Clearwater's Jazz 2001 Music Marathon It's not clear whether this event, boasting 101 hours of jazz and setting a new world record, is meant as companion or competition to the 21st edition of the Clearwater Jazz Holiday, but it smacks of being a bit foolhardy nonetheless. Are jazzbos going to skip John Scofield and Jane Monheit to see obscure local acts like Flashback, Aura Jazz Trio and Ladyfingers? Are CJH-goers so jazz-hungry that they're going to leave the outdoor fest and head to the Marathon for an extra, oh, 12 or 15 hours of jazz? Not likely on either count. And get this: The alleged world-record 101 hours lasts from Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. 'til Oct. 21 at noon. That time period totals 89 hours. Let's hope the players are better at playing than the organizers are at arithmetic. Hey, I have no problem with this kind of stunt if it presents legit jazz, but the timing is bad and the organization is suspect. The whole thing's just weird enough to check out, though, if only for a little while. (Oct. 17-21, Royalty Theatre, Clearwater)
—Eric Snider
Unitas/Teddy Duchamp's Army/Pseudo Heroes/Creta Bourzia Contrary to early and widespread reports, Gainesville's Unitas isn't really an insurgent country outfit. Sure, the band (which features former members of Discount as well as Hot Water Music bassist Jason Black) has its Southern-fired tendencies, but that's just one facet of a venomous, high-volume punk-ass treatise on integrity and life in G-ville. Go buy their album, out on No Idea, right now. Pittsburgh's Teddy Duchamp's Army plies edgy, melodic punk. Creta Bourzia does angular postrock. Our own beloved Pseudo Heroes do catchy, angst-laden punk-ish guitar stuff better than just about anyone in town. Highly recommended. (Oct. 18, New World Brewery)
Clearwater Jazz Holiday featuring Boney James/Jane Monheit/John Scofield/Russell Malone/Irvin Mayfield/Nnenna Freelon/Poncho Sanchez/others For a few years there, it looked as if the CJH had really knuckled under to the scourge of smooth jazz. Nice rebound in '01. The only acts in the four-day fest that are clearly part of that moribund genre are Boney James (Saturday, 8:45 p.m.) and Richard Smith (Saturday, 1:30). But ya know, CJH days can be long; you might need a nap. The smoooooveness is more than offset by the first Bay area appearance (I'm pretty sure) by guitarist John Scofield (Friday, 7:30) who has long walked the fine line between mainstream, fusion, avant-garde and groove-jazz. Another able six-stringer, Russell Malone (Saturday, 5) is also on the bill. Of the two featured vocalists, Nnenna Freelon (Friday, 9:15) is less celebrated than youngster Jane Monheit (Thursday, 8:45) but considerably more soulful. Latin sounds take the spotlight on Sunday with Los Hombres Calientes (4:30) and the Poncho Sanchez Latin Jazz Band (6:30). As for locals, it's a nice mix: Zappa tribute band Bogus Pomp (Thursday, 6); bopper and USF prof Chuck Owen and Jazz Surge (Friday, 6); torchy, bluesy Suzette Jennings & Moodswingz (Saturday, noon); and those pillars of post-Coltraneism, the Michael Ross Quartet (Sunday, 1). For the first time, CJH has preferred seating available. It costs $15 for Thursday and Friday, $25 Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or through www.clearwaterjazz.com, which is where you can find the schedule in full detail. (Oct. 18-21, Coachman Park)
—Eric Snider
My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult w/Professional Murder Music Everybody's favorite glam-punk industrial ode to sex and violence returns, in support of its newest release, The Reincarnation of Luna. Miss Lady Cherrie Blue, of Lords of Acid fame, joins the conglomerate for both the new album and this tour. Opener Professional Murder Music takes a more straightforward metal-influenced route to oblivion, but it's still, you know, all dark and shit. (Oct. 19, The Masquerade)
Crash Mitchell/The Unrequited Loves Crash set the standard for attitude-laden punk-country mayhem with his first disc, Cantankerous. We keep getting reports that a follow-up is soon to drop, but for now, the twangy, loud-ass live rendition will more than suffice. We love you, Crash. The Unrequited Loves, those blaring, clever romantic pop know-it-alls, kick things off with some of Mike O'Neill's patented plaintive chordage. Does he only have one blazer, or a bunch of them in the same color and style? The world may never know. (Oct. 19, New World Brewery)
