THURSDAY, MAY 19
LIT w/GUNBURNER To their credit, and unlike most bands in the position, the friendly party-guys of Lit seem to have come to terms with being "the band that had that one song, and that other song with Pamela Anderson in the video." They just want to rock the crowd. Also to their credit, "that one song" – the once-ubiquitous mega-hit "My Own Worst Enemy" – may be the catchiest slab of pop-rock unleashed during the second half of the '90s. Whether it's a guilty pleasure, or just a pleasure, is totally your call (I lean toward "guilty" myself). The photogenic on-again, off-again Pinellas County rock-gang that is Gunburner opens. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
FRIDAY, MAY 20
EVERCLEAR Though Everclear frontman Art Alexakis' material devolved into various but extremely similar takes on the rhythm and melody of the '97 hit "Father of Mine" toward the end, the trio was once first-rate evidence that punky grunge could mix with pop and radio-ready modern rock and not suck horribly; World of Noise and the "Santa Monica" delivery vehicle Sparkle and Fade both largely hold up. Plus, almost everyone who's seen them live says they bring it. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
TISHAMINGO Southern rock icons ABB and Skynyrd are playing the big shed this week, but one of their offspring is sliding this way as well. Tishamingo, which got together in Tallahassee and is now based in Athens, Ga., stirs together blues, rock and soul and features the familiar two-guitar attack. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) -Eric Snider
GIRL(S) IN A COMA Covivant Gallery kicks off its annual multi-artist fundraising exhibition 100 Smacks or Less! with aural accompaniment courtesy of San Antonio's Girl(s) in a Coma. The all-female trio plays a cool, abrasive-but-catchy style, splitting the difference between Siouxsie & The Banshees and hip, dissonant disco-punk. (Covivant Gallery, Tampa)
MUSIC FOR THE MASSES The Underground, a downtown Tampa dance club, backs up its recent multi-room event headlined by The Crystal Method with another equally impressive shindig. This one's biggest name is enduring American breakbeat producer/club hitmaker Uberzone. But once again, all the rooms are full, with each presenting a certain style from house to hip-hop to jungle, and more than 20 DJs will represent. (The Underground, Tampa)
SATURDAY, MAY 21
ALLMAN BROTHERS & LYNYRD SKYNYRD You had to live through it, really. In the early/mid-'70s, young fellas throughout the land were turning on to a thing called Southern rock. In my upstate N.Y. college, the Marshall Tucker Band was bigger than Bowie. The Allman Brothers and Skynyrd, both of whom spent considerable formative years in Florida, were the class of the genre: ABB brought jazz-level improvisation to the standard blues-rock-and-a-touch-of-country blend, while Skynyrd leaned more toward swamp-boogie and hooky rock. Both bands have endured, and are far more viable live than on recordings. A marathon outdoor show in the heat is probably the best way to see this tandem. At least that's how we did it in the '70s. And remember, this time it's not the least bit smartassy to yell "FREE BIRD." (Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa) -ES
KING DIAMOND/NILE/THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER Greasepaint-wearing, falsetto-spewing, bone-cross-wielding former Mercyful Fate frontman King Diamond has produced overwrought, theatrical concept-metal pretty regularly for the last 20 years, though not many people have cared since the late-'80s Headbanger's Ball heyday of Abagail. It's safe to say the majority of fans will only be interested in the classic stuff. The Egyptology-obsessed Nile has another impressive album of alternately atmospheric and breakneck death metal out just now; it's called Annihilation of the Wicked, and should please everybody who dug their excellent previous work In Their Darkened Shrines. Younger up-and-coming act The Black Dahlia Murder snuck into buzzdom by way of the screamo/metalcore circuit, but is all about the extreme metal, and quite good to boot. (Masquerade, Ybor City)
BOB SCHNEIDER w/BILLY HARVEY Over the years, Schneider, a frequent WMNF benefit player and airwave presence (and former Ugly Americans bandleader), has had his way with just about every American roots-music form, from funky R&B to singer-songwriter tunes to rave-up roadhouse rock. He's an engaging and committed frontman, and his band's live sets careen entertainingly. Schneider sideman Billy Harvey will provide support with an opening set of his own. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
MORGAN HERITAGE Talk about your family bands: Morgan Heritage, which came together in Springfield, Mass. in 1991, included eight of veteran reggae singer Delroy Morgan's 29 children. The band has since pared down to a quintet, bringing a catchy, rootsy vibe to the stage. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg) -ES
JON OLIVA'S PAIN w/FIRSTBORN/MONEY SHOT Vocalist and songwriter Jon Oliva earned worldwide acclaim as the driving force behind Savatage, an act whose emphasis on dramatic, dynamic and classical arrangements had as much to do with Queen as it did with European metal. Even after stepping down as singer (and the tragic death of his brother, guitarist Criss, in an automobile accident in 1993), he remained an integral part of the Savatage chemistry. Jon Oliva's Pain began as an outlet for the prolific songwriter's excess material, but gradually evolved from one-off performances into its own full-fledged touring and recording entity. Expect a style that infuses the classic Savatage sound with an even wider array of influences, from blues to thrash. (Bourbon Street, New Port Richey)
