THURS 21

Meow Meow If there was ever such thing as a post-cabaret circuit, Meow Meow would be its most successful star. As it stands, the Australian-born, NYC-based chanteuse is single-handedly creating the circuit and starring in it, her style of craft a potent mix of sharp-witted performance art, deconstructionist cabaret and pop culture satire. Her deep, rich, husky timbre oozes sensuality as she delivers Shanghai showtunes from the 1930s, French pop tunes from the 1960s, tangos by Piazzolla and modern-dark numbers by Radiohead, among other re-imagined covers, risqué originals and "chansons apocalyptiques." All add up to wildly subversive, in-the-moment stage shows so exceptionally unpredictable and appealing that The New Yorker spotlighted Meow Meow in its "Best Performances of 2010" list. This is her Tampa debut. (Straz Center for the Performing Arts, Tampa)

Disciples of Christ / Shitstorm / Cellgraft / Devout [Early] AND Dave Hause / Mikey Erg / Ian Graham / The Tim Version [Late] Transitions presents two back-to-back bills of hard and heavy bands. The early show features local talent (with the exception of Miami grindcore group Shitstorm) and kicks off at 7:15 p.m. The national-act late show starts at 9:30 p.m., and includes solo sets by Dave Hause (of Philly punk outfit The Loved Ones), Mikey Erg (of NYC metal-punk-ska fivesome Star Fucking Hipsters) and Ian Graham (of Lansing, Mich. power-pop/post-grunge trio Cheap Girls). Tampa's own rockers The Tim Version round things out. (Transitions Art Gallery @ Skatepark of Tampa)

Railroad Earth While their sound is clearly influenced by the rootsy-Americana sides of the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan, New Jersey sextet Railroad Earth brings a modern newgrass/alt country/world fusion feel to their earthy jams. Well-textured instrumental arrangements are marked by the vocals of singer-acoustic guitarist Todd Sheaffer with backup by his finely-harmonizing bandmates — violinist Tim Carbone, mandolin player John Skehan, multi-instrumentalist Andy Goessling (acoustic guitars, banjo, dobro, mandolin, flute, pennywhistle, saxophones), and drummer/percussionist Carey Harmon; new player Andrew Altman rounds out the band's sound on upright bass. This tour supports the band's self-titled fifth LP, which ponders the country's ever-changing landscape with production help from Angelo Montrone and Michael Caplan (Allman Brothers Band, Los Lonely Boys). (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)

Chicago Legendary soft-prog group Chicago is one of the few major classic rock acts that have never broken up in their lengthy (more than four-decade) career, though they've had a few lineup changes. Currently four of the six founding members (Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane, James Pankow, and Walt Parazaider) are on board. Expect brass-fused blockbuster hits like "If You Leave Me Now," "Saturday in the Park," "25 or 6 to 4," and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry," among so many others. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) —Valerie Quintana

FRI 22

Tom Jones He's the superstar singer with the mega-watt smile, big booming voice, and enough cheese and sleaze to last a lifetime or longer — yes, I'm talking about Tom "It's Not Unusual" Jones, who departed from his typical pop-orientated style for his 39th studio LP, 2010's Praise & Blame, and delivered covers of obscure devotional and gospel songs. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)

A Rock 'n' Roll Resurrection w/Thomas Wynn & the Believers/The Groves/Dead Pony Pond/Jeremy Thomas An array of talented musicians repping the FLA rock scene play this free show headlined by Southern-fueled folk-fried rockers Thomas Wynn & The Believers, which is known for staging energetically heartfelt live performances. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg) —VQ

Midday By the Bay Series w/O Som Do Jazz Mahaffey Theater and the Dali Museum team up to present a free lunchtime live music series in the wide plot of grassy space located between the two downtown arts sites. O Som Do Jazz kicks off the series with 1960s-style Brazilian bossa nova and samba-jazz. Attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic or bag lunch; snacks and sammies are also offered by various local vendors. (Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg)

An Earth Day Show w/Jimkata/J2K Celebrate Earth Day holiday with some tasty reggae-laced electro prog rock by Ithaca, N.Y.-based quartet Jimkata, which seems to be just as heavily influenced by Rush as by the Disco Biscuits, with their time signature-changing and technically tight but heady-dance sound. Wet and tasty funk-psyche basslines, clean and sublime guitar notes, synthesizer blasts and rhythms that are alternately organic or drum machine danceable. Pick up a copy of their third and latest recording, Ghosts and Killers EP, via pay-what-you-want download at jimkata.com. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)

