Check it out

By MICHAEL CANNING

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 14, 2001

Today

Thinking Day Rally, Ashes of Grisum, Mark McManus in concert (8 p.m., Orpheum, 1902 Avenida Republica de Cuba, Ybor City, free, 21 and over only). A bill of local alternative elites, though these musicians would probably shrug off the notion. Thinking Day Rally is relatively new, but has highly seasoned players on board. The band describes its sound as classic AM radio piano rock, with influences from Wilco, Ben Folds Five and the Allman Brothers. Ashes of Grisum includes Chris Temple, a sort of post-modern rock Johnny Cash with a powerful, gravelly tenor and a poetic knack for storytelling. Some of his songs' stories are based on local personalities and events (Harry Lee Coe, Murder at Four Corner Mines), a neat trick none of his peers seem to do. During Ybor City's poetry reading heyday in the mid '90s, Mark McManus gave Temple a serious run for his money as poet most likely to blow the audience clear out the door. After a stint in New York City working a lame office gig, he's back on the scene, only now wielding a guitar and some tunes along with his dizzying, engaging poetry. Call (813) 248-9500.

Friday

Arabian Horse Show (9 a.m., Florida State Fairgrounds, Interstate 4 and U.S. 301, free). The Arabian Horse Association of Florida will present a full slate of classes including halter classes for conformation, performance classes for Western and English, dressage and jumping. Each day's shows will run until about dark. Enter fairgrounds through the Orient Road gate. Also Sunday. Call (813) 621-7821.

Muvico Starlight 20's Tomb Raider Adventure Weekend (4 to 8 p.m., Muvico Starlight 20, 18002 Highwood Preserve, free). Even Paramount Pictures might be impressed at the way the folks at Starlight 20 have managed to cross-market the new movie version of the best-selling video game. The theater will have displays by Harley Davidson of Brandon, Land Rover of Tampa, Canoe Escape, Demolition Comics, Museum of Science and Industry, Cell Station, Pan American Consultants and more. There will also be a rock climbing wall, Tomb Raider game demo station, ice sculptor, face painter and a "caterpillar" for kids to crawl through. Call (813) 558-9755.

"Summer Safari Nights" (6 to 8:30 p.m., Lowry Park Zoo, 7530 N Boulevard, $7, $5 ages 3-11, free for zoo members and 2 and under). The top-rated zoo extends its hours, reduces its prices and throws in live music as the summer evening heat and humidity begin to rival those of the afternoon. Naturally the zoo's animals stay on view until dusk, but special event features will include Birds of Prey show at 7 p.m., Reptile Encounter show at 7:30 and live entertainment. All restaurants, gift shops and beer/wine stands will be open. Call (813) 935-8552.

Journey, Peter Frampton, John Waite in concert (7 p.m., University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Ave., Sundome, $45, $37.75, $29.75). It's like a gaping wound on our souls too, Journey fans -- the way former vocalist Steve Perry and the rest of the band claim irreconcilable differences at the end of their VH-1 Behind the Music episode. Those documentaries are supposed to go a certain way. Band forms, fights hardscrabble conditions to make the big time, peaks and then is torn apart by drugs and/or death, reunites older and wiser to make music for diehard fans. Take away the reunification and drugs/death elements, and you've got Journey's story. It's still an open book as far as we're concerned, even as replacement vocalist Steve Augeri continues to win over old fans with singing that's ghoulishly close to Perry's. Peter Frampton continues to bask in the glow of weren't-the-'70s-great-Do-You-Feel-Like-I-Do? rock revisionism. He even released Frampton Comes Alive II in 1995, and last year's Live in Detroit contains Do You Feel Like We Do and Baby I Love Your Way. Former Babys singer John Waite's career peaked in 1984 with his MTV-fueled hit Missing You. He formed metal popsters Bad English in the early '90s with current Journey-men Neal Schon and Deen Castronovo (who will play one of the most intense drum solos you're likely to see). Call (813) 974-3002.

"Poetry on the Edge" (8 p.m., Borders bookstore, 909 N Dale Mabry Highway, free). You can read or just be read to. Hosted by poet Diana Browning, this event is geared to adults only, so you might want to leave young children at home. Call (813) 874-5722

My Hotel Year, the Flapcats, Closure in concert (9 p.m., Orpheum, 1902 Avenida Republica de Cuba, Ybor City, $5). Orlando's My Hotel Year was formed from the ashes of many central Florida bands, most notably Peterbuilt. It's an indie rock quartet with a sound along the lines of Jimmy Eat World, the Get up Kids, Sunny Day Real Estate and Blink 182. Tampa's Flapcats have been described by Jam Magazine as '80s L.A. rock that is full of "meaty bass lines, full-frontal guitar walls and deep-throated, off-key vocalizations of 21st century beat poetry." Also from Tampa, Closure says, "We are a five-piece melodic emo thing. Full of hooks and power that should make you feel warm and fuzzy." Call (813) 248-9500.

Saturday

Laser tag opens at Ice Sports Forum (11 to 11, 10222 Elizabeth Place, Brandon, $7 per game). The 3,300-square-foot mezzanine of the ice rink facility has been converted into a multilevel laser tag arena. It has all the usual laser tag stuff: a maze of obstacles, black light illumination, opposing team bases. Walk-on games, leagues, birthday parties, group and corporate events will be offered. Call (813) 684-7825.

