Though he's probably better known for his careers as a male model and actor — he starred in 2 Fast 2 Furious and Baby Boy, among other films — Tyrese Gibson has been recording and releasing contemporary R&B since his eponymous debut album came out in 1998. This year's Alter Ego is a double disc; the first is a collection of his trademarked sexy-dude-sexily-seducing-you-into-having-sexy-sex material, while the second has a more hard-edged hip-hop feel. Even if you don't dig his take on modern urban tuneage, you still might want to go if you're into being near celebrities. Or chicks or gay men; I can't think of any other venue that will be full of both of them more than Club Underground tonight.
Tyrese, 10 p.m. Fri., Dec. 22 @ Club Underground, Tampa, $30. —Scott Harrell
In Memory Of
For the better part of a decade, friends, peers and Unrequited Loves bandmates Mike O'Neill and Ed Lowery carried on the post-Christmas-show local-scene tradition known as The Boxing Day Rebellion. Once or twice it was spread out into a two-day county-hopping extravaganza, but mostly it's been one night at the New World, and always a lot of fun for those scenesters who didn't have to leave town for the holidays. As many of you know, Mike, plagued by depression, took his own life back in July. But Ed is soldiering on this year with another installment of the Rebellion and is dedicating it to his compatriot's memory. Veteran Tampa punk act Flat Stanley and a host of others will bring the rock in Mike's name, so put on your coolest jacket and come out to toast one of the best and most talented people to ever grace our little community.
The Boxing Day Rebellion Feat. Flat Stanley, 9:30 p.m. Tues., Dec. 26 @ New World Brewery, Ybor City, $4. —SH
Skater Claus
There's no party like a Skatepark of Tampa party, and there's no Skatepark of Tampa party like its annual Ghetto Xmas blowout. This year the shindig will be cosponsored by local music mag Reax and perennial SPoT partner-in-crime Pabst Blue Ribbon, and held at Crowbar, the Ybor City venue that still has a pretty good coat of "new" sticking to its walls. Rumors abound concerning the entertainment. Sets being built? SPoT mainman Brian Schaeffer making his musical debut? All we know for sure is that raucous Tampa punk 'n' roll act Vagina Sore Jr. is going to do its thing, St. Pete-spawned rock outfit Nessie (DISCLOSURE: Nessie is this critic's band) will be, erm, reinterpreting some beloved Christmas classics, and shit will get crazy like it always does. Plus, not only is there no cover, but you also get free beer from 8 until 10 p.m., so you'll have a little extra money to spend on your pimp outfit or Slutty Santa's Helper costume.
This time 'round, the show is bolstered by a couple of absolutely wonderful support acts. The bay's own Sugar Oaks land a coveted slot on the bill with their equally rootsy and atmospheric eccentricity — yeah, that's kind of a cop-out, but what they do is really hard to describe — along with rising Athens pop act Modern Skirts.
Skatepark of Tampa's Ghetto Xmas Party Feat. Vagina Sore Jr./Nessie, 8 p.m. Sat., Dec. 23 @ Crowbar, Ybor City. FREE. —SH