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Pop: hot ticket
By GINA VIVINETTO, Times Pop Music Critic
© St. Petersburg Times
published October 24, 2002
Bringing the Dead back to life
If you love classic rock -- no, we mean weird classic rock -- and you want to celebrate Halloween by hearing neat-o interpretations of your favorite tunes, you may find your kind groove this weekend, brothers and sisters.
On Friday walk, don't run, to catch Dark Star Orchestra in St. Petersburg. The Dark Star fellas are reknowned for re-creating Grateful Dead shows. This critically acclaimed Chicago band redoes the historical shows note for note, song by song with precision, even re-creating the stage and band positions for the night. Depending on the original show, the band may incorporate a Donna Godchaux vocalist, or a dude playing Brent Mydland on the key. Maybe it's a show featuring the "The Beast" drum platform. Dark Star doesn't tell the audience the original show date and location until the fun is over.
Saturday's weirdness includes the annual Zappaween fest in St. Petersburg starring the one and only Bogus Pomp, a talented troupe of Tampa Bay area musicians dedicated to the avant rock compositions of the late, great Frank Zappa.
Dark Star Orchestra performs at 8 p.m. Friday at Jannus Landing, 16 Second St. N, between Central Avenue and First Avenue N, St. Petersburg. $16 advance, $20 day of show. (727) 896-2276. Catch Zappaween with Bogus Pomp and Napolean Murphy Brock at 8 p.m. at the State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. $15. (727) 895-3045.
Billy Bragg, the power in protest
British busker Billy Bragg -- say it three times fast! -- has earned his reputation as an earnest folk punk by singing protest songs inspired equally by Woody Guthrie and the Clash.
Bragg, 46, is proud of his socialist sensibilities and writes political tunes such as A New England, made a hit by Kirsty MacColl, and the worker's rights anthem There Is Power in a Union. Bragg also explores sexual politics on one of his biggest hits, Sexuality, and tosses off the occasional love song, no matter how cynical.
Bragg may be better known stateside for the Mermaid Avenue albums, collaborations with the alt-country band Wilco exploring Guthrie lyrics that had not been put to music.
Billy Bragg performs with the Twinemen and Jim Hightower at 8 p.m. Saturday at Jannus Landing, 16 Second St. N, between Central Avenue and First Avenue N, St. Petersburg. $17-$20. (727) 896-2276.
Back to Weekend
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