Adrian Belew
FRIDAY (8/18) 9 p.m. State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. $20. (727) 895-3045.
His real first name is Robert. He’s played with Frank Zappa, Talking Heads and David and, most importantly, King Crimson. Since playing solo, he’s continued dabbling in bizarro sounds but now performs a more personal mix of acoustic, jazz and pop. Many will remember him by his ’80s MTV hit Oh, Daddy, which fits in the fun-and-brainy mold of XTC and Todd Rundgren.
aaronzarzutzki
(with NASA, Orphan and Philip Pietri)
SUNDAY (8/20) 8 p.m., Transitions Art Gallery at the Skatepark of Tampa, 4215 E Columbus Drive, Tampa. $5. (813) 621-6793.
The guy whose name actually is Aaron Zarzutzki is a brainy tinkerer and unusually entertaining performer. His performances, he says, “consist of various instruments or non-instruments, played through electronics, mostly guitar pedals — some hand-built — and in real time.” He uses no synths, sequencers, etc. What he has used: an acoustic guitar, a toy melodica, a wine glass and a bicycle. “My friend gave me a clarinet we found in his garage about a month ago, so I’ve been using that on tour,” he says. Zarzutzki’s performances come in two parts: a short solo and then a free improvisation with friends on tour (Bobby Moseley, myspace.com/jijimuge) “and various strangers and friends we meet in different cities.” The bad news (for us) is that he won’t be back to Florida until 2007 because he got accepted to study sound art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Wu-tang Clan
WEDNESDAY (8/23) 8 p.m. Jannus Landing, 16 Second St. N, St. Petersburg. $29.50. (727) 896-2276.
The hardcore rap pioneers and collective of major power stops off at Jannus Landing again for the second time in less than a year. The last Clan show in February got rave reviews by attendees, so we’re guessing that’s why they’re back so soon.
Also playing
Melissa Etheridge Fri. (8/18): Sold Out. 8 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. $29-$70. (727) 791-7400.
Blaze Fri. (8/18): 9 p.m. Tamiami Bar at Jannus Landing, 16 Second St. N, St. Petersburg. $10 advance, $13 day of show. (727) 896-2276.
Poison and Cinderella Sat. (8/19): 7Þ30 p.m. St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. $25-$75. (813) 287-8844, (727) 898-2100 or (813) 301-2500.
Head Automatica Tue. (8/22): 7 p.m. Jannus Landing in St. Petersburg. $15. (727) 896-2276.
