THURSDAY, MARCH 10
SOULFLY/GOD FORBID Former Sepultura singer/guitarist Max Cavalera's band Soulfly has remained an underground favorite for years by infusing its thrash metal with exotic rhythmic influences from Cavalera's native Brazil. God Forbid is likewise a perennial under-the-radar favorite, due to its punk-scene aesthetic and crushing blend of European doom metal and sludgy Southern riffage. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
MINI MUSIC FEST FEAT. THE JIMMY PAYNE/MEREDITH DREMMING/J.R. ROGERS TRIO This bash showcases several worthy local talents in the folk/acoustic tradition. Payne, Demming and Rogers, also known as Dreams of Horses, will play the first set, cutting a wide stylistic swath that includes folk, pop, show tunes, chants, instrumentals and more. The second set is a UU Church of Tampa talent showcase featuring Dan Miller and Bill Blymiller. Both are church members; Miller is the church pianist. Word is they've rounded up a special guest or three. (Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa, Tampa)
-Eric Snider
FRIDAY, MARCH 11
ENON/SWEARING AT MOTORISTS/THE EMPTY SPACES/MANTS Snarky, subversive Brooklyn art-rock ensemble Enon (helmed by former Brainiac conspirator John Schmersal) is both super-contemporary and compulsively listenable – the music might not exactly be timeless, but its gleefully provocative vibe is contagious. The trio's latest, Lost Marbles & Exploded Evidence, collects all of its singles and otherwise hard-to-find material into one double-disc collection that, when left on the passenger seat of your car, will serve to let passengers know exactly how hip you are. Embedded in the middle of this bill is Dayton's Swearing at Motorists, an explosive pop-rock duo known to few who aren't indie-rock writers or Ohio-obsessive Guided by Voices fans; word is, this outfit absolutely tears it up, in an anthemic, Britrock-influenced sort of way. (Masquerade Infinity Room, Ybor City)
TOOTS & THE MAYTALS/PARTICLE/INNER CIRCLE All in all, an entirely worthy, if potentially uneven, night of world/jam sounds in the courtyard. Headliner Toots & the Maytals is one of the storied acts in Jamaican music, dating back to the early '60s ska movement. Most experts agree that the term "reggae" first surfaced in their song "Do the Reggay." The act has always been anchored by the soul rasp of Frederick "Toots" Hibbert, one of the most beloved figures in the genre. For more on the legendary artist, check out the Music feature. Inner Circle is best known for the tune "Bad Boys," the theme song for the proto-reality series Cops. The group's history dates back to the '70s when it emerged in Jamaica with a mix of dancehall and roots reggae. Bringing a different take is Particle, a Los Angeles-based space/jam/funk band that, after I watched a bit of them on HDTV, I found to be more a tepid jazz-fusion act than some groundbreaking experimental unit. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
-ES
PERPETUAL GROOVE/ROBERT WALTER'S 20TH CONGRESS Emerging forcefully from the Southeast jam-band scene is Savannah-based Perpetual Groove, a quartet that combines elements of jazz, funk and reggae with trance-like rhythms, hypnotic grooves and pure rocking improvisation. Like most bands in the genre, you can also hear them add their own unique flavor to a smattering of covers, from Paul Simon's "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" to Weezer's "Say It Ain't So." Robert Walter's 20th Congress, a San Diego jazz/funk favorite, joins them. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
-Leilani Polk
FIFTH ANNUAL CAJUN/ZYDECO CRAWFISH FESTIVAL FEAT. BEAUSOLEIL Michael Doucet, Beausoleil's singer/fiddler/leader, played an important role in keeping Cajun culture alive in Louisiana when it was in danger of expiring in the '70s. That does not mean that Beausoleil is some stiff, academic effort; quite the contrary, the band, which mixes Cajun and zydeco with other styles, can whip up a raucous party. A perfect accompaniment to gobbling crawfish and slurping Dixie beer. (March 11-13, Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg)
-ES
NATALIE MACMASTER Anyone familiar with the tiny Canadian island of Cape Breton has probably heard of MacMaster, since she's become for that outpost what Lord of the Rings became for New Zealand. She began fiddling at age 9, and by the tender age of 16 had released her first tape-only release, 4 on the Floor. She has a cross-genre popularity, earning fans of country, Celtic and classical music. (Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa)
-Mark Sanders
SATURDAY, MARCH 12
IDA/THE GENA ROWLANDS BAND/EMERY REEL/SUSIE ULREY/EVANDORA'S FIDDLE We regret to announce that this show, scheduled for the Masquerade Infinity Room in Ybor City, has been canceled. Ida bagged this leg of its tour. The reason was not made public.
