THURSDAY, OCT. 27
AIMEE MANN The former Til Tuesday frontwoman/New Wave icon turned critically hailed singer-songwriter returns to Tampa Theatre. Mann's evocative, nearly flawless Americana most recently manifested itself via this year's beautiful The Forgotten Arm, an ambitious narrative album chronicling love among the carnies. (Tampa Theatre, Tampa)
RUSTED ROOT Like Widespread Panic, 15-year-old Rusted Root is among the handful of jam-oriented acts that mainstream pop fans might actually have heard of during the granola scene's early '90s college-scene heyday. This Pittsburgh ensemble has always been one of the most eclectic in its field — many of its members are multi-instrumentalists, and Root's liberal inclusion of foreign styles presaged the reggae- and World Beat-heavy sounds of today's jam-band landscape. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
FRIDAY, OCT. 28
COHEED & CAMBRIA w/BLOOD BROTHERS/DREDG/MEWITHOUTYOU Trebly, sci-fi-obsessed punk act Coheed & Cambria was last year's Warped Tour-scene breakout; expectations are extremely high for the group's new album, the ridiculously titled Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV, Vol 1: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness. The real live attraction here, though, is cacophonous Pacific Northwest unit Blood Brothers, a band that goes to great lengths to terrify and exorcise you when it plays. Support comes courtesy of long-running punk-metal outfit Dredg and visceral Christian combo Mewithoutyou. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
IMA w/SUPERGOD/WATERDIGGER Hyper-experimental trio IMA was one of the most interesting and entertaining projects to emerge from the Bay area punk scene during the late '80s/early '90s. After the band's breakup, members went on to such high-quality acts as Manic Dose, Meringue, Pee Shy, Leels, and Shittalker. Tonight, the threesome reunites for some serious nostalgic craziness. (Emerald Bar, St. Petersburg)
SATURDAY, OCT. 29
BROOKS & DUNN w/BIG & RICH/COWBOY TROY It's a pop-country pap-fest. Along with the likes of Garth and Tim, Brooks & Dunn are responsible for ushering in the era of country-music-as-Warrant-concert that inevitably led to the ridiculous lowest-common-denominator beer commercial soundtrack that is Big & Rich. Just how far down the road to insubstantial gimmicky bullshit has contemporary C&W traveled? Exhibit A: Cowboy Troy, a rapping Big & Rich discovery who claims to be the inventor of "hick-hop," wears Metallica T-shirts, and evinces no discernible musical talent whatsoever. (Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa)
DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS w/RADIO A marvelous, worthy foil to the above-mentioned cavalcade of unbearable faux-shitkicking ludicrousness, Georgia's Drive-By Truckers wear their real, primal, gritty roots influences on their beer-stained sleeves. Then they turn them up. Loud. This potent, poetic country/Southern rock trash-can punch just gets tastier and tastier with each album and tour. Highly recommended. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN Generation Shred guitar god and rumored insufferable egomaniac Malmsteen almost single-handedly legitimized the neo-classical style of lead playing that rose to prominence in '80s metal. Fan or no, it's impossible for anyone who appreciates instrumental mastery to be unimpressed by his talent. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
GUAVAWEEN Whether you're into bad hard rock (the 98Rock stage, featuring Saliva, Breaking Benjamin and Illbreak, among others), mediocre urban (the 95.7 stage, featuring Marques Houston and YoungbloodZ, among others), or the odd Caribbean or girl-pop hit (the 93.3 stage, headlined by Rihanna and Natasha Bedingfield), this year's drunken stumble has what you need. Looking for something a little more adventurous? Look elsewhere, buddy. Full the full schedule, check out the rundown in the Cover Feature. (Ybor City)
ADRIAN LEGG He's an elfin Brit with a knack for storytelling, but more important, Legg is an astonishing finger-style acoustic guitarist who can paint lovely, riveting soundscapes with his instrument. Sometimes he explores a chord sequence with loving care, other times he rips out single-note runs for jaw-dropping effect, often he does both in the same song. Legg is a terrific entertainer that can give a place like Java Junction a living-room intimacy. (Java Junction, Clearwater) ERIC SNIDER
KRISTINE W Though she's virtually unknown outside of techno/dance-music/gay club circles, former Miss America contestant Kristine W has scored a record-setting nine consecutive No. 1 singles on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart. Temple is located at 238 S. Franklin St. in downtown Tampa. (Temple Nightclub, Tampa)
ZAPPAWEEN 10 By now, Frank Zappa would've dubbed Bogus Pomp "the band that wouldn't leave," or something like that. But Frank can't do that — 'cause he's cold dead in the grave. BP is doing its part to keep his music alive, though, playing the composer's intricate compositions and caustic songs with absolute expertise and aplomb. Because this is not the type of band that can do regular weekend gigs, that makes it a labor of love; thus Bogus Pomp has gone through a number of personnel changes, and even called it quits a couple or three times. But guitarist/leader Jerry Outlaw keeps getting pulled back in, because he's got it bad, y'know. And the rest of the ensemble, usually 10 strong, follows. Those who've been to a Zappaween know how cool, crazy and musical it is. Those who haven't, or haven't seen BP, well, it goes without saying: proceed posthaste. (Bourbon Street, New Port Richey) ES