Dan Bern w/Magda Hiller Dan Bern's PR people know how to turn it on: without a doubt one of the most frighteningly witty, thrillingly irreverent, deeply comical and monumentally insightful songwriters to strap on a guitar since rock music came of age. They also compare Bern to James Thurber, Elvis Costello and Jack Kerouac. Wow. Hell, they might be right — Bern's running commentary on everything from pop culture to the human condition is often spot-on, engaging and delivered with some seriously listenable music. Miami's Magda Hiller purveys eclectic, evocative singer/songwriter stuff with intelligent lyrics and a great voice. (Oct. 19, Skipper's Smokehouse)
Robin Trower The singer/guitarist, who was part of Procol Harum in the '60s, was something of a poor man's Hendrix in the'70s. He's still a solid journeyman six-stringer who can please a crowd of classic rock fiends looking for a night of guitar solos. (Oct. 19, Jannus Landing)
—Eric Snider
Trisha Yearwood Enduring pop-country performer Trisha Yearwood brings her inimitable vocal style to Ruth Eckerd. When they say she's one of the finest interpreters of country music, does that mean she's translating country music from a foreign language, or into one? Neither, actually; it means that she mostly does other people's stuff. (Oct. 19, Ruth Eckerd Hall)
Mortician/Exhumed/Dark Faith/Swamp Gas/Impurity I've said it before and I'll say it again – uuurrrrrrrgggggggggaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhttthhhhh. Nothing rinses away the cares of the day like a full evening of black-shirted, hair-spinning, pointy-guitar-shredding, can't-decipher-the-band-logo death metal. Oh, yeah. Mortician and Exhumed have both been plying the grind for more than a decade now; the former has perfected that jackhammer drum-machine industrial/death thing, while the latter is, really, just not right in the head. Enjoy. (Oct. 19, Brass Mug)
Agnostic Front/Kill Your Idols/Bane/F-Minus The old school meets the new breed for a touring lineup that covers just about everything on the heavier end of hardcore. Revelation fans, Victory aficionados and crossover pundits will all find something to happily beat the shit out of each other over. (Oct. 19, State Theatre)
Microphones/Spacious International/Bear Country USF's Marshall Center, which generally passes for the student union, has been staging shows over the last several months. The bills keep getting better, but it has yet to be seen whether or not the shows can manage to keep kids on-campus for an evening's diversions on a regular basis. It would definitely help things along, however, if indie-philes from outside the school made the trip. This lineup is more than worth it: noted K Records indie-popsters Microphones, skewed local pop-scientists Spacious International (Gerald is rumored to be back in town again for this one) and newly hyped Bay area sensation Bear Country, who may or may not be Clearwater. (Oct. 19, USF's Marshall Center)
The Derek Trucks Band w/Rocks and The Revelators Following the unfortunate (and by unfortunate, we mean severely fucked up) series of events that forced them into shutting down their Clearwater business, those resilient kids at Club More have set up shop at Central Stage in downtown St. Petersburg. More power to 'em. You know the place, up on Central Avenue and 19th Street (where that rave club was always getting in trouble for supposedly selling Ecstasy to senior citizens, or whatever) — larger space, bigger capacity, more layout options. Expect them to settle into putting on their usual eclectic array of live events any day now. Their first major to-do consists of slide-guitar prodigy Derek Trucks and blues-rock stalwarts Rocks & The Revelators. Support, people. (Oct. 20, Central Stage)
Cold/Nonpoint/Darwin's Waiting Room/Dope/Reveille/Lifer/Switched A cavalcade of assorted (sort of) nu-metal soundage, from a couple of Miami heavies to modern rock radio-ready Goth riffing. Reveille and Darwin's Waiting Room are the standouts here. And then, of course, there's Dope, which has to be absolutely the most talentless waste of fake dreads, fake leather and MAC makeup to ever capitalize on a music trend. Feeding a Marilyn Manson disc, a black rubber bodysuit and a pair of 18-hole Doc Martens to a garbage disposal just might produce a more satisfying sonic result. (Oct. 20, The Masquerade)
