Daily Loaf

In advance of the big CD release party for the new Have Gun, Will Travel record, Postcards from the Friendly City, Creative Loafing is giving away a free download of their new single, “Sons and Daughters of the Gilded Age” for a limited time only (See below for the link).

Show info:

Saturday, November 14th
Have Gun, Will Travel (CD Release Show)
with Special Guests: Lauris Vidal & The Whiskey Gentry
New World Brewery
1313 E. 8th Ave. Ybor City. (813) 248-4969
9 p.m. $7, 21+

Download after the jump …

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Routes Music is a documentary film acting as a roving music census, taking in the true musical passions (and disgusts) of the American people. We’re traveling all across the country, stopping along the way to interview local bands, take footage of live performances and chat with anyone and everyone. Learn more about the documentary here; check out all previous entries here.

Five things you should never forget on a cross-country music documentary tour:

1.  Granola bars
2. Phone charger
3. TV theme song CDs
4. Stun gun sold by a shifty young man on the street
5. A wild and open mind

The last was crucial as our Routes Music crew (Phil, Alex and Terrence — known collectively as P.A.T.) rolled into Orlando on the first day of the tour.

Weary and hungry from a two-hour drive down I-4, we pulled our 2009 Toyota Sienna (known as the “Big Gray Box) into “the world’s largest entertainment McDonald’s.” We grabbed some burgers and were making out way out when Terrence heard an announcer in the far room. Turning the corner, he spotted a stage featuring five Latino teens, ages ranging from 11 to 18. Terrence called us over. “You guys have to see this.” At that moment, the band broke into synchronized dancing over a drum track. Microphones appeared. The performance began. The Los Mega Boyz, a Latino boy band in the vein of the Backstreet Boys and N-Sync, crooned their way around Ronald McDonald murals and teenagers munching on cheeseburgers. They sang saucy numbers about girls and ballads about Selena.

We’d stumbled upon the most bizarre McDonald’s ever. (Video after the jump.) Read the rest of this entry »

A veritable dance party erupted at Crowbar this past Tuesday evening during and between splendid sets by Vivian Girls (NYC), and Tampa’s Sleepy Vikings and Hippodrome.

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The city closes down two blocks of Central Avenue for the third edition of Creative Clay’s now-annual fundraiser, FolkFest St. Pete. The free two-day street party celebrates all things folk with food and drink, art booths spotlighting the works of a range of local artisans, and a solid lineup of music throughout. Florida’s finest singer-songwriters,  folk and blues artists join national talents on the outdoor stage. South Carolina kicks off the music on Saturday, with sets by Dave Hardin, Green Grass Boys and TC Carr, Sarasota Slim and Nitro, Rebekah Pulley and the Reluctant Prophets, Ben Prestage, and The New Familiars of Charlotte, S.C. to follow (and in that order). The Sunday bill features Veronica Jackson, Ella Jet, a “Tribute to Woodstock,” Have Gun Will Travel and the main headliners and a big score for the fest – NY’s Donna the Buffalo (pictured), their folky, rootsy jams marked by elements of zydeco, old time fiddle music and three-part harmonies. Sept. 26-27, beginning at 10 a.m. both days, Central Avenue, between 11th and 13 streets N., St. Petersburg, free admission. –Leilani Polk

Time to start mapping a route that hits every major museum and attraction this side of the Bay: ArtsAlive 2009: Free Museum Day includes the Salvador Dali Museum, the Dr. Carter G. Woodson Museum, the Florida Holocaust Museum, Florida International Museum, Great Explorations, the Fine Arts Museum, the St. Pete Museum of History, the Morean Arts Center, the Pier Aquarium, the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art, the Florida Craftsmen Gallery and more. Visit stpete.org/artsalive for museum hours and more info. Sat., Sept. 26.

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And now for something completely different … An anomalous evening of music was presented by ThxMgmt at New World Brewery featuring Orlando’s Vasti (pictured below), and Tampa’s Acho Brother and Chris Tolan this past Saturday, September 12.

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ThxMgmt’s Summer Jam 5 was a resounding success with a plethora of diverse bands, acts and DJs — The Honorary Title, Cory Branan, Damion Suomi, Carter Hulsey, The Beauvilles, Shunda K (formerly of Yo Majesty!), Da Goldminerz, How Dare You, S.L.I.M.M. H.U.S.T.L.E, Blind Man’s Colour, Larcen, GreyMarket, The Tape Delay, The Sheaks, Deficit, Alexander & The Grapes, StereoType & The Treble Makers, DJ Sandman, DJ Mega, DJ Deacon, DJ Colonic, and DJ Chris Golden — at two Ybor City venues, New World Brewery and Crowbar this past Saturday, August 29.

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“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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What’s the buzz on the latest issues in the Green Community? Check out what you may have missed this last week:

St. Petersburg College’s new Natural Science, Mathematics and College of Education building is certified LEED® Gold- St. Petersburg College recently announced that for the second time in as many months, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded LEED Gold certification for one of its new campus buildings.

Best of the Bay of the Day: Best organic smoothie- Believe it or not, algae and bee pollen add up to a delicious drink called the Spirulina Power Buzz. Read this to find out where to get one.

