Daily Loaf

This weekend proved to me once again that I am getting too old to party like a rock star two nights in a row. [All photos by Nicole Kibert.]

The self-abuse began this past Friday night, when I set out to, and I quote myself here, “get Lucero drunk.” [Frontman Ben Nichols pictured at left.] I am happy to report that my mission was a complete success. The trade off, though, is that my recollection of the show is slightly hazy. A lot of the reviews I read leading up to Lucero’s Tampa show were about the crowd, that the frat boy concentration levels were reportedly getting dangerously high. I didn’t really notice it being a problem here, though my only complaint about the show was the crowd — a completely expected complaint all things considered. See, as a band’s popularity and attending crowds grow, the devotion level of the crowd begins to get diluted. While there was no shortage of people at Czar who where there to be seen rather than to see Lucero, they didn’t hurt the quality of what was happening on the stage, so let’s talk about that … and the horns. Read the rest of this entry »

As everyone in the world that possesses a television knows, New Moon, the second installment of Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Saga is in a theater near you at midnight tonight. My guess is most fans are going to watch Twilight right before they go see New Moon, just for the thrill of it. However, if they want to do it in the company of other “Twihards” and “Twimoms,” Regal Cinemas University 16 is showing the first film before the opening of the new flick for the Twilight Saga Festival Night. There’s also a Twilight/New Moon costume contest (costumes must have shoes, a shirt and no mask) along with a Twilight poster design contest. Winners of both receive prizes (please let it be Edward Cullen in a box, please let it be Edward Cullen in a box…) Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Next week, Ybor City sets the stage for two worthy comedy shows, and neither takes place at the Improv.

Four furry Southeastern funnymakers bring their “Beards of Comedy” tour to New World Brewery to entertain the beer-loving masses with their alternative brand of humor. Each comic – Dave Stone, Andy Sanford, TJ Young and Joe Zimmerman (pictured) – presents a set of his own stand-up and participates in collaborative performances of music, sketch, and improvised comedy with the rest of his comrades. Topics and styles range by comedian; Stone touches on subjects ranging from Facebooking his Pop Tart eating habits to getting warned by his dad about the perverts on “Myspaces” (“Dad, I’m a 30-year-old bearded fat man poking around on Myspace, I think I’m the predator not the prey”), Read the rest of this entry »

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 …

Read the rest of this entry »

A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts. For a more comprehensive schedule of concerts, check out our Upcoming Events page.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23
Revolting Cocks [pictured] w/Jim Rose Circus/Blownload/Left Spine Down Purveyors of down and dirty industrial dance music since 1983, Revolting Cocks have passed the torch of their music, at least temporarily. Three musicians hand-picked by RevCo frontman Al Jourgensen – singer Josh Bradford, guitarist Sin Quirin, and keyboardist / electronics specialist Clayton Worbeck – helped record RevCo’s fifith and latest album, Sex-O Olympic-O (out March 3). Then he sent them on the road for the current “LubricaTour” to play the songs live, with Bradford, Quirin and Worbeck joined by drummer Aaron Rossi and bassist Murv, and “special guest” appearances by Jourgensen in select cities. No telling if he’ll show at the reformed band’s Bay area stop. 7 p.m., State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $9.

Richard MacLemale and Steve Vaclavik Dual CD Release Party Two local artists unveil their most recent studio efforts at this co-headlining concert – Tampa’s twangy Americana singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Steve Vaclavik (with his new band, The Woeful Ones) presents The Roof Needs More, while New Port Richey’s Richard MacLemale’s lays down his soft rootsy rock in Every Single Day. 8 p.m., Pro Star Recording Studio, St. Petersburg, $5.

Junior Boys The Canadian indietronica duo is on their second-ever headlining tour in America and returns to Ybor City in support of their third album, Begone Dull Care. For more info, click here to read this week’s feature. 8 p.m., 18 & up, Crowbar, Ybor City, $12.

