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Music

A music Mecca

This summer's concert lineup brings some monster acts to the bay area, from Idols to oldies.

By SEAN DALY
Published June 1, 2006

	[Times photo illustrations]
	Robert Randolph & the Family Band, the Black Crowes and the Drive-By Truckers (Ford Amphitheatre, July 7)
	Dwight Yoakam (Jannus Landing, June 10)

Mark your calendars: On July 1, Tampa will become the epicenter of the music universe, a rockin' landscape divided between raucous boot-scooters and hyped-up midriffers.

That's when country king Kenny Chesney and his high-powered pals (including Carrie Underwood, Gretchen Wilson and Big & Rich) rock Raymond James Stadium, while across town multiplatinum pop queen Kelly Clarkson fills Ford Amphitheatre.

I can hear your frantic questions now: Whom should I see? Which former American Idol champ should I support? How many cases of Coors Light can I fit in my Hyundai?

Important questions all, but your queries don't stop there.

In these parts, the summer of '06 is filling up with big, bold names (Madonna included, if you schlep to Miami). But with tickets getting pricier and gas all jacked up, many of us will be far stingier when shelling out for entertainment.

So whom do you choose?

Aging metalheads especially have some tough choices. Pat Benatar, Cheap Trick, Eddie Money and Starship all play for free this weekend at Taste of Pinellas in St. Petersburg. But it will cost bucks to see Sammy Hagar (June 17), Ted Nugent (July 6), Def Leppard and Journey (July 11), Poison (Aug. 19) and Queensryche (Aug. 31).

Plus, if you want to watch young and old bang heads, hit the Vans Warped Tour June 23, when iconic riot grrrl Joan Jett teaches Less Than Jake, Saves the Day and nearly 100 other punks a thing or two.

Along with the Chesney shindig, the country offerings are star-sized, starting with whoppers this weekend: Faith Hill and hubby Tim McGraw make googly eyes at each other Friday at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, and on Saturday, Rascal Flatts plays Ford Amphitheatre. Billy Ray Cyrus plays Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on July 16, Brad Paisley plays Ford Amphitheatre Aug. 5, and Toby Keith blusters in Sept. 2. The Dixie Chicks, Brooks & Dunn and Alan Jackson arrive later in the fall.

Ruth Eckerd Hall has several soulful offerings: Buddy Guy's Bluesfest (June 13), Al Green (June 30) and a double-bill of George Benson and Al Jarreau (Aug. 9). If you must pick one, go with the good Rev. Green, who knows how to make salvation sexy.

Curvaceous octave-spanner Mariah Carey sure knows about sexy. Her Aug. 7 show at the St. Pete Times Forum will no doubt feature plenty of hits and plenty of, ahem, Mimi.

The bad news? Perennial summertime king Jimmy Buffett has yet to announce a local date (buzz is that he might hit Tampa in the fall), and Pearl Jam and Ozzfest are passing us by. But the sweaty season's other ol' reliable, the Dave Matthews Band, will grace our shores Aug. 9.

Dizzy yet? Wallet aching with sadness? I'm going to make this easier. Here are the 10 best shows to consider - some are big, some are little, all are hot, hot, hot.

Sean Daly can be reached at sdaly@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8467. His blog is at www.sptimes.com/blogs/popmusic.

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Top five must-see shows

1. Robert Randolph & the Family Band, the Black Crowes and the Drive-By Truckers (Ford Amphitheatre, July 7): Sure, the Crowes and the Truckers will get 'em air-guitaring and Bud-spilling. But Randolph, a pedal-steel prodigy well-versed in gospel, rock and blues, is the true jewel in this triple bill. He's a Hendrixian talent who turns a stationary instrument into a living, breathing thing.

2. John Fogerty and Willie Nelson (Ford Amphitheatre, July 23): I saw Fogerty a few years ago in a small club in Washington, D.C. His voice was growly, shrieking, swampy. In other words, he sounds exactly like he did when he led Creedence Clearwater Revival, the greatest American rock band of all time. (Think about it.)

3. Pink (Jannus Landing, July 25): Fresh from ripping the Paris and Nicoles of the world on current hit Stupid Girls, pop-punkette Pink brings her big personality to one of St. Pete's most intimate venues. Born Alecia Moore, Pink is like a sneering, grinding female version of Billy Idol. And yes, that's a compliment.

4. American Idols Live (St. Pete Times Forum, Aug. 6): Finally, after five grueling months of tears and anguish and shattered faith, Mandisa and I will be reunited. Here's hoping the zaftig powerhouse proves why she should have been this year's Idol champ.

5. Steely Dan and Michael McDonald (Ford Amphitheatre, Aug. 10): Donald Fagen just released a sensational solo album, but apparently he was missing ol' Steely Dan buddy Walter Becker. This is one concert where you needn't worry about sound quality; the men behind Reeling in the Years and Do It Again are sonic perfectionists. By the way, I hear show opener Michael McDonald does a great Taylor Hicks impression.

Top 5 under-the-radar shows

1. Dwight Yoakam (Jannus Landing, June 10): Sharon Stone once said that kissing Dwight Yoakam was like "eating a dirt sandwich." Maybe so, but listening to this honky-tonk genius cram 30-plus songs into a go-go-go twohours is mighty tasty indeed.

2. New Cars & Blondie (Ruth Eckerd Hall, June 14): No Ric Ocasek. No Ben Orr. But this new incarnation of Boston's best New Wave act has curious potential, especially with Todd Rundgren as its frontman. Blondie is also made up of spare parts, save for its most important one: Debbie Harry, still a force at 60.

3. Panic! At the Disco (Jannus Landing, June 21): These four Las Vegas teens and 20-somethings blend dance-floor beats with postpunk cynicism. Fistfight! In the Roller Rink also would have been an appropriate title. By far the hippest show of the summer. Make sure to wear a T-shirt with a snarky saying on it if you're one of the lucky ones with a ticket. It's sold out.

4. James Gang Rides Again (Ruth Eckerd Hall, Aug. 27): What's the record for most guitar solos in a single concert? Whatever it is, the mark gets shattered at this riff-randy hellraiser, in which Joe Walsh and some old classic-rockin' pals reunite to unleash such dive-bar faves as Walk Away and Funk #49.

5. Cracker (Skipper's Smokehouse, June 30): David Lowery's alt-country crew hasn't had commercial clout for more than a decade; 1993 cuts Low and Get Off This were the band's last hits. But the thought of this band, which continued to be great long after the glitter faded, in such an intimate atmosphere is too good to pass up. Plus here's a bonus: If they play I Want Out of the Circus, it's beers on me.

[Last modified May 31, 2006, 11:58:15]