THURSDAY, DEC. 15
LEE GREENWOOD/CRYSTAL GAYLE Whatever Greenwood's intentions were when he recorded "God Bless the U.S.A." back in the mid-1980s, it couldn't have been too big of a surprise to the artist when the song became the right-wing anthem of the last quarter of the 20th century. But the song's real crime isn't the fact that it's jingoistic — which it is — but that it's banal. Want to write a song that deals with sacrificing for your country? Great. Just don't make it so utterly meaningless and saccharine that politicians can pump it at their rallies. Oh, and just to clarify, God hasn't gone on the record regarding his blessing our nation. Isn't it a bit presumptuous to speak for him? As for Crystal Gayle, doesn't she have lovely long hair? (Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota) —COOPER LANE BAKER
MAKE BELIEVE/THE OCCASION/AUTO!AUTOMATIC!!/THE COMEDY OF ERROR Make Believe is the latest Chicago arty-indie project fronted by fringe-scene hero Tim Kinsella (Cap N' Jazz, Joan of Arc, Owls), and it sounds pretty much like you'd expect it to, albeit with a little more rock and coherent song structure thrown in. New York's The Occasion is along for the ride, and does something a lot more traditional, but does it in interesting ways, and with interesting sounds. Area experimentalists/apparent Tim Kinsella fanatics Auto!Automatic!! and The Comedy of Error provide apt support. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
FRIDAY, DEC. 16
GEORGE CLINTON The proto-funkateer brings his DeMillian cast of singers, players and tricksters yet again to the Jannus stage. For folks who like anything resembling a proper show, a Clinton set can be a frustrating experience. The music, anchored by a deep, funk groove, sort of meanders; band members mill around the stage (one's generally clad in a diaper); solos can drone on and on and on (and on); and Clinton doesn't do much other than mosey around like a stoned-out figurehead (often soliciting joints from the crowd). If, on the other hand, you like your R&B loose, fun and jammy — and in long helpings — well, you can't do much better than Clinton and his retinue of freaks. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg) —ERIC SNIDER
THE CODETALKERS FEAT. HUBERT SUMLIN w/ELLIOTT COHN & THE COSMIC SWEAT SOCIETY The band's last Bay area show was a scorcher, not only due to the mid-August heat and sweaty Skipper's Smokehouse crowd, but also because Col. Bruce Hampton and Bobby Lee Rodgers were trading licks with guest guitarist Jimmy Herring like they were all on fire, and the only way to put it out was with plenty of energetic, danceable jams. This time around, the Codetalkers perform in Clearwater, indoors, and are joined by the legendary Hubert Sumlin, arguably one of the all-time best blues guitarists. For years, he was Howlin' Wolf's six-string sidekick, and then followed with an extensive catalog of solo work. Elliot Cohn & the Cosmic Sweat Society opens and Rebecca Jean Smith performs a tweener set. (Java Junction, Clearwater) —LEILANI POLK
JOHN HAMMOND & ROY BOOK BINDER Here's a winning double bill of white acoustic bluesmen. Hammond leans more toward the Delta side of things, although in recent years his recordings (including a disc of Tom Waits tunes) have branched into a fuller sound. Alone on stage, though, he lets loose with his acoustic guitar and his raspy pipes. Book Binder skews toward the more folk-oriented Carolina blues sound, and his stage style includes a fair helping of humor and whimsy. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) —ES
PLAIN WHITE Ts/SPITALFIELD/THE AUDITION/DROPPING DAYLIGHT Emo-pop new kids Plain White Ts are being groomed for big-time breakthrough success, but any of the bands on this exceedingly all-ages-friendly bill could be the next big thing (except maybe Spitalfield, which has a rawer, darker, somewhat more interesting sound). If I had to get behind one in particular, it would have to be The Audition because, while the Chicago outfit is pretty generic, its music really jumps out of its own skin in earnest excitement. (Masquerade, Ybor City)
MAGGIE, PIERCE & EJ The eclectic, enthusiastic roots/pop/folk/rock trio returns to town for another UU Dome appearance. Into harmonies, fun and instrument-switching? Here you go. Expect some holiday-related material, as well. (Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa, Tampa)
VERA VIOLETS CD RELEASE PARTY Formerly known as Drone Dimension, Tampa's Vera Violets have just about perfected the original British shoegaze sound a la My Bloody Valentine, Ride, Lush, etc. The group's second release this year, the new full-length Sunshine Dust, is another wonderful collection of gently brutal walls of guitar-fuzz, trance-inducing mid-tempos and barely audible vocals. It's a little more repetitive than previous outings, but it's also really, really good. Providing support tonight are the always-worthwhile Tampa distort-o-pop machine Life of Pi, and darkly New Wave-esque Orlando Chameleons acolytes Us. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
MIX UP MOODS 2 If the moody waves of sound start to get to you over at Orpheum, just head across the street for world/reggae/groove unit D'Visitors' latest schizoid roots/rap/rhythm bill, Mix Up Moods 2. Also on the bill are nigh-untouchable Tampa hip-hop outfit Red Tide and insurgent-reggae upstarts Tribal Style, along with Breakdown, Ran Mecca, Slopfunkdust, Gwaan Hi Fi, DJ Blenda and more. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
