THURSDAY, JAN. 13
A BENEFIT FOR THE REFUGE Long-running St. Pete ministry The Refuge is primarily known for its work with at-risk and "street" youth and the homeless, and for putting on great, all-ages, Christian-punk shows at places like Clearwater's 688 Skatepark. Bruce Wright and his group of volunteers deserve credit for just keeping their vision up and running since The Refuge lost its downtown St. Pete venue/HQ almost a decade ago — they don't get a whole lot of help, and what help they do get is appreciated. This intriguingly out-of-character show is aimed at raising some moolah to help with the operating costs, and features jam/drum circle/Celtic/World Beat ensembles The Psalters and Madison Greene, along with The Glenn Clark Family Band. The full lineup will also appear on the 14th and 15th in Ybor City, and on the 16th at St. Petersburg's Solid Rock Christian Church (4224 28th St. N.). (Royalty Theatre, Clearwater)
THE RADIATORS This veteran New Orleans band enjoyed a bit of a profile in the late '80s/early '90 as a kind of working-man's Little Feat with a heavy Crescent City bent. They've been through town countless times, and word is they always give it up on stage. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —Eric Snider
EMERGENZA SHOWCASE 1 Emergenza is a global original-music talent search; this is the competition's second year in the U.S. The most interesting thing about Emergenza is the fact that anybody interested in playing the first wave of showcases, held more-or-less simultaneously in dozens of markets across the world, can sign up — there's room for all. Of course, most of the bands will be eliminated after this round, and the numbers get smaller and smaller as the finals approach. Ybor's Orpheum plays host to the Tampa Bay market's initial showcases, which run every night from Thursday to Saturday. Tonight's alt-rock-heavy lineup: New Season; Smegma; Asylum 414; Trace of Day; Inviolet; Bad Cat; and Orpheus. The show kicks off at 8 p.m.; for more info, check out www.emergenza.net. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
FRIDAY, JAN. 14
THE VITAL TOUR We were talking about The Refuge and all-ages punk/post-punk/indie-pop shows just a minute ago, and here's one now. Ocala's A Day To Remember have an energetic, harmony-laden emo sound; Orlando's Words Now Heard (basically, singer-songwriter Chris Martin) plies bouncy acoustic-grounded pop; Lakeland favorite As You Wish wax a bit more edgy and metallic; and St. Pete's own Malayne incorporate myriad melodic styles to create an urgent, timeless vibe. (688 Skatepark, Clearwater)
LUCKY PETERSON He grew up at least part of the time in St. Petersburg, the son of bluesman James Peterson. Lucky's a supremely talented fellow, with just about equal facility on B-3 organ and guitar (a rare double). He's a mercurial guy, though. I've seen him perform badly (at the Tampa Bay Blues Festival) and I've seen him perform with such reckless abandon that I couldn't take my eyes off him (at Tropical Heatwave). Last I heard, he lives in Texas. Fans can only hope that the motivated and enthusiastic Lucky shows up. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) —ES
WORK O' THE WEAVERS As you may have surmised, this Northeastern ensemble faithfully recreates the songs of iconic, masterfully subversive folk act The Weavers. (Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, Tarpon Springs)
EMERGENZA SHOWCASE 2 The world's largest battle o' the bands continues. Tonight's lineup consists of Desolite, Deshrived, Cuban Sandwich Crisis, Hmoong, Super Vee, Slave 2 None, Animal Stock Exchange, and Ode. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
ANNE FEENEY If there was a Bill O'Reilly pinata to be found in Bradenton this weekend, Anne Feeney might be bashing its candy-filled loins open with the backside of her acoustic guitar. Her family tree is filled with old-time labor organizers from the steel mills of Pennsylvania, and her music, which ranges from traditional Irish and Mexican ballads to R&B and ska, reflects her left-of-center pedigree. She's headlining the first-ever fundraiser for Planned Parenthood held in Bradenton, so show up, get sex-educated and support a good cause at the same time. (Fogartyville Cafe, Bradenton) —Mark Sanders
SATURDAY, JAN. 15
TONIC The late-'90s alt-pop hitmakers continue to coddle thirty-somethings who quit hunting down new music shortly after "If You Could Only See" attained radio ubiquity. Oddly, Tonic was nominated for two Grammys long after their heyday, for the 2003 tune "Take Me As I Am." I don't remember that one, but they have at least one truly great song — "Casual Affair." Request it. (Headliners, Tampa)
JOHNNY RAWLS The Suncoast Blues Society's Juke Joint Series continues at Dave's Aqua Lounge, a comfortable little place on the St. Pete side of Gandy Bridge that can be great fun when the right elements come together. Tonight's performer, Johnny Rawls, has been working it since the '70s. His style adds a contemporary lyrical bent to traditional, soulful old-school grooves. (Dave's Aqua Lounge, St. Petersburg)
SEVENTH ANNUAL WMNF BOOK AND RECORD SALE No live entertainment, but if you get there early, you can score a killer breakfast, courtesy of the Pancake Man. The treasure hunt starts at 9:30 a.m. — get there early, before the good music and literature gets gone. (Cuban Club, Ybor City)
GALACTIC/NORTH MISSISSIPPI ALLSTARS We get to start out the new year with a hunk of jam-band nirvana. New Orleans' Galactic plays limber Crescent City funk, updating the tradition of The Meters, the Neville Brothers, et al. (Check out the Music feature on page 56.) North Mississippi Allstars put a virtuosic spin on the raw drone blues of the hill country south of Memphis. Guitarist Luther Dickinson is an absolute monster. If you like your shows long, expansive and sweaty, you can hardly go wrong here. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg) —ES
