THURSDAY, MARCH 16
ELSBEARY HOBBS' DRIFTERS & CORNELL GUNTER'S COASTERS A couple of '50s R&B/vocal group favorites mount a three-night stand at Busch Gardens. The legendary Drifters were plagued by continuous lineup changes almost from the outfit's 1953 inception, but nonetheless managed to help define the vocal-group sound and score hits with timeless tunes like "There Goes My Baby," "Adorable," "This Magic Moment," "Save The Last Dance for Me" and others. The Coasters took a more humorous approach to R&B/fledgling rock 'n' roll, and are best known for the 1958 single "Yakety Yak." (Busch Gardens, Tampa)
FRIDAY, MARCH 17
SAM BUSH As a member of New Grass Revival, Strength in Numbers and the Nash Ramblers, virtuoso mandolin and fiddle player Bush might be the single person most responsible for progressive bluegrass' fearless eclecticism. His fifth solo album, due out this summer on respected country/roots label Sugar Hill, features guest spots from artists as diverse as Emmylou Harris and Jean Luc-Ponty. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
FLYLEAF Fresh off the recently concluded SnoCore Tour, female-fronted Texas hard-rock act Flyleaf hits the road solo for a round of club dates. The group's got a fairly interesting sound that blends killer harmonies and big hooks with heavy-handed riffs and nu-metal's more cybertronic/atmospheric elements. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
DAVE LIPPMAN Lippman is the author of several satirical tunes, most often appropriating classic songs and setting them up with leftist lyrics. It's definitely funny to hear "There's something happening in here/ What it is, is an ad for a beer" in place of Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth," and Lippman deserves praise for his populism, but the jokes end up being awfully one-dimensional. There's little here that's going to stay with you once the show's over, considering that if you're the type to come to this gig, you probably know everything Lippman's singing about anyway. (Fogartyville Café, Bradenton) Cooper Lane Baker
THE SHAM-ROCK SHOW This St. Paddy's Day Bash, co-sponsored by 97X and national local-band promotion network The Dead Fish Handshake Tour, is aimed at exposing new talent to, well, whoever's spending St. Paddy's Day at the Mug. Former teen-pop comer (she was in P.Y.T.) and Guiding Light actress Lauren Mayhew has traded in her girl-group aspirations for a more hard-rocking (if no less predictable) sound. She'll be joined by Winter Park post-grunge/modern radio-rock act Unison, introspective Tampa unit Malayne, and fellow hometown outfit Iota Grey, which purveys some moody, piano-driven fare. (Brass Mug, Tampa)
RUBEE JAWBOTIK/SCIENCE-NON-FICTION The architect behind all the music you hear on S-N-F records, Jawbotik ventures northward from his home studio in Naples for a show at the Tavern. On his own album, Jawbotik rocks "swamp-hop" — hip-hop born out in the sticks by guys who would rather rep the Everglades than Queensbridge any day. Jawbotik's got serious talent as both a producer and a performer, with a booming voice as deep as the Mariana Trench that's perfect for tales of rasslin' gators and fightin' off coral snakes. Jawbotik may be the guy to bridge the Tavern's well-noted demographic gap between rednecks and college kids. (The Tavern on Main, Sarasota) CLB
SATURDAY, MARCH 18
KYMANI MARLEY & BARRINGTON LEVY Old-school dancehall meets royal blood for this reggae double bill. Kymani Marley stays pretty close to the somewhat rock- and pop-influenced sound that made his father famous; Levy, who first recorded when he was 14 years old, helped shape the sounds of dancehall reggae during the '80s, and remained a high-profile hitmaker within the scene throughout the '90s. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
TOM SHED Native Floridian singer-songwriter Shed has been a folk-festival staple for 30 years, and several of the tunes he penned about his home state are considered among the best on the subject. He's also composed music for several PBS documentaries. Tonight he's in Clearwater, fresh from an appearance at Dade City's Will McLean Festival last week. (Octagon Arts Center, Clearwater)
HANGAR/WESZT Hangar is kind of a mysterious entity. This is what I've gleaned so far: the band's from Bradenton and plays rock music. Based on the one song they've got posted, the group's got talent, with a throwback alt-rock sound without many frills and just heavy enough without ever sounding like death metal. Lead singer Charlie Miano has a raw, scratchy vocal style finely tailored to the rest of the band's jams. Weszt, meanwhile, hails from Orlando and works a kind-of-funky metal groove that is definitely more professional-sounding — for better or worse — than the group's stage-mates. (The Tavern on Main, Sarasota) CLB
A BENEFIT FOR BIG BROTHERS & BIG SISTERS It is what it says it is. North Tampa watering hole/restaurant/pool hall/cover band venue L.A. Hangout (2025 E. Fowler Ave.) hosts a charity fundraiser. Live tuneage is provided by Dr. Love & The Transformers. (L.A. Hangout, Tampa)
SUNDAY, MARCH 19
THE VON BONDIES w/TENSPOKE INDIES Briefly hip Detroit garage-pop fops The Von Bondies hit town for the local kickoff of a Jack Daniel's-sponsored series of shows. The gig is free; the only catches are, you've gotta be 21 or older, and score tickets by hitting other local events or hitting up the website of the co-sponsor, which is us. Go to weeklylpanet.com and click on "Fun & Free Stuff" for more information. Oh, and support action for the VBs comes in the form of Tenspoke Indies, the Hudson band formerly known as Harry Dash. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
