Daily Loaf

Hot on the heels of her appearance in Jobsite Theater’s And Baby Makes Seven, recent Tampa Bay area transplant Jessica Rothert slips into Stageworks’ production of Bad Dates, which previews tonight at the Shimberg Playhouse. Theresa Rebeck’s one-woman show, which premiered Off Broadway in 2003, is about Haley Walker, a Texas transplant living in Manhattan with her teenage daughter. And lots of shoes. Six hundred, in fact. Having found a measure of success in the big city as a restaurateur, single Haley is ready to dip her feet and their fashionable footwear back into the dating pool. From her bedroom, Haley addresses the audience as she prepares for or reacts to her titular encounters with the opposite sex. Read the rest of this entry »

4:30 p.m. – Yin

Driving into the parking lot of Ruth Eckerd Hall this past Friday for a late afternoon “meet & greet” with blues/rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Admittedly, I wasn’t that familiar with his work and I felt a bit unprepared. Beyond recent media blips about his appearance at the Royal Albert Hall, and some hasty Internet research, I was pretty sure that I wouldn’t have a single intelligent thing to ask. I resigned myself to keeping my mouth shut and taking pictures.

As I waited in the Green Room at REH with about a dozen avid fans, I noticed they’d come prepared. Most had tickets, t-shirts or magazines ready for an autograph, while one guy even clutched a limited edition Joe Bonamassa Gibson Les Paul in a case that looked as though it had never been opened. I wondered if spending nearly his entire life in the public eye would make Joe one of those rock stars who take all of the attention in stride or if it had made him intolerant of rabid fans, autograph seekers and the media. Since I wasn’t sure which way it would go, I slid my camera backpack around to the front, in order to block any crazed, Britney-like attacks on the paparazzi that might be forthcoming. Read the rest of this entry »

Beware of artists…they’re out in droves for ARTGORE, armed with paintbrushes, pencils, paper and canvas, and there’s no telling whether they’re going to draw you or draw blood. More than a dozen artists from the ARTCORE collective have works on display — among them Cheeta, Chainsaw Chuck, Casey Ryan Hall, Ben Apple, Bean Spence (work pictured right) and more. DJ Sense and Anna Gavin kick out the jams. Of course, you’ve gotta get creepy and creative with your costume, too — there are cash prizes for the top three. Fri., Oct. 30, 7 p.m., Karma Bar, 206 N. Morgan St. Tampa, free, myspace.com/ArtcoreArt. – Franki Weddington

Members of the Cheap Little Punks troupe act out the ultimate Halloween cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show while the movie version plays onscreen. Dr. Frank-N-Furter, a bisexual, transsexual scientist from Transylvania, invites Brad Majors (an asshole) and Janet Weiss (a slut) into his creepy castle when their car breaks down. Chaos and myriad musical numbers ensue when Frank-N-Furter reveals his creation: Rocky, an Adonis who only wants to learn about how his life began. You can also check out the less well-known Repo! A Genetic Opera. It’s just what is sounds like: scientists are comin’ fer yer vital organs! Visit tampapitchershow.com for more info. Oct. 30-31, Repo shows Fri., Oct. 30, 11:30 p.m.; Rocky Horror shows Sat., Oct. 31, 8 and 11:30 p.m., Tampa Pitcher Show, 14416 N Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa,  $15 for two shows, tampapitchershow.net. – Franki Weddington

After the break: Nightfall with Edgar Allan Poe, A White Halloween: Creepy Doll Show and Rock Your Horror at the haunted Centro Asturiano Read the rest of this entry »

Yo-Yo Ma, perhaps the most famous man to bring bow to strings, visits to perform Bach’s Six Unaccompanied Cello Suites tonight. One of history’s hardest-working musicians — he has 75 albums under his belt, 15 of which are Grammy winners — and a dedicated advocate of music education, he calls his latest collection, Songs of Joy & Peace, a “universal holiday house party of music uniting different forms of joy.” Visit rutheckerdhall.com for more info. Weds., Oct. 28, 8 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 N. McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater, $53-$98.

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Fresh from the success of the Best of the Bay-winning Summer Sunset Cinema Series, The Studio@620 and Push Ultra Lounge once again team up to present a collection of classic films each Monday. Tonight’s selection in the Wilder to Williams Film Series — which includes the best of Billy Wilder and Tennessee Williams — is Williams’ This Property Is Condemned, starring Natalie Wood and Robert Redford (pictured). Visit studio620.org for more info. Mon., Oct. 26, 8 p.m., Push Ultra Lounge, St. Petersburg, free.

