WMNF's tribute shows have gotten such a good rep, that each time music director Flee conjures one up, he has to add a wrinkle to raise the stakes a bit. Saturday's Who tribute has to compete with the reigning benchmark: When Barely Pink closed a marathon Beatles homage a few years ago, they played the entire end medley of Abbey Road uninterrupted, leaving the crowd aghast. For The Who Are All Right: A Flee Tribute, WMNF tries to go one up by offering a re-creation of the rock opera Tommy as performed by The Vodkanauts augmented by nine additional singers. But that's just the finale, folks. The noon-to-midnight bash will feature dozens of acts in myriad styles. There will be a 1-2 p.m. Who open mic; a 4-6 p.m. acoustic Who tribute, plus the usual short sets that come one after another. Here's a partial list of artists: Ed Woltil, Buffalo Strange, Hat Trick Heroes, Jeremy Gloff, Four Star Riot, Rebekah Pulley, Rancid Polecats and Cold Joon. OK, so if you've been to a WMNF tribute show, you know that this one's a can't-miss. If you haven't, now's the time to get into the habit. These bashes not only feature terrific music, but also foster a familial atmosphere that'll give you a nice glow.
The Who Are All Right: A Flee Tribute, Sat., June 24, noon to midnight, Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa; $12 advance, $15 door. www.wmnf.org/events, or call 813-238-8001.