EMIT Concert Series: Masik EMIT offers Bay area folks yet another chance to enjoy adventurous music at this concert by Masik, an experimental trio/multimedia hybrid performance ensemble from Gainesville that peppers its off-the-wall free form jazz with samples, electro bleeps, cascading and skipping sonics, and out-of-sync beats, all of it coming together in a deconstructed space transmission from Mars. The improvisations are paired with digital audiovisuals. 8 p.m., doors open 7 p.m., Salvador Dali Museum, St. Petersburg, $10 general; $8 for seniors and students; $5 Dalí Members. Read the rest of this entry »

Rocktober started off with a bit of twang with tunes by Greenland is Melting, Rebekah Pulley and Jon Gaunt at New World Brewery this past Thursday, October 1.

Greenland is Melting with Jon Gaunt

Greenland is Melting

Greenland is Melting plays simply splendid soulful roots rock, music meant for listening to while you’re kicking back on the front porch or sitting around the kitchen table. Greenland is Melting channels old timey bluegrass with lines like “My grass is blue,” but with a chorus of “I know, I know, if there’s blood on the banjo tonight, then I really must have done something right,” you know they also bring a bit of ruckus. Read the rest of this entry »

Baltimore’s Wye Oak (made up of Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack) produces big beat ’60s-influenced indie folk rock with dreamy melodies, washes of swirling symphonics and electro-psychedelia, and vocals rising in blissful choral harmony. The duo signed to Merge Records (Neutral Milk Hotel, M. Ward, Conor Oberst, Camera Obscura) last year and released their Merge debut and sophomore effort, The Knot, this past July.

The band is currently on tour with Blitzen Trapper but stages a free acoustic in-store at Vinyl Fever today, and plays a special one-off set (their only headlining show of the tour) later tonight at New World. Locals Zillionaire and The Holy Slow Train (Will Quinlan’s new Diviners side project) provide support.

Wed., Oct. 7: 5:30 p.m. in-store at Vinyl Fever, 4110 Henderson Blvd., Tampa, 813-289-8399, and 9:30 p.m. show at New New World Brewery, 1313 E. 8th Ave., Ybor City, $8.

A quick breakdown of this holiday weekend’s most worthy concerts. For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Events page.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
JJ Grey & Mofro w/Shooter Jennings/Earl Greyhound [pictured] A good ol’ boy from the backwaters of Jacksonville, JJ Grey is the creative force and frontman of Mofro, their music swamp-stomping, finger-licking, funked-out rock ‘n’ roll with a solid R&B groove marked by Grey’s husky soulful drawl. LA alt-country rocker Shooter Jennings (the sole spawn of country singers Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter) just released his first compilation, Bad Magick: The Best of Shooter Jennings and the .357’s, which includes select tracks from his first three studio albums, a few live recordings and a cover of Hank Williams Jr.’s 1976 single, “Living Proof.” And NY’s Earl Greyhound features afro-thrashing bassist/singer Kamara Thomas, who brings charismatic energy to the power trio’s fiery, heavy-handed blues rock. 8 p.m., The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City, $20.

Tom Goss w/Mara Levi Goss is an out-of-the-closet singer-songwriter who abandoned seminary school and impending priesthood to pursue social justice issues and his love of music. His vocals are high and pleasantly emotive, his acoustic pop touching and uplifting. He’s currently touring in support of his 2009 release, Back to Love.  4:30-6:00pm, Eckerd College, St. Petersburg,  free (students only). Read the rest of this entry »

New Granada Presents hosted a fine Friday evening of indie rock featuring The Tape Delay, Slow Claw and The Tenant at New World Brewery this past Friday, September 18.

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Have Gun, Will Travel (pictured below), Matt Butcher, John Ralston, and Mike Dunn & The Kings of New England created a mini-Americana fest at New World Brewery this past Friday, September 11, a show brought to you by New Granada Presents.

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This weekend marks the third year of Deep Carnivale, Tampa’s premiere festival for readers and writers.  It’s this Saturday and Sunday, and features dozens of authors, poets, songwriters and artists.  On Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., the fest take over the Performing Arts Building of Hillsborough Community College, Ybor City Campus — and best of all, it’s free.

