Roy Carrier The father of Zydeco sensation Chubby is himself a popular concert attraction in bayou country; the accordionist is also the owner of a Zydeco club, The Offshore Lounge, in his hometown of Lawtell, La. The concert starts at 6:30 p.m., and admission costs $7 for Cajun Club members, $10 for the rest of y'all. (May 10, Cajun Cafe on the Bayou)
Katt Hefner and The All-Star Band Fresh from a Caribbean tour, and a portrayal of Ella Fitzgerald in a local tribute show, Sarasota's Hefner will be running through her repertoire of jazz, soul, blues, pop and big band as The Cultural Center's Tonne Playhouse becomes The Largo House of Jazz, a laid back cabaret-style room. Tickets are $6. The show starts at 7:30 p.m., but there will be a wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres starting at 6:30, supplied by Pappas' Grillmarks. (May 10, Largo Cultural Center)
The Mercury Program w/Polline/Isobella Yet another chance to watch Dave LeBleu drum like nobody's bidness. Gainesville's MP have a stunning new EP out, All the Suits Began to Fall Off (Tiger Style), on which they continue to put the rock back in post-rock (and the vibe in vibraphone, for that matter). This time they're bringing like-minded friends Polline down from Gainesville, homemade instruments and all. Local melancholy artists Isobella open the show. Doors are at 9 p.m., tickets are a mere $5. (May 10, Orpheum)
Bob Anthony Local singer/songwriter Anthony returns to Dunedin's Purple Moon for the first time in two years, with Wurlitzer electric piano in tow. (May 11, Purple Moon)
Dexter Freebish Capitol recording artists Dexter Freebish bring their pop-rock back to Ybor. (May 11, Frankie's Patio)
Dukes of Hillsborough/Coma Girl/The Rocking Horse Winner An excellent punk pu-pu platter, running the gamut from the emo-pop of the South Florida quartet Rocking Horse Winner, to the dynamic heaviosity of our very own DOH. Doors are at 8 p.m. (May 11, Orpheum)
Misfits w/The Impotent Sea Snakes Celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, The Misfits are, to quote the Village Voice, a family cartoon horror-punk ensemble (dammit). Take off the greasepaint and filter out the sidemen, and you've got two stand-up Jersey-Italian brothers — Jerry and Paul Caiafa (a.k.a Jerry Only and Doyle) — into hard work, clean living, and weight training. Yep, they've got the action figures and the lunchboxes, and for this tour they've also got the decidedly more adult-oriented, Atlanta shock-rock troupe Impotent Sea Snakes with 'em. Show starts at 8 p.m., tickets cost $16.50 at Ticketmaster. (May 11, Masquerade)
Nevermore/Opeth/Angel Dust/God Forbid If you're after something a little less shticky than tonight's Masquerade show, head to the Mug for this metal triple bill, which includes Seattle's Nevermore, Germany's Angel Dust and Jersey's God Forbid, the latter of which is 4/5 African-American, a rare thing in the white-dominated world of metal. (May 11, Brass Mug)
Bernard Allison w/Backtrack Blues Band This fiery bluesman — scion of the late, great Luther Allison — got his start touring with Koko Taylor. The Paris-based Allison has been his own man since recording his first album in 1989. Doors are at 7 p.m., showtime is 8. Tickets care $10 at the door, $5 for card-carrying members of the Tampa Bay Blues Society. (May 12, Jannus Landing)
Beausoleil Fiddler Michael Doucet and his world-renowned Cajun-plus-the-kitchen-sink dance band swing through Sarasota at 8 p.m. tonight. Tickets cost $20. (May 12, The Players Theatre)
Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys w/Midnight Bowlers League These rockabilly Hall of Famers have moved well beyond their traditional roots, incorporating touches of bluegrass, Western swing, mariachi, folk and Cajun music. Opening for the Southern California sextet will be Tampa's Midnight Bowlers League. Show's at 8 p.m., tickets cost $7 in advance, $10 day of show. (May 12, Skipper's Smokehouse)