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In a day and age when glitz and glamour are the necessary ingredients to make it big in country music, it’s nice to be treated to an evening of pure, unadorned entertainment from one of the architects of the genre. For a lesson in “how it’s done,” there’s no one out there nowadays who exemplifies that better than the original Texas outlaw, Willie Nelson. [All photos by Sam Goresh.]

Anticipation was high for Willie’s first visit to the Tampa Bay area in four years … especially since this show was originally supposed to take place last March but was postponed due to illness. Fans were urged to hang on to their tickets purchased for the original date  as they’d be honored for the rescheduled show. And judging from the enthusiastic response from the anxious sellout crowd of the 2,180 packed into Ruth Eckerd Hall, Willie is definitely worth waiting for. Read the rest of this entry »

I’ve seen the Black Crowes a few times over the years — once at Langerado in the Spring of ‘06, and again later that summer at the Ford Amp, when there were so few people showed because of it raining all day that everyone was packed into the pavilion. The security was so tight that lead singer Chris Robinson felt the need to call them out and complain about them not allowing people to come up to the front of the stage to dance, since there were all of a few thousand in the whole damn place.

At the time, I appreciated his candor and wasn’t surprised when they finally made their way back to the Bay area in 2008 and stopped at a different venue: Ruth Eckerd Hall. I wasn’t at that show, but I was there for their return to Clearwater this past Wednesday, October 7, and Robinson has some choice commentary that night, too, only this time his seeming ire was directed at the audience. [all photos by Phil Bardi]

The hall was about half-full, a scattered crowd of casual fans and die-hards mixed with the overdressed groups of season ticket holders. The smell of Nag Champa wafted through the air, a bundle of incense sticks burning in a clump at the corner of a stage bathed in saturated light. Read the rest of this entry »

The air is getting cool and crisp, and let’s hope it stays that way, because it is time to chill – in every sense of the word. Chillounge Night – sponsored by Cointreau and created by a Sarasota gallery owner – transforms a four-block area in downtown Tampa into a swanky lounge and nightclub. The outdoor lounge, decked out with lights, a banging sound system and hundreds of stylish daybeds – for those who want to kick back and enjoy a tasty beverage – is a great way for people to mingle in an unusual, elegant environment. If you don’t feel like chillin’ then take your pick of entertainment: festivities include tango dancers, opera singers, jazz musicians, a fashion show, a cigar lounge and a grand finale Brazilian Samba Parade. This ingenious party is bound to be kick-ass and, as if you need another reason to attend, the event benefits Friends of the Festival. Sat., Oct. 10, 6 p.m.-11 p.m., $15 per person in advance, $20 per person at the door, $75 VIP, attendees must be 21+, downtown Tampa along Franklin St., 941-448-0995, chilloungenight.com. – Lily Reisman

A traveling exhibition organized by Chattanooga’s Hunter Museum of American Art, I Heard A Voice: The Art of Lesley Dill brings nearly 30 of the acclaimed contemporary artist’s works — with an emphasis on sculptural installations — to St. Petersburg. Poetic and psychologically charged, Dill’s constructions often combine fabric and figures (or dress forms) with text to spellbinding effect; works featured in I Heard A Voice respond to poetry by Emily Dickinson, Salvador Espriu and Franz Kafka. Expect to be moved by the artist’s ideas and awed by her craft. (Pictured: “Rise,” Laminated fabric, hand-dyed cotton, paper, metal, silk organza with cotton. Courtesy of the Artist and George Adams Gallery, NY) Oct. 10-Dec. 27, Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Dr. NE, St. Petersburg, 727-896-2667, fine-arts.org. – Megan Voeller Read the rest of this entry »

Less than a year after their last appearance at Clearwater’s stately Ruth Eckerd Hall, New York-based blues rockers The Black Crowes return for another round of fiery jams marked by the finger-licking prowess of North Mississippi Allstars guitarist Luther Dickinson. The tour supports the release of the band’s eighth studio effort, Before the Frost…Until the Freeze, a different sort of double album recorded before a live studio audience at Levon Helm’s Woodstock, N.Y. studio. The CD (Before the Frost) includes 11 new songs and a download code for Until The Freeze, a complementary collection of eight more original Crowes’ tunes and a cover of Stephen Stills’ classic “So Many Times.” Truth & Salvage Co. open. (Pictured: Rich and Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes) Wed., Oct. 7, 8 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Rd., Clearwater, $40.50 and $68. — Leilani Polk Read the rest of this entry »

Welcome to On the Radar, where we preview up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. This weekend, a trip to England to see authentic reenactments of Shakespeare’s most popular works might not be in the budget (But who knows? Hold onto that lotto ticket.)