Highlights of this year’s Deep Carnivale include a special tribute to author, playwright and poet Susan Hussey, and keynote speaker John Leland of the New York Times, author of Why Kerouac Matters and Hip: The History.

Other featured events include a performance by the HCC Dance Department, a dance class with Shana Perkins, spoken word with Lizz Strait, a reading by Tampa Poet Laureate James Tokley, Sr., and a comedy/horror reading by Jeff Strand.  Sally Bosco (that’s me) gives a twitter flash fiction workshop, and there’s book art, installations and art exhibits of all sorts.  There are also myriad activities for teens, tweens and kiddle. Read the rest of this entry »

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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Parachute Musical and The Winter Sounds descended on New World Brewery in Ybor City this past Friday, August 28, for a New Granada Presents show.

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Mogul Street Reserve pictured at right; all photos by Phil Bardi.

Despite being bone-weary and mentally exhausted, I slagged my tired ass down to Ybor City and made it to Summer Jam 5 just before sunset to enjoy the mini-fest’s variety of musical offerings, a huge roster of quality local acts as well as the few necessary nationals (The Honorary Title, Cory Branan, Carter Hulsey) to round things out.

We cruised into Crowbar just in time to see Blind Man’s Colour (pictured after the jump), a new experimental outfit made up of some young and green but super skilled musicians who are so hot that Kanye West gave the little known St. Petersburg outfit some love with a “Some Dope Shit for My Apartment” post on his blog this past January, and Grizzly Bear’s Edward Droste followed suit with a tweet about the band around the same time. BMC was also featured recently on NPR’s All Things Considered for a “Music from the Sublime to the Old Time” artist spotlight a few weeks ago, so it appears like they’re on the upswing. Read the rest of this entry »

Tastemakers and THX Management team up for the fifth annual summertime mini-fest, Summer Jam 5. Originally organized as a way of merging musical genres, uniting their respective audiences, and introducing original local music to the Bay area masses, the event touches upon Americana, hip-hop, experimental electronica, punk rock and more. This year’s national headliners are neo-folk artist Cory Branan, who delivers his intelligent, droll and occasionally melancholy lyrics in a raspy drawl; and The Honorary Title, a Brooklyn-based indie rock outfit fronted by singer-songwriter Jarrod Gorbel (pictured at left). On this tour, Gorbel sheds the majority of his band (save keyboardist Dustin Dobernig) to perform a series of acoustic shows and preview new material from his forthcoming solo debut.

Summer Jam 5, Sat., Aug. 29, 5 p.m.-late: The Honorary Title, Cory Branan, Damion Suomi, Mogul Street Reserve, Shunda K, Larcen, Slim Hustle, Blind Man’s Colour, Da Golminerz/Rook and The Sheaks at Crowbar ($10 advance/$12 dos), and Guiltmaker, Carter Hulsey, Alexander & The Grapes, GreyMarket, Deficit, How Dare You, The Tape Delay, Stereotype & the Treble Makers at New World Brewery ($6 advance/$8 dos), both in Ybor City; tickets to both venues are $13 advance/$15 day of show.

Folks who might not think twice about who has the best pizza or where to go for a splurge meal are passionate about the best places to stop by for a cold one after work. Where everybody knows your name. And, maybe, they’re always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same.

Where is that for you? See the frontrunners after the break — and the voting is damn close in this race — or just make your mark before voting ends on Monday! Read the rest of this entry »

A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts. For a more comprehensive schedule, check out our Upcoming Events page.

Friday, Aug. 21
Sick Puppies / Hurt w/The Veer Union/From This Fire/The Stand LA-by-way-of-Australia trio Sick Puppies make aggro-sexy alt rock with muscular basslines, crunchy guitar riffs, and vocals either crooned, sung-yelled, growled, or processed through fizzy effects. They bring a generally fresh feel to the hackneyed alternative market and are currently on tour in support of their recent release, Tri-Polar, which features the hot hit single, “You’re Going Down,” also the theme song of WWE’s Extreme Rules PPV broadcast last month. Co-headliners HURT are also on the non-traditional alt rock bandwagon, their sound marked by much more drama, heavier washes of sound with symphonic flourishes, and a lead singer who delivers lyrics in soft pained pleas or shrieks that come straight from the pit of his soul. The foursome is also pimping a new album, Goodbye to the Machine, which was released on indie label Amusement in April. Fri., Aug. 21, 8 p.m., State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $15.