-ES
LOWLIFE FEST All right, honesty in advertising! No, seriously, these bands aren't composed completely of lowlifes; like all lowlifes not enamored of country music, though, they do dig themselves some good old American metal. The lineup: Gardy-Loo! (but you probably saw that coming), Thrash Attack, Unearthed, 30 Caliber, Covet, Must Not Kill, Area 51, and Hannover Fiste. As a bonus, the evening will be hosted by very sick local comedian "Pretty Paul" Parsons, and there'll be various giveaways to boot. (Brass Mug, Tampa)
DONOVAN FRANKENREITER w/THE HUMAN CONDITION Quick, name a pro surfer-turned-rock star whose name isn't Jack Johnson. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? His name is Donavon Frankenreiter, and yes, he is counted among Johnson's brahs. Joining him is the Human Condition, four Bay-area white boys who don't sound nearly as jam-bandy as the acts they've played with (Col. Bruce Hampton, the Zen Tricksters, et al). Should be a good concert, regardless of how many bong hits you took out in the parking lot beforehand. (Boomerz Boiler Room, Seminole)
-MS
THE JULIANA THEORY/ZAO/OPEN HAND/SINAI BEACH/THE TAKEOVER UK The Juliana Theory and Zao are both credited with ushering in current Christian punk-scene trends – the former incorporated elements of power-pop and classic rock before signing to a major label and taking basically forever to put out a disappointing record, while the latter was among the first brutal, death metal-influenced spiritual hardcore crossover bands. (Zao's latest, The Funeral of God, rolls back the heaviness a bit to incorporate a little melody.) The rest of these acts are comparative newcomers; of them, Open Hand, whose frenetic, prog-pop sound defies comparisons to just about everything except maybe a less killer Queens of the Stone Age on helium, is most often tagged as quasi-underground melodic punk's Next Big Thing. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) \
KIWANIS FAMILY FUNFEST w/TOMMY G & THE HIGH SEAS/CARIBBEAN COWBOYS/TOM KATS/KEVIN TOON/OTHERS Amid all the wholesome fun catch a bunch of wholesomely American music. Singer/guitarist Tommy G cut his latest album in upstate New York in the barn studio of none other than Levon Helm, who played drums. Garth Hudson, former keyboardist for The Band, also contributed to the sessions. The rest of the lineup is rounded out by a variety of acts. Today's lineup, which runs from 4 to 9 p.m., goes like this (in order of appearance): Michael Young, Play It By Ear, Tommy G & the High Seas. The fest continues Sunday, when music goes from 2 to 7 p.m.: Caribbean Cowboys, Kevin Toon, Scott Anderson, Tom Kats. (Madeira Beach Recreation Complex)
-ES
SUNDAY, MARCH 13
NEW FOUND GLORY w/REGGIE & THE FULL EFFECT/EISLEY Florida all-ages scene favorites New Found Glory flirted with the big time a couple of years back via hit single "My Friends Over You," but the less straightforward follow-up album, Catalyst, seems stalled. (Hey, at least their singer can take comfort in the idea that every nu-punk vocalist to come after him has sounded exactly like him.) Extremely non-serious Get Up Kids pop/New Wave offshoot Reggie & The Full Effect is always entertaining for at least 10 minutes, but as far as well-written pop music goes, up-and-coming opener Eisley smokes both of the bands that hit the stage after it. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
HARMIK IS TOM JONES Got kitsch? A Tom Jones impersonator performs at a nudie resort. No word on whether the tight pants will come off or not. (Paradise Lakes Resort, Lutz)
-ES
