Come ready to play at the Skipperdome
Skipper's Smokehouse
910 Skipper Road, Tampa; (813) 971-0666, www.skipperssmokehouse.com
A tradition of camaraderie and great music bring in the multigenerational crowds at Skipper's Smokehouse in North Tampa.
When Skipper's opened in 1980, its owners, Air Force buddies Vince McGilvra, Tom White and Anders Bastman (who's since been bought out) operated a takeout smokehouse joint with a Sunday jam. Now, local, national and international acts headline the sandy outdoor area lovingly known as the " Skipperdome "- its roof a loose construction of stars, clouds and oak branches; festooned with shimmery holiday lights.
The Skipperdome invokes an escapist beach-bum charm with sand, picnic tables, wooden-plank ground covering and canopies. The set-up is super-conducive to enjoying live music with a powerful sound system, great vantage points and very few blind spots.
Skipper's is One of the most often sought-out venues by WMNF FM-88.5 Community Radio for benefit concerts. Tribute shows headlined by local bands of all genres come together to salute famous rocks, bringing in loads of dough to the station. Past concerts have honored The Beatles, Elvis Costello and the Rolling Stones. The latest in the series is The Who, on June 24.
Boomers in tie-dye have shaken their booties with their kids and punk rock grandkids, digging on eclectic acts as far ranging as Sun Ra and Jonathan Richman. In 2001, the Blues Foundation honored Skipper's with the Keeping the Blues Alive Award, naming it the best blues club in America. - Julie Garisto jgaristo@tampabay.com
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The Orpheum
1902 N Avenida Republica De Cuba, Tampa; (813) 249-9500
Housed in the corner edge of the first cigar factory in Ybor, built in 1886, the concert venue is spacious but has mainly two things going for it: great headliners and a popular Saturday sink-or-swim dance night. The club also brings in acts too big to play bars and too small to play stadiums. So, lucky for us, these acts wind up at the no-frills, boxy Orpheum, saving us music geeks a long drive to Atlanta and week's pay in gas money. It is the place where you'll complain about the crappy A/C, overcrowded bar and dirty restrooms with faulty plumbing, but it is also the place to see emerging bands. Acts like Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and Against Me! have played the Orpheum, and the majority are all-ages shows. Some well-known and highly regarded guys in the music scene work the door, B.C. from Red Tide and Mudd, while 2 % and Lazy, also from Red Tide, tend the huge square bar that offers domestics, Newcastle, Bass and Guinness on tap. The bouncers and bartenders get a lot of grief for having to play bad cop on some drunk folks, but they're working some of the longest, most thankless hours in the bar scene and deserve a righteous toast. They keep the peace in a venue that cuts corners to afford some of the best and brightest of music today.
Boomerz
6990 Seminole Blvd., Seminole; (727) 391-7066
The spacious club with a restaurant and sports bar up front and world-class concert venue in the rear has undergone several management changes over the years. Interestingly enough, it's back at square one with the original owner Ed Mlotowski, who opened the spot under its first name, Baby Boomerz. The ownership change has seen a renaissance in this great space, with improvements to the decor, entertainment and menu. The back lounge looks intense with heavy oak, dark-lighting and a mega-tricked-out stage. It's the kind of room fitting for a an AC/DC tribute band called Highway to Hell and other national acts that stop in to rock out. Drinks are strong, and the menu serves some pretty good bar food for the buck.
The Fox
Lincoln Center, 5401 W Kennedy Blvd., Tampa; (813) 289-8446, www.foxjazzclub.com
If you want to impress your out-of-town guests, take them to The Fox, where you'll find pure, adulterated jazz night after night. We're talkin' a live act on the main stage, plus additional performers in the piano room. Unlike other venues, The Fox's decor reflects its commitment to jazz through a series of vibrant paintings and eye-catching statues. The waitresses look like extras from Chicago in their tuxedo jackets and black tights. Live music plays Tuesday through Saturday evenings. The best night is Tuesday, when area musicians hold a jam session. Dress code is business casual; if you must wear jeans, pair them with a dressy shirt to be sure you'll get in.
Abbey Road Pub
974 58th St. N, St. Petersburg; (727) 343-0304
From the memorabilia and personal touches everywhere - Beatles pictures, Howling Wolf and Janis Joplin concert posters and a wall dedicated to boxing champions - there is feisty energy and rock 'n' roll all around you. The medium-size bar has soothing blue walls, a band-watching-friendly layout and excellent sound system. Full liquor bar and clean tap lines; Bollocks, Guinness, Boddington's, Bass, Newcastle, Stella Artois and Harp, among others. During the week, you can hear singer-songwriters perform more laid-back sets, and on Fridays and Saturdays, full bands play. Styles lean more toward the adult alternative end of the spectrum - traditional rock, hippie-jam and power-pop - nothing too brash or offensive, but energetic enough to appeal to the young 'uns.
