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Pop: Hot Ticket
By GINA VIVINETTO, Times Pop Music Critic
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 28, 2002
Book Binder sings the blues
Roy Book Binder is a local treasure. The St. Petersburg singer-guitarist is a national blues artist of critical acclaim.
Specifically, it's Book Binder's sassy guitar finger-picking that makes folks' jaws drop. Book Binder is a traditionalist, invoking blues spirits from the 1920s. That means at one of his gigs, you get plenty of wry originals. You also get a bit o' history with the plainspoken Book Binder dropping anecdotes about this country, its music and the cultural connections betwixt.
Book Binder opens for Steve Forbert, who himself ain't too shabby a songwriter. Forbert is best known for the hit Romeo's Tune, his gritty voice and yummy harmonica playing.
Steve Forbert and Roy Book Binder begin performing at 8 p.m. Friday at Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa. $10-$13. (813) 977-6474.
-- GINA VIVINETTO, Times pop music critic
Violent rants and a few head bumps
Wesley Willis, above, as fans or those who caught his bizarre gig last year at the Orpheum know, is a diagnosed schizophrenic who got a record deal based on his whimsical and often violent rants.
When the rants come from a 6-foot-6, 350-pound schizophrenic man, you take notice.
Willis' "hits" include the peppy I'm Sorry I Got Fat; STP Conked Out My Engine. and the nastier F-- With Me and Find Out, Cut That Mullet, The Vultures Ate My Dead Ass Up, Kris Kringle Was a Car Thief.
Hmmm. Willis is never happier than when he's singing about McDonald's. Should fans be ashamed for laughing at Willis, or comforted that they're contributing to Willis' bank account? Go to the show to watch Willis greet his fans with his famous head bump. He's got a perpetual knot on his forehead from all the love.
Wesley Willis performs at 9 p.m. Tuesday with Grand Buffet at the Orpheum, 1902 Avenida Republica de Cuba, Tampa. $7. (813) 248-9500.
-- GINA VIVINETTO, Times pop music critic
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