THURSDAY, APRIL 28
BILLY IDOL The Sneer is back, but don't expect the spiky-haired icon's brand new, metallicious Devil's Playground to get the kind of MTV ubiquity that made Billy such an '80s icon. While he still maintains something of a pop-culture presence, 1993's disastrous Cyberpunk pretty much obliterated any chance for enduring musical credibility. But there'll be plenty of old-school hits, attitude and guitarist/right-hand man Steve Stevens' colorful sonic personality. (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater)
WBUL 16TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION FEAT. AUTHORITY ZERO USF's radio station (1620 on the AM dial) marks a birthday by throwing a free outdoor show on the lawn behind the Beta building on campus. Eclectic, overly melodramatic Arizona sort-of-ska-punk act Authority Zero makes its umpteenth Bay area appearance, with local support courtesy of The Pros & Cons, Stalling Dawn, and rising punk-funk outfit Weaksauce, a band that tore it up when I saw them at Masquerade's Infinity Room a few weeks back. (University of South Florida, Tampa)
THE SOUND OF MORE TOUR The label that nu-punk built, Drive-Thru Records, has some of its lesser-known bands hitting smaller venues across the country with some friends, and giving local acts a chance to open up. This particular leg features Adelphi, Self Against City and Houston Calls; energetic, poppy Tampa punk outfit Select Start kicks off the show. The Sound of More Tour next heads to Pinellas, where they'll play Tarpon Springs' Neptune Lounge on Saturday the 30th. (Brass Mug, Tampa)
RUPEE & THE .COM BAND Heavily buzzed young soca performer Rupee first made a name for himself at Caribbean carnivals, and released several self-produced records on his way to becoming a staple at Island-music festivals worldwide. Now Rupee has mainstream American success in his sights via the single "Tempted to Touch." (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
ELEMENTS The weekly jungle/drum 'n' bass/IDM/hip-hop club night celebrates the 50th birthday (?!) of world-renowned DJ/producer CLRH2O, who'll do an extended set with his project Pattern Recognition. Other music-makers include Bamboo, Epidemic 404, SICC:16, Trendsetters and DJ Blenda. (Flirt, Ybor City)
GLOFF-FEST 4: A BENEFIT FOR ANNA O Fourteen local musicians join singer-songwriter/really nice guy Jeremy Gloff for an acoustic gig to raise a little money for peer Colleen "Anna O" Beckman, who's going through a tough time just now. The lineup: Jeremy; Ronny Elliott; Mike O'Neill, Rebekah Pulley; Ken Spivey; Kai Devani; Michele Ari; Nessie; Kamran Mir; Brenda Shawver; Pseudo Pharmacy; J-Glo & Sassy; Michelle Agius; Billy Summer; Geri X. (Pegasus Lounge, Tampa)
FRIDAY, APRIL 29
JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS When I first met Joan Jett, which was the only time I met Joan Jett, she came darting around a corner in Tampa's now-defunct Victory Club, late for a pre-show interview, smoke coming off her black Chuck Taylors. She nearly ran me over. That was in the mid '80s, but the guess here is that she's still a bundle of coiled energy on stage. Now 44, the woman who most successfully slugged it out in the male-dominated world of punk-rock can still bring it. (St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa) -Eric Snider
THE CRYSTAL METHOD The Grammy-nominated Las Vegas electronica duo is on tour promoting their new album Community Service 2. They'll be spinning a DJ set rather than actually performing. So will more than 20 other turntablists - including British breakbeat sensation Evil Nine - scattered throughout The Underground's many rooms. (The Underground, Tampa)
A BENEFIT FOR THE FRANK VAGNOZZI MUSIC FOUNDATION Following the death of fun-punk act Reckless Deerhunters' founder/guitarist Frank Vagnozzi, his family and friends set up a foundation for the promotion of music as a positive endeavor for all. Tonight's fundraiser features the Deerhunters along with friends and contemporaries Serfs Up, Poser Disposer, The No Loves, Headvice, and Felix & The Half Krauts. (Brass Mug, Tampa)
JESSE & NOAH BELLAMY This second generation of Bellamy Brothers (their father is David Bellamy of the original pair) used to call the Bay area home, and gigged around town - and most of the Southeast - with their twang-rock band Elston Gunnn before relocating to Nashville. They're back to road-test new material before heading overseas for a European tour; expect solid, well-crafted tunes made up of equal parts country, alt-country and pop-rock. (Skipper's Smokehouse)
A BENEFIT FOR DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS Bad Eating Habits, Small Talk Death and surely some others rock out in the name of the humanitarian health organization at the Skatepark of Tampa's Transitions Art Gallery. (Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa)
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
STRAPPING YOUNG LAD w/AGONY SCENE/MISERY SIGNALS/REFLUX/LEFT IN ASHES I wholeheartedly recommend a set by Canadian extreme-metal spectacle Strapping Young Lad to anyone interested in any kind of visceral music. This gleefully over-the-top act goes to 11 and stays there for an hour, blowing your hair back the whole time (maybe that's why bandleader Devin Townsend doesn't have any up front). Plus, drummer Gene Hoglan (Dark Angel, Death, Testament) is just an absolute monster. (Masquerade, Ybor City)
