All entries by Scott Harrell except where otherwise noted.
A BAKER'S DOZEN The acoustic-show phenomenon rages on. This particularly ambitious New World shinny features a bevy of the usual suspects, along with a couple of names that old hands maybe haven't seen on a bill in a while. The lineup, from beginning to end: Brenda Shawver, John McNicholas, Corey Holt & The Federalists, Natty Moss-Bond and Martin Rice, Ronny Elliott, Steve Connelly, Will Quinlan, The Peabodies, Mike O'Neill, Crash Mitchell, and the everlovin' Rancid Polecats. (Nov. 18, New World Brewery, Ybor City)
WHISKEY STORE (TAB BENOIT & JIMMY THACKERY) Louisiana-bred Tab Benoit, who flashed in the '90s as a matinee idol of the blues, spices his sound with a swampy Cajun flavor. Thackery made his bones as the guitarist for The Nighthawks, a hardscrabble blues-rock bar band in D.C. Together they form the backbone of Whiskey Store, an orgasm-in-waiting for fans of Strat throwdowns, shuffles, boogies, et al. The contrasting styles of Benoit and Thackery make Whiskey Store more than just an extended bout of six-string pyrotechnics. (Nov. 19, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) —Eric Snider
FINGER ELEVEN/LOCAL H Long-running melodic/ slightly proggy/Tool-lite heavy-rock outfit Finger Eleven found big-time attention via this year's quasi-acoustic hit "One Thing." Chicago's post-Nirvana duo Local H soldiers on, and continues to deliver some pretty interesting rock tunes here and there — particularly on the overlooked Pack Up the Cats — long after its moment in the sun with '96's "Bound for the Floor," which some of you out there undoubtedly remember as "the copacetic song." (Nov. 19, State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
CHARLIE VEGAS & THE NEW BLUES COMBO /HOT ROD WALT/THE PSYCHO DEVILLES Take swing, add blues and alcohol, and simmer. This is to be Swing Time's final event held at the beautiful Centro Asturiano, closing out four great years of music, dancing and retro fashion; look for 'em to be taking over a larger venue in the very near future. (Nov. 19, Centro Asturiano, Ybor City)
AMERICAN FOLK FILM SCREENING/SPIDER JOHN KOERNER Preson Poe's engaging, exceptionally human documentary on folk music will be screened at 6 p.m. in the USF Music Recital Hall's Room 101; afterward, veteran traditional folk songwriter Koerner will perform. (Nov. 19, University of South Florida, Tampa)
FRIDAY NIGHT JAZZ The chi-chi Tampa shopping center's annual outdoor jazz series kicks off this Friday. It'll run on a monthly basis until April; each concert features a different Bay area jazz artist, with proceeds going to a different charity. Tonight features Allon Sams, and the charity is the Hillsborough Association for Retarded Citizens. (Nov. 19, Old Hyde Park Village, Tampa)
THE LEGENDARY SHACK SHAKERS w/THE DEAD POPES/THE T-BUCKET TERRORS Who says old-school roots-rockabilly can't be punk as fuck? Believe, the new album from vaunted Southern Gothic revival show/revved-up roots band The Legendary Shack Shakers, rocks much, much sweatier than anything the contemporary eyelinered psychobilly scene is kicking out. With a couple of notably energetic regional acts providing support, this could be one of those small-room shows you end up hearing about for years. (Nov. 19, Orpheum, Ybor City)
ALTER BRIDGE The still semi-new modern-rock group that's three parts Creed and one part Mayfield Four (and shit, that guy can sing) finally hits town, after having cancelled due to hurricanes a few months ago. Creed fans will undoubtedly argue about the band; the real surprise is that folks who absolutely hated that combo (like me) may give this one a tad more credit. (Nov. 19, Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
KIM SIMMONDS OF SAVOY BROWN It's a long way between SoHos. Guitarist/vocalist Kim Simmonds formed the blues-rock band Savoy Brown in the SoHo section of London in 1966 and joined the ranks of Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor as avatars of British blues. He'll perform in a solo acoustic setting at St. Bart's, a toney restaurant/bar in the SoHo section of Tampa. By the way, the show is promoted by sohotampa.com, which is the only place you can procure tickets. They'll be available at the door, as well, if there are any left: seating is very limited. (Nov. 19, St. Bart's Island House, Tampa) —ES
