The music scene in downtown St. Pete experienced a Dark Age last year when a string of live music spots — Jannus Landing, the Garage Bar, the Uptown — all closed down, leaving a distressing state of dormancy in their wake. The efforts of the always-dependable State Theatre and the hardy hole-in-the-wall Emerald kept the scene from becoming completely stagnant, and things began to pick up little by little. The Mahaffey and Palladium theaters started adding more music to their entertainment offerings, Push Ultra Lounge took on the role of part-part-time concert club, longtime downtown record shop Daddy Kool moved into much bigger and better digs, the Trop's post-Rays concert series gained some momentum by booking top-notch talent, and the three spots that closed got new owners and makeovers, all re-opening one after the other over a seven-month period and right in the midst of downtown's cultural renaissance.
Events like the 600 Block Party and the AntiWarpt Fest drew people back, exposed downtown to the newbies, and reminded the rest of us 'Burgians the scene was not only still there, but blossoming with careful care. Here's a breakdown of all the new (and kind of new) developments.
Daddy Kool The longtime Central Avenue indie music shop moved a block down from its dull and cramped digs to a bigger, brighter storefront with generous picture windows, vibrant splashes of color on the walls, plenty of space to hang shit up, expanded inventory and actual room to move around and rifle through it. 666 Central Ave., 727-822-5665, daddykoolrecords.bigcartel.com.
Fubar Downtown The bar formerly known as the Uptown (remember Ania and Ania?) is now co-owned by Joe McGrath and Jay Aresty, and still holds 90 people max, if you cram 'em in there like sardines. But it's retained its dark smoky appeal. Fubar hosts live music of all genres, although it skews toward local, indie and loud. Coming up: meteorEYES with This Is an Adventure, Aug. 26. 490 First Ave. S., 727-893-8111, myspace.com/fubardowntown
The Hangar Restaurant & Flight Lounge The new food and booze hangout in Albert Whitted Airport has added live jazz to its menu, and musicians play against a backdrop of windows looking out onto the runway. Al Downing Tampa Bay Jazz Association stages a once-a-month Monday Jazz Jam, and Thursdays through Saturdays the Hangar presents "Hot Summer Jazz Nights." No word on whether a "Cool Fall Jazz Nights" will follow. Coming up: Monday Jazz Jam, Sept. 13. 540 First St. SE, 727-823-7767, thehangarstpete.com.
Jannus Live Local businessman Jeff Knight sank a tidy sum of cash into renovations on venerable Jannus Landing, then re-opened the newly overhauled venue as Jannus Live. The red striped "circus tent" and its sightline-blocking poles are gone, giving the courtyard a more wide open feel; a luminous Plexiglas-covered koi pond is situated where the deck used to be, adding a dreamy dance-floor-after-dark ambiance with its color-shifting glow; and a full suite of air-conditioned men's and women's restrooms have replaced the crude Port-O-Johns and piss trough. A roomier stage, $5.50 spirits (and more places to get them), a smoothed-down floor with fewer opportunities for drunken stumbles, luxury VIP suites… Bitch and moan all you want — the place still feels charmed. It's just more polished, and closer to reaching its full potential as a concert venue. Coming up: The Glitch Mob, Aug. 29; Rehab with Nappy Roots, Oct. 7; Vampire Weekend, Oct. 12; Flaming Lips, Oct. 13. 16 Second St. N., 727-565-0551, jannuslive.com.
The Local 662 Former Garage Bar owner Marty Schwab talked lots of smack before he sold the place, blaming violence on Central Avenue and crappy local music for the Garage's failure instead of his own ineffectiveness as a venue owner. Tony Rifugiato (No Clubs Productions) and Mark Assiff (State Theatre) bought the property, made substantial, if subtle, improvements, and re-opened it as The Local 662 in May. The room feels more spacious (eliminating that raised, sectioned-off area by the bar), tables and chairs are scattered about, the sound system is now operated by someone who knows what he's doing, there's a full-liquor bar (another thing the Garage lacked), and the garish greaser aesthetic has been softened up, the lurid red walls covered with a pleasant shade of periwinkle and decorated with original works by local artists. To top things off, the venue regularly presents live music by topnotch local musicians as well as the odd touring acts, and offers free admission to every show. Coming up: Ted Lukas & Rebekah Pulley, Aug. 28; COPE, Sept. 4; Bane, Sept. 7. 662 Central Ave., statemedia.com.
Tropicana Field While the Trop hasn't hosted any concerts aside from the post-Rays game series, the class of talent has only grown since it began. This season, we've seen Los Lobos, Train, John Fogerty, Daryl Hall and John Oates and Nelly, among others. Coming up: Adam Lambert, Sept. 18; and Bret Michaels, Sept. 25. 1 Tropicana Drive, 727-825-3137.
Mahaffey Theater at Progress Energy Center for the Arts Located on the downtown waterfront, the Mahaffey is a classy 2030-seat theater that got a $20 million renovation in 2005, but only really started ramping up its concert offerings over the past year. While Mahaffey still doesn't book nearly enough music, you can still expect what does get booked to be good. Coming up: Serj Tankian, Oct. 7; Lyle Lovett and his Large Band, Nov. 21. 400 First St. S., 727-892-5798.
The Palladium Theater The historic theater has continued to expand its programming since getting a facelift and becoming part of St. Petersburg College a few years back. The Stavros Great Room on the ground floor is used for the Palladium's intimate Side Door series (jazz, blues, cabaret) and other small (150-cap) shows. The Hough Concert Hall is the main performance space and features incredible natural acoustics and seating for 850. Coming up: Air Supply, Aug. 28; Solas, Nov. 5. 253 Fifth Ave. N., 727-822-3590, mypalladium.org.
Push Ultra Lounge You'd be hard pressed to call this chic downtown nightclub that's seen the likes of Rihanna and Paris Hilton a live music venue, but beginning last year, Push has booked scattered concert dates, including Pete Yorn in November, Zach Deputy and Tone Loc in March, and Corey Smith in July. There are no concerts currently on the horizon. 128 Third St. S., 727-871-7874, pushlounge.com.
Star Booty The salon isn't necessarily active in the music scene, but it has started to become involved as much as it can with its limited, odd-shaped space, like setting up DJs to spin records in front of Starbooty during the 600 Block Party, and hosting a handful of acoustic sets acts during the AntiWarpt Fest in July. 681 Central Ave., 727- 895-7827, starbootysalon.com.
ArtPool, 919 First Ave. N., 727-324-3878, artpoolrules.com.
Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant, 95 Central Ave., 727-209-2299, ceviche.com
Café Bohemia, 937 Central Ave., 727-895-4495, myspace.com/cafe_bohemia.
The Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N., 727-892-5202.
Emerald Bar, 550 Central Ave., 727-898-6054.
The Globe Coffee Lounge, 532 First Ave. N., 727-898-5282, globecoffeelounge.com.
Nova 535, 535 Dr. M. L. King Street N., 727-821-6682, nova535.com.
State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., S727-895-3045, statetheatreconcerts.com.
Vinoy Park, 598 Fifth Ave. NE.
This article appears in Aug 26 – Sep 1, 2010.
