End of the World Party w/Tres Bien/Levels/Shaller & Instanter One of those high-quality "local" indie rock bands that we see too rarely because half the members live out of state (in this case, LA). Tres Bien offers an End of the World treat with a headlining performance, their dynamic union of slinky organ-grooving psychedelia and energetic garage pop treated with a vintage patina. Also performing is Levels, the LA-based post-punk/garage pop project of Tres Bien's Cody Wilson (on guitar and vocals) and Mikey Rollingchild (on drums and vocals) along with fellow St. Pete native Roxor Evensen. (Local 662, St. Petersburg)
97X End of the World Party w/Sick Puppies/IAMDYNAMITE 97X joins the apocalyptic festivies with top-notch talent in the form of an Aussie alt rock trio featuring a rad chick bassist. Sick Puppies rose to some renown in the U.S. with several singles that hit the top 20 of the Alt-Rock and Mainstream charts, a few tapped for assorted films and video games like aggressive and menacing ode "You're Going Down." Opening the stage is IAMDYNAMITE, a goofy-fun lightly blues-punk influenced guitar-and-drums two-piece that seems to be supporting a range of big bands lately; the last was Sum 41. (Jannus Live, St. Petersburg)
Sara Rose Band w/Midnight Bowlers League From covers of songs like Loretta Lynn's "You Ain’t Woman Enough (To Take My Man)" to a Last Waltz-style rendition of "I Shall Be Released," Sara Rose Band revives the sounds of traditional country and vintage roots rock as belted and crooned by singer Sara Hagan, who's joined by a who's who of local musicians — Telecaster-wielding axeman Mark Warren (Vodkanauts, Barely Pink), bassist Michael Hoag (Ditchflowers), and pedal steel player David Lane (Big Wiggler). Aaron Fowler (Nervous Turkey, Betty Fox and the Dirty Bastards) joins on drums for their Ringside showing. (Ringside Café, St. Petersburg)
SATRUDAY, DECEMBER 22
Brokenmold Sixth Annual Holiday Party w/The Woolly Bushmen/Wolf-Face/The Mother Machine/The Electric Geese/The Funky Pandas Brokenmold Entertainment spreads seasonal cheer with a jam-packed night of live music showcasing a diverse cross-section of sounds, including the '60s retro organ-driven garage-a-billy of The Woolly Bushmen (which released a self-titled debut LP in June), and the disorderly punk rock of Wolf-Face, delivered by four musicians in full-scale Teen Wolf wear — yellow Beavers basketball uniforms, shaggy wolf masks, head bands, tube socks and the like. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
Sarah Mac Band Fourth Annual Christmas Show Tallahassee-based multi-instrumentalist songstress Sara Mac has sweetly soulful vocals that soar over her rich and melodic style of blues pop and folk rock, which is scattered with various holiday tunes at this intimate evening concert. (Hideaway Café & Recording Studio, St. Petersburg)
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23
Ol’ Dirty Sundays w/Slopfunkdust/Blenda It's the eve of Christmas Eve — why not toast a few drinks and get your bump and groove on at the pre-holiday edition of Ol' Dirty Sundays? This week, resident DJs Casper and LeSage deliver dirty holiday tracks and welcome guests Slopfunkdust (aka Gwan Massive Don) and Blenda (the Gwan General) for what is sure to be an ass-grinding good time with plenty of old school funk, soul and hip hop along with current hot hits and, I expect, some of the holiday-themed beat-driven, chopped-and-skewed cuts off Slopfunkdust's seasonal LP, Music to Wrap To. (Crowbar, Ybor City)
The Gladezmen Purveying a tongue-in-cheeky blend of made-for-juke joint swamp-soaked Southern rock, blues and rockabilly, and hailing from the Florida Everglades are The Gladezmen, led by sandpaper raw-voiced singer, slide guitarist and harmonica wailer GatorNate Augustus and rounded out by AntKiller (double and regular bass), Scotty Crow (washboard, guitar), and Mississippi Matt aka The Honey Badger (drums). (Ella’s Americana Folk Art Café, Tampa)
Monétique Album Listening/EP Release Party Twin sisters Evonne and Evette Archer are the songbird talent behind Monétique, their pretty vocal harmonies weaving together over a marriage of R&B, soul, hip hop and pop music. This party celebrates the release of the duo’s debut, Don't Put Me in a Box EP, with a listening of the recording. (Cheap, Tampa)
For the Kids Too w/Will Erickson and The Wreckage/Dean Johanesen/Rebekah Pulley and the Reluctant Prophets/The Pinata Hearts CL's fourth annual Holiday Auction has finally drawn to a close — but the fundraising isn’t quite finished. For the second year in a row, we've followed up our auction fundraiser for The Children’s Home with a charity concert for The Children's Home featuring a who's who of talented roots rock artists and a piano pop outfit. The tunes kick off at 5 p.m.; $10 suggested donation at the door (free for kids 10 and younger). (Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa)
Hideaway Christmas Party w/Swingset/Meyer Baron Swingset is a new lounge-jazz quartet that features singer-songwriter Rebecca Zapen on sultry lead vocals and occasional violin, with tight but easy-going instrumental backing by piano-man husband Jeremy Douglass, bassist Phil Magallanes and drummer Rich MacDonald. (Hideaway Café, St. Petersburg)