Daily Loaf

“Tampa misses so much cool shit,” my friend Brian Repetto of Insect Joy turns to me and whispers through a cigarette smoke exhale. New World Brewery, Thursday, August 6. One of those nights in Y-bore that turn out really fun because you conned a few friends to hang out and support local music.

“Oh well, I’m glad I made it out, man. This is a really great lineup tonight.” No joke. Insect Joy interestingly spliced record dj-ing and spinning with their usual weird electronic sounds whirling into the atmosphere. Flexxehawk blasted through their spidery, angular, intricate yet minimalist songs with true enthusiasm and purity reserved for bands willing to play their damnist whether the crowd consists of five people or 500.

Huge musical buildups and crescendos with very few but very meaningful words flesh out the Flexxehawk sound into something original, in the vein of Polvo’s kind of math rock mixed with textured vocal harmonies. Historically members and contributors of several local and national acts including Ima, Dumbwaiters, Meringue, etc. All this not even mentioning the touring headliner, ST37.

Out of this world, psychedelic, noisy, punk and weird, references to J.G. Ballard and Twin Peaks, all in one four-piece from Austin …

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The Red Elvises (pictured) bring their goodtime rockabilly ruckus to Skipper’s Smokehouse for a Halloween night show. The Vodkanauts provide support. 8 p.m., $20.

Several local musicians pay tribute to tongue-in-cheek rock ‘n’ rollers Ween during a Halloween-night show, Ween-O-Ween. The bill features sets by instrumental nu-jazz foursome Poetry n’ Lotion, experimental duo Insect Joy and a special lineup that includes members of PnL, former members of Life of Pi, and a few others performing Ween songs as The Stallion Part 9. Area folks are encouraged to come dressed up in costume; the best Ween-inspired duds earn a Creative Loafing prize pack that includes a four-camera shot DVD bootleg of Ween’s February 1, 2008 show at Jannus Landing, The Strangers DVD, and a four-pack of Unibroue Maudite beer. Fri., Oct. 31, 10 p.m., New World Brewery, $5.

The Florida Orchestra kicks off three nights of spooky music with its Halloween Spooktacular. Oct. 31-Nov. 2, 8 p.m. Fri. at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 8 p.m. Sat. at Mahaffey Theater, and 7:30 p.m. Sun. at Ruth Eckerd Hall, $19-$65.

Another Halloween event, this one ARTpool’s Halloween ARTparty featuring art, costume contests, and photo shoots. Fri., Oct. 31, 8 p.m.-midnight, $10.

A new multi-media event — The Connext Project — fills Coachman Park with animation, motion graphics, experimental film and electronica. Sat., Nov. 1, 5 p.m., $5.

As the weather gets cooler, Sweetwater Organic Farm kicks off its Sunday Morning Market. Shoppers can expect to find fresh homegrown organic veggies, live music, and lots of local vendors set up admist the scenic outdoor farm. Noon-4 p.m. Sundays through May 24, free admission.

Museum of Fine Arts’ Contemporaries group and The Zodiac Group of the Dali Museum stage an El Dias de los Muertos 1980’s-themed costume party at MFA. Locals enjoy live spins, Mexican food, and cocktails; proceeds benefit both museums. Sat., Nov. 1, 8-11 p.m., $50 general/$40 members.