PAULINA RUBIO She's been a Spanish-language musical star for nearly 20 years, but the Mexican Rubio only released her first English dance-pop release in 2002. Expect tonight's performance to include plenty of music from her entire bilingual catalog. (Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa)
SUNDAY, MAY 22
REO SPEEDWAGON The '70s/'80s anthem-and-ballad factory is second only to Journey in terms of couples-skate immortality. (Lakeland Center, Lakeland)
WHO'S DA HUNGRIEST SHOWCASE SHOWDOWN Local urban performers are encouraged to show up, sign up and compete in this competition, to be judged by Bay area luminaries Angel (Benton Records/Tampa Music Conference), Tony Montana (WMNF's Underground Railroad), and DJ Christion (AOL Radio/5th Element). Prizes will be awarded to one winner and one runner-up, and include cash, on-air interviews, and a gig at host venue Full Moon Saloon. Get there early – the show starts at 6 p.m. (Full Moon Saloon, Ybor City)
THE FIREBIRD BAND/LIARS ACADEMY/IN PASSING/GLADSTONE/TO LAY WITH LIONS Punky, provocative pseudo-electro duo The Firebird Band throws all manner of indie inspiration into the mix, and comes back with something alternately thick and angular, but always danceable and manically cool. Baltimore's Liar's Academy began life as a group of hardcore kids exploring more traditional pop and rock approaches, nearly broke up under the strain of the pressure to find its own identity, and re-emerged last year with an excellent second album of thoughtful, oddly Ravens-esque rock 'n' roll called Demons. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
YAPPY HOUR Longtime scenester/lifelong dog lover Patti Grose's idea about cool people bringing their cool dogs to New World on Sunday afternoons has quickly ballooned into a hip serial event. Now, it's got cachet, its own merch, and even live acoustic music – this installment features canine-pleasing tunes from Rancid Polecats (the Polecats? Acoustic? Seriously?) Joey Davis and Lou Collazo. Things get going around 3 p.m., and some of your $5 cover goes to The Humane Society of Tampa Bay. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
MONDAY, MAY 23
MACHINE HEAD w/DEVILDRIVER/IT DIES TODAY Visceral, unpredictable metal outfit Machine Head has remained a steadfast underground force, with an unbelievably loyal cult fanbase, for a decade. The band has explored different degrees of heaviness with equally differing degrees of success, but main man Rob Flynn's outgoing personality and knack for riffage has kept the act vital. DevilDriver is the latest black-clothes-and-anonymous-downtuned-guitars project from Coal Chamber's Dez Fafara, and It Dies Today has been cranking out workmanlike Trustkill Records-style metalcore since 2001, when its members were in their mid-teens. (Masquerade, Ybor City)
TUESDAY, MAY 24
VELVET REVOLVER W/HOOBASTANK God, it's a Big Rock Week, ain't it? Grammy-winning Guns N' Roses/Stone Temple Pilots supergroup Velvet Revolver is less dangerous than GNR but grittier than STP; the group's serpentine rock 'n' roll feels real enough to please fans both old-school and new, but a few more masterful Slash solos definitely would've sealed the deal. What can I say about Hoobastank that I haven't said on this page before? Nothing – the band remains a prime example of tepid, lifeless anti-rock. (St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa)
RARE EARTH It's easy to dismiss this Detroit quintet as just a bunch of white-boy R&B pretenders, but that would be a bit shortsighted. In the early '70s, Rare Earth banged out a few singles on the Motown label that brought huge, rocking power to soul music. The group's first hit, a cover of The Temptation's "Get Ready" that ascended to No. 4, was an edit of the 20-minute version the band had cut for its debut Motown LP. Rare Earth followed with two more Top 10s: another Tempts remake, "(I Know) I'm Losing You," and the booming "I Just Want to Celebrate." They've worked the oldies circuit for quite some time, but the guess here is that the current incarnation of the group can still rock – and bring the funk, too. (Largo Cultural Center, Largo) -ES
THE RAVEONETTES w/AUTOLUX/THE PEELS On their brand-new third album Pretty in Black, those studiedly cool Danes The Raveonettes widen their original garage rock-centered sonic palette even further, incorporating sleepy shades of Americana and more deeply exploring their well-documented love of Jesus & Mary Chain-esque shoegaze and retro sounds. Along for the ride are stylish Los Angeles dream-pop trio AutoLux and new guy-girl quartet The Peels. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
SHARON ABREU AND MICHAEL HURWICZ Washington native Abreu is more than just a fan of folk icon Pete Seeger; she's a devoted follower of his personal philosophies, especially when it comes to environmentalism. She sings with partner Michael Hurwicz in what's billed as "Singing for Change: A Conversation and Songs." (Fogartyville Café, Bradenton) -MARK SANDERS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25
MOMMY & DADDY/THUNDERBIRDS ARE NOW!/KIT! Like the aforementioned Raveonettes, Mommy & Daddy is a "group" made up of a man and a woman. Also like the aforementioned Raveonettes, Mommy & Daddy plies an extremely self-consciously hip sound, and is riding a daunting amount of below-the-radar hype at a comparatively early stage of its career. The group's current release, Fighting Style Killer Panda, is a joyous, sharp-toothed mess of damaged disco, electro-punk and noise-rock influences made for dancing to as it emanates from a DJ booth equipped with a Mac laptop rather than two turntables. Kids, here's your cool new thing; this is what you refer to when somebody talks about Hot Hot Heat as if they're new. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
This article appears in May 18-24, 2005.