Tips to improve gas mileage (and save some green)- Do you have a lead foot or drive an inefficient automobile?  Here are a few simple tips to improve gas mileage and save a bunch of green!

Living Sustainably in Tampa Bay: Darren Brinkley, owner of REAL Building- Brinkley is the owner of REAL Building and home that he built for his family in St. Petersburg is the first home in Florida to achieve the LEED for Homes Gold Rating.
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If you have not heard of the Gulfport Goes Green Festival, you will likely soon enough. This monthly street festival has truly gained momentum with their green efforts towards this small Pinellas community. Not only do they have local artist displays and great food, they have also gone a step further and introduced other green services such as computer recycling, dead/dying battery recycling, clothing and book swaps. It has even been noted that the Florida Blood Services has been there on more than one occassion.

This monthly festival, which occurs on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10am-5pm, focuses on green and healthy living, as well as eco-consciousness and sustainability. The best thing is, it is free to the public and all ages are encouraged to attend.
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I was recently contacted by Underground Xpress, a local Tampa underground video program that covers local music, local bands and other local talents. The creative epicenter and host, Lady Grace, agreed to an interview about Underground Xpress.

How and when did UX start?
I took up videography in July of 2008 and wanted to start an internet video podcast as a learning project. Music immediately came to mind as the main concept because I have spent the majority of my life supporting the local music scene. I wanted to stick with something that I love but I also didn’t want to limit the focus to just music. The words Underground Xpress came to mind because I knew that I would want to cover more than just music and support all sorts of underground arts.

Now I had the idea, the name and I knew how to do the video podcast. Now all I needed to know was whether or not I could pull the whole together. Host it, film it, edit it and so on, when I was really only just learning everything for the first time. So…I got a video camera and a friend and I went to a concert that night to film it and interview the band. I guess we needed to see what we were made of. That night we interviewed and videotaped our first band. and as they say…. The rest is history. Now UX is on public access and the internet and it is becoming the newest source for Underground artists to be supported and promoted locally and nationally on the world wide web.

What inspired you to start Underground Xpress? Read the rest of this entry »

1. The nonprofit community organization, Florida Institute for Community Studies, presents its first annual Multicultural Food and Art Celebration. Professional and up-and-coming artists – among them, Guillermo Portieles, Jan Radovan, Carlton Lewis , Vivian Fist, Julian Moreno and Alecia Zurita – exhibit alongside students and youths ages 7-17 who are currently enrolled in FCIS’ free afterschool programs. Other amusements include film screenings, a wine-tasting and multicultural food samples. Proceeds from the event will be split between the artists and FCIS for its afterschool programs. Fri., Sept. 26, 4-8 p.m., FICS Multicultural Family Center, 6704 Hanley Road, Tampa, $5 suggested donation, 813-249-8100. Pictured at right: “Flowers in Vase,” by Paula, age 9.

2. Take in the talents of a variety of local songwriters, poets, writers and artists during the second annual Deep Carnivale literature festival. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., Sept. 27, Hillsborough Community College-Ybor City, free admission.

3. Everybody’s favorite purveyors of stoner comedy Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong have reunited for a national tour, “Cheech and Chong: Light Up America,” that stops in Tampa this weekend. 8 p.m., Carol Morsani Hall-Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, $39.50 and $59.50.

4. Skipper’s Smokehouse concludes its 28th anniversary week celebration with three nights of hot music: Bonerama with Magadog on Friday, New Riders of the Purple Sage with Nervous Turkey on Saturday, and a local music extravaganza featuring Hat Trick Heroes, Tailgunner Joe, Katherine Kelly & Sons Of Hippies, Basic Rock Outfit and Sarge And The Aeromen on Sunday. Sept. 26-28, 8 p.m. Fri.-Sat., 5 p.m. Sun., Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa, $10-$20.

5. Balcony Club, Tampa Theatre’s young professionals fundraising group, stages Studio 54, a ‘70s-themed disco party with food, drinks, movies, games and disco spins by DJ Rich Ranck. Sat., Sept. 27, 8 p.m.-midnight, Tampa Theatre, $15 general (free for members).

“I read your stuff when I’m using the bathroom,” Bobby Sellarole told me. “You look taller in print.”

At that moment I knew the fame-bus had arrived to pick me up. My writing had risen from crude jokes written on stall walls to genuine bathroom literature. Next thing you know kidnappers will be clipping my articles to compose ransom notes.

Ego aside, I had a job to do at Skipper’s Smokehouse, which in my estimation was to document the action and meet a few women.

“I can’t believe you asked to take a picture of the only girl in here without a bra while she hula-hooped,” Emma said, criticizing my journalistic ethic.

I wasn’t the only one at Skipper’s with an eye out for what I liked.

“The dirtier the better,” Chrissy Auger said, explaining the appeal of Skipper’s and the neo-hippies it attracts.

This isn’t to say that Skipper’s is exclusively a gypsy outpost. All kinds came out to hear Tim Reynolds & TR3. The dancing deck was flooded with people waggling around like octopuses on land — albeit stoned octopuses.

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