TENSPOKE INDIES VIDEO RELEASE SHOW We've known, loved and sung along with Hudson's Tenspoke Indies for years, while they were known as Harry Dash. The new name hasn't affected the band's jones for playing aggressive, catchy modern rock all that much, so you know what you're getting. Tonight, the band revels not only in its advancement to the next level of the Zippo Hot Tour nationwide band search/competition, but also the premiere of the video for its song "Make Me Want You." Again & Again, Kingsfoil, Trace of Day (man, they're everywhere these days, huh?), and DJ Jason Barco fill out the bill. (Bourbon Street, New Port Richey)
TAMPA BAY WORLD PEACE CONCERT This ambitious program is aimed at opening a dialogue on the Tampa Bay area's possible role in advancing everything from women's empowerment and environmental causes to using art as a progressive educational tool. Hey, wait, where are you going? There are interesting tunes, too, so calm your disaffected ass down and be intrigued. Artists as diverse as singer-songwriter/children's performer Red Grammer, Canadian composer Jack Lenz, "hoop dancer" and musician Kevin Locke, and young opera singer Holly Stell will collaborate on two programs, an afternoon show for the kids (3 p.m.) and an evening performance for adults (6 p.m.). All proceeds go toward local child-empowering force Character Development, Inc.; for more information, check out www.characterdevelopment.org. (Centro Asturiano, Ybor City)
69 FINGERS/PROJECT LOUNGECORE/VICTIM YOUTH/$5 NIGHTMARE Orlando's 69 Fingers deserve some credit for managing to play some ska music and not totally suck at it. Most ska bands water down their sound so much that the horns sound more Steely Dan than the Clash, but 69 Fingers keep the intensity high. The rest of the lineup specializes in the hard 'n' fast as well, just in case you thought that "Project Loungecore" was an irony-free name. (The Tavern on Main, Sarasota) —CLB
SUNDAY, JULY 30
TURBULENCE Like many contemporary reggae vocalists, Sheldonn "Turbulence" Campbell updates the genre's classic dancehall/toaster sounds with elements of contemporary urban and hip-hop. Unlike most of his peers, however, Turbulence — who first achieved widespread notice in '99 with "Word Wid It" — is also an accomplished DJ. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
BOWLING FOR SOUP/LUCKY BOYS CONFUSION/PUNCHLINE/ARMY OF FRESHMEN Isn't it great when pop-punk is really funny? Hey, I think so too. Unfortunately, Bowling for Soup is neither funny nor a particularly good pop-punk band. Chicago's Lucky Boys Confusion nabbed Next Big Thing status back in '01 with the vaguely ska- and hip-hop-influenced edge-of-punk album Throwing The Game, but its label dropped the ball with the follow-up, Commitment, which was a much better and more original album. Pittsburgh's Punchline is an insanely catchy post-emo nu-punk outfit currently flogging a predictably earnest acoustic release on Fueled By Ramen — which means the band is going to be huge — while Cali's Army of Freshmen marries a pop-punk background to the more mature, keyboard assisted take on pop so many middle-of-the-road, all-ages groups are going for these days. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
THRILL SEEKER GHETTO STYLE FUNDRAISER I'm not saying the press release for this Gaspar's Grotto shindig is unclear. I'm just saying, what it tells me is this: If I give eight bucks to a bunch of people who want to jump out of airplanes later this summer, I can drink all the beer I want while listening to two bands, Last Day Alive and The Otherz. Oh, and I'm also supposed to bring a Motorola or Nokia flip-style cell phone, for donation to the hopeful skydivers' "African contacts." OK, so I am saying the press release is unclear. (Gaspar's Grotto, Ybor City)
A BENEFIT FOR SIERRA CLUB Stalwart local folk promoter Gloria Holloway, Skipper's Smokehouse and Tampa Bay singer-songwriter Bobby Hicks have teamed up to raise some money for Inner City Outings, an arm of the Sierra Club dedicated to helping urban and at-risk kids and adults experience and learn about the natural world. Passionate environmentalist Hicks headlines, and receives some moral and musical support via friends and peers like Frank Thomas, St. Augustine's Jim Carrick, Eddie Parshall, Pamela Jo Hatley, Barry Moses and more. This is an early show, running from 5 until 9 p.m. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
DUNEDIN PIPE BAND Did you know that Dunedin's had its own official pipe band for 40 years? You did? Where the hell have I been? Pipers, harpists, highland dancers, traditional singers — this award-winning ensemble (and member of both The Southern United States Pipe Band Association and the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, naturally) is dedicated to preserving the history of Scottish musical traditions, and has it all. (Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, Tarpon Springs)