Tortured Soul The New York outfit mixes soul, funk and house music into a groove-laden late night sound carried on the boy band velvety vocals of lead singer Christian Urich, who also serves as the band's beat-keeping member. Ethan White and Jason Kriveloff join him on keys and bass, respectively. (Crowbar, Ybor City)

AP Tour feat. Black Veil Brides/Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows/I See Stars/VersaEmerge/Conditions The fifth annual spring AP Tour (presented by Alternative Press magazine) is a showcase of fast-rising heavy music bands. Sinister-looking make-up-laden Hot Topic-approved Black Veil Brides headline with powerful metalcore tunes marked by wailing guitar harmonies and breakdowns. Also stirring up a recent buzz is Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows (aka D.R.U.G.S.), the new post-hardcore punk project of ex-Chiodos frontman Craig Owens. He's joined by a group of musicians that also play with other bands — guitarist/vocalist Matt Good (From First to Last), bassist Adam Russell (Story of the Year), guitarist Nick Martin (Underminded), and drummer Aaron Stern (Matchbook Romance). Rounding out the bill is pop-rock-screamo outfit I See Stars, female-fronted Florida natives VersaEmerge, and Saosin-sounding group Conditions. Expect a room full of jet-black hair, black nail polish, studded leather, and smudged eyeliner. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) —VQ

The Sun Society w/Introduction to Sunshine A double-bill of rays-soaked music with piano-pop/folk rock outfit The Sun Society — which features sweetly-singing keyboardist Kathleen McGuire and a backup band that includes her harmonizing sister, bassist and cellist Shaundra — is joined by Orlando's ambient melodic rockin' fourpiece, Intro to Sunshine. (Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa)

SAT 23

An Evening with Leo Kottke The acoustic guitar master has been active for nearly 45 years despite tendon damage in his right hand that nearly ended his career. His live style has stayed pretty straightforward — just him, an acoustic guitar, and his deep gravelly baritone — but his technical proficiency on his instrument has only improved with age and he's known for his expert finger-picking skills on six and 12-string guitars and his syncopated, polyphonic melodies. His last album was 2005's Clone with Phish bassist Mike Gordon. (Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg)

Infinite Groove Orchestra CD Release Party w/Sound Spektrum The funkadelic jazz fusion four-piece brings their new album, People Music, to St. Pete for a release show with support by hip hop-jazz-Latin groove outfit, Sound Spektrum. (The Local 662, St. Petersburg)

Not Tonight Josephine Tour Kickoff Party Tampa's own buzzed-about "next big thing" alt-rock outfit and Best of the Bay winners Not Tonight Josephine prepares to embark on a 20-date national tour that takes them from Florida up through the Northeast and as far west as Arkansas in support of their new self-released album, All on the Horizon, due to hit shelves April 26. The USF Student Union hosts the band's tour kick off party. (Beef O' Brady's, Tampa)

Birdstock II w/The Wholetones/Sarasota Slim/Wendy & the Soul Shakers/Crash Mitchell/Ronny Elliott/Judy Tampa and Bunko Squad/Jayne Kelli/Steve Arvey/Sandy Atkinson/Scotty Lee and the Treble Hooks/Leigh Humes Band/Applebutter Express/many others A St. Pete Beach area fundraiser with continuous live music presented by 60 bands on seven Corey Avenue stages in addition to all-manner of related specials and activities. A $10 wristband gets you into everything and all proceeds support the seabird nesting habitat conservation and restoration efforts by Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges. (Multiple St. Pete Beach locations)

Teddy Thompson The British singer-songwriter is the son of guitar legend Richard Thompson, though you wouldn't know it by his sound, which slants more to country than folk rock. His fifth LP, 2011's Bella, is a loose concept album about the highs and lows of pursuing women complete with gospel-tinged keys, twangy slide guitar, and Thompson's very un-Britlike drawl delivering songs like the cry-in-beer ode, "Delilah" ("I'm thinking about you everyday / and I'm sorry for the things I said"). (Friday Morning Musicale, Tampa)

