THURSDAY, APRIL 27
FALL OUT BOY/ALL AMERICAN REJECTS/FROM FIRST TO LAST/HAWTHORNE HEIGHTS/OCTOBER FALL It's the biggest all-ages emo show this side of the Warped Tour. This one runs the gamut from the tepid to the interesting. You've got your generic, incredibly overrated kiddie-pop MTV2 darlings (Fall Out Boy). You've got your insanely catchy but unfortunately largely forgotten rock act (All American Rejects). You've got your mediocre Taking Back Sunday footprint-steppers (Hawthorne Heights). And then you've got Orlando-bred screamo crew From First to Last; I refuse to take back all the mean, nasty, vicious, completely accurate things I said about FF2L's abhorrent first album, but I will say that the group's new one, Heroine, is so much of an improvement it's hard to believe it was made by the same act, so kudos to those guys. NOTE: This show has been moved to the USF Sundome from the St. Pete Times Forum. (USF Sundome, Tampa)
LEON RUSSELL The gravel-voiced artist enjoyed considerable success in the formative years of rock 'n' roll: As a session musician (guitar and keyboards) and arranger, Russell had a hand in such hits as Ike & Tina's "River Deep, Mountain High" and the Byrds' "Mr. Tambourine Man." As a songwriter and solo artist in the '70s, he unleashed such durable songs as "Tightrope," "Lady Blue" and "This Masquerade" (a smash for George Benson). His recorded output has been spotty since the '80s, but Russell is a regular on the small-to-medium venue circuit. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) Eric Snider
ANBERLIN/PEOPLE IN PLANES Shortly after rocking Jannus Landing, up-and-comer Anberlin is in Sarasota for an acoustic performance sponsored by 105.9 The Buzz. The band's taking a breather from the Tooth & Nail Tour, one of those label package deals. People in Planes opens things up. After a slot at SXSW, the band's been pegged to do some damage to mainstream eardrums. Caveat: This date has not entirely set in stone, so call before you go. (Beach Club, Sarasota) Cooper Lane Baker
GREEN LEMON Bank owner Bill's favorite unsung, hard-traveling jam band returns to his joint. Hopefully the quintet, which is heavy on harmonies and mellow, keyboard-assisted grooves, won't endure a bus breakdown or member injury or one of the other mishaps that always seems to happen when it comes to town. Bay area groove unit Middle Rhythm Session opens up. (The Bank, St. Petersburg)
SOCIETY'S FINEST/DIVIDE THE DAY/IMPERIAL/WITH ALL SINCERITY The Refuge brings another raucous but positive hardcore show to 688 Skatepark. This one features bands from as far off as California, and sounds as diverse as Divide The Day's surprisingly rock 'n' roll-inspired screamy punk and Imperial's schizoid, occasionally oddly melodic grindcore. (688 Skatepark, Clearwater)
FRIDAY, APRIL 28
LIVESTOCK 15 98Rock's infamous two-day camp-out/cavalcade of nu-metal and post-grunge crunch is back from the dead, and guess who's a sponsor? That's right, in a cramp-inducing bolt of irony, the Planet stamp appears on an event that features up-and-coming modern-rock act Shinedown, a group whose loyal and vocal fans have several times called for my head after some less-than-flattering preview coverage. Well, at the risk of angering some folks a few cubicles over, the best thing I can say about Shinedown is that the act is by far the most up-to-date attraction here. And the best thing I can say about the return of LiveStock in general is this: If you abandoned your interest in emerging heavy-rock styles five or six years back, then, my friend, you are going to have a blast. An official schedule has yet to appear on the LiveStock webpage, but confirmed bands include Staind, Mudvayne, Saliva, Rob Zombie, Trapt, Tantric, and Theory of a Deadman. Woo-hoo. The fest takes place today, the 28th, and tomorrow. (Festival Park, Zephyrhills)
DICKEY BETTS & GREAT SOUTHERN The mercurial, heavily tatted-up singer/guitarist is always good for a big heap o' Southern rock, often with a decided country tinge. Betts lives down Palmetto way and keeps a heavy touring schedule. Son Duane Betts plays guitar alongside Dickey, as did another Duane — Allman — back in the late '60s and early '70s. The Betts website says that singer Twinkle, a longtime Sarasota fixture, is part of the seven-piece Great Southern band. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) ES
SPAM ALL-STARS What, do these folks live here now or something? Everybody's favorite Latin-disco block party tears it up. Again. (The Bank, St. Petersburg)
DONNA THE BUFFALO A preferred vice of both WMNF listeners and rootsy jam-show addicts (and yeah, I know there might be just the teensiest bit of overlap between those two descriptions), Ithaca, N.Y.'s Donna The Buffalo is back for another two-night stand at St. Pete's best concert venue. This multi-instrumentalist-packed five-piece is still on the road in support of last year's highly regarded Life's A Ride. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
THE GWAN THEORY The folks that keep bringing you wildly eclectic groove-oriented shows running the gamut from reggae to hip-hop mount what might be their biggest endeavor yet. This huge, absolutely mandatory Orpheum gig features, in addition to most of the usual suspects (Tribal Style, Red Tide, Slopfunkdust, DutchMassive, and more), a guy who very nearly made the list of 10 artists to watch in our recent Southeastern Music Issue — gifted DJ/beatmaker/sound-collage artist DJ Quickie Mart. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
VINCENT GARDNER Comparatively young (he's 33) trombonist Gardner attended school in Tallahassee and Jacksonville, and scored his first musical gig playing in a Disney World jazz combo. These days, the man's working one or two slightly more impressive jobs on his resume — teaching at FSU, New York's New School and Juilliard, playing in the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, and performing and/or recording with everyone from Matchbox 20 and Bobby McFerrin to A Tribe Called Quest and the Count Basie Orchestra. (The Harbor Club, Tampa)