Geri X Video Release Party w/Eric McFadden and James Hall/Thomas Wynn & The Believers/Have Gun, Will Travel Neo-folk rock songwriter/vocalist Geri X has a strong voice that’s rich, grainy sharp and hypnotizing, and she sings with raw power, plays a confident guitar and leads her band looking like tattooed porcelain. She’s been back in town less than a year and has already put out her sixth and latest album, Anthems of a Mended Heart, played a launch party to a near 300 people at State Theatre in January (pictured above, photo by James Ostrand), and has been working the scene ever since. Now she’s moved onto the next phase of her career: music video. Geri X unveils the Michael McCourt-directed vid hot off the digi-reel for the Anthems song, “Kiss on Both Eyelids,” at a video release celebration with special guest artists: Atlanta guitarist/songwriter James Hall (Kommander, Jane’s Addiction) and San Francisco guitarist/vocalist Eric McFadden (Les Claypool, P-Funk), as well as Tampa purveyors of fiery Americana Have Gun, Will Travel and Orlando’s roots rockin’ Thomas Wynn and the Believers. For those who can’t make it out to the show, the video will be broadcast nationwide on Geri X’s Myspace page beginning at midnight that night. Fri., Aug. 21, 8 p.m., Crowbar, Ybor City, $8 (all ages). Read the rest of this entry »

All right, I must confess that I caught my real “first Florida” show before my St. Pete Times Forum/ Green Day experience. Stick Martin performed at Skipper’s Smokehouse in July, and it was a great introduction to the Tampa music scene, but the lineup at New World Brewery in Ybor City this past Saturday, August 15, was indeed the actual initiation. (King of Spain pictured at right.)

As a veteran Northwest concertgoer who recently re-located from Oregon to Florida, a place my sister described as “not being able to get any further away,” I had my suspicions that perhaps the music, the performers, the bands, the whole scene could also be “further away” from anything I was used to. Unaware as to whether or not those differences would be good or bad, I walked into New World with the “Ybor Square” sign looming in the backdrop and I felt completely comfortable, a surprise and delight.

First of all, it was my grand introduction to Ybor City. I’d heard many people say I needed to go there but the closest I’d made it was IKEA, which doesn’t exactly count. NWB was tucked in and pretty quiet when I arrived. I walked past a few people running around the stage area and a DJ setting up. A quick scan of the place left no indication of who was performing and who was just grabbing a drink or ordering pizza that smelled really good. It was still early. Read the rest of this entry »

Candy Bars are darlings of the Tampa indie music scene and things have been, well, a bit sour since they’ve been on hiatus. Sweetness returned this past Saturday, August 8, at New World Brewery with a New Granada Presents show featuring Candy Bars, Venice is Sinking and The Pauses.

Candy Bars
Frequently, scene darlings don’t deliver when push comes to shove. Happily, Candy Bars trashes that stereotype. Both recorded and live, Candy Bars play a beautiful sort of dream pop with a note of something a bit dark resonating in their introspective lyrics and instrumentation. Their record, On Cutting Ti-Gers in Half and Understanding Narravation (New Granada Records) earned positive reviews from lots of national music publications including Pitchfork.com. Read the rest of this entry »

In case you missed them, here’s the latest batch of concerts announcements from the past week for your concert planning convenience. For a complete breakdown of area shows, visit our Upcoming Concerts page.

