Weekend: Revive the music

Revive the music

The local scene ''feels really dead,'' musician Joran Oppelt says. So he and musician Ronnie Dee have formed a group to change that. Their first big step: releasing a CD of area talent.

By GINA VIVINETTO, Times Pop Music Critic

The Southeast Music Alliance may have a serious militia-style moniker, but the group's aim is very communal: to foster harmony and strength within the Tampa Bay area independent scene and with its neighbors in the South.

Co-founded last summer by local musicians Joran Oppelt of the Gita and Ronnie Dee of Saturn 5, the alliance aims to bring awareness to the area's talented, but not necessarily thriving, music scene. The duo has produced Southeast Music Alliance: Volume One: Tampa Bay. The CD release party, with 16 bands on two stages, is at 6 p.m. Saturday at the State Theatre in St. Petersburg.

"Some of these bands have been going for close to a decade," said Oppelt, who also founded the local Mekka Records, home to several acts. "The scene used to be strong and supportive, but it feels really dead right now. There are no tours planned. No cooperation with local promoters and clubs. We need to change that."

The Gita and Saturn 5 are on the compilation disc, which includes punk, funk, emo and "y'alternative" (alternative roots music). Others acts include Misfortune 500, Cocktail Honeys, the Hazies, Harry Dash, Sparky's Nightmare and spoken word by Rhonda J. Nelson.

The disc sells for $10. Proceeds will be used to organize a 2003 alliance music conference in St. Petersburg with workshops for musicians during the day and evening showcases of live music to entice visiting music labels.

"This scene will get on its wobbly legs again," Oppelt said. "But it's not just up to one guy. I can't do it alone. Everybody needs to get on board. I wouldn't care if it were lousy music, but this is great music that is new and fresh and beats anything on the radio."

Oppelt said that feedback and interest among local musicians have encouraged him, but he'd like to see others get involved. He wants not just local promoters and clubs to join his crusade but gallery owners and museums that could host events with live music.

"A band can tour, and a band can relocate as much as they want," Oppelt said, "but a band needs support in its hometown."

-- Find out what's going on with the Southeast Music Alliance at sma.toosquare.com and www.mekkarecords.com.