Concert picks

By Julie Garisto
Published October 5, 2007

Palantine CD Release Party

With Red Room Cinema and Poverty Branch

FRIDAY (10/5) 9 p.m., New World Brewery, 1313 E Eighth Ave., Ybor City. $5. (813) 248-4969.

One of the local music events of the year - draw a big red circle around this one. It features two bands that made 2007 their year. Recently returning from a hiatus with all guitars a-blazin', Palantine celebrates its second, self-titled LP, a solid-rocking disc with catchy garage riffs and early '90s-Foo/Dinosaur goodness. Great driving music - for real; it's been road-tested. Red Room Cinema just completed a tour of the East Coast., put out its first CD and drew huge crowds. The band's sprawling guitar-keyboard-driven soundscapes are true to its David Lynch-inspired name, with wryly sinister soundtrack drama. (Palantine's name also has cinematic origin - from Taxi Driver.) Newcomers Poverty Branch, a uniquely endearing alt-folk band out of Orlando, makes its Tampa debut. The early-20-something guys wear snappy Western shirts and seem to have a healthy sense of humor. One odd accouterment: rice. "There is lyric line in the song Michigan Street, where it talks about Ana cooking up a Brazilian dish with rice in it, and when the word rice is said, people throw it at us," says drummer Big Rig McGurt. "It was an idea that the fans had. We have smart fans - or hungry ones."

Tribal Style

SATURDAY (10/6) 10 p.m. Green Iguana, 9202 Anderson Road, Tampa. Free. (813) 288-9076.

This is highly recommended for folks in west Hillsborough who fear the risky DUI-trap-laden trek across town but want to hear quality local music. Tbt*readers voted reggae band Tribal Style the Ultimate Local Band. They play crowd-pleasing covers, traditional roots reggae as well as intricate jazz-laced jams.

Potato Gun

With the Bugs and Auditorium

SATURDAY (10/6) 10 p.m. Emerald Bar, 550 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. $3.

The Semis' Billy Summer reunites late-'90s bandmates Joe Harley, Chris A. Farl, Brian Green and Dan Oppoman to play as Potato Gun. A look at the song titles on the band's MySpace page, you might think the band is straight of the Dr. Demento radio hour: Panties on the Stage, The Flying Squirrel Maneuver, Yummy Chocolate Pudding and Tree Fort, but the sound is infectious power pop with rollicking beats, wah-wah and sundry other music-geek touches. The Bugs' tunes, led by Crippled Masters' Pete DeLong and featuring Garth Carson on bass and Aaron Nelson of Din Perdiem on drums, creeps under your skin with surprisingly good garage hooks. Auditorium, led by Southeast Music Alliance honcho Joran Slane, is eclectic, textured pop-rock.

 The Dukes of Hillsborough

With Billy Reese Peters, Abandoned Vehicles, 3% Milk

SATURDAY (10/6) Tampa Punk House, Seminole Heights, Tampa. Free. Visit MySpace.com/tampapunkhouse to inquire about location.

The bands playing tonight share a classic-rock backbone and hardcore trademarks without going by the numbers. This couldn't be truer than with Tampa's Dukes - a unique blend of backwoods dementia, punk-rock mania and metallic ballsiness. Billy Reese Peters is actually a band from Gainesville, gentlemen who add a down-to-earth approachability to their anthem-like tunes. Abandoned Vehicles is Skatepark of Tampa honcho Brian Schaefer's band, which has a more classic punk, early-Clash-thing going on. 3% Milk is made up of members of Stranded and Elysium.

Today Is the Day

FRIDAY (10/5) 8 p.m. Crowbar, 1812 N 17th St., Ybor City. $10, $12. 18 and older. (813) 241-8600.

Front man Steve Austin may or may not be stone cold, but he's one twisted mutha of metal. His band's rat-a-tat-tat onslaught is like a machine gun, and the closest comparison for his vocals might be Satan with road rage. Austin's kept his band around in different lineups since 1992, most recently recruiting Mastodon's Brann Dailor and Bill Kelliher as his rhythm section

David Dondero

With Modern Skirts, Nessie and Have Gun, Will Travel

SATURDAY (10/6) 9 p.m. New World Brewery, 1313 E Eighth Ave., Ybor City $8. (813) 248-4969.

Wandering troubadour David Dondero maps out emotions and the human experience with insight and road-weary wisdom. He's been playing music since 1993 and recently released his seventh LP, Simple Love, on Conor Oberst's Team Love imprint. Dondero is often compared to the Bright Eyes singer, but he has his own uniquely textured, folk-eclectic style. Athens' Modern Skirts also offers rustic appeal, but with a sweeter pop flavor. St. Pete's ultimate bar band, Nessie, put out a CD this year. Have Gun, Will Travel is another rootsy local act, from south of the Skyway, highlighting Matt Burke's subtle vocals and strong guitar delivery.

With Portugal the Man

TUESDAY (10/9) 8 p.m. Orpheum, 1902 Republica de Cuba Ave., Ybor City. $10, $12. (813) 248-9500.

There's warmth and soft strength to singer-songwriter Votolato's tunes. He and brother Cody, a founding member of the Blood Brothers, played together in Seattle band Waxwing. Now he plays mellow music that grabs your attention and does not send you into laundry list zone, with coaxing harmonies and a cloak room of hooks. Portugal the Man, from Alaska, shifts the show into fifth gear with upbeat psychedelic dance rock.

Also Playing

Velvet Revolver Fri. With Alice in Chains and Sparta: 8 p.m. Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa, $25, $35, $42.50, $49.50 and $55.

Yellowman Fri. 8 p.m. The Tamiami at Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg. $12, $15.

Paul Wilborn and the Blue Roses perform Frank Sinatra: The Capitol Years Fri. 7:30 p.m. Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg. $20.

Car Bomb Driver Fri. With Doll Parts 9 p.m. The Garage, St. Petersburg. $5.

Fred Johnson and Susan Jeffers: Images and Melodies of the Heart Fri. 7:30. Murray Studio at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. $15; $10 with student ID.

Tiger Army Fri. With Street Dogs and the Static Age. 7 p.m. State Theatre, St. Petersburg. $13, $15.

Infinite Groove Orchestra Fri. Yeoman's Road, Davis Islands, Tampa. $5.

Suburban Tragedy Fri. 9 p.m. Free. Big Shots Sports Bar, Clearwater.

Select Start Sat. With Vega Under Fire, The Appreciation Post, Don't Kill the Freshman, First Crush Kid and Hello Alaska! 6 p.m. Transitions Art Gallery at the Skatepark of Tampa. $8.

Del the Funky Homosapien Sun. With Devin the Dude. 7 p.m. State Theatre, St. Petersburg. $15, $18.

Mods and Rockers Mon. 10 p.m Featuring DJs Shack, Heath Dupras, Gregg Schmidt, N8 and 2%. The Orpheum, Ybor City. $3.

Daughtry Mon. 8 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. $37.50-$50.

[Last modified October 4, 2007, 15:17:24]