Saturday, Aug. 29 Summer Jam 5 The Honorary Title w/Cory Branan/The Beauvilles/The Sheaks/Guiltmaker/Shunda K/Mogul Street Reserve/How Dare You/Blind Man’s Colour/MORE TBA (New World Brewery and Crowbar, Ybor City)

Thursday, Sept. 10 Trauma Deville w/Sore Eyes (Orpheum, Ybor City)

Friday, Sept. 25 The Matt Kurz One (New World Brewery, Ybor City)

Saturday, Sept. 26 Lydia (pictured) w/Play Radio Play/Leone (Orpheum, Ybor City)

Saturday, Oct. 03 Tiger City w/Royal Bangs (New World Brewery, Ybor City)

Friday, Oct. 23 Revolting Cocks w/Jim Rose Circus/Blownload/Left Spine Down (State Theatre, St. Petersburg) Read the rest of this entry »

Winter Park singer/songwriter Mike Dunn makes music that evokes freedom and wind in your face. His grabby, anthemic tunes send out a whiff of Americana, but at core they are pure, pop-infused rock ’n’ roll. Dunn pulls from a list of 11 confederates to make up his backing band, the Kings of New England, on any given night. No word on how many will show up at New World for this gig, but the safe bet is it won’t be all 11. Atlanta’s Rick Brantley opens, making the same kind of big-gesture rock, buoyed by his appealingly weathered voice. Will Quinlan makes a guest appearance and, well, we all know Quinlan, the dour dean of Tampa Bay’s Americana scene. (Pictured: Mike Dunn. Photo by Tessa Cox) 9 p.m. Thurs., July 2, New World Brewery, 1313 E. 8th Ave., Ybor City, $7, 813-248-4969 (Eric Snider)

Wine guide Charles Visalli leads a series of workshops on wine etiquette, how to sample wine when dining out, wine varietals, the art of pairing food with wine and more. This week’s focus is “tasting and travel around the world.” E-mail timeforwine@tampabay.rr.com to reserve a spot, or visit carrollwoodcenter.org for more info. 6-7:30 p.m. Thu., July 2, Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Rd., Tampa, $25, $20 for CCC members, 813-269-1310, carrollwoodcenter.org.

Imagine you’re one of three brothers four years apart who ride around the country in a van that’s tricked out with a sleeping loft. You stay at campgrounds and cook out most nights. You pull the van over on a whim for a hike or to check out whatever catches your attention, be it the Grand Canyon or a roadside taco stand. Now imagine that most nights you get to turn your instruments up real loud and play your own heavy music in front of people who paid to see you.

That’s touring the Pontiak way, and doesn’t it sound like a pretty good time?

Pontiak @ New World Brewery, Thurs., June 11. $7

Somehow van tours have become synonymous with misery, but the three Carney brothers — drummer Lane, 26, aptly named guitarist Van, 29, and bassist Jennings, 30 — see it more as a chance for nonstop discovery. And fun.

“We get along really well,” says Lain by cell phone while driving the van. “There’s the usual bickering. Any time you get three men in a moving capsule, you might fight over the last four Cheetos. But we get on real well. And we smell pretty good.”

Video after the jump

Read more

Visit CL’s main music site.

Omaha post-prog quartet Beep Beep (pictured at left) just released its sophomore effort, Enchanted Islands, which sets falsetto vocals against music that’s alternately organic and folk-infused, or near dissonant with disjointed tempos. The Show Is the Rainbow is Darren Keen’s one-man electro-rock band. Local support on the bill is provided by Tampa’s Win Win Winter. Definitely a 420-worthy show. For more on TSiTR, click here. 9 p.m., New World Brewery, Ybor City, $7.

Meet with 30 to 40 local companies who have immediate openings at the “employment event of the season,” the Tampa Bay Job and Career Fair. Many occupations and skill sets are represented, including entry level, skilled trade, health care and top managerial positions. This year also features representatives from local universities. On-site hiring, testing, screening, helpful tips and advice and great job opportunities are the name of the game at this can’t-miss event. 10 a.m.-3 p.m., The Coliseum, St. Petersburg, free admission.

Eckerd College faculty members Yaniro Angulo-Cano (Spanish), David Bryant (Religious Studies), Gavin Hawk (Theater) and Kathleen Keller (History) take part in a roundtable discussion titled, “AfterLives of Marxism,” which focuses on the importance of Marxism in modern culture. 7 p.m. Triton Room at Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, free admission. Read the rest of this entry »

We at Jobsite Theater have been collecting quotes sent to us via email or Twitter or what-have-you since Wednesdays preview production.  We’ve also culled a few soundbites from bloggers who’ve attended over this opening weekend.