SCIENCE NONFICTION/ASTRONAUTALIS/BLEUBIRD/GAVIN This show is presented by Sarasota-based rap collective Free Poets and local arts/culture mag Porch. Science NonFiction recently shared the stage with the current clown prince of indie rap, Sage Francis, and has been steadily building a buzz that not only gets them notable gigs up the East Coast, but also brings bigger acts down this way. Such as the following: Bleubird is one guy who raps about the state of the world, in notably anti-krunk fashion – a cynical intellectual who doesn't find any contradiction in mixing amped-up bass with provocative, self-deprecating lyricism. Jacksonville's Astronautalis is another white indie rap guy with a thesaurus-type penchant for obscure rhymes. Rounding out the bill is Gavin, of criminally underrated alterna-rap group Gruvis Malt. (j.a.c.s., Sarasota)
-MS
MONDAY, MARCH 14
STEVE VAI w/ERIC SARDINAS Since catching the eyes and ears of discerning guitar fans with his work with Frank Zappa, Steve Vai has screwed around with mainstream hard rock in Alcatrazz, Whitesnake and an iteration of David Lee Roth's backing band. But through it all, his flamboyant, somewhat gimmicky solo output has kept him a shred/instrumental-culture icon. Vai's new album, Real Illusions: Reflections, is the first in a four-album cycle. I know, I know – who cares? He'll blow your mind just the same, plus, bassist extraordinaire Billy Sheehan and fellow guitar god Tony MacAlpine are members of his recording and touring band, The Breed. (Tampa Theatre, Tampa)
THE SNOCORE TOUR What ostensibly originated as a vaguely winter-extreme-sports-connected package tour showcasing the heavier and weirder corners of the punk, metal and indie-rock scenes quickly devolved into a quick way for major labels' vaguely edgy hard-music acts to try on a little "street cred." Now you've got this: a decent band that's hardly starving for exposure (Chevelle); a band that's a shadow of what it was back when it and SnoCore were brilliant and bold (Helmet); a straightforward, up-and-coming rock act that's about as interesting as boiled chicken (Crossfade); and two generically brooding new acts that are at least a couple of years behind the curve (Future Leaders of The World, Strata). Slayer? Willhaven? Deftones? Fantomas? You won't find anything nearly that good or challenging at SnoCore this year, or likely ever again. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
TUESDAY, MARCH 15
KRAIG KENNING/MARK PICKETT A couple of fingerpick guitar specialists will get their roots thing going. Chicago's Kenning plays mostly dobro, while Picket's axes are 6- and 12-string guitars, a 1931 National Steel Duolian and rack harmonica. Both sing, but the bet here is that their guitar work carries the night. (Skipper's Smokehouse)
-ES
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16
DONNA SUMMER This may be construed by some as damning with faint praise, but here are two of my personal best-ofs from the disco era. Best Disco Song: "Le Freak," by Chic. Best Disco Artist: Donna Summer. The late '70s genre, nurtured in dance clubs and sent through the roof via radio, was known for its assembly-line quality. Giorgio Moroder (Summer's German producer) certainly had a formulaic approach (chief among his rules was using a straight 4/4 bass drum beat, de rigeur for disco). But a stream of catchy pop/R&B hooks and Summer's powerful, sexy voice helped her songs rise above the disco grist mill. Her 1978-1980 streak of "Last Dance," "MacArthur Park," "Heaven Knows," "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls," "Dim All the Lights," "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)" and "On the Radio" (Top 10s all, with four No. 1s) puts the lie to the assertion that all disco sucked. These are terrific pop tunes. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
-ES
This article appears in Mar 9-15, 2005.