The Hertzsprung Gap w/Argentina/tba In astronomy, a Hertzsprung Gap is a gap (in young clusters) from the main sequence to the red giant branch. In Chicago, it's a Cargo Records band comprising former members of Sweep the Leg Johnny and Punjab. The HG brews up a roller-coaster ride of roughly impassioned vocals, softer, subtler ones, erratic rhythms and painstaking guitarwork. Gainesville's Argentina and one local to be named later open the show. Doors are at 9 p.m. and cover for this all-ages show is $5. (May 12, New World Brewery)
Janis Ian Tonight's concert will serve as the season finale for the 2000-01 Octagon Arts Concert Series. During intermission, Brendan McLaughlin (WFTS-Ch. 28 ABC news) will conduct a drawing for a guitar giveaway. The ax, donated by Jim Terry Music, has been signed by nearly every one of this season's headlining artists. (See Music for an interview with Janis Ian.) (May 12, Octagon Arts Center)
The Movement: Red Tide/Uncle Shredded Wheat/Rugged T-Reign/The Pro's/Balance/ Cles-One An evening of local underground hip-hop, ranging from Red Tide's streamlined live-band freestyles to the young pup MCs of Rugged T-Reign. There will be an open mic, doors are at 9:30 p.m. and cover's $6. (May 12, Orpheum)
Century Opera Company: Alice and the Eight Princesses This comedic Victor Herbert/Glen McDonough text was last produced in 1905. It will be performed by a cast of 20, kids and adults alike, in the form of a radio broadcast from 1930. (Does that mean the audience will be blindfolded? I'm confused.) Saturday's show takes place at 7:30 p.m., Sunday's at 3. Admission costs $6 for Center members and students, $8 for the rest of the rabble. (May 12-13, Tarpon Springs Cultural Center)
Mother's Day Gospel Explosion w/Pastor Shirley Caesar/Pastor Glenn Miller/J.L. Cash & Praise/Darryl & The Joy Boys/more Caesar has won many national awards (Grammys, Doves, an NAACP Image Award); Miller is from St. Pete, Cash from Miami; The Joy Boys are also known as The Gospel Midgets. Tickets are $20 in advance, $23 at the door. The concert is from 5-9 p.m. Over and out. (May 13, Coliseum)
Take Back the Night Benefit w/Women's Blues Revue The Blues Revue was founded in 1996 for the first of these events; Patty Sanphy and Co. have performed every Mother's Day since then, donating all of the event's proceeds to area domestic violence agencies. The show runs from 5-9 p.m., and tickets cost $6 in advance (available at Bridgit Books and at the venue), $8 at the door. (May 13, Skipper's Smokehouse)
Wesley Willis w/Country Teasers/Mark McManus Rock over London! Rock on Tampa! Wesley Willis is whipping on a mule's ass with a belt!! Yeah, the man's here and he's gonna butt heads with your girlfriend. When the schizophrenic Willis was plucked from his busking spot on the streets of Chicago in the early '90s, a great debate began (in indie-rock circles, at least) as to whether American Records was exploiting him (by selling his stream-of-consciousness, three-chord rant-rock on record and booking him tours) or helping him (by providing financial support and, therefore, meds). He's back in indie-land now, with three different releases on three different small labels, and whatever side of the discussion you fall on, there's no doubt that Willis is an outrageous, hilarious and often insightful performer. Frito's, the chip that goes crunch!! Doors are at 9 p.m., tickets are $7. (May 15, Orpheum)
The Everything Bagels Named after my favorite breakfast, this quartet hails from northern Maryland and plays avant-groove jazz. I wonder if they've ever opened up for Leftover Salmon … ? (May 16, The Pharm)
—All entries by Stefanie Kalem
This article appears in May 10-16, 2001.