THURSDAY, MAY 26
CHUBBY CHECKER & THE WILDCATS At 63, the undisputed king of proto-rock 'n' roll dance crazes probably won't be getting too crazy up there on stage, but is probably still good for a little retro/nostalgia fun. In addition to "The Twist," Checker scored a handful of early '60s hits, and had those crazy kids doing less famous novelty dances like The Fly, The Pony and The Hucklebuck. (Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa)
DREDG/CIRCA SURVIVE California hard-music outfit Dredg began crafting their metallic sound as kids during the early '90s. The group scored a deal with Interscope Records in 2001 and toured with the more well known likes of Alien Ant Farm, but a raised profile of their own has continued to elude them. Progressive metalcore outfit Circa Survive has an album out on cred-heavy underground label Equal Vision called Juturna. The sound is more melodic and ambitious than that of most of the band's peers; Circa Survive is a kindred spirit to Coheed & Cambria, but delivers a heavier style. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
FRIDAY, MAY 27
ALL AMERICAN REJECTS w/OVER IT/HELLO GOODBYE Crafty new-school power-pop merchants All American Rejects scored a massive hit a couple of years back with "Swing Swing" – you can say you hated it, but you still had it rattling around in your head and on the tip of your tongue every couple of minutes or so. Word is they've got other insanely catchy tunes, as well. Over It hails from Huntington Beach, Calif., and plies a more nu-punky deal, which basically means faster than the headliner and topped off by those familiar generic, slightly snotty vocals. Tons of tight harmonies, though. Hello Goodbye does something it calls "rock-dance-roll," which could either be catchy, unpretentious good fun or far too self-consciously hip for its own good, but we're leaning toward the former, because the band's website exhibits some nicely self-deprecating humor. (Boomerz Boiler Room, Seminole)
BO DIDDLEY The man born Otha Ellias Bates McDaniel in McComb, Miss., in 1928 was among a handful of artists who pushed the blues into a newfangled musical style called rock 'n' roll (that, in its early stages at least, wasn't all that different from the blues). Bo Diddley's biggest contribution to the music was rhythmic – his syncopated "Bo beat" has remained a hallmark of popular music. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) -ERIC SNIDER
SATURDAY, MAY 28
ACOUSTIC ALCHEMY Did you know that 2005 is Acoustic Alchemy's 20th anniversary? Neither did I. Their website said so. They are celebrating by – what else? – touring around and playing breezy adult instrumental music with their two-pronged acoustic guitar attack. Well, attack isn't exactly the right word. (Tampa Theatre, Tampa) -ES
SUN, SAND & SYMPHONY FEAT. JON SECADA & JOEY DANIELS The city of Treasure Island celebrates its 50th year by staging this event featuring The Florida Orchestra and guest artists: Latin heartthrob Secada and up-and-coming female country artist Joey Daniels. The event begins at 6 p.m.; the artists – both of whom are now affiliated with eclectic St. Pete-based independent label Big 3 Records – will perform with the Orchestra. For more particulars go to www.mytreasureisland.org. (Treasure Island Beach, Treasure Island) -ES
KELLY RICHEY Noted female guitarist Richey was inspired early on by players like Stevie Ray Vaughan, and worked to develop her own biting blues-rock style. She cut her teeth opening for some of the most recognizable names in blues and funk, from Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown to James Brown. (Bourbon Street, New Port Richey)
THE UTTERPUNK.COM TOUR The Refuge and 688 Skatepark bring you another full bill of Christian punk sounds. Headliners include New Jersey pop-punk act Day at the Fair; brooding, grungy North Carolina outfit Stimulus (yes, their Myspace.com page actually uses the word "grunge" to describe them); and punky Coral Springs modern-rock act The Big Screen, who put some pretty interesting new riffs into their tunes. (688 Skatepark, Clearwater)
MARKY RAMONE w/AGAINST ALL AUTHORITY Marc Bee wasn't an original Ramone, but he did put in the time, drumming for the iconic outfit from '77 (joining in time to play on the band's heavily '60s-girl-group-influenced fourth album Road to Ruin) until '83, and from '87 until the last Ramones hurrah in '96. Tonight's performance will reportedly forgo his solo material in favor of an official tribute format heavy on Ramones favorites. Against All Authority, the frenetic, politically active South Florida ska/spaz-core act, provides support. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
BRUTAL AGGRESSION 2005 Those crazy kids from WMNF's late-night extreme-music program Cacophony: The Metal Underground are at it again, putting on a 12-hour two-stage throwdown featuring 20 brutal Florida regional acts, and one, Requiem Aeternum, from Uruguay. The party starts at 1 p.m. Bring plenty of discretionary income for merch, food and bevvies, but play the video games on the big screen for free. The rundown, in order of appearance: E-Merge, Dark Art, Must ? Not ? Kill, 8th Sin, Victim of Nothing, Malkavian, Rodan, Equinox, Absolutely Nothing, Diabolic Intent, Altar of Flesh, River Chicken, End Unseen, Swamp Gas, Of Angels and Gravediggers, Indorphine, RB vs. EZT – Part II, Requiem Aeternum, Sister Kill Cycle, and Yeti. (Boomerz Boiler Room, Seminole)