The best quote though came from a bartender friend who saw the show Sunday afternoon who sent a text message late last night, as my wife and I sat on the couch watching a DVRed episode of The Dog Whisperer.

i loved your show more than pussy

Wow.  Immediately I asked the girl to text him back and ask if I could use it.  He didn’t have a problem with it (It was Jeff Diamond, New World Brewery). Thinking later on it, I REALLY wanted to use the quote but wondered if I could really get away with it officially in our online materials.  That quote actually screams to go into a print ad, which I know no paper would run (well, CL might …). Read the rest of this entry »

Jobsite Theater officially turned 10 years old last month, which we celebrated with Jobsite’s Rockin’ 10^th Birthday Party at New World Brewery.

The anniversary got me thinking.

At the very beginning, this company was an experiment I was willing to go along with for a year. Considering my initial move back to Tampa was supposed to be to get my head straight after too many years of continuous schooling, it didn’t seem such a heavy commitment. The end of that year saw Jobsite having its greatest success to date in our original mounting of The History of the Devil, it saw the door fly wide open for us to work regularly at TBPAC, donors and sponsors started falling into place and on a personal front I’d begun a relationship with a pretty cool chick who actually put up with me and wasn’t batshit crazy.

It’s been year to year since. How are we doing? Still moving forward? Am I settling? The end of the year analysis has always pointed to things being in good, if not always magically fantastic, shape.

I still consider myself lucky to be here at all, a blue-collar kid from Jacksonville whose cultural upbringing consisted of funny car races, fish fries and turkey shoots. Honored that this thing has become something durable, dependable and necessary. Blessed to have so many people on both sides of the curtain who care enough to give, collaborate and make time to spend with us.

So – what have I learned in 10 years? Let me see if I can make a list. 10 for 10.

Read the rest of this entry »

For its 16th Anniversary Bash, Skatepark of Tampa welcomes the latest band from Brooklyn to generate a buzz, Les Savy Fav (pictured below); also on the bill are No Age and How Dare You. For more info, see Upcoming Concerts. Sat., Dec. 6, 9 p.m., Czar, Ybor City, $10.

Another area institution, Jobsite Theater, also celebrates an anniversary this weekend with its annual fundraiser-cum-wrap party. Jobsite’s Rockin’ 10th Birthday Party features the Jobby Awards, sets of music by Bay area bands Nessie, Poetry n’ Lotion, and The Vodkanauts, and raffle drawings throughout the night. Sat., Dec. 6, 8 p.m., New World Brewery, Ybor City, $10.

Event number three in Ybor City this Saturday night is Virgin 2.0, a Square One Creative multi-disciplinary fundraiser for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Guests enjoy live music, dance performances, a fashion show, an exhibit of works featuring 85 or so artists and food. Sat., Dec. 6, 7 p.m.-midnight, The Ritz Ybor, free admission. Read the rest of this entry »

The Brooklyn singer/songwriter who calls himself Phosphorescent (real name: Matthew Houck, pictured) brings his lovely acoustic ballads to New World Brewery, with support sets by fellow Brooklynites Virgin Forest, Orlando’s Attachedhands and Tampa’s King of Spain. 9 p.m., $7.

Ever wonder what happens to the half-billion tons of garbage produced by Americans each year? For tonight’s installment of the Indy Film Cafe documentary screening series, the Studio at 620 presents Trashed, which investigates the culture and consequences of “taking out the trash.” 8 p.m., $5 general/$3 members.

The Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) is a community assistance program that brings a group of volunteer professionals to select cities to work on sustainable design projects, like conserving natural assets, constructing viable transit systems, connecting neighborhoods, cultivating a strong local economy, and creating appealing public spaces. The Tampa SDAT, “Connecting Tampa,” focuses on improving the neighborhood planning process via a series of meetings with local officials, neighborhood reps, and other stakeholders to get input for a final report, which will outline suggestions on how to update and improve the city’s neighborhood planning guidelines. The public is welcome to attend tonight’s kick-off workshop. 6:30-8:30 p.m., Hillsborough County Bar Association, Tampa, free.