Carrollwood Players Theater by Young People auditions (1 p.m., Carrollwood Playhouse, 4333 Gunn Highway, free). Girls and boys 10 to 18 are needed for the troupe's upcoming production of Guys and Dolls Jr., showing Sept. 15, 22 and 29. Bring a head shot and be ready to sing a prepared song with taped music. Readings will be directly from the script. And break a leg, kiddos. Call (813) 265-4000.

The Neon Circus and Wild West Show featuring Brooks & Dunn, Toby Keith, Montgomery Gentry and Keith Urban (3 p.m., Ice Palace, $38 and $28). Good luck finding a better mainstream country entertainment value this summer. The Neon Circus and Wild West Show means you'll be greeted at the Ice Palace by the frenzied activity of rodeo clowns, mimes, daredevil stilt-walkers, knife jugglers, fire eaters, face-painting artists, magicians, tattoo artists, a celebrity autograph booth, a wild mechanical bucking bull, unicyclists and plenty of surprises. We hear these bands put on a good show, too. That's if new country's your thing, presented with big-time arena rock productions. Brooks and Dunn are three-time Country Music Awards Entertainers of the Year and released Boot Scootin' Boogie in 1992 (yeah, it seems like only yesterday to us too). Toby Keith got gobs of air play last year when he asked a fictional former flame How Do You Like Me Now. The reigning CMA Duo of the Year, Montgomery Gentry and Keith Urban, round out the bill. Call Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844.

Halcyon, Bonnie Whitehurst in concert (8 p.m., Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, $7). Halcyon, one of the most popular and fervently followed local bands, purveys meaty acoustic-based pop rock with strong harmonies, insightful lyrics and a spiritual nod to the Indigo Girls. Once a full band, Halcyon now consists of founders Debbie Hunseder and Stephanie Callahan plus percussionist Alvon Griffin. Palm Harbor's Bonnie Whitehurst presents elegant piano music. Her 2000 release Board Walks and Tank Towns was inspired by her family's road trip through the United States and Canada and unfolds with insightful elegance. Call (813) 971-0666.

Sunday

Carrollwood Players auditions (7 p.m., Carrollwood Playhouse, 4333 Gunn Highway, free). The Players need 10 to 12 men and women, at least 18 years old and handy with a British accent. They're also looking for a stage manager. Production dates will be Sept. 7 through 29, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and at 3 p.m. Sundays. Call (813) 265-4000.

Jennifer and the Venturas in concert (5 p.m., Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, $5). If you were part of the area's neo swing movement, then you've probably danced to the core of this band. They happen to be the Silvertones part of Dan Electro and the Silvertones. New to the band is Florida State University graduate Jennifer Sweat, who studied voice and focused on jazz, big band swing and blues. She mixes together a selection of originals and covers from Trisha Yearwood, Dinah Washington, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, Lonnie Mack and Al Green. They also stretch out on instrumentals from Charlie Christian, Freddie King, T. Bone Walker and the Ventures. Call (813) 971-0666.

Dominic Gaudious performs (6 p.m., Borders bookstore, 909 N Dale Mabry Highway, free). The Chicago guitarist sports a double neck 12-and-six-string acoustic and is placed in the company of Michael Hedges and Leo Kottke, stylistically speaking. Think virtuoso finger styling with new age and world music flavorings. Call (813) 874-5722.

Monday

WWF "Raw is War" (7:45 p.m., Ice Palace, $40, $30, $25, $18). Stone Cold Steve Austin, Triple H, Undertaker, Kane, Kurt Angle, plus many more of your favorite highly trained, highly paid actors-stuntmen -- uh, we mean, superstars -- will appear. No ringside folding chair will be safe. Call Ticketmaster at (813) 287-8844.

The Miles Davis Radio Project airs (11 p.m., WUSF-FM 89.7). The Peabody Award-winning series of eight one-hour programs, hosted by Danny Glover, airs Monday through Thursday beginning on this night and continuing next week. Nearly 100 musicians were interviewed for the project, including Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Williams, Art Blakey, Wayne Shorter, Joni Mitchell, Roberta Flack and Quincy Jones. The schedule of episodes is: Monday, "Miles Davis, The Early Years, 1926-1946"; Tuesday, "New York to Paris and Back, 1946-1955"; Wednesday, "Miles Davis, Midnight Idol, 1955-1959"; June 21, "The '60s Are Electric, 1960-1969"; June 25, "Miles Davis, Retirement and Rebirth, the '70s and '80s"; June 26, "Behind the Scenes with Miles Davis"; June 27, "Miles Live!"; June 28, "Miles Live!" Call (813) 974-8700.

Tuesday

Jewish Book Review (7 p.m., Borders bookstore, 909 N Dale Mabry Highway, free). Learn about new Jewish titles each month with this rotating book review. Each month a rabbi from a different congregation will host a special book review for Judaic titles. New or old, many of these titles have been overlooked and are now coming to light. Call (813) 874-5722.

Wednesday

Chess Club meets (7 p.m., Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 122 Brandon Town Center, free). It's not like you have to be a member. Just show up. But we do recommend a tweed jacket and/or fake Russian accent for maximum intimidation. Call (813) 661-9883.

If it's entertainment or culture in the Tampa area, it's fair game for Check It Out. Fax press releases at least 10 days before publication to Michael Canning at (813) 226-3381, or mail them to 1000 N Ashley Drive, Suite 700, Tampa, FL 33602. His telephone number is (813) 226-3408.

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