, it's as immediately catchy, sugary and pop-crossover-ready as you'd think, but the songs are there, the kind of good, easy listening guys like me hate themselves for not hating. (Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa)
VINCENT R. GARDNER The trombonist is currently on tour with Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. He'll be joined by bassist Joe Porter, drummer John Jenkins and two sidemen to be announced. This could turn out to be a spirited post-bop show, a scarcity 'round these parts. The concert is presented by the Al Downing Tampa Jazz Association. (Studio@620, St. Petersburg) Eric Snider
TUESDAY, JUNE 06
STEEL PULSE Now more than 30 years old, Steel Pulse stands as one of the most prominent acts in British reggae. The band started out as a Rasta-oriented roots act with protest inclinations, but in the '80s moved to a more pop/R&B crossover sound, known for its exceptionally sweet vocal harmonies. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) ES
This article appears in May 31 – Jun 6, 2006.