Today is Cans Across America, a record-setting food drive for hungry Americans by a non-charitable organization. The minimum goal is 396,833 pounds, all to be collected throughout the day today. University of Tampa has joined the effort and set a local goal of 2,000 pounds to go to Americas Second Harvest of Tampa Bay. Locals are encouraged to drop canned good donations off at UT’s Vaughn Center Courtyard, the Ultimate Dining Cafe inside the Vaughn Center, the Plant Hall lobby, or the Stadium Center between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. UT senior and singer/songwriter J.J. Paolino performs from noon to two in the courtyard, Theta Chi and WUTT Campus Radio build can sculptures in a “Can Do Builders Challenge,” and the Peace Volunteer organization offers info on hunger and homelessness and presents an installation piece that depicts the global population living in poverty.

Nothing like a free lunch to get you through the workday. Wendy’s gives away 1,000 of its 1/4 Single hamburgers in downtown Tampa as part of the fast food chain’s national “Great Taste Tour.” See how local artist Eileen Goldberg interpreted the classic Wendy’s icon in the “My Wendy, My Way” art contest, enjoy various live entertainment, and stick around long enough to snag one of the 2,000 Wendy’s gift cards that will be given away. 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Lykes Gaslight Square Park.

The Black Crowes (pictured below) bring their blues infused rock ‘n’ roll to Ruth Eckerd Hall. 8 p.m., $37.50 and $45.50.

Michael Grote, Gulf Coast program manager for Architecture for Humanity’s Biloxi Model Home Program, appears as part of USF’s Sustain it(!) – Strategies + Tactics for Sustainability in Architecture and Urbanism lecture series. His discussion topic is “Beyond Grand Plans and Schemes: Rebuilding Community After Katrina.” 6 p.m., C.W. Bill Young Building / R.O.T.C. Building, USF Tampa.

Mostly instrumental ambient alt-rockers Unwed Sailor headlines a bill at New World Brewery, with support sets provided by Tallahassee’s Look Mexico and Tampa’s Petrograd In Transit. 8 p.m., New World Brewery, $7 (21 and Up).

Mike Leigh’s cheery (very un-Vera Drake-like) comedy, Happy-Go-Lucky, follows London primary school teacher whose seemingly boundless good cheer and love for life baffles (and in some cases exasperates) everyone she knows. ’Course, her patience is tested when she starts taking driving lessons with a rage-filled, verbally abusive instructor. 7:30 p.m., presented through Nov. 13, Tampa Theatre, $7-$9.

University of Tampa’s Quartet de Minaret stages a fall concert of works by Faure, Joaquin Turina and Gwyneth Walker. 7:30 p.m., Plant Hall Music Room at UT, free admission.

See V for Vendetta for free when St. Pete for Peace stages its Wednesday night film presentation. Based on a comic about a futuristic totalitarian Britain, the film follows a meek young woman and her association-by-rescue with a masked revolutionary, who urges his fellow citizens to rise up against tyranny and oppression. 8 p.m., Cafe Bohemia, 937 Central Ave., St. Petersburg.

Spencer Seim of Hella brings his experimental instrumental side project, sBACH, to New World Brewery. Happy Valley, The Tape Delay and Uh-Oh Spades provide support. 9 p.m., $7, 21 and up.

Courtney Martin — a teacher, author of Perfect Girls, Starving Daughters: The Frightening New Normalcy of Hating Your Body” and an The American Prospect Online politics and gender columnist — presents “Perfect Girls: How a Generation Told ‘You Can Be Anything’ Somehow Heard That They Had to Be Everything.” 7:30 pm, Fox Hall, free admission.

The weekly Wednesday Midday Market kicks off for the fall today. Find fresh produce, tasty eats, plants, flowers and arts and crafts in Williams Park, and enjoy live music. 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Fourth Street N. and First Avennue N., 727-410-5040.