WOMEN OF JAZZ: PHASE ONE FEAT. THE LYNNE ARRIALE TRIO This celebration of female jazz artists is headlined by bop pianist Arriale, a Wisconsin Conservatory of Music grad who won the International Great American Jazz Piano Competition in 1993; she's been releasing well-received albums ever since. Joining her tonight are six local ladies: Belinda Womack, Rose Bilal, Lorri Hafer, Katt Hefner, Denise Moore and Diane Linscott. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
DIZ WATSON w/THE GUMBO BOOGIE BAND Boogie pianist Watson plays in the raucous Crescent City R&B style of Dr. John, Huey "Piano" Smith and Professor Longhair. And yes, he's got a giant mustache. Local act Gumbo Boogie Band lives up to its name with an upbeat rock/R&B sound flavored by Zydeco and old-time jug/roots music. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
CAPITAL KLEZMERS Washington, D.C.-based ensemble Capital Klezmers perform the music from which they take their name, as well as other celebratory Jewish styles. Congregation B'nai Israel is located at 300 58th St. N. in St. Pete. This matinee show starts at 4 p.m. (Congregation B'nai Israel, St. Petersburg)
MONDAY, MARCH 20
LACUNA COIL Atmospheric Italian metal act Lacuna Coil has been labeled "band to watch" and "next big thing" for about three or four years now; the group is already huge in Europe, and hopes to finally conquer the U.S. underground with its forthcoming album Karmacode. Tonight the band stops by the State as part of a warm-up tour before heading out in support of Rob Zombie. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
EARTH, WIND & FIRE In the group's prime, Earth, Wind & Fire was one of the largest names in all of soul music. In recent years the band's tried new things, branching out into more neo-soul and smooth jazz territory. All the same elements that made you like these guys in the first place are still there, though: the silky falsettos, the polished horns, the bootylicious grooves. Local music fans must be getting laid like crazy with the lineup of bumpin' and grindin' crooners we've had coming through the Van Wezel. First Engelbert Humperdinck, now Earth, Wind & Fire? I can hear the bedsprings squeaking. (Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota) CLB
MARY GAUTHIER The year 2005 was a big one for rising singer-songwriter Gauthier. She was awarded the New/Emerging Artist of the Year prize at the Americana Music Awards, and her Album of the Year-nominated Lost Highway Records release Mercy Now ended up on a hell of a lot of big-time year-end lists. Her tunes run from simmering downtempo southern gothics to traditional folk. (Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa)
PART CHIMP/GREGOR SAMSA/OXFORD COLLAPSE/MANTS NOTE: This show is at Skatepark of Tampa's Transitions Art Gallery, rather than New World Brewery, as was previously reported. England's Part Chimp does raw, noisy, driving rock that's equal parts groove and sludge, while Gregor Samsa plies a cool, evocative cinematic sound that can be both straightforward and somewhat experimental. (Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa)
TUESDAY, MARCH 21
SAVES THE DAY/CIRCA SURVIVE/MONEEN/PISTOLITA Both post-emo sophistipop act Saves The Day and slightly proggy hardcore/rock/metal group Circa Survive are frequent visitors to Bay area stages; we'll assume the kids know both of these combos — as well as regular support act Moneen, which plays ambitious indie-rock and hails from Canada — and just introduce comparatively new band Pistolita, and its expansive, layered indie-pop sound. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
THE DEMPSEYS The Dempseys smoked when they appeared at WMNF's Tropical Heatwave a few years back, and have been favorites with discerning roots-music fans around here ever since. Ostensibly a rockabilly band, the outfit holds true to the genre's original organic traditions, but injects them with a punk energy and commitment to wild, sweaty shows. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22
BELA FLECK & THE FLECKTONES This jazz/progressive bluegrass banjo hero and his incredibly skilled backing band return to town, this time performing within the stately confines of the Tampa Theatre. (Tampa Theatre, Tampa)
MIKE CLARK ORGAN TRIO Mike Clark secured his status as one of America's premier jazz and funk drummers while playing with Herbie Hancock and the Headhunters in the early 1970s. According to his bio, he's also one of the most sampled drummers around, but we can neither confirm nor deny this interesting tidbit of possibly factual information. Suffice to say, the dude's been doing his thing for quite a long time, he's undeniably talented, and you can enjoy seeing him perform in St. Pete with keyboardist Jerry Z and saxophonist Jed Levy this evening. (The Bank, St. Petersburg) Leilani Polk
CHUCK BRODSKY A gifted singer-songwriter who originally cut his teeth busking his way across Europe in the '80s, Brodsky has regularly been called the best American folk balladeer since Dylan. His wit originally got him pegged as a humorist, but he has long since proved himself equally adept at all manner of styles, and several of his tunes regarding the sport reside in the archive of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This is a lucky one-off show from a man who is generally considered a festival-circuit headliner. The Craftsman House gallery, café and studio is located at 2955 Central Ave. in St. Pete (Craftsman House, St. Petersburg)
This article appears in Mar 15-21, 2006.
