Bryan Adams Any guitarist over the age of 25 who never jammed on Summer of '69 at any point should hang his or her head in shame. Bryan Adams pretty much defined radio pop-rock in the early/mid '80s, before moving on to obscurity, a fashion makeover, a half-assed comeback and unaccountably massive late-career success in Europe. Little Known Fact: Mister Adams is also credited as a contributing songwriter on the semi-OK KISS album Rock And Roll Over. Plus, he's Canadian. That you'll know every song he plays tonight is all but guaranteed, even though you can probably only cough up four or five titles at the moment. Jot this one down under guilty pleasure, and go relive the wide-eyed, wild and carefree days of your spring years — but leave your kids at home, they'll only be embarrassed by your weird-ass dancing. (Jan. 4, Jannus Landing)

Anti-Anti/3 Monkeys Named Bob/Asphyxia/Scott Free Give it up for those crazy entrepreneur-types over at the Skatepark of Tampa. After years of anniversary shows and otherwise sporadic concert events, they've decided to bring you punk and indie-styled live mayhem on a regularly scheduled basis. Any underage kids caught drinking will be beaten. Their first bill of this fine new year features Sarasota bruisers Anti-Anti, female punks Asphyxia, and New York City's Scott Free and 3 Monkeys Named Bob. This and every show will start early, around 8 p.m. or so. Expect a turnout heavy on the locals who actually skate there at first, but even if you don't, head east on I-4 and support SPOT's gig-related endeavors. (Jan. 4, Skatepark of Tampa)

Jennifer & The Venturas Sarasota's Jennifer & The Venturas imbue their streamlined swing sound with plenty of rockabilly and groovy R&B/surf-twang action. They're quickly becoming both regulars and favorites with the Swing Time crowd; just don't be surprised when that neat pocket-chain you covet actually has a watch on it, as opposed to a Motorhead wallet. (Jan. 4, Centro Asturiano)

Ghetto Love Sugar feat. Jonathan Powell/The Ghosts Eclectic improv-oriented combo Ghetto Love Sugar has been wowing crowds around town since August with a unique sound based in jazz, but equally amped on funk, rock and experimental influences. They've managed to secure a release from their regular gig at Ybor's King Corona Cigars in the name of a little Orpheum jammage with former bandmate and current NYC trumpet sensation Jonathan Powell. Jonathan and brother/saxophonist Jeremy make up hip-hop/dub/drum 'n' bass/electronica act The Ghosts, a duo that combines jazz basics with an affinity for drum machines, effects pedals and the like. Be intrigued. (Jan. 5, Orpheum)

Habitat For Humanity Benefit feat. Molten Mike/Swinging Johnsons/Mick Sharp Band The first benefit of the new year comes courtesy of Humanity Through Music, which put together this impressive list of blues purveyors in order to aid Habitat For Humanity's effort to build the world a decent home. Molten Mike rolls out his usual blistering set of multifaceted riffage, The Swinging Johnsons donate their horn-abetted blend of blues, funk and soul, and the Mick Sharp Band offers up some deep, classic rock-inflected jams. (Jan. 5, Skipper's Smokehouse)

Mark Gould & Friends Tenor saxophonist Gould has recently self-released a fine CD, The Unsuspecting Moment, that delves more deeply into arrangements than most local product. You could view this gig as a release party of sorts. Gould will be joined by the same roster of instrumentalists that played on the album, and a fine one it is: bassist Billy Pillucere, drummer Tom Carabasi, guitarist LaRue Nickelson, pianist Richard Drexler, trombonist Keith Oshiro and trumpeter Tom Parmenter. With its septet format, The Unsuspecting Moment recalls some of the stately ensemble playing heard in the bands of the late, great Woody Shaw. Expect the performance to feature the same tasty arrangements, but be more improvisationally expansive. The show is presented by the Tampa Jazz Club. (Jan. 6, Gorilla Theatre, 4419 N. Hubert Ave., Tampa, 813-879-2914)

—Eric Snider

Hot Flash/Simple Gifts Dulcimer, dulcimer and more dulcimer! Local traditional folk trio Hot Flash juggles multiple instruments (including the dulcimer) to create a singular, tight and dynamic rootsy vibe. Jan Milner and Linda Fackeldey are both past Florida Old Time Music Champions (in lap dulcimer and female singing, respectively), while lead vocalist Rochelle Morris reportedly plays one hell of a mean kazoo. Similarly, Simple Gifts is a folk threesome comprised of award-winning musicians. They're known for their inimitable vocal harmonies, and yes, there will be plenty of jaw-dropping dulcimer shreddage. (Jan. 6, Unitarian Universalist Church of Tampa)

Robert Cray w/Eric Bibb While the breakthrough success of his 1986 album Strong Persuader led many purists to dismiss his work as watered-down commercial pop-blues, Cray's continuing vitality reveals the guitarist as an innovative yet reverent iconoclast. Sure, he digs the hooks, but Cray's always been more interested in expanding the borders of his genre than re-hashing the tried-and-true. Eric Bibb is a likewise eclectic practitioner — son of NYC folk singer Leon Bibb, the American expatriate (currently living in Sweden) has mixed gospel, folk and country with his own soulful blues style since making a splash on the festival circuit during the mid-'90s. (Jan. 10, Jannus Landing)

—All entries by Scott Harrell unless otherwise indicated

This article appears in Jan 3-9, 2002.