Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
© St. Petersburg Times, published October 18, 2001
Hip-hop at the Trop
The hottest act on the bill of Wild 98.7's Last Damn Show is OutKast, the hip-hop duo from Atlanta that's responsible for the wildly inventive Stankonia, an album that topped most critics' best-of lists, mine included, last year.
The Last Damn Show also features Afroman, the guy behind Because I Got High, the controversial monster hit of the summer (see Saturday's Floridian section for my interview with Afroman), hip-hop pioneers Digital Underground, rappers Trick Daddy and Ludacris, and pop tart Jessica Simpson. Also in the house, er, the field: Bubba Sparxxx collaborating with producer guru Timabaland, and upstarts Fabolous and Lil' Mo. Come on, now, what's a hip-hop lineup without at least one Lil' person? The only thing this roster lacks is a grammar teacher -- just look at how these acts spell their names!
The Last Damn Show begins at 6 p.m. Saturday at Tropicana Field. $19.87. (813) 287-8844 or (727) 898-2100.
-- GINA VIVINETTO, Times pop music critic
You know the type, or maybe you don't: Stephen Bernstein, master of the seldom-seen slide trumpet, an odd instrument that comes off as simultaneously primitive and modern, is a jazz-rooted musician determined that a good time will be had by all. And that his listeners will take home an appreciation for his rare art, a collage of bebop, funk, free jazz and pop.
That's a sure thing, based on Bernstein's charismatic, over-the-top performances at the Atomic Age and other Tampa Bay area venues. The New York horn man, probably best known for his associations with John Lurie's Lounge Lizards and Medeski Martin and Wood, along with his work arranging the soundtracks for Kansas City, Get Shorty and other films, is returning to Ybor City for another outing with his Sex Mob -- saxophonist Briggan Krauss, bassist Tony Scherr and drummer Kenny Wollesen.
Bernstein's band (don't let the name put you off) turned in twisted versions of James Bond film themes Goldfinger and Live and Let Die on the band's 1998 Din of Inequity disc. This time, they're touring in support of the just-released Sex Mob Does Bond, an entire CD devoted to John Barry's music from the 007 flicks, along with a nifty original, Dr. Yes, in the same spirit. It's freaky, funky stuff. Who needs a martini?
The Sex Mob plays Monday night at 9 at the Orpheum, 1902 Avenida Republica de Cuba in Tampa. Tickets ($8) are available at the door or by calling WMNF-FM 88.5, (813) 238-8001.
-- PHILIP BOOTH, Times correspondent