THURSDAY, JUNE 30
LUCIANO w/DEAN FRAZIER & THE JAH MESSENGER BAND Though he's occasionally lumped in with the dancehall set, Jamaican singer/spiritual activist Luciano's sound is more rooted in classic reggae, and infused with elements of R&B and gospel. His uplifting message has long run counter to increasingly more divisive and misogynist toaster/dancehall styles, and the new Jah Words is perhaps his most outspoken release yet. Legendary saxophonist/producer Dean Frazier and his Jah Messenger Band provide support. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
FRIDAY, JULY 01
DIGABLE PLANETS The venerable jazz/hip-hop group of the early '90s that had fourth graders everywhere claiming to be "cool like dat" is back. Ladybug, Doodlebug and Butterfly reunited last fall, after nearly a decade spent on solo projects. Expect to hear "Rebirth of Slick" - the Top 20 pop tune that made them famous - but hope to hear something off their widely underappreciated second album, Blowout Comb. There should be a few new tunes too, off a soon-to-be-released reunion LP. The trio will be backed by a live band which includes Gil-Scott Heron keyboardist Brian Jackson. These guys were on the front lines of a new genre in hip-hop; don't miss the chance to see them up close. (The Tamiami @ Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg) -MAX LINSKY
HOT TUNA How's this for longevity? Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady first got together more than 45 years ago in a D.C. band called The Triumphs. Hot Tuna began as an acoustic offshoot of Jefferson Airplane. These days, the partners - Jorma on guitar, Jack on bass - still go it acoustic, and entertain audiences with vibrant, intimate sets. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa) -ERIC SNIDER
AFROMAN Because he got high, the novelty hip-hop memory Afroman is condemned to spend eternity haggling over guarantees with ever smaller venues, and playing to ever smaller crowds of taste-impaired former dorm-kids who are only there to hear one song. Ah, celebrity. (Boomerz Boiler Room, Seminole)
SAY ANYTHING/EMANUEL/CIRCA SURVIVE L.A.'s Say Anything tosses every even remotely hip rock trend - garage rock, pop-punk, dancey indie-rock, Bright Eyes' loose, emphatic delivery - into a blender and, remarkably, comes up with something that's not half bad; it might be interesting to watch them flail and harmonize in concert. The screamy, attitude-laden street-rock of Louisville's Emanuel is a little more hit and miss, but still rings true on occasion, and Circa Survive's technical, melodromatic screamo is likewise a cut above the herd. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
SATURDAY, JULY 02
FRANKIE J & BABY BASH This could be an edifying look into what contemporary Latin urban/R&B has to offer. Both of these young artists were associated with the Texas-based Latin pop/urban boy band Kumbia Kings early in their careers; Tijuana-born Frankie J reportedly leans more toward a Babyface- and Usher-influenced ballad-peppered sound, while California native Baby Bash works a more hip-hop-informed angle. (Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg)
OTEIL & THE PEACEMAKERS w/THE RALPH RODDENBERY BAND Bass maestro Oteil Burbridge's resume includes stints with Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Allman Brothers, Phish keyboardist Page McConnell's Vida Blue, and Flecktones bassist Victor Wooten's Bass Extremes project, among others. His Peacemakers have been an ongoing concern since '98, and ply a jammy sound heavy on elements of funk and rock. Georgian singer-songwriter Ralph Roddenbery and his band are making a name for themselves around the Southeast on the strength of a soulful, acoustic-driven approach. (Skipper's Smokehouse, Tampa)
SUNDAY, JULY 03
ORIGIN/MALEVOLENT CREATION/ANIMOSITY/CONTINUE THE FALL/BYAM KLAVOR While Origin hasn't received the kind of exposure certain other second-wave American death metal bands have enjoyed (we're looking at you, Nile and Black Dahlia Murder), the group has been hailed by some parties as one of the most brutal and technical acts kicking around a burgeoning underground scene. Florida's own, veteran Malevolent Creation drew comparisons to Death during the early '90s, and weathered label indifference and a mid-decade lull in the genre's popularity to come roaring back toward the end of the millennium. Expect similar sonic pummel from the rest of this full bill. (State Theatre, St. Petersburg)