Gasoline Alley
17928 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater; (727) 532-0265, www.gasalleycafe.com
The Alley has been a mainstay for live music in Pinellas County for the past three decades. The 6,000-square-foot space with '50s greaser charm and vintage automotive decor brandishes a sweet sound system and expansive layout. Types of acts vary night to night, but they're usually some sort of hard rock the kids are listenening to these days. Headliners include the latest crop of alternative, punk-emo and metal, plus some jam, acoustic and jazz for good measure.
Dave's Aqua Lounge
10820 Gandy Blvd N, St Petersburg; (727) 576-1091
Open for four-plus decades and home to one of the most celebrated blues jams in the area, Dave's may not be high-tech but it is plenty spacious and comfortable, with ample seating and friendly bartenders. It's got that dark and smoky seafaring kitsch to it; you know, like your old drunk uncle's hangouts back in the day. On most nights, you'll catch popular bay area blues acts such as Sandy Atkinson and Liz Pennock and Dr. Blues, but some rock, punk and lounge acts sprinkle in, too. The bar doesn't have its own Web site, but you can find its music listings at the Suncoast Blues Society's site (suncoastbluessociety.org).
Dino's Jazz Piano Bar and Grille
16 Second St. N, St. Petersburg; (727) 896-3466
The brick-laden former home of Club Detroit enjoys its new life as a comfortably upscale jazz hangout, where long bar accommodates between notes from the piano up against the front windows, and a small dining area provides a cozy respite for nosh. The laid-back feel is pretty much what you'd expect from a jazz joint, including plenty of old-time jazz lovers. Carl Fuerstman sits at the piano Tuesday through Saturday nights, and national acts headline often too. Menu includes Caesar salads, wraps, shrimp and sandwiches, and a full liquor bar. They also serve lunch. The one downside for some is that you can't smoke inside and have to step outside to light up. For an extra dose of "cool," sit at the piano-shaped table or play some blackjack while the band's on break. Dress is upscale casual.
Elite Jazz Bar
25032 US 19 N, Clearwater; (727) 796-2442, www.elitejazzbar.com
A sophisticated and swank hideout for those who dig refined smoke and smoking jazz. Enter the bar through the west door, or visit its sister store, Famous Cigars, via the east entrance. Like the store, Elite exudes a robust comfort that's half living room, half gentlemen's club, a surreal standout on U.S. 19's strip-mall scene, with dark wood furniture and dim lighting complemented by warm-colored furniture. No drafts here, but single-malt scotches are worth the splurge. Elite is one of the few bars in the area that headlines jazz acts exclusively. A great change of pace for a weekend night out other than in Ybor. Try the espresso martini.
Blue Shark
1502 E Seventh Ave., Tampa; (813) 248-3499
It's one of the few bars on Seventh where you can avoid the hubbub and hassle of the Ybor nightlife crowd; where the beats are most likely from an old Delta king's boot heel kicking the floor. Owned by Tampa businessman George Wilds, father of Carolina Panthers defensive back and Hillsborough High grad Garnell Wilds, the Blue Shark has become a linchpin in Tampa's music scene for its appeal to old and new school blues fans. It's even bigger and better since relocating to a much more spacious and splashy venue on the corner of 15th Street, former home of several jinxed spots. The regulars are varied, from SoHo chic types to Parrotheads in shorts. It offers a full-liquor bar, but no drafts just yet at the new spot. Considering Blue Shark's longstanding reputation, its killer new digs and sound system, there's a good chance that the evil spell over that space on 15th and Seventh has finally been broken.
Ringside Cafe
2742 Fourth St. N, St. Petersburg; (727) 894-8465
Ringside is one of the country's top blues establishments, garnering annual best of city awards and a prestigious New York Times mention. A former boarding house and boxing club, it's owned by Greg and Kelly Pugh, who brought new life to a historic building without diminishing its nostalgic aura. Blues legends routinely hit Ringside, and the Sunday night blues jam hosted by Wendy Rich and Red Lasner has partied on for 13 years. Lots of semi-regular touring acts play here, including Rocking Chair, Damon Fowler, TNB, Motel Funk, Sean Chambers and Johnny and the Rude Boys. Lawyers, doctors, judges, entrepreneurs, guys on the prowl and women looking for a good time mix it up. Wander around and peruse the blues and boxing memorabilia, such as LeRoy Neiman boxing lithographs, signed shots of Tommy Castro, Lucky Peterson, Roomful of Blues, Lewis-Tyson fight posters, plus Everlast punching bags, neon beer guitar signs. The bar overflows with specialty beers and liquors. Smokers can hang out on a roomy porch overlooking Fourth Street. Grub options include regional American cuisine, daily dinner specials and low-carb entrees.
