Endless Struggle w/Flatliners/Banned From Society/The Culprits Endless struggle are beer-chugging, mohawk-wearing, riot-loving Oi! punks from ... Salt Lake City. Now that's more interesting than polygamy, ain't it?! Doors are at 7:30 p.m., cover's $6. (June 7, State Theatre)
The Independents w/The Krays/APA/ Protagonist/Boney Fiend Florence, S.C.-spawned (but now NYC-based) outfit The Independents are horrifying live — no, really. Their energetic, surf-and-ska-tinged punk is heavily influenced by monstrous, Misfits-style camp. One of the band's albums was co-produced by the late Joey Ramone. They're joined by fellow New Yawkuz, pop-punks The Krays. (June 7, Brass Mug)
Down to the Bone The British funk-jazzers hit the stage at 8 p.m. Reserved seats cost $29, $35 and $43, plus service fees. (June 8, TBPAC)
Guitar Shorty In the early '60s, Tampa-bred bluesman Guitar Shorty filled houses 'round these parts with his boisterous vocals, hot licks and gymnastic antics. He eventually moved to Seattle, where he married the stepsister of Jimi Hendrix. His career has had its low points — he once appeared on The Gong Show, performing They Call Me Guitar Shorty while standing on his head (he won) — but the '90s saw Shorty release a string of critically acclaimed albums on Black Top and other labels. (June 8, Skipper's Smokehouse)
Hopesfall w/Underoath/September Engagement/Seventh Star/Mack the Knife Headlining this 8 p.m. show is Charlotte, N.C.'s Hopesfall, a quintet that plays melodic Christian hardcore. Cover charge is $8. (June 8, The Grind, Palm Harbor)
Kip Winger Solo and Unplugged w/Earl and Arch The former hair-metal crotchthrob once studied classical guitar, danced in the Colorado State Ballet and played in Alice Cooper's Band. His own group, Winger, scored some top 10s in the late '80s and got its collective ass kicked by the alt-rock revolution. Winger's third and latest solo album, 2000's Songs from the Ocean Floor, dealt with the untimely loss of his wife. Show starts at 9:30 p.m. and tickets to this all-ages event are $16 in advance, $20 day of show. (June 8, State Theatre)
Backstreet Boys w/Shaggy/Krystal Have you ever really thought about the Backstreet Boys' name? I hadn't, and though the feeling wasn't quite as disquieting as the first time I really thought about The Cherry Poppin' Daddies' name, it still startled me. I mean, what's so backstreet about these boys?! (Never mind the fact that one of the boys is in his 30s.) When I think of those two words, free of boy-band association, the first group I come up with that's appropriate to the name Backstreet Boys is The Replacements. And, when you really think about that, the real Backstreet Boys should maybe be called The Replacements, ya know, 'cause, they're kinda homogenous and ... (Um, Stefanie? Can we just have the ticket prices? — Ed.) Tickets cost $38.50, $68.50, and a cool $100. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. (June 9, Ice Palace)
Brandston w/My Hotel Year/Denison Marrs/Denver/The St. Catherines How many emo kids does it take to screw in a lightbulb? Three; one to drop it, one to pick up the pieces, and a third to wonder, But, but, why did she leave me?! Get your fill of chiming guitars, powerful rhythms, dual vocals and constant heartbreak from Cleveland's Brandston (the d is silent, yo), Orlando's My Hotel Year and three other regional acts. The Gold Star is located at First Street and Second Avenue, next to Jannus Landing in St. Pete. (June 9, Gold Star Lounge)
Pagan Saints/Unrequited Loves/Ferrell Melton/Bite Size Local top-shelf rockers — from the twangy to the lo-fi — unite to welcome back to the scene the mighty Monday Mornings, now called Ferrell Melton (after the given name of a certain Tampa bartender of some repute). In the late 1980s and early '90s, MM captured perfectly the laid-back, garagey melodicism of Southern college rock. Guitarist Mike Roe and bassist Karen Collins have moved back to Tampa from New York (by way of Kentucky), signing back up with their other half to show us what they can do now. The show starts around 9 p.m., and cover costs $7 for 18-20, $5 for 21 and up. (June 9, Brass Mug)
Kevn Kinney/Slobberbone w/Bob Anthony In 1990, Drivin' n' Cryin' frontman Kinney released his Peter Buck-produced solo debut, MacDougal Blues, a distinctively sincere, twangy folk album that served as the perfect counterbalance for his rock band's increasing hair-band tendencies. The Georgia-based singer/guitarist has since released two more discs and continued to tour both with his band and as a solo artist. As for Slobberbone, well ... let's just say that they're probably the most straight-talkin' folks to come out of Denton, Texas, since Brad Majors and Janet Weiss. They know how to party better than Rocky Horror's wide-eyed lovers, though — NME called the quartet's music sweet, heartfelt sentiment, spoken plainly, and encased within several hundred flinty decibels of rusted guitar noise. Local singer/songwriter Bob Anthony favors '60s British Invasion pop, folk, and playing with his Wurlitzer. The doors to this WMNF-88.5 FM show open at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $10 in advance, $15 at the door. (June 9, Club More)
Wiley Fox The Hudson band specializes in melodic, sunny country brightened by the vocal harmonies of brothers Jesse, Brandon and Eric Embry. They're joined by former Stranger bassist Tom Cardenas and keyboardist Mark Halisky, who worked extensively with Bertie Key Largo Higgins. WF's debut CD, Radio Ranch, is the first release on Spring Hill-based Acclaim Records, which is co-owned by retired baseball star Andre Dawson. This show is one in a series of CD release parties. (June 9, The Roundup) —Eric Snider
Suncoast Blues Society's 4th Birthday Party w/TC Carr/Nitro & Orb/The Accelerators The society is billing its birthday bash as a Harp-a-Thon; several of the area's best harmonica mavens will step up to the mic, backed by The Accelerators. The party goes from 5 to 9 p.m. Admission costs $2 for SBS members, $5 for everyone else. (June 10, Skipper's Smokehouse)
Mem Shannon & The Membership After giving up music for nearly a decade to drive a cab and support his family, New Orleans' Mem Shannon was lured back to the blues by an old bandmate in 1990. That year, Shannon won a talent contest that earned him and The Membership a slot at the storied New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, eventually leading to a deal with Hannibal Records and a great reputation here and abroad. The band's latest, Memphis in the Morning (Shanachie) features the blues deliciously infused with jazz, swamp-rock, classic rock and a whole lotta funk. Show's at 8 p.m. Cover's $5. (June 12, Skipper's Smokehouse)
—All entries by Stefanie Kalem unless otherwise indicated