VERIZON FIOS FESTIVAL FIOS is some new fiber-optic broadband technology that Verizon is pimping, but that's not really all that important for our purposes – go to verizonfios.com if you're interested. What is important is the fact that the company is recruiting local bands to help get the word out to all those web-savvy kids around here, and four of them will play outside Verizon Marketing HQ at 4575 Pet Lane up in Wesley Chapel. Make the drive, and you'll get sets by DC North, Soulfound, Select Start and Can't Do It for free, not too mention food and Internet surfage. (Verizon FiOS Lounge, Wesley Chapel)
THE SCRIBBLE JAM TOUR Traveling hip-hop, DJ and B-Boy culture festival Scribble Jam comes to town. For about a decade now, the Scribble Jam has been the best place for unknown talent to rub shoulders with the big boys and get noticed in the process. The jamboree wasn't even headed to the Bay area until West Central Florida indie-rap collective Freepoets.com stepped in and made it happen. In addition to sets by Glue's DJ DQ, turntablist Mr. Dibbs and Definitive Jux rapper Murs, there'll be one hell of a top-notch MC battle, breakdancing by some of the best in the world, and painting by Barnstormers artists David Ellis and Kenji Hirata. Highly recommended. (Masquerade, Ybor City)
SUNDAY, MAY 29
SNOW PATROL w/ATHLETE Already a pop superpower in the U.K., Scotland's Snow Patrol is quickly becoming an American iPod staple as well, thanks in large part to irresistible anthem "Run." (For more on the group, check out this week's Music Feature.) Here, they finally make good on a State Theatre date postponed last year because of a little wind, rain and property destruction. Back then, it would've been a hip ahead-of-the-curve show; now, it'll probably be a sellout. Rising British Isles outfit Athlete opens. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
SIMPLE PLAN w/RELIENT K I actually thought that the insipid, not-really-punk act Simple Plan's 15 minutes were up, but they can apparently still pull in a goodly number of those kids who rely on MTV2 to turn them on to "new" bands. And hey, look, let's be clear: I'm not bagging on them because I think I'm all punk and they're not; I'm bagging on them because they're not good. But hey, enjoy. Support comes from buzzed, energetic Christian outfit Relient K. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
NINTH ANNUAL SCRATCH MY BACK HUMANE SOCIETY BENEFIT It's time once again to get all rootsy and bluesy and jammy in the name of raising some cash for the Tampa Humane Society. Thanks in advance to The Quivering Rhythm Hounds, The Michael Shaun Norton Band, and Strange Brew for their time and tunes. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
BOB DYLAN & WILLIE NELSON Soapbox time (I'll make it brief): Dylan's resurgence in the last half-decade as a critics' favorite gets me all flummoxed. I find it difficult to believe that so many scribes are buying in. Yes, he is one of the most influential artists of the rock era; yes, it's understandable that critics want to believe him capable of returning to his old form; yes, he did decide at some point to break out of his stupor and actually put some effort into his shows and albums. But, folks, it JUST AIN'T THAT GOOD. This is an intriguing bill, though, with Nelson tagging along with his trademark mellow country sound. (Bright House Networks Field, Clearwater) -ES
BERES HAMMOND/MARCIA GRIFFITHS/JIMMY COZIER/JAHFARI When dancehall and other reggae hybrids were taking hold in the '90s, Hammond basically stuck with his soulful, roots-based sound. It paid off. He'll be joined by a few Island-music compatriots. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg) -ES
MONDAY, MAY 30
SANTANA w/LOS LONELY BOYS Carlos got a late-career windfall in the form of 1999's Supernatural, which sold in the eight figures. Never mind that he was essentially a guest guitarist on the album, the blockbuster CD ushered Santana back to large venues for the foreseeable future. Aw, it's a good life. (This is not to suggest that Santana's distinctive guitar style no longer matters; it does.) As far as LLBs, if memory serves it wasn't all that long ago that the Tex-Mex pop-rockers were playing Skipper's for WMNF. Aw, it's a good life. (Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa) -ES
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1
BRIGHT EYES w/THE FAINT/AIRBORNE AUDIO Wildly hyped Nebraska-kid-made-good Conor Oberst and his Bright Eyes ensemble just played Tampa Theatre a few months back, but he's logged enough magazine covers since then to warrant the jump up to the Sun Dome. The last tour flogged a singer-songwriter-style record called I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning; this one is for the more electro album Digital Ash in a Digital Urn, which was released at the same time as Wide Awake. Oberst's pals and fellow Omaha scenesters The Faint, which are far more New Wave-influenced, tag along, as well as Airborne Audio, a duo consisting of the remains of ahead-of-its-time, hip-hop/electro/IDM conglomerate Anti-Pop Consortium. (USF Sun Dome, Tampa)
RUPEE & THE .COM BAND Rising soca/calypso singer Rupee makes up for a previous Jannus date that was cancelled at the last minute. Already a bona fide star in the Caribbean and elsewhere (thanks initially to the late-'90s hit "Ice Cream"), he signed with Atlantic in 2003, and looks to be having some success in the States with last year's "Tempted to Touch." (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
This article appears in May 25-31, 2005.
