Rocking on a Petty pace

By SHANNON BREEN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 2, 2002

Looking for something to do? Here's a super calendar, ranging from dog paintings to canoeing.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers kicked 1970s musical doldrums in the face with their self-titled debut album.

Petty, who hails from Gainesville, has seen 23 years of commercial success, along with a simultaneous period of creative growth and critical acclaim.

His music video's are fueled with star power. Kim Basinger was the corpse in Last Dance with Mary Jane, while Faye Dunaway and Johnny Depp helped make Into the Great Wide Open.

In 1988, the late George Harrison formed the Traveling Wilburys with Petty, Jeff Lynne, Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison. The band released two platinum-selling albums.

Petty's most recent recording with the Heartbreakers is 1999's Echo, although Anthology: Through the Years hit shelves in 2000.

The group plans to release a new album in October.

Most people who aren't living under a rock know who Tom Petty is, but who are the Heartbreakers? Mike Campbell, guitar. Benmont Tench, keyboardist. Howie Epstein will be replaced by the original bass player, Ron Blair during the tour, which comes to the Ice Palace Tuesday night at 8.

Jackson Browne, who celebrated 25 years as a performer in 1997 with the release of a new Greatest Hits collection, opens the show.

Tickets are $30-$50. Call 287-8844.

TODAY.

RACHAEL LAMPA: At 16, Christian musician Lampa released her debut album, Live for You, on the same day she performed the title cut on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno. A year older, Lampa returns with her follow-up recording, Kaleidoscope, released in March. 7 p.m.; Manatee Civic Center, One Haben Boulevard, Palmetto; $10 at the door. Call (941) 722-6626.

THE ACROPOLIS PROJECT: This post-apocalyptic adventure takes the audience through the last days of a civilization similar to our own. The Jobsite Theater completes its fourth season with the annual Original Works Festival in the Shimberg Playhouse at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center. Acropolis Project wraps Aug. 18. 8 p.m. today and Saturday; 4 p.m. Sunday; $15 general, $12 students. Call 229-7827.

PARTY: David Dillon's comedy celebrating gay life, love, friendship and sexuality; features the playwright in the tour de force role of Ray, the priest. Six other gay characters -- all played by local actors -- participate in a truth or dare-type game at a party. Penned by Dillon in 1992, Party celebrates more than 35 past productions, and is localized for every city and updated with contemporary dialogue. The play inaugurates St. Petersburg Theater Company's Central Stage. Weekends through Sept. 2. Preview performances tonight through Sunday. Opening night, Aug. 9. Shows 8 p.m. today; 7 and 10 p.m. Saturday; 3 p.m. Sunday; Central Stage, 2235 Central Ave., St. Petersburg; $18. (727) 327-7529.

THE ROCK & THE RABBI: The new, off-Broadway musical tells the story of the friendship between Jesus and the apostle Peter, told through storytelling and acoustic music. 8 p.m. today; 3 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; $20-$35. Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Ferguson Hall. Call 229-7827.

SUMMER SAFARI NIGHT: Lowry Park Zoo extends its hours, reduces prices and throws in live music as the summer evening heat and humidity begin to rival those of the afternoon. Animals on view until dusk. Phase 2 of Wallaroo Station opened with emus, singing dogs and flying foxes. All restaurants, gift shops, beer and wine stands will be open. 6-8:30 p.m.; Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W Sligh Ave.; $7 adults, $5 ages 3-11. Call 935-8552.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: SARASOTA RED SOX AT CLEARWATER PHILLIES. 7 p.m.; Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, Clearwater; $6-$13. Call (727) 441-8638.

3 -- SATURDAY.

DARDEN SMITH, PAUL THORN, ARTHUR GODFREY: Considered one of the more notable of the Texas songwriter legion, singer/songwriter Smith's soft acoustic sounds waft at Skipper's Smokehouse. In addition to Smith's music-wafting, headliner Paul Thorn, also hailing from the Lonestar State, and Arthur Godfrey perform. 8 p.m.; Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road; $12 at the door, $15 in advance. Call 238-8001.

