THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14
WIN WIN WINTER w/BEAUVILLES/DJ MEGA Melodic yet subdued, Tampa indie-rock quintet Win Win Winter pairs angular guitar riffs with emotive vocals that hover just above the mix. The band is also effective on the occasional sparse acoustic number. Local alt-rock quartet the Beauvilles grab listeners with a darker, more sinister sound, their live shows marked by the assured stage presence of frontman Shawn Kyle Beauville. (Push Ultra Lounge, St. Petersburg)
WMNF JAZZ SERIES: PATRICK BETTISON 'MNF opens its swanky studio for a jazz show featuring versatile Bay area multi-instrumentalist Bettison, who plays bass, piano, harmonica and percussion. His latest CD, Walkin' All Around, is a richly textured affair that combines world-music elements with a Weather Report vibe. On stage, I've only seen Bettison play chromatic harmonica in a battle of blues organists. I was blown away. He's clearly an accomplished bassist, but if it appears that Bettison is not going to pick up his harp, then storm the stage and demand he do so. For info, go to wmnf.org. (WMNF broadcast studios, Tampa) —Eric Snider
THE ASSOCIATION For all their ultra-poppy hits in the latter half of the '60s — "Windy," "Along Comes Mary," "Cherish" and "Never My Love" — the Association also had a psychedelic and a garage-rock side. They even played Monterey Pop in '67, although they got cut out of the film. As to whether the current Association grimes it up and rocks out as well as stacking their vocals on the hits, well, what do you think? (Largo Cultural Center) —ES
COUNTRY GOLD TOUR w/BOBBY BARE/LEROY VAN DYKE/JIM ED BROWN/HELEN CORNELIUS/STEVE AND RUDY GATLIN (OF THE GATLIN BROTHERS)/NARVEL FELTS/RONNIE PROPHET/MOE BANDY/T.G. SHEPPARD Bobby Bare's folk-informed country hits date back to his 1959 Elvis Presley ode "All American Boy." "Detroit City" and "The Streets of Baltimore" (covered by Gram Parsons) are also among the numerous singles he landed on the charts through the early 1980s. In 2005, Bare's namesake son dragged him out of retirement to record The Moon Was Blue. Produced by Bare Jr., it's a highly recommended album that was criminally overlooked upon release. (Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa)
WIL MARING A singer/songwriter steeped in old-time country and folk, Wil Maring's lithe voice has a touch of twang, and her lyrics possess a timeless bucolic quality — especially on numbers like "Keeper of the Farm." (Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa, Tampa)
RANCID POLECATS The local bar band with a punk sensibility performs at the second annual "Valentine's Day '80s Prom." (Crowbar, Ybor City)
CHRIS DUARTE Texas native Chris Duarte has been peeling faces off with his axe work for some 20 years now. With his latest release, Blue Velocity, the blues-rocker once most often referred to as a Stevie Ray Vaughan clone shreds into shades of The Nuge and early Zeppelin on a record that's been hailed for capturing his incendiary live solos. Better still, Duarte and band have been launching into more exploratory jams on their latest tour. That may sound like minor surgery, but the licks are worth a few O-face antics. (Aces Lounge, Bradenton) —Amanda Schurr
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15
THE LEGENDARY J.C.'S w/NERVOUS TURKEY Vintage-sounding soul/funk ensemble The Legendary J.C.'s have expanded their fanbase well beyond Florida's borders since forming a couple years ago in Orlando. Earlier this month, the eight-piece elated a packed house at the famed Tipitina's in New Orleans. But one of the band's favorite venues remains the Skipperdome, where many of us regard the J.C.'s regular appearances as a guaranteed good time. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
EARLY DAY MINERS w/ZILLIONAIRE/WHEN TIDES COLLIDE/PETROGRAD IN TRANSIT Dripping with melancholy and moving slower than an uncomfortable conversation, Early Day Miners' atmospheric indie rock has its merits — but while listening you can't help but wonder if the Indiana band might need a little counseling. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
KY-MANI MARLEY Ky-Mani began his career in the mid-1990s singing roots- and pop-reggae indebted to his legendary father Bob Marley. But following a six-year recording hiatus, he found his voice, releasing the rap- and R&B-leaning Radio. It hit No. 1 on Billboard's Top Reggae Albums chart last year and peaked at No. 38 on the R&B/Hip-Hop survey. Ky-Mani is also opening for Van Halen this week. Read about him in this week's music feature. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
TRISHA YEARWOOD Hubby Garth Brooks made headlines this month with a triumphant return to the stage. Meanwhile, Yearwood maintains a hugely successful country career of her own and a consistent touring schedule that dates back to the early '90s. The big-voiced singer's numerous hits include "She's in Love with the Boy," "Thinkin' About You" and "Perfect Love." (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
RUDE SQUAD w/SPY FOR HIRE/SEMI SOUL/THE CRASH MODERNS/HEY RUBE St. Pete ska quintet Rude Squad has built a loyal local following with peppy performances that speak to serious love for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Fishbone, etc. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
FIXER NYC rockers do grunge with a hint of glam; the vocals are earnest and the lyrics obvious. For better or worse, it's exactly what you'd expect to hear on 98Rock. (Bourbon St. Nightclub, New Port Richey)
THE HUMAN CONDITION w/GERI X/TAILGUNNER JOE & THE EARLS OF SLANDER Bradenton jangle-rockers The Human Condition host this original-music showcase of local talent that also includes celebrated singer/songwriter Geri X and neo-classic rock (with shades of alt-country) quartet Tailgunner Joe & the Earls of Slander. (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin)
