I just received an advance copy of the latest from brooding dance-rock outfit The Dark Romantics. It's titled Heartbreaker and will be the Lakeland band's second full-length on Louisiana-based Lujo Records (The Fall of Troy, Look Mexico). The disc features 13 tracks including "Heartbreaker PT 3" (the album opener), "Heartbreaker PT 2" and "Heartbreaker," the latter of which can be heard at myspace.com/thedarkromantics. It's a noir-ish number with fascinating, fractured guitar work, echo-y drums and dreamy strings that wrap around singer Eric Collins' hazy, Thom Yorke-esque croon. The disc drops Sept. 9. Look for my review of it in the near future. The Dark Romantics perform Sun., Aug. 31 at Czar in Ybor City.

Local guitar hero Damon Fowler has inked a deal with venerable blues label Blind Pig (Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy). "Well, it's been in the works for a long time," Fowler says from a tour stop in Colorado. "I've been excited, but we've been in negotiations for a while. I'm just finally glad we got it done. I'm just relieved."

The label is putting Fowler and his two bandmates up in Chicago for 10 days to finish recording what will be the trio's Blind Pig debut. Fowler has been told the label wants it ready for a January 2009 release. "They say that's the best time to break a new artist," he says.

We were a little concerned about Jack Spatafora, who has been promoting shows locally under the Aestheticized Presents (AES) banner since 1999 (and used to work for CL). His regularly updated website went dead. No updates. No e-mails. Then, on July 28, Spatafora reappeared with good news: "Thanks a bunch to all y'all that've made it out to the last few events. We really appreciate it! Beyond that, please note that we've recently added a handful of great shows: Deerhoof [Nov. 2, Crowbar], Ben Kweller [Oct. 28, Crowbar]. The Dead Science [Oct. 6, New World Brewery] Samantha Crain [Oct. 11, New World Brewery]. Mike Relm [Oct. 11, Crowbar], Black Kids [Sept. 21, Crowbar]. Also, Margot and Black Kids tickets are moving quickly, so you might wanna grab yours now!" For more info and/or to learn about getting your band to open for one of these acts, go to aestheticized.com.

What was the problem? "It happens to me," Jack said last week. "I don't know; I got burned out. It's been a weird year."

Call it a momentary bout of alienation.

"The Best of the Bay Award-Winning series, 'In the Raw' that had a successful three year run at the State Theatre before moving to the now-defunct Bank Nightclub for its fourth season, now returns to the State Theatre for one night only," notes CL Promotions Manager Joran Oppelt. "A Tampa Bay version of MTV's Unplugged, the Sat., Aug. 23, show will include performances by Geri X, Tommy Sims (Win Win Winter), Katherine Kelly (Nous Rapport, Sons of Hippies), a special acoustic performance by Hat Trick Heroes and a few other very special surprises."

"Rec Center is the newly christened band featuring singer/songwriters Susie Ulrey (ex-Pohgoh, The Maccabees) and Michael Waksman (Zillionaire)," notes Keith Ulrey, head of Tampa-Based New Granada Records. "They've been performing together as a duo over the years. But you know it's official when you have a MySpace page [myspace.com/reccentertampa]."

Will Quinlan and the Diviners return to Steve Connelly's Zen Recordings in Pinellas Park Aug. 4 to begin work on the follow-up to their ace Americana offering Navasota, which has been in heavy rotation on WMNF. Quinlan performs Fri., Aug. 8 with Geri X and Have Gun, Will Travel at Kelly's Pub in downtown Tampa.

"The Mojo Gurus have teamed up with Choice Merchandise and launched a new page on their website where you can order Mojo Gurus merch," notes Brett Steele, of Steele Management. (Check it out at: choicemerchandise.com/cgi-bin/mojogurus/index.cgi.) In June, the Gurus announced a multi-year licensing deal with Breaking Records for film and television. Steele notes: "The New York City based company will work to find placements for the Mojo Gurus song catalogue in film and television. Bernadette O'Reilly the president of Breaking Records said, 'We're very excited to be working with the Mojo Gurus. Kevin Steele is an outstanding songwriter.'"

An earlier version of this story cited the wrong venue for the Will Quinlan show. That error has been corrected.

This article appears in Aug 6-12, 2008.