Brass Mug Rock music (mostly harder fare) by local and underground national talent. 1441 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa, 813-972-8152, myspace.com/brassmug (Capacity: 100)
Crowbar A club-sized venue that's earned a rep for hosting high-quality indie shows. Local bands provide support, headline shows, perform in local showcases. 1812 N. 17th St., Ybor City, 813-241-8600, crowbarlive.com (300)
Dave's Aqua Lounge St. Pete staple abounds with character; blues, Americana and rock featured, mostly local bands with the occasional regional and national acts. 10820 Gandy Blvd., St. Petersburg, 727-576-1091, davesongandy.com (75)
Dunedin Brewery Florida's oldest microbrewery hosts live local music three nights a week, with some regional performers; jam, funk, soul, reggae, Americana, blues, roots rock. 937 Douglas Ave., Dunedin, 727-736-0606, dunedinbrewery.com (150)
Ella's Americana Folk Art Café A Seminole Heights restaurant and live music spot that's quickly becoming a mainstay; mostly local and regional bands perform weekends. 5119 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa, 813-234-1000, ellasfolkartcafe.com (80 seated indoors; 150 to 200 standing room)
Emerald Bar St. Pete's tiny bar features almost all local music, much of it harder fare. 550 Central Ave., St Petersburg, 727-898-6054, myspace.com/emeraldbar (75)
Fubar Formerly the Uptown, a small and smoky bar that caters mostly to local music and welcomes all rock genres with a hardcore inclination. 658 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-424-1809, facebook.com/Fubar-Downtown (120)
Gasoline Alley A bar and club located in a Largo strip mall called the "cleanest rock venue in town" by CL Music Team's Ivan Pena; all local music, rock and harder. 14042 66th St., Largo, 727-532-0265, gasalleyrocks.com (310)
Globe Coffee Lounge The small coffee shop caters to a younger crowd with local music (anti-folk, alt acoustic, jazz), usually free. 532 First Ave N. St. Petersburg, 727-898-5282, globecoffeelounge.com (40-ish)
Gram's Place Hostel A hostel named for Gram Parsons that stages intimate acoustic "Front Porch" concerts in its tiny courtyard. 3109 N. Ola Ave., Tampa, 813-221-0596, grams-inn-tampa.com (40)
The Hideaway Café & Recording Studio The café's small "Living Room Live" stage features mostly local and some regional roots and acoustic rock performers on weekends. 1756 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-644-7895, hideawaycafe.biz (100)
The Hub Bar The beloved downtown Tampa dive and package store hosts live music by locals and area talent regularly. 719 N. Franklin St., Tampa, thehubbartampa.com (100)
Jannus Live The outdoor concert courtyard now features full-service bathrooms along with free local music showcases, and local support for the regional and national touring acts; all genres repped. 16 Second St. N., St. Petersburg, 727-565-0551, jannuslive.com (2,000)
Palladium Theater The regal historic theater run by St. Pete College hosts local productions and smaller-scale touring acts, from classical to cabaret to jazz and world. 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, 727-822-3590, mypalladium.org (Hough Hall, 849; Side Door Café, 150)
The Ritz Ybor A swanky theater-style three-room venue; the main stage is a ballroom. All genres are repped; touring acts and the odd local perform on the mainstage, with support acts set up in the smaller Royal Room before and/or after the main show. 1503 E. Seventh Ave., 813-247-2555, TheRitzYbor.com (Ballroom, 1,114; Royal Room, 292)
Skipper's Smokehouse The tent-covered Skipperdome with picnic-table seating features local, regional and national acts from Americana to world music to funk. 910 Skipper Road, Tampa, 813-971-0666, skipperssmokehouse.com (800)
State Theatre St. Pete's historic venue hosts local, regional and national shows in all genres, but with a rock n' roll slant. 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, 727-895-3045, statetheatreconcerts.com (700)
Jimmy B's All local bands play mostly Top 40 and island-flavored covers at the beachfront restaurant and bar. Beachcomber Resort, 6200 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, 727-367-1902, beachcomberflorida.com (150)
The Local 662 The Pinellas County winner for "Best Venue to See Local Music," the multimedia space features lots of free music by quality locals along with a growing schedule of regional and national acts. 662 Central Ave., Saint Petersburg, facebook.com/TheLocal662 (300)
Market on 7th The tiny pizza joint in an historic market presents live local punk, ska and rock on the weekends. 1816 E. Seventh Ave.,Ybor City, 813-248-2356, myspace.com/marketon7th (150)
New World Brewery Local, regional and smaller-scale national indie acts of all genres perform on the outdoor terrace. 1313 E. Eighth Ave., Ybor City, 813-248-4969, newworldbrewery.net (200)
Orpheum The dark, dank club and bar hosts local and indie shows of most genres. 1902 N. Avenue Republica De Cuba, Tampa, 813-248-9500, statemedia.net (300)
Ringside Café A grubby but charming neighborhood bar that features original local music Thursday through Saturday nights. 2742 4th St N., St Petersburg, 727-894-8465, myspace.com/ringsidecafe (165)
Transitions Art Gallery @ Skatepark Of Tampa Caters to the all-ages crowd with local, regional and indie national acts with a punk, hardcore and experimental slant. 4215 E Columbus Drive, Tampa, 813-621-6793, transitionsartgallery.com (100ish)
Tre Amici @ The Bunker The cozy coffeehouse hosts live acoustic shows by local singer-songwriters every Thursday night. 1907 N 19th St., Tampa, 813-247-6964, yborbunker.com (30)
Yeoman's Road Pub The tiny Davis Islands bar features mostly local singer-songwriters, jazz bands, folk artists, reggae, rock and more. 236 E. Davis Blvd., Tampa, 813-251-2748 (40)
This article appears in Dec 9-15, 2010.