DAYLIGHT DISTRICT w/SAINT SWEETHEART, EVERYONE OWNS THE RIGHT Now here's an eclectic, head-bobbing triple bill: B-Town hip-hop loungers Everyone Owns the Right alongside indie rock-rap act Daylight District, with a ridiculously radio-ready dollop of Saint Sweetheart on the side. The latter's heavenly confections — simple, lovely, melodic — are the catchiest things to come out of Sarasota in ages. Don't miss singer/guitarist Trevor Piedra, he of the preternaturally pretty voice, and power-pop drummer Pete Stolp live. (Rasher Tierney's Irish Pub, Bradenton) —AS
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16
RICHARD BUCKNER w/WILL QUINLAN/HAVE GUN, WILL TRAVEL/GERI X A highly literate singer/songwriter who makes compelling alt-country albums (including two that came out on MCA in the late '90s), Richard Buckner sells his evocative tales with gruff, expressive vocals that should prove compelling in this intimate venue. (Kelly's Pub, Tampa)
EARTH BOMBS MARS A mainstay on the local scene, singer/guitarist Rich Whiteley divides his time between cofronting the popular Grateful Dead tribute band Uncle John's Band, solo endeavors and the jammy folk-rock quartet Earth Bombs Mars. This gig is a CD release party for the latter. The disc features Whiteley's commendable originals, plus contributions from the other band members and a cover of the Van Morrison classic "Into the Mystic." (Dunedin Brewery, Dunedin)
JOHN NEMETH BAND w/JUNIOR WATSON The Suncoast Blues Society brings to town John Nemeth, who recently released his acclaimed Blind Pig Records debut Come and Get It. A soulful vocalist and superb harmonica player still in his early 30s (quite young by blues standards), he's backed by an ace band that effortlessly moves from juke-joint rocking to a quiet simmer when it's time for Nemeth to unleash a tender ballad. (Dave's Aqua Lounge, St. Petersburg)
LORETTA LYNN An all-time great of country music, Lynn's wrote her first hits in the early '60s. Her autobiographical anthem, "Coal Miner's Daughter," topped both the country and pop charts in 1970, spawning the film of the same name. Five years later, Lynn pissed off Nashville's suits with a song about birth control called "The Pill," which also became a crossover hit. After spending nearly two decades in semi-retirement, Lynn released the masterful Van Lear Rose in 2004. One of the more remarkable comeback albums of recent years, it reached No. 24 on the Billboard 200, climbing to No. 2 on the Top Country Albums survey despite being snubbed by country radio. Jack White produced the disc and dueted with Lynn on the hit single "Portland Oregon," one of 12 new songs she wrote for the album. (Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven)
THE BUCKINGHAMS A '60s band with a big sound and R&B leanings, The Buckinghams, from Chicago, released a handful of songs that were not only major hits but were particularly good. "Kind of a Drag," "Don't You Care," "Hey Baby (They're Playing Our Song)" and, especially, "Susan" are all gems of the '60s AM canon. (Coachman Park, Clearwater) —ES
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17
SARA EVANS A well-publicized divorce behind her, Evans can now concentrate on recording and performing songs like "Suds in the Bucket." A No.1 country hit in 2004, it's an up-tempo number about a small-town gal leaving home at age 18. Laced with pedal steel and fiddle, it's one of the few mainstream country hits that I've truly enjoyed in recent years. (Busch Gardens, Tampa)
VICTOR WOOTEN He's one of the most lauded electric bassists on the planet, with jaw-dropping chops and an orchestral approach to his playing. Wooten came to prominence as part of banjoist Bela Fleck's band (he's still a member) but is probably more active leading his own groups. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg) —ES
JOHN TESH The tall, tousle-haired 55-year-old keyboardist is a multimedia juggernaut of mediocrity. And his music, a bland post-new-age-kinda-sorta thing, doesn't quite reach that level — and it just dawned on me that I shouldn't waste any more newsprint kicking this guy around. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) —ES
THE MUSES The trio from Colorado plays high-energy Celtic music, using traditional instruments like harp, hammered dulcimer and pennywhistle. (Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa, Tampa)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19
ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK The most annoying name in the history of show business (and it's not even his real name), continues to make blue hairs cream with sentimental faves like "Release Me (And Let Me Love Again)," his breakthrough hit from '67. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20
STEVIE COYLE The former lead singer of eclectic folk/alt-country band The Waybacks has embarked on a solo career. (The Craftsman House, St. Petersburg)
POISON THE WELL w/THE CHARIOT/DANCE GAVIN DANCE Formed in 1998, West Palm Beach hardcore/screamo quintet Poison the Well built a strong underground following and then put out an album on Atlantic Records in 2003 — much to the chagrin of their fanbase. After a four-year recording absence, the band returns to the indie label ranks with Versions, which came out on Ferret Records. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
SMOKE OR FIRE w/FAKE PROBLEMS/ARM THE POOR/STRANDED Offering emo with shades of roots-rock, Smoke or Fire has released in the past three years a pair of well-received records on the indie imprint Fat Wreck Chords. (Transitions Art Gallery at Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa)
Van Halen, Wanda Jackson and Casiotone for the Painfully Alone in Music Week Briefs
This article appears in Feb 13-19, 2008.