PETelethon: The Humane Society of Tampa Bay tries to raise $150,000 to pay for shelter, low-cost spaying and neutering, and a school-based animal education program. Visits from local TV and radio personalities and Bucs cheerleaders. The shelter takes in 13,000 animals each year. Donations can be made at the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, 3607 N Armenia Ave., phoned-in during WFLA-Ch 8's broadcast from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., or at the society's Web site www.humanesocietytampa.org. Call 876-4150.

SUNCOAST AVIAN SOCIETY EXOTIC BIRD SHOW: The 27th annual EXOTIC and PET Bird Show provides seminars on handfeeding, free wing and nail clipping for feathered pets, both days at 3 p.m. Various vendors peddle bird toys, bird seed, exotic birds and T-shirts with, you guessed it, bird art. Sanctioned judging by the American Cockatiel Society, African Lovebird Society, National Finch & Softbill Society, among others. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; The Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg; $2.50-$3, children 12 and younger free. Call (727) 892-5202.

ANNUAL FISH-A-THON: Grab your bobbers, fishing vests and kids, too. The Civitan Club holds its 54th annual Fish-A-Thon. Children 12 and younger get cane poles and slimy worms. Limited participation for adults. Prizes for the biggest fish. 9-11 a.m.; Lake Jorgenson, behind St. Petersburg Main Library, 3745 Ninth Avenue N.; free. (727) 892-5874.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: SARASOTA RED SOX AT CLEARWATER PHILLIES. 7 p.m.; Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, Clearwater; $6-$13. Call (727) 441-8638.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: DUNEDIN BLUE JAYS AT TAMPA YANKEES. 7 p.m.; Legends Field; $3-$5. Call 287-8844.

4 -- SUNDAY.

VANS WARPED TOUR FEATURING FLOGGING MOLLY WITH BAD RELIGION, THE DAMNED, DEATH BY STEREO, NOFX, ANTI-FLAG: The all-day hard-rock and extreme sports extravaganza is chockful of XY chromosomes. Vans Warped Tour could be classified as the anti-Lilith Fair (much more testosterone than estrogen) where grunge-type acts like Bad Religion and Anti-Flag take the stage. Noon to 8:30 p.m.; USF Sun Dome North Lot, Tampa. $26. Call 287-8844.

TOOL: Led by singer Maynard James Keenan, the L.A. quartet's metal is slow, grungy and provocative. But that doesn't mean it can't be art rock. If a two-hour trek to a town outside Fort Myers is worth it, rock group Tool is on tour promoting Lateralus, which debuted at No. 1 on Billboard's pop albums. Other Tool albums include Undertow and Aenima. 7:30 p.m.; TECO Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero; $38.50. Call 287-8844.

TRIO DOLCE VITA: Pianist Christine Mori, flutist Catherine Landmeyer and Mori's 11-year-old daughter, Alexis Spieldenner on harp, perform Bach, Dussek, Haydn, Faure, Debussy, Satie and others. Also, the artwork and poetry of Peter Stilton on display. 3 p.m.; Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, 324 Pine Street; $10-$12. (727) 942-5605.

SHERYL UNDERWOOD: This fall, Underwood hosts BET's newest talk show Hollah at Me where she invites three guests to discuss newsworthy topics in a casual setting. Isn't that what Bill Marr did? This weekend, she takes her comedy show to Centro Ybor. 9 p.m. Sunday; 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday; Improv Comedy Theatre, Centro Ybor; $20. Call 864-4000.

5 -- MONDAY

AN AMERICAN REUNION: Writer/director/producer Jim Fitzpatrick, who grew up in Seminole, returns home to raise awareness for suicide prevention by premiering his feature film, An American Reunion. This film is based in part on Fitzpatrick's teen years at Seminole High School. Proceeds benefit the Center for Behavioral Medicine Sun Coast Medicine. 7 p.m.; Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, Ferguson Hall; $25. Call (727) 586-7193.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: BASEBALL CITY ROYALS AT CLEARWATER PHILLIES. noon; Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, Clearwater; $6-$13. (727) 441-8638.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: FORT MYERS MIRACLE AT CLEARWATER PHILLIES. 7 p.m.; Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, Clearwater; $6-$13. (727) 441-8638.

