BLUE OYSTER CULT Both of this funny, literate, sci-fi-obsessed classic-rock underdog's biggest tunes — "Don't Fear The Reaper" and "Burnin' for You" — have somehow joined the ranks of tunes most covered by hip younger acts; sometimes it's ironic and sometimes it's sincere, but it seems like everybody over the age of 18 knows how they go. When is "Godzilla" gonna get its comeuppance? Oh, and by all means, more cowbell. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
SUNCOAST BLUES SOCIETY'S EIGHTH ANNUAL HOLIDAY PARTY You know the drill: great food, lots and lots and lots of cold beer, and smokin' blues. This year's entertainment comes courtesy of Louisiana's Bryan "Braille Blues Daddy" Lee and his Blues Power Band, along with Biloxi, Miss.'s Pat Ramsey & The Blues Disciples. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
XIU XIU/THE DEAD SCIENCE/YIP YIP/ISOBELLA Love-'em-or-hate-'em maverick post-punks Xiu Xiu return to town for another Aestheticized engagement, this time out at the Skatepark of Tampa's Transitions Art Gallery. Along for the ride are hip label Absolutely Kosher's wonderfully distorted-but-ambient The Dead Science, experienced and experimental Central Florida electro act Yip Yip, and our own, beloved Isobella. (Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa)
THIRD ANNUAL SAGITTARIAN SOIREE This cool-sounding shindig's theme is "Music & Art with Heart," and benefits All Children's Hospital. In addition to displayed works by God only knows how many talented local visual artists, some of which will be raffled off during the party, live and pre-recorded musical entertainment will also ensue in both The Bank's main room and super-chill back bar. Wayne "The Train" Hancock, a cult-fave old-school rockabilly veteran, is the featured performer, along with Natural Blend, Diviners frontman Will Quinlan, The Human Condition, Badwithnames, and DJs Paul Mallett and The Knowmatictribe Soundsystem. Highly recommended. (The Bank, St. Petersburg)
SUNDAY, DEC. 04
97X PRESENTS THE NEXT BIG THING My, it certainly is a week for annual events, ain't it though? This is the Bay area modern-rock station's biggest regular concert/one-day festival; each year, the station succeeds in landing bigger and/or buzzier acts, and this one's no exception, which means there's some good stuff, some mediocre stuff and some abhorrent stuff. The good stuff: Alkaline Trio; Rise Against. The mediocre stuff: Staind; Story of the Year; Motion City Soundtrack; Anberlin; and an acoustic performance from Our Lady Peace. The abhorrent stuff: My Chemical Romance; Trapt; 30 Seconds to Mars. Oh, and we forgot the local stuff. It's Suburban Tragedy. Go figure. (Coachman Park, Clearwater)
ROCK & BOWL Former Crippled Masters bassist Roger Peterson, the man who brought you the annual Rock 'N' Roll Swap Meet, sees another personal vision become reality: Rock 'N' Bowl. It's pretty self-explanatory, really. The rock comes via Pinellas supergroup The Lake Audition, ska pranksters Can't Do It, and DJs Kalani (I hear he's got a sweet new thrift-store jacket) and Miss Delish. The bowling comes via Ten Pin Lanes, located at 1453 Pasadena Ave. Come early, this daytime to-do runs from 3 until 6 p.m. (Ten Pin Lanes, St. Petersburg)
OTTMAR LIEBERT Temper the hot-blooded passion of flamenco guitar, dose it liberally with new age accoutrements, and you get a sense of what Liebert is all about. He may be the biggest crossover star associated with flamenco, and he'll play two area dates. (Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota; and Dec. 6, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater) ES
MONDAY, DEC. 05
DAVE KOZ & FRIENDS The smooth-jazz saxophonist always stops by Ruth Eckerd with a bill of "friends" this time of year. Tonight's visit brings some frequent Koz companions: pianist David Benoit, renowned vocalist Patti Austin, and guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Butler. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater; and Dec. 7, Van Wezel, Sarasota)
CHILDREN OF BODOM/TRIVIUM/AMON AMARTH Finnish black-metal export Children of Bodom headlines a typically brutal bill that includes rising Orlando-based thrash act Trivium and relatively elder Swedish death-metal combo Amon Amarth. (Masquerade, Ybor City)
DAVID JACOBS-STRAIN It's the third installment of TBPAC's new Club Jaeb Series, wherein live-music fans get to enjoy renowned singer-songwriters in a quiet, intimate setting that puts the emphasis on the performer. Tonight's guest is David Jacobs-Strain; he's a bluesman rather than a folkie or soft-pop strummer, and imbues his material with a rich vocal style and guitar chops gleaned from an impressive knowledge of the genre's long traditions. (Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Tampa)
TUESDAY, DEC. 06
TWO HIGH STRING BAND Texan old-school bluegrass trio Two High String Band can certainly toss out its share of familiar classics, but it's the way the group applies those traditions to writing its own new material that sets the band apart. The group's album Insofarasmuch is an impressive piece of work indeed. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)