New Roman Times
With Modern Skirts, the Lake Audition and Greymarket
THURSDAY (9/21) 8 p.m. The Orpheum, 1902 Republica de Cuba Ave., Ybor City. $7. 18 and older. (813) 248-9500.
The Winter Park trio loved for co-ed harmonies and talented musicianship is extremely difficult to sum up. Just imagine the moodiness of darker '80s new wave thumped up by melodic and percussive post-punk, and you're somewhere in the ball park. Rock-of-ages mixer-upper the Lake Audition has something for everyone, expertly performed by some of St. Pete's finest. Tampa's Greymarket blends emo with British Invasion (Psst -the drummer steals the show). Read about Athens, Ga., band Modern Skirts on page 5E.
John Crayon
With Doug Davison
FRIDAY (9/15) 9 p.m., the Emerald, 550 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. $5. (727) 898-6054.
The former front man for Crayons says he's not into the warm-fuzzy " singer-songwriter" title. Yet he's wielding his acoustic guitar to perform some songs that dare we say are a little touching. Don't dismiss him as another wimpy poet. The talented musician tempers his soft side with charisma and sarcastic wit. Co-headlining is Doug Davison of the Strip Club Moms.
Torche
With Baroness, I Love U, Andros Rex and Rodan
FRIDAY (9/15) 8 p.m., Transitions Art Gallery at Skatepark of Tampa, 4215 E Columbus Drive, Tampa. $6. All ages. (813) 382-3477.
Torche burns up the stage with belly-reverberating hardcore metal. The Miami band recalls Sabbath a bit with similarities to more current bands like Floor. What sets them apart: sweeping highs and lows. Baroness sports the guttural, Hades-invocations of death metal mixed with hardcore and classic metal. Central Florida's I Love U offers up big-sounding atmospherics and loveliness with no less power. Andros Rex is good ol' fashioned noisy punk, and Rodan is much more than a misspelled French sculptor; it's granite-dense metal-hardcore.
Wolfmother
With the Mess Hall
SATURDAY (9/16) 8 p.m. Jannus Landing, 16 Second St. N, St. Petersburg. $15 advance, $18 day of show. (727) 896-2276.
L.A. trio Wolfmother rocks out with thick and chunky rhythms and mammoth riffage, recalling the atmospheric prowess of Led Zeppelin and other early '70s hard rock. A reasonably low ticket price includes a tasty sonic meal from Mess Hall, a likewise vintage-y group who travel up from Down Under.
Jobsite Rocks III
Featuring Nessie, the Vodkanauts and the Weapons of Ass Destruction
SATURDAY (9/16) 8 p.m. New World Brewery, 1313 E Eighth Ave., Ybor City. $6. (813) 248-4969.
Each year, vanguard performing arts collective Jobsite Theater hires the best and brightest of local music to throw a killer fundraiser. This year's no exception, with Scott Harrell's endearing, revolving ensemble of no-nonsense rockers he calls Nessie, the martini surf rock 'n' blues of the Vodkanauts - now featuring Tampa actor and musician Jonathan Harrison - and Weapons of Ass Destruction, a loud, in-your-face band befitting of its punny name (once again, no association with Saddam Hussein - we think).
The Raconteurs
With Dr. Dog
WEDNESDAY (9/20), Hard Rock Live, Universal Studios, Orlando. $26.50. www.hardrock.com/live2.
The newish pop quartet, contrary to what most critics think, has more appeal than being White Striper Jack's vanity project with Brendan Benson. Just think of it this way: Whereas the White Stripes might be meatier on the bone, the tight and experienced Raconteurs slice the stage open with exuberant hooks.
Arturo Sandoval
With Akwid, JD Natasha, Javier Garcia and Yerba Buena
SUNDAY (9/17) 8 p.m. Jannus Landing, 16 Second St. N, St. Petersburg. $15 advance, $20 day of show. (72) 896-2276.
An evening of Latin sounds all over the sonic spectrum; horn player Arturo Sandoval endured some trying times leaving his Cuban homeland but has enjoyed a decades-long career combining classic jazz and Afro-Cuban styles. He hits you with mellifluous and passionate notes that go beyond salsa and jazz expectations. Hip-hop sensation Akwid joins Sandoval, along with eclectic collective Yerba Buena and Cuban-Irish pop iconoclast Javier Garcia.
Also recommended
Hootie and the Blowfish Fri. (9/15): 730 p.m. Ford Amphitheatre, Interstate 4 at U.S. 301 N, Tampa. $27.50-$35. Donated school supplies for Hillsborough County Schools and A Gift for Teaching of Tampa collected at the gate. (813) 740-2446 or (813) 287-8844 or (727) 898-2100.
Dan McMillion Jazz Orchestra Sat. (9/16): A longtime local favorite does it up big for a very little. 730 p.m. Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, 324 Pine St., Tarpon Springs. $16. (727) 942-5605.
Dodger Fri. (9/15): 9 p.m. Orlando band Dodger performs melodic and diverse fun stuff, and the rest of the local/regional acts on this bill offer something pleasingly unique, whether it be the sonic pastiche of Gruppo 99, psychedelic prettiness of New Lands or punchy post-punk of Military Junior. New World Brewery, Ybor City. $6. 21 and older. (813) 248-4969.
Art After Dark Fri. (9/15): With Breakdown & RanMecca, The Basiqs, Blenda, Just Amber and Gwan Hi-Fi. Art by Jay Giroux; fashion show. 8 p.m., Tampa Museum of Art. $10.
November Foxtrot Whiskey Fri. (9/15): 10 p.m. at Marshall Center at USF, Tampa. Free.
Kamelot Sat. (9/16): Described as a "melodic power metal" band, the mostly local act has achieved some international success and gets bonus points for the kitschy letter substitution. Suggestion for album title: Kryptic Korner of Kromula. 8 p.m. State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. $22. (727) 895-3045.
Friends of the Anclote River 'Find Another Site' Music Benefit Sat. (9/16): Featuring De Lei-ed Parrots, Elevation, Rebekah Pulley, Jules, Cold Harbor, Jamie Perlow and many more. 2-11 p.m. The Junction, 705 Franklin St., Clearwater. $10. (727) 367-3592.
Valient Thorr Wed. (9/20): With Flying Snakes, Palantine, Darlings. The promoters call Valient Thorr "bugged out bearded out rock." Intriguing. Local metal-hardcore Flying Snakes rocks it tight and mighty. 9 p.m. Orpheum, Ybor City. $7/$8. All ages admitted. (813) 248-9500.