JACK WILLIAMS Williams is an old-fashioned picker-and-grinner, the kind of folk artist you can picture floating down the Mississippi, singing to the trees. He's had a long career as a session guitarist and bassist for well-known stars like Kenny Rogers and John Lee Hooker, and only settled into a solo folk career about a decade ago. There's an easy, relaxed vibe about his music that's hard to disagree with. (Fogartyville Café, Bradenton) —CLB
SATURDAY, DEC. 17
THE BEACH BOYS Mike Love and the guys carry on without Brian Wilson, who made his biggest splash in decades last year by finally completing his long-in-the-can Smile album, and touring with a crackshot ensemble. But wait, this blurb is about the Beach Boys, sorry. What to say? The long-in-the-tooth purveyors of sunny pop will perform hit after crowd-pleasing hit (and, yes, they'll probably include that dreadful "Kokomo"). Don't listen too hard for cracks in the trademark vocal harmonies; just go with the nostalgia. (Lakeland Center, Lakeland) —ES
MICHAEL W. SMITH Heralded Contemporary Christian star Smith cut his teeth in the early '80s, penning songs for the likes of Amy Grant, Sandy Patti and Bill Gaither before coming into his own as a performer. Since then, he's gone on to become one of modern spiritual music's biggest pop and gospel stars, and has enjoyed his share of crossover success in the secular market as well. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
HALLUCINATION BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2005 World-famous Hallucination, a pioneering Floridian electro/DJ/rave crew and label, throws its annual Christmas ball, filling each of Masquerade's many spaces with more spinnage than any die-hard fan could possibly take in. There are too many performers and residents to even mention here, but in addition to semi-legendary homeboys like Monk, Three, Dime', Thee Joker and countless others, you also get globetrotting beats from the likes of Pattern Recognition, Mendez and New York maven Tommie Sunshine. Stuff some canned goods in your giant pants before leaving the house, too, because they'll be collecting for Second Harvest at the door. (Masquerade, Ybor City)
McBRAIN DAMAGE Iron Maiden drummer Nicko McBrain obviously can't get enough stage time in with his legendary first priority, so he started this side project to tour the clubs during his off hours. Expect many, many Maiden songs, and to get your stuff signed by McBrain during the post-set meet-and-greet. Support comes in the form of AC/DC tribute act Highway to Hell, RMisery, and Dreamzfate. (Boomerz Boiler Room, Seminole)
PAT TRAVERS w/MOJO GURUS Canadian-bred blues-rocker Travers earned the love of British power-rock fans during the '70s and '80s. Though a couple of his albums cracked the Top 30 here in the U.S., he remained — and remains — something of a cult hero among Stateside fans of Cream-esque fare, one of those guys that everybody's heard of, but whose records are really cherished by the die-hards. The Bay area's own rising swamp-stomp purveyors (and walking rock 'n' roll encyclopedias) Mojo Gurus continue to work their first record for national label Empire Musicwerks, Shakin' in the Barn, and they deserve a little local love, thank you. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
NO CLUBS PRODUCTIONS 20TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY Yep, it's been 20 years since Dave and Tony started putting on shows, and you can bitch all you want about how you never got to open up for At The Drive-In at the State Theatre, but you've gotta admit that they've done a hell of a lot for good music in Tampa Bay. For a little history lesson, check out this week's Music feature, or just come watch seminal south-of-the-skyway punk band Belching Penguins (re-formed for the first time since No Clubs' 10th anniversary party) rip it up for the faithful. In addition, you'll get a set from Tampa's exceedingly talented punk trio Pseudo Heroes; the group's brand new album, Nostalgic Lies, is a surprisingly straightforward old-school affair. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
FLYNN/STITCH CRAFT Flynn is the former bandleader of the Cliffs of Dooneen, from Boston, a band that broke up when Flynn fell from a ladder and was temporarily paralyzed. His new work is based in folk music, but backed by programmed drums that bring a club sound to the tunes. Stitch Craft is a local folk duo — both are members of area band Stone Soup — that stretches out with long multipart tunes and interlocking harmonies. (Fogartyville Café, Bradenton) —CLB
PERPETUAL GROOVE w/COPE Southeastern jam band Perpetual Groove worked tirelessly to own its home region before taking it nationwide around '03. Since then, the group's still-unending road trip has seen its live show garner raves from genre fans looking for the next newest underground-circuit phenomenon. (Java Junction, Clearwater)
SUNDAY, DEC. 18
TROUT FISHING IN AMERICA The smart, funny, insightful, insanely talented duo known as Trout Fishing in America returns to Skipper's. As usual, this folky, poppy outfit will play two shows — one for the kids at 3 p.m., and one for adults with the gift of being able to think like kids at 8. There's a reason this band has won so many awards and earned so many critical accolades, y'know. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
TUESDAY, DEC. 20
HANDGUN ROMANCE/A FRAGILE LINE/FOREVER SCORNED There are at least a couple of frightening screamo sets going on over at Clearwater's 688 Skatepark each week, and this week is no exception. Check the Soundboard for the full schedule, or just head out tonight to catch Miami's uber-metallic Handgun Romance, some interesting, schizoid, ADD-afflicted noise from Cooper City, Florida's death-twang unit A Fragile Line, and Forever Scorned, a band that hails from obscure Florida town Margate Springs. (688 Skatepark, Clearwater)
This article appears in Dec 14-20, 2005.