PLAN-IT-X FEST Last year, the teensy Bloomington, Ind.-based punk label Plan-It-X celebrated a decade of D.I.Y. methodology - during which it went from selling cassettes for a buck to selling CDs for five bucks, postpaid - with its own hometown music festival. This year, Plan-It-X Fest is taking, shit, like eight bands on the road in a big ol' school bus, spreading noise, fun and social activism across the U.S. of A. The cadre will be hanging out at North Tampa's Lettuce Lake Park from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., selling books and trading ideas; the rock begins at 4 p.m. in Skatepark of Tampa's Transitions Art Gallery. The bands: Ghost Mice, One Reason, Madeline, The Door-Keys, Erin Tobey, Rosa, The Max Levine Ensemble, The Tiger, The Folkadots, and What's Yr. Damage? (Skatepark of Tampa, Tampa)
PINK LINCOLNS w/CAR BOMB DRIVER/THE NO LOVES/RENO DIVORCE Hot on the heels of its greats-and-gravy anthology Background Check, world-renowned Bay area punk old-schoolers Pink Lincolns are pleased to present their newest full-length, No Lo Siento. Recorded by Pseudo Heroes principal Sam Williams, it may be the best-sounding Lincolns recording ever, but that doesn't mean the brash assault and straightforward snottiness you've come to know and love over the last, like, 20 years have been watered down any. Hear the new songs at the tail end of this loud-fast quadruple-bill matinee (show begins at 3 p.m.), then buy a copy so you know what to yell next time. (Emerald Bar, St. Petersburg)
DRAG THE RIVER/THE ENABLERS/WATSON/NESSIE Drag the River features a handful of punks tapping into No Depression mode: All frontman Chad Price and members of Armchair Martian. The Enablers are from Miami and do a three-chord whiskey and heartbreak kinda thing. Watson is a new local project including members of Clairmel and The Dukes of Hillsborough, and Nessie is Harrell's rootsy bar-rock band. (Uptown Bar, St. Petersburg) -ES
FREEDOM FEST II Rising Jupiter and its cabal of enthusiastic supporters sure do love their fests, man. And now that the jam-scene production conglomerate has acquired an interest in Java Junction (also recognized as The Venue Formerly Known as Club More), you can expect even more good-vibe-loaded multi-band events. This time around, it's the second annual Freedom Fest, which kicks off at 4 p.m. and features sets by Macon, Ga.'s roots-jam act Moonshine Still, as well as The Freed, The Human Condition, Freshwater Collins and The Ethereal Plane. (Java Junction, Clearwater)
MONDAY, JULY 04
SCUM OF THE EARTH What do you get when you make an album with a bunch of people from White Zombie/Rob Zombie and Powerman 5000? Why, you get an album that sounds too much like White Zombie and Powerman 5000, that's what. Hell, there's even a guy on the cover that looks like Rob. If you don't mind your simple, plodding, sample-infested, vaguely electro groove-horror-metal extremely derivative (i.e., you just want something to bob your black wicker cowboy hat to under the black lights), then boy howdy, does the Boiler Room have a show for you tonight. (Boomerz Boiler Room, Seminole)
TAKE THESE EYES/DREAMS YOU DIE IN/ANCHORS AWAY/MURDER CREW The Bay's own Significant Records showcases overtly metallicious screamo/hardcore from all over the state, and one from North Carolina. If you're under 21, love the metalcore and are even a little plugged in, then you've probably heard of these bands, which hail from Clearwater, Miami, Jacksonville and Fayetteville, respectively. If you're over 21 and have found some other means of catharsis, then don't worry about it - shoot off some illegal fireworks while listening to Kid Rock or something. (688 Skatepark, Clearwater)
TUESDAY, JULY 05
FROM A SECOND STORY WINDOW/ION DISSONANCE/REFLUX/SILENCE AFTER TRAGEDY/EUGENE It's another one for the all-ages set; hope you didn't get your fill last night. From a Second Story Window is actually from Pennsylvania. There's a lot of alcohol on display in the wallpaper of their Myspace.com page; they do a crazy, psycho, metallic noisecore thing. Hey, what a coincidence - so does Quebec's Ion Dissonance. Reflux, from our nation's capital, provides some more traditional metalcore structures and grooves (and some jaw-dropping guitar tightness), and local showgoers should be familiar with local favorites Silence After Tragedy and Eugene. (688 Skatepark, Clearwater)
WEDNESDAY, JULY 06
USF JAZZTET SEND-OFF CONCERT A dozen of USF's best jazz students, collectively known as the USF Jazztet, will soon embark on a 10-day summer tour during which they'll play three prestigious European jazz festivals: Montreux, North Sea and Vienne. I'm impressed. To say bon voyage, join the band for this send-off show that will feature classic jazz tunes and originals written by USF Jazz Composition students. The ensemble is directed by professors Jack Wilkins and Chuck Owen. For more information, call 813-974-2323. (USF Recital Hall, Tampa) -ES