PANAMA RED/JEFF BLACK Panama Red's been here before and he'll be here again: Jeff Black's the real find on this double-bill. He's got a heartland-rock sound, with a voice that sounds simultaneously gruff and ethereal. It's kind of a throwback sound, definitely not alt-country. The guy sounds less like Uncle Tupelo and more like John Mellencamp. But good. (Fogartyville Café, Bradenton) CLB
SATURDAY, APRIL 29
53RD ANNUAL FUN 'N' SUN FESTIVAL All right, actually, this shindig has been going on all over Clearwater all week, but with the weekend comes those big ol' classic rock/nostalgia/country shows at Coachman Park, and that's all that really matters for our music-preview purposes, right? Right. Today's Chevrolet Dealers-sponsored all-day party (kicking off at 12:30 p.m.) features performances by former Foreigner frontman Lou Gramm, late-'60s country-rock almost-a-supergroup Poco, and rising Nashville roots/Americana act Pinmonkey; tomorrow's Topper King-sponsored "Kick 'N Country" to-do (starting at noon) boasts Neil McCoy, Josh Turner and Little Big Town. (Coachman Park, Clearwater)
TRACII GUNS After co-founding and subsequently bailing out of a fledgling Guns N' Roses, this guitarist formed the sleazy, punky LA Guns. One of the most undeservedly overlooked bands of the Sunset Strip heyday, LA Guns scored success (and a gold record) in '89 with "The Ballad of Jayne," but never really transcended a sort of underdog second-tier status. Guns left the still-touring group in the early '00s. Since then, he's played with The Misfits and collaborated with Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx in the side project Brides of Destruction; for more on what he's been up to, check out this week's music feature. (The Bank, St. Petersburg)
AMY CAROL WEBB Witty, soulful folk/pop/rock singer-songwriter Webb hails from Oklahoma; tonight, she'll be performing originals from her three Zebra Records albums. Female rock act Providence provides support. (Octagon Arts Center, Clearwater)
DON WHITE w/ELLEN BUKSTEL Massachusetts native White is a performer in the old folk tradition, weaving his songs together with stories, humor and poetry. He's been nominated for Boston Music Awards multiple times, and is also an in-demand festival attraction. Opener Ellen Bukstel, who hails from Fort Lauderdale, splits the difference between folk and pop with a contemporary style. (Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa, Tampa)
GREENHOUSE EFFECT Gotta mention this up front: Come to this gig and get yourself a gratis scoop of Ben & Jerry's. Which flavors will be on hand? How should I know? But they better have … oh, right, this is supposed to be about the band. GE is the Bradenton-based folk-rock duo of Vin Colaiocco and Rick Almarode. The guys roll with a desolate sad-sack sound that's not in the least rustic or country-fied. As for that ice cream … (Fogartyville Café, Bradenton) CLB
SERTOMA YOUTH RANCH BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL This two-day roots-music fest, held out in Dade City, is headlined this year by Michelle Nixon and Drive. Nixon is The Society for the Preservation of Bluegrass Music of America's Female Vocalist of 2006. For the full lineup, directions and more info, check out www.originalbluegrass.com (Sertoma Youth Ranch, Dade City)
SUNDAY, APRIL 30
THE FORMAT/JUNE/TICKERTAPE PARADE/ANATHALLO Buzzy big-label modern-pop combo The Format hails from Arizona, and works a big, crisp, acoustic-guitar-meets-electric-beats sound. June is, of course, an OK name for a month but a horrible name for a band; this Chicago outfit is a little more emo-pop than The Format, but fits into a similarly marketable stylistic container. Tickertape is a little more animated, with a bristly yet cuddly power-pop sound, and Anathallo has really neat titles for its really neat, original prog-folk songs. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
ALIAS/SCIENCE-NON-FICTION If you missed out on the Sole gig downtown last month, you may now properly atone for your sins against Anticon. Alias is not exactly your typical underground rapper, though. His last record — a collaboration with Ehren called Lillian — is loaded with gurgling synths and slip 'n' slide beats instead of the digital grind the Anticon guys are more generally known for. (The Tavern on Main, Sarasota) CLB
TUESDAY, MAY 2
CARRIE HAMBRY & DAVID LEPORATI Both multi-instrumentalist halves of this duo play out separately as well as in this favored two-piece format. Hambry and Leporati hail from Tallahassee, and present a sound steeped in the old-school traditions of both Carter Family-style folk-bluegrass and seminal Western/cowboy country. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 3
MORBID ANGEL/KRISIUN/BEHEMOTH/DESPISED ICON Longtime Bay area death-metal giant Morbid Angel plays a rare home-turf show. Who's in the band these days? Who fucking knows, but rest assured the brutal shred will be in full effect. Veteran underground Brazilian act Krisiun, acclaimed and more experimental Polish death metal band Behemoth, and comparatively young super-technical group Despised Icon round out a terrifying bill. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
FAKE PROBLEMS/LOOK MEXICO/BRYAN BEARDSLEY/AARON ZARKUTZKI An attractive night of indie rock in the middle of the week? In Sarasota? Wait a second … there's got to be a catch somewhere. One of these bands must secretly be a metalli-thrash-core unit. But hey, Look Mexico offers a catchy power-pop song and Fake Problems folks it up a bit, and I don't think either Beardsley or Zarkutzki pay allegiance to the demonic god of metal. Could a great night of rock actually happen? (The Tavern on Main, Sarasota) CLB
This article appears in Apr 26 – May 2, 2006.