John Prine Legendary singer/songwriter Prine hits town, in support of his new DVD release Live From Sessions At West 54th. The disc contains Prine's segment on the PBS program Sessions At West 54th (duh) plus un-aired footage and bonus interview material. See the show. Feel suitably moved. Buy the DVD. (Oct. 20, Ruth Eckerd Hall)
Rock Bottom Memorial Blues Jam This celebration of the life of local blues hero Rock Bottom, who passed away on Sept. 27, will double as the CD release party for Tommy McCoy's Lay My Demons Down, which was produced by Bottom. McCoy and his Tuff-Tones will perform, along with Laptop Randy, before the memorial jam commences. (Oct. 20, State Theatre)
Gregg Allman & Friends w/Jeffrey Gaines Musician, songwriter, actor and The Man Who Did Cher, Gregg Allman will perform with a band of peers and pals in the intimate environs of the Tampa Theatre. Cher is not expected to be in attendance. Admirably fan-conscious journeyman Jeffrey Gaines will open. Gaines says his fourth album, the emotionally charged Always Be, is made up of love songs to the audience and the exchange that we have. You'll probably never again be afforded the opportunity to check out Allman in such a different setting, so get on it. (Oct. 21, Tampa Theatre)
Ultimate Fakebook/Further Seems Forever/My Hotel Year/Seville A quality assortment of emo's more rocking sounds invades the State. Kansas' Ultimate Fakebook blends equal parts Cheap Trick and Elvis Costello into clever, ironic, punky songcraft. They're no longer on Epic, so you indie snobs can go ahead and start liking them, because they fooking rule. Miami's Further Seems Forever waxes dynamic and moody; it's funny, because Dashboard Confessional's Chris Carrabba used to sing for 'em, and now Seville's rhythm section backs Chris up on the road — they're from down South, too. And what more can I say about Orlando's My Hotel Year? Great songs, great performances, big-time passion, super dudes. Ballsy. (Oct. 21, State Theatre)
H20/Against All Authority/Auto Pilot Off Quite a few purists were turned off by H2O's major-label debut, Go — in truth, the album delivers all of the fast, melodic hardcore burn that got them that far in first place. Really, who gives a shit who puts it out? From Miami, AAA's shizoid array of velocity, horns and politically charged energy have kept them among the Bay's favorite live acts for years now. (Oct. 21, The Masquerade)
Sex Mob NYC downtown denizen and slide trumpeter Steven Bernstein fronts this vibrant quartet that deconstructs pop tunes by the likes of Prince, Paul McCartney, the Stones and such into randy instrumental blasts that could best be described as urban gutbucket. The band's new album, Sex Mob Does Bond, is blends soundtrack material from Bond movies with some of the film franchise's theme songs. This is a jazz band that knows how to throw a party. Be there. Check out this week's Top Pick for more. (Oct. 22, Orpheum)
—Eric Snider
Verizon Music Festival featuring Arturo Sandoval/Chuck Berry/Little Richard/Wynonna/Femi Kuti & Positive Force/Buckwheat Zydeco/Ronny Elliott/Michael Ross Quartet It's always tough getting a new music festival on the radar, but this Verizon blowout has the corporate clout to make it happen. Plus, it serves up a little something for just about everyone. Feel like celebrating the 75th birthday of a rock 'n' roll pioneer? Be on hand Thursday, Oct. 25, at Ruth Eckerd Hall, when the irascible and ruthless Chuck Berry hosts his own birthday bash, with special guest Little Richard. For a more rootsy experience, check out a bill featuring zydeco master Buckwheat Zydeco, R&B icon Irma Thomas, local twangcore king Ronny Elliott and jazzer Michael Ross at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Country/pop crossover artist Wynonna plays at Eckerd on the 26th. The fest culminates on Saturday, Oct. 27, with a free concert at Clearwater's Coachman Park showcasing Cuban trumpet titan Arturo Sandoval, neo-African artist Femi Kuti (son of the legendary Afro-beat trailblazer Fela Kuti), jazz guitarist Larry Coryell and others. The fest includes even more events. For the entire skinny, check out www.verizon.com/musicfestival. (Oct. 24-27, Venues throughout Tampa Bay)
—Eric Snider
—All entries by Scott Harrell unless otherwise indicated
This article appears in Oct 18-24, 2001.