COPE w/Donna Hopkins Band Fresh off performing an evening set at last weekend's Allman Brothers-hosted Wanee Fest in Live Oak is Tampa's own jam-rock foursome COPE, which is prepping a new album due out sometime later this year. They're supported by friend and frequent onstage collaborator Donna Hopkins and her blues-roots rockin' three-piece. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)

SOJA / Dirty Heads w/New Politics A co-headlining bill featuring two percussive-fused reggae outfits from either side of the country. D.C.-based septet SOJA (short for Soldiers of Jah Army) has a two-piece horn section and their sound leans more to Rasta roots. California's Dirty Heads are a little more punk rockin', incorporate hip-hop into their own heady sound, and are a favorite of CL Contributor Amber McDonald, who gave the band's debut LP, Any Port in a Storm, a glowing four-star review. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)

SUN 24

Kaleigh Baker The soulful songstress of jazz-fused blues has been playing around Central Florida for the past few years, her powerhouse vocals alternating between a low croon to a high wail. Baker is currently prepping her debut EP with producer/musician Justin Beckler. (Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe, Tampa)

MON 25

Upon A Burning Body w/The Color Morale/I, The Breather/Like Moths To Flames A surplus of deep, hollow screams and rumbling howls emerge from headliners Upon A Burning Body, an underground Tex-Mexicore outfit from San Antonio that produces tracks about partying (from "Intermission": "Not drunk is he who from the floor can rise alone and still drink more") and has a very distinct mafia-like attitude about their music evidenced in their music video for "Carlito's Way." (Orpheum, Ybor City) —VQ

USF Monday Night Jazz Series: Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge The series kicks off in USF School of Music's new Concert Hall with Owen and his 18-piece ensemble orchestra, which makes their first local appearance since 2009 to celebrate their 15th anniversary. The program includes selections from all four of the band's CDs; Owen will also debut a few fresh (never performed before) pieces. (USF Concert Hall, USF-Tampa)

TUES 26

Woodsman w/Tjutjuna/Florida Night Heat Purveyors of experimental mood music that is alternately loud or ambient, and at all times a surreally vibrant acid trip through psychedelic soundscapes and woozy wall-of-sound atmospherics, Woodsman is a four-piece from Colorado made up of two percussionists and two "sonic animators" who use electric guitars, feedback loops and recorded samples to create their out-there music. On their most recent recording, this year's Rare Forms, the band added vocals by band member Mark Demolar that bring a spooky ethereal vibe to their sound. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)

Bradley's Circus Direct from The Netherlands is this roots-rockabilly-blues music five-piece led by the throaty feminine piping of singer-guitarist Mattanja Joy Bradley and singer-harmonica player Lidewij Veenhuis. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)

WED 27

Civil Twilight w/One eskimO/The Daylights A pre-launch party for VH1's Best Cruise Ever featuring three bands due to perform on the nonstop rock boat: propulsive yet sensitive alt-rock trio Civil Twilight, which hails from Cape Town, South Africa; UK emo-indie rock quartet One esskimO, a favorite of Ellen DeGeneres; and LA pop-sensible rock outfit, The Daylights. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)

ALSO THIS WEEK

Juanjamon Band w/The Produkt Thurs., April 21, SKIDS Tavern, Tampa

Dirty Spoons and Trash Revue w/Rebekah Pulley/Acho Brother Fri., April 22, Hideaway Cafe, St Petersburg

Legendary JC's w/Fast Lane Fri., April 22, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa

Easy Posse Dance Party Fri., April 22, Yeoman's Pub, Tampa

Serious Soul w/DJ Heather/Brian Busto Fri., April 22, Hyde Park Café, Tampa

A Story Familiar / Victims of Eden Fri., April 22, Pegasus Lounge, Tampa

Thirty Seconds to Mars Sat., April 23, Universal Studios, Orlando

Ted Lukas w/Mike Dunn Sat., April 23, Hideaway Cafe, St. Petersburg

Skull & Bone Band w/Sherrona Steward Sat., April 23, Emerald Bar, St. Petersburg

Air Like Oceans w/A Hero's Fate/The Real Voices/A Play On Words Sat., April 23, Orpheum, Ybor City

Leaders of the New School V Sat., April 23, Crowbar, Ybor City