THE KILLERS w/NOW IT'S OVERHEAD/THE ZUTONS Hailing from Vegas, The Killers are the latest band to ride the Old Wave/New Romantic resurgence to FM airplay and Spin coverage. They're pretty good, I guess. The more dreamy, indie-tempered Now It's Overhead is also nurturing an impressive, albeit more underground, buzz — they just opened some shows for fellow Athens residents R.E.M. So are the spastic, cinematic Zutons, come to think of it. All in all, an extremely hip bill, but I still would've preferred originally slated openers The Walkmen. (Nov. 20, Masquerade, Ybor City)
MARCIA BALL It's all but impossible to blurb Marcia Ball without calling her "leggy." Sorry, can't resist. Statuesque, lithe, "leggy," she's a rollicking blues/boogie keyboardist and vocalist who mashes up the music of Texas, Louisiana, the Delta and elsewhere. (Nov. 20, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) —ES
PUNK THE CLOCK TOUR The Refuge brings another couple of vans full of kids with instruments, studded belts — and the will to wield them both in the name of Christ — to town. This bill is composed of youth-centric Purevolume.com downloadables My American Heart, Greeley Estates, For Felix, and The Q, and is heavier on the melodic end of screamo than some of the skatepark's other recent Refuge shows. (Nov. 20, 688 Skatepark, Clearwater)
THE CHICHARONES/GLUE/ASTRONAUTILIS/ SCIENCE-NON-FICTION High-caliber underground hip-hop from all over the damn place, brought to you courtesy of Freepoets.com. Highlights include, well, pretty much everybody, but you should know that The Chicharones feature both Josh Martinez and Sleep, and that Glue's ADeeM is a former Skribble Jam champion. Oh, and that I finally got local heroes Science-Non-Fiction's name right in print. (Nov. 21, Masquerade, Ybor City)
CANNIBAL CORPSE/NAPALM DEATH/GOATWHORE/ KATAKLYSM/VADA There's nary a second-generation screamo/metalcore/crossover act in sight on this largely old-school slate of death/extreme metal's finest. Kids, get in touch with your roots. Adults, see Napalm again. You know you want to. (Nov. 23, Masquerade, Ybor City)
ANARCHY IN THE FLA: A BENEFIT FOR TAMPA BAY FOOD BANK & THE TAMPA BAY SXSW SHOWCASE 2005 It's been said that a change can do you good. And it's nothing against Skipper's Smokehouse, but moving the latest vaguely-but-not-really-WMNF-related tribute show/fundraiser for the South By Southwest Music Lover's Group to St. Pete's brand spankin' new club The Bank (located at 1950 First Ave. N.) seems like a good way to get the old crowd out once again. Two stages. Twenty-odd bands, paying homage to the birth of punk and New Wave. Punk rock karaoke. It's like a theme park for Clash fans that gives back to the community, really. Doors open at 7 p.m. The performers, so far: Can't Do It; The Vodkanauts; The Downshifters; Uncle John's Band; Parson Brown; The Mercy Seat; Sparky's Nightmare; Pigtails; Auditorium's Joran Oppelt; John McNicholas; Sandy Atkinson; Bob Anthony; Lorna Bracewell; and Sandra Colvin. (Nov. 24, The Bank Nightclub and Concert Venue, St. Petersburg)
TONY TOUCH w/BABY FACE Two of the most influential producer-DJ-performers to ever bring reggae and Latin elements into the hip-hop realm team up for sets at Ybor's storied Club Empire. (Nov. 24, Club Empire, Ybor City)
BILL HAMMEL w/TONY FALINE/DJ SANTANA/ JASON PEREZ/DAVEAUX Acclaimed Florida DJ and producer Hammel (and his label, Sunkissed) has for years helped keep progressive house music fresh. This party also features a host of talented and nationally known area spinners. (Nov. 24, Floyd's at the Hard Rock Cafe and Casino, Tampa)
INITIAL DOUBT/THE FRATELLIS/WASTED TALENT/WEAKSAUCE These young Bay area hard-rock bands are coming together to remember and celebrate the too-short life and music of the late Frank Prevatte. Prevatte was a member of Born Into Kaos, another up-and-coming local band many suspected would be the next Tampa Bay heavy-music success story. Proceeds from tonight's show will be placed in a trust fund for his young daughter. (Nov. 24, Boomerz Boiler Room, Seminole)