6 -- TUESDAY

BLONDIE: Could it be true? Blondie's lead singer, Deborah Harry turns 60 in threeyears. Once, Harry defined New York's fanciful New Wave scene, was muse to Andy Warhol and seductress of all Manhattan. Her long-running side career as a character actor has included TV guest shots and, more notably, dozens of movies, spanning the art house landscape from Woody Allen's New York Stories to the helmet-haired mother in John Waters' Hairspray. Blondie has belted out memorable hits like Call Me, Dreaming, Heart of Glass and The Tide Is High. Blondie's cast includes Chris Stein, guitar, with Clem Burke, drums. 8 p.m.; House of Blues, 1490 E Lake Buena Vista Drive, Orlando; $29.50. Call 287-8844.

MIKE LUCAS: Highly trained in long-form improvisational style, Lucas is a veteran of the Tonight Show with Jay Leno with his off-the-cuff style and high energy delivery. Aside from his late-night appearances, he's been seen on Comedy Central's Stand-up and A&E's The Straight Dope. 8:30 p.m. Tuesday (tickets $5); 8:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday (tickets $8); Side Splitter's Comedy Club, 12938 N Dale Mabry Highway. Call 960-1197.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: BASEBALL CITY ROYALS AT TAMPA YANKEES. Noon; Legends Field; $3-$5. Call 287-8844.

7 -- WEDNESDAY

HOT SUMMER SHOW III, THE DOG SHOW: Enjoy the dog days of summer, pun intended, with the a display of dog-themed paintings, from Pugs (made extra popular by MIB's "Frank") to Yellow Labradors. Cathy Clayton, owner of Clayton Galleries, recommends adopting a painting, which go for $275 to $7,000. Paintings, after all, require no feeding or walking. Lucy the Labrador, Clayton's mascot, will be on paw. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Clayton Galleries, 4105 S MacDill Ave. Call 831-3753.

WANDA SYKES: With over 13 years under her belt, Wanda Sykes is no stranger to the world of stand-up comedy. She received Best Female Stand-Up Of the Year Award at the 20th Annual American Comedy Awards and has appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. 8 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday (tickets $12), Sykes performs until August 11; Improv Comedy Theatre, Centro Ybor. Call 864-4000.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: SARASOTA RED SOX AT TAMPA YANKEES. 7 p.m.; Legends Field; $3-$5. Call 287-8844.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: LAKELAND TIGERS AT CLEARWATER PHILLIES. noon; Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, Clearwater; $6-$13. Call (727) 441-8638.

8 -- THURSDAY

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL: TAMPA YANKEES AT CLEARWATER PHILLIES. noon; Jack Russell Memorial Stadium, Clearwater; $6-$13. Call (727) 441-8638.

NEXT WEEKEND:

• CIGAR TASTING: Aug. 9, Star Ship Dining Yacht.
• LENNY KRAVITZ WITH PINK & ABANDONED POOLS: Aug. 11, Ice Palace.

LOOKING AHEAD:

• GUITARS AND SAXES FEATURING RICHARD ELLIOT, WARREN HILL, JEFF GOLUB: Aug. 10, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater.
• GEORGE BENSON: Aug. 11, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota.
• A*TEENS: Aug. 16, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
• BILLY RAY CYRUS: Aug. 17, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater.
• PETER FRAMPTON: Aug. 19, Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg.
• THE MALE INTELLECT: AN OXYMORON: Aug. 20, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
• JOE SATRIANI: Aug. 21, Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater.
• EMINEM: Aug. 31, Ice Palace.
• CHER AND CYNDI LAUPER: Sept. 2, Ice Palace.
• ELTON JOHN AND BILLY JOEL: Sept. 13, Ice Palace.
• THREE DOG NIGHT: Sept. 14, Rock Crusher Canyon, Crystal River.
• MARC ANTHONY: Sept. 17, Ice Palace.
• OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN: Sept. 21, Ruth Eckerd Hall.
• BOW WOW: Sept. 27, Ice Palace.

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