BONNIE BRAMLETT & OLD UNION/REBEKAH PULLEY & THE RELUCTANT PROPHETS Bramlett is a rock and R&B legend; after a stint as a backup singer for Ike & Tina Turner, her band Delaney & Bonnie and Friends made several hit records and elevated the American profile of several classic-rock icons, including Eric Clapton and Dave Mason. (See the Music feature on page 55.) She's currently being backed by Old Union, a bunch of young guys with ears for good old stuff like The Allman Brothers Band; both with and without Bramlett, they should appeal to jam-heads and old-school rock fans alike. High-quality local rock/roots/ singer-songwriter act Rebekah Pulley & The Reluctant Prophets opens. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
EMERGENZA SHOWCASE 3 Luminous Flesh Giants, Society's End, Soulfound, Stuk, Primate 46, Noble Jones, The Johnnie K Band, and Sudden Death vie for a slot in the next round of the global Emergenza talent search. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
THE TOLER BROTHERS/BILLY RICE BAND Although "Dangerous" Dan Toler has three gold albums to his credit (Gregg Allman's I'm No Angel, the Allman Brothers' Enlightened Rogues and Hank Williams Jr.'s Out in Left Field), he keeps a relatively low profile in his hometown of Bradenton. All that changes for the accomplished Southern rock guitarist this weekend when he, along with drummer/brother "Frankie" Dave Toler, perform alongside country rockers the Billy Rice Band. This might be the one show you can catch this weekend where shouting "Freebird!" won't necessarily get your ass kicked. (The Clubhouse Tavern, Sarasota) —MS
SUNDAY, JAN. 16
HEAT 14 Seventh Avenue danceteria Club Empire hosts a full bill of drum 'n' bass masters, sponsored by the world-renowned Hallucination crew and Acidflyers.com. The acknowledged king of American d 'n' b, Dieselboy, headlines. Support comes courtesy of Delano, Circle K, Negative, and Sicc:16. (Club Empire, Ybor City)
THE TAMPA BLACK HERITAGE FESTIVAL PRESENTS PIECES OF A DREAM In the early/mid '80s, saxophonist Grover Washington Jr. championed a trio of Philly lads as the Next Big Thing in pop-crossover jazz (their formation predates the term "smooth jazz"). For a while, Pieces of a Dream lived up to the hype. The band, lads no longer, has endured with its (insert synonym for "smooth" … silky?) keyboard-fronted jazz/R&B. This show is part of the two-week-long Tampa Bay Black Heritage Festival. For more information on the event, go to www.tampablackheritage.org. The street festival portion is free; there is, however, a $5 parking charge. (University of South Florida, Tampa) —ES
"I HAVE A DREAM" TALENT SHOWCASE Dozens will enter; one MC and one singer (or band) will walk away with $100, two hours of free studio time, 100 duplicated CDs with packaging, a slot on the upcoming compilation E. True Hip-Hop Story 2, and probably some other crap as well. (Full Moon Saloon, Ybor City)
EMERGENZA SHOWCASE 4 The last night of Emergenza's first round of sets. Closing out the proceedings, for now, are MC, Squirrels Gone Wild, Arietta, Left In Ashes, Last Minute Project, Initial Doubt, Fable, and Dreamzfate. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
HOT TUNA For this tour, original Jefferson Airplane alums Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady are exploring the relationship between electric and acoustic music, using various combinations of instruments to lend different sounds and vibes to their material. They're joined by mandolin master and multi-instrumentalist Barry Mitterhoff and drummer/percussionist Erik Diaz. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
SCOTT SIMS BENEFIT Tonight's six-band shindig at Sarasota's Joyland (8440 N. Tamiami Trail) serves as both a memorial for One Night Rodeo drummer Scott Sims, who passed away on Christmas, and as a benefit for his family. One Night Radio, Hazard County, Midnight Special, Dakota Rose, Ripa Joda, and Laurie Fetzer & Point of View will perform. Hazard County has also written a special song for Sims; proceeds from the sales of the CD-single will go to his family as well. (Joyland, Sarasota)
JOE COCKER & DAVE MASON I must have seen close to 2,000 shows (maybe more), and one of them has not been Joe Cocker. Truthfully, I think I've always been a little afraid to witness his spastic act in person. Maybe it's time that should change, though. Cocker's voice has held up remarkably well over the years. Who would have thought, hearing him scream and caterwaul on (the first) Woodstock album, that Joe would even be able to talk in '04, let alone sing? (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) —ES
MONDAY, JAN. 17
MLK DAY OUTDOOR FESTIVAL Realityhiphop.com came together with a host of other supportive folks to throw this commemorative shindig up in New Port Richey's unarguably picturesque Sims Park. Rap artists Eajae & Addek will headline, and are joined by several other acts, ranging from urban to gospel to full-on vocal choir. The whole thing kicks off at noon. (Sims Park, New Port Richey)
TUESDAY, JAN. 18
ENCORE SEASON 5 KICKOFF The Palladium's extraordinary annual chamber-music series begins anew, like a phoenix wearing a powdered wig rising from its own ashes to take up the viola or something. The Tarab Cello ensemble gets first crack at culturing the Bay area. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)
NAVAH PERLMAN & THE PRAGUE ORCHESTRA She comes from good stock. Navah's father is none other than renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman. She has built a substantial career as a classical pianist in solo and chamber settings, and, in this instance, with a large ensemble. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) —ES
scott.harrell@weeklyplanet.com
This article appears in Jan 12-18, 2005.