COLD JOON VIDEO SHOOT The killer, dance-inspiring Bay area "World Pop" combo grooves Sulfur Springs' historic Springs Theatre (8029 N. Nebraska Ave.), and films footage for a couple of its fun, politically charged tunes in the process. Frequent Cold Joon collaborators/urban-African dance troupe Dundu Dole will also be on hand, as well as impeccable local hip-hop duo Addek & Speaxx. A guaranteed good time. (Springs Theatre, Tampa)
NAUTICAL ALMANAC/TURMOILED FUNCTIONS/ODEM PRESS/S2K/EMBARD Tampa-based confrontational/experimental art-punk label Cephia's Treat returns to active duty with this gig, featuring grating Baltimore noise-machine Nautical Almanac. Also on hand are comparatively tuneful Kinky Noise Records act Turmoiled Functions; new STU K incarnation S2K; challenging Tampa drum 'n' sound-manipulation project Odem Press; and interesting, recently resuscitated weird-scene favorite emBard. Tired of your traditional definition of music? Come on out to 601 N. Nebraska Ave. in Tampa. (Flight 19 Gallery, Union Train Station, Tampa)
SUNDAY, OCT. 30
MINI FOLK-FEST: A BENEFIT FOR FRIENDS OF FLORIDA FOLK For 23 years, nonprofit Friends of Florida Folk has supported homegrown roots and singer-songwriter talent; this gig features Florida names both well-known and obscure, and aims to raise a little money for the FoFF coffers. Things kick off at 2 p.m. Here's the eclectic bill: Parson Brown; Hot Flash; New Sound Mountain Wildcats; Juniper; Jenny James & Ron Gilbert; Pamelo Jo Hatley & Steele Olmstead; Bill Blymiller & Friends; Keith Hope; Mark Carufel; Toby Bonar; Art Crummer; Pete Gallagher; and Bobby Hicks. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
MONDAY, OCT. 31
YELLOWCARD w/ACCEPTANCE/THE PINK SPIDERS Whether or not you dig their fairly predictable nu-punk sound (I don't particularly), Jacksonville-spawned Yellowcard worked hard for its time in the mainstream sun, touring constantly and maintaining a laudably hands-on relationship with fans. It's starting to look like the novelty of having a violinist in the band might not keep the group up there with Good Charlotte and Taking Back Sunday — the group really hasn't followed up on the one-hit success of 2003's Ocean Avenue — but Yellowcard seems like one of those bands whose core fanbase will always repay it for its commitment to the grassroots methodology. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
THE LYNNE ARRIALE TRIO Full disclosure: I've never heard, nor heard of, the Lynne Arriale Trio, but I trust the USF School of Music to bring in worthy artists to its Monday night Jazz Series. The piano/bass/drums group has generated strong press and performed well on jazz sales and airplay charts. One of the combo's trademarks is adapting modern pop standards to the jazz trio format, rather than the old-standards approach that has held sway for half a century. The trio's ninth CD is titled Come Together, and features that Beatles tune and the New Orleans classic "Iko Iko" as well as originals. The program begins at 8 p.m. (Music Recital Hall FAH 101, USF Campus, Tampa) ES
TUESDAY, NOV. 01
STRYPER Raise your hand if your parents ever brought you home a Stryper record in an attempt to save your soul from Dio and Iron Maiden. Yeah, me too. Didn't work, did it? Nah, me neither. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 02
ALL AMERICAN REJECTS w/THE ACADEMY IS … Briefly hip Oklahoman power-pop combo All American Rejects one-upped Weezer's loud/simple/insanely catchy formula in '02 with "Swing, Swing," a song so sweet it might've given some of us diabetes. The group has fallen a bit below the pop-culture radar, but there's no doubt that this year's Move Along has at least a couple of highly infectious nuggets. Support comes courtesy of The Academy Is …, a Chicago outfit with a more taut, emo-riffic sound. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
CLUTCH The smart, soulful, uncompromising groove-rock juggernaut just keeps on chugging along, like a deviant Energizer Bunny with bald spots, scabies and weed-funk. Clutch always brings the goods live, and if you haven't seen one of its regular Masquerade appearances, you're missing out. To the band: Gentlemen, if you've got time for a fishing trip this time through, shoot me an e-mail, I'll hook it up. (Masquerade, Ybor City)
THE SLACKERS NYC ska outfit The Slackers are one of the few Third Wave acts to achieve the same sort of respect reserved for original 2-Tone legends and favorites like The Toasters. The band never heads too far down the pop-punk road, instead injecting traditional elements with fun, ferocious energy. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
THE RIPPINGTONS About a year ago, I instructed Harrell not to give me any smooth jazz menu items to blurb. Apparently, he has unilaterally lifted that embargo, 'cause here I am. Keyboardist Russ Freeman founded The Rippingtons in 1987, and has carved out one of the most enduring careers in the contemporary jazz milieu. How's that for avoiding knee-jerk slaggery? (Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa) ES
THE SOUTHERN THUNDER TOUR This DIY tour features some rising names in underground Southern metal/metalcore: Tennessee's technical, grooving The Showdown; Georgia's screamy, rocking, like-The-Used-but-good Chasing Victory; and Alabama's stoney, chugging Maylene & The Sons of Disaster, which features former Underoath vocalist Dallas Taylor. St. Pete's frenetic Sleeping Alone serves as apt local opener. (688 Skatepark, Clearwater)
E-CRAFT w/TERRORFAKT/GLIS/CERVELLO ELLETRONICO Ten years ago, E-Craft and several like-minded peers foreshadowed the darker, punkier elements of what's now known as electroclash via their work in EBM, or Electronic Body Music. E-Craft's blend of harsh industrial soundscapes, electronic rhythm and punk-influenced attitude helped lay the groundwork for most of the darker, more brutal underground electronic sounds that followed industrial's CyberGoth salad days. Oh, and Terrorfakt hails from New York. (Masquerade, Ybor City)
This article appears in Oct 26 – Nov 1, 2005.