THURSDAY, MAY 29
TERRENCE BREWER The San Francisco guitarist has studied under jam-jazzer Charlie Hunter, but Brewer's approach is decidedly more mainstream jazz-oriented. Possessing a warm, crystalline tone, he plays with an unhurried grace, relying mostly on elegant single-note lines. Brewer can get funky and edgier when called for, and he can really bring the swing too. He'll perform with his regular rhythm section. WMNF is showcasing him in two intimate shows: this one, moved from its previously scheduled location at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center to the WMNF studios, and on Sat., May 31 at Studio@620 in St. Pete. (WMNF Studios, 1210 E. Martin Luther King Blvd., Tampa) —Eric Snider
TODD WOLFE Former lead guitarist/songwriting partner for Sheryl Crow goes solo with a more bluesy and hard-rocking sound than that of his former employer. Wolfe also performs Tues., June 3, at Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa. (Ace's Lounge, Bradenton)
FRIDAY, MAY 30
ADRIAN BELEW TRIO w/JERRY OUTLAW & FRIENDS Adrian Belew began his career touring with Frank Zappa, who discovered Belew playing in a Nashville cover band. (You may remember Belew from Zappa's Baby Snakes concert-backstage-animated film.) He's also recorded with the likes of David Bowie, Paul Simon and Talking Heads and is a working member of King Crimson, not to mention a prolific session and solo artist with numerous albums to his credit. For the past few years, Belew has toured as a power trio with brother-and-sister rhythm section Eric and Julie Slick, alumni of Paul Green's School of Rock in Philadelphia and solid musicians who provide a spirited foundation for Belew's sonic manipulations. The music is jazz-infused electro-rock with psychedelic flavors and plenty of room for improvisation. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) —Leilani Polk
RICK SPRINGFIELD w/THE GREGG BILLINGS BAND/MOTEL FUNK I'll give Rick this: He looks damn good for 58 years old. That said, his signature song, 1981's "Jessie's Girl," is — along with The Knack's "My Sharona" and The Romantics' "What I Like About You" — one of the most unlikely tunes to have such a long shelf life. "Jesse's Girl" should've been tossed in the scrap heap a week after it left the charts, but, alas, it will surely be Springfield's showstopper. This is the first three nights of concerts at A Taste of Pinellas. Springfield's scheduled start time is 8:30 p.m. Bay area acts Motel Funk (5:30) and the Greg Billings Band (7 p.m.) open up. Admission for the entire event is free. (Vinoy Park, St. Petersburg) —ES
PARACHUTE MUSICAL w/MIRROR PAL/PEMBERLEY/WHEN TIDES COLLIDE Led by pianist/singer/songwriter Josh Foster, Nashville-based quartet Parachute Musical deftly combines earnest vocals, introspective lyrics and melodic keyboard work à la Ben Folds — but with occasional guitar noise flourishes and jazz piano excursions. (New World Brewery, Ybor City)
EMMURE w/ON BROKEN WINGS/RECON/LIGELA/AFTER THE BURIAL/ENDWELL Connecticut metalcore quintet Emmure pummels listeners with the requisite speed and brutality, while lead vocalist Frank Palmeri alternates from a death-metal growl to semi-intelligible shouting to a little bit of old-school metal singing. (Orpheum, Ybor City)
SOME DANCING SKELETON w/CRASH MITCHELL FIVE Some Dancing Skeleton is led by local singer/songwriter Marlee Flanagan, a talented young woman with surfer-girl looks who accompanies herself on guitar and tells haunting tales of the country-noir variety. (Dave's Aqua Lounge, St. Petersburg)
SATURDAY, MAY 31
PITBULL W/DJ SANDMAN Miami rapper Pitbull has implemented the crunk style of slow, heavy bass and party chants to land a passel of hit singles in recent years, including "Culo," "Go Girl" and "the Anthem." This show was originally scheduled for May 5. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
SKAFEST 2008: THE TAJ MOTEL TRIO/THE CV/THE BRENTFORD SOUND/PARANOIA DANCE PARTY!/SKUFF'D SHOES/THE LONG JOHNS/ANGRY BANANA/RUDE SQUAD/THE DISREGARDABLES/VICTIMS OF CIRCUMSTANCE/THAT BAND WITH THE FAT KIDS/CAN'T DO IT/JOHNNY CAKES AND THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSO It's ska, ska and more ska. To the best of my knowledge, all of these bands are unsigned, with most of them being local. The out-of-towners are The Taj Motel Trio and The Disregardables (both from Georgia), That Band with the Fat Kids (Virginia) and Angry Banana (Louisiana). (Transitions Arts Galley at Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa)
JONNY LANG w/RAIFORD STARKE/JOSH MAGWOOD/T.J. KELLY BAND/DIVE BAR STALKERS/THE DAMON FOWLER GROUP The second night of A Taste of Pinellas is headlined by singer/guitarist Lang, who hit the scene in the mid-'90s as a 13-year-old blues phenom out of Fargo, N.D. A dozen or so years later, he's become a mature artist with an impressive, soulful voice and serviceable guitar chops. His latest CD, Turn Around, pretty much dispenses with the blues in favor of a modern, funky R&B flavor with gospel leanings, kind of like a less-wimpy John Mayer with more soul. Lang hits at 8:30 p.m. Opening up: Raiford Starke (1 p.m.), Josh Magwood (2:30 p.m.), T.J. Kelly Band (4 p.m.), Dive Bar Stalkers (5:30 p.m.) and top Bay area bluesman Damon Fowler (7 p.m.). Fireworks start at 10. (Vinoy Park, St. Peterburg) —ES