Fortunately for those of us who are more comfortable with the TV set than of the jet set crowd, you don’t need a private plane to catch All’s Well That Ends Well, the Bard’s tragi-comedy about the cunning Helena and her ne’er do well hubby, Bertram. It’s broadcast live from the UK’s historic National Theatre to theaters around the world. No silver spoon necessary to enjoy this classic — just the silver screen. (Pictured: George Rainsford as-Bertram and Hasina Haque as Diana. Photo by Simon Annand) Oct. 10-11, 7 p.m. Sat., 2 p.m. Sun., Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater, $20, rutheckerdhall.com. – Franki Weddington

Time can be cruel. For an outlandish, shock-rocker whose heyday of gimmicks and gore dates back over three decades ago, trying to maintain the level of shock and disgust that propelled him to notoriety can be quite a difficult task. [All photos by Phil Bardi.]

Then there’s Alice Cooper. A man whose name and persona have been shrouded in mystery and mysticism since his wretched attack on all things safe and sane began. Before the term “urban legend” became a regular part of the vernacular, Alice Cooper had more fabled stories and tales circulating about his life, off-stage antics, fetishes and the true origin of his chosen stage name than any other rock star out there. And he did very little to put those myths to bed. Truth is, he reveled in those preposterous rumors as they helped bolster his image and sell records. Lots and lots of records. It might be difficult for many to remember the level of fear and contempt Alice Cooper instilled in parents and adults back in the early to mid-1970’s. Before Rob Zombie or Marilyn Manson, or hell, even the late G.G. Allin graced us with their very own brand of horror and disgust, Alice Cooper was the figurehead of all things immoral and unspeakable. The near sell-out crowd at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on Friday night sure remember those days. And for one  night, they got to relive the glory of their youthful rebellion spent rallying around the man who helped put the danger and darkness back into a rock ‘n’ roll climate that had been saturated with the peace, love and harmony. Read the rest of this entry »

A quick breakdown of this weekend’s most worthy concerts beginning with Thursday, ’cause that’s when the weekend really starts, right? For a more comprehensive schedule of concerts, check out our Upcoming Events page.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1
Between the Trees w/Action Item/Farewell/Punchline The music of Orlando’s Between the Trees is unexpectedly melodic for a band on the road as part of Absolutepunk.net’s “Next Favorite Band” tour – emo expressive vocals that tend to hit the high notes against the easy-going tempos of tastefully radio-friendly Brit invasion-style pop rock, like Keane meets Travis with a hint of Coldplay. The trio – made up of lead singer/guitarist/keyboardist Ryan Kirkland, and rhythm section brothers Josh and Jeremy Butler on drums and bass, respectively – just released their sophomore album, Spain, which debuted on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart at No. 4. 7:30 p.m., Orpheum, Ybor City, $12.

Third Eye Blind [pictured left] I have a grudging respect for Third Eye Blind, an alt rock trio that emerged in 1997 with a self-titled debut and catchy-as-hell hooks in tow. Of their Billboard charters, you probably know the melancholy relationship-ending ode, “How’s It Going to Be” best, though their songs have been used in various films and TV shows for the past 10 years, from “London” and “Graduate” in 1998’s Can’t Hardly Wait, to “Semi-Charmed Life” in 1999’s American Pie and 2005’s A Lot Like Love, to “Jumper” in the 2008 Jim Carrey comedy, Yes Man. The band’s August release, Ursa Major, debuted at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and is their first new album since 2003. 8 p.m., The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City, $28.50.

Side Door Jazz: Belinda Womack Quintet The homegrown contemporary gospel-jazz vocalist plays an intimate concert as part of the Palladium’s Side Door Jazz series. 7:30 p.m., Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, $20.

Greenland is Melting w/Rebekah Pulley/Jon Gaunt/Me & the Devil Gainesville trio Greenland is Melting produces pleasant acoustic bluegrass melodies of the back porch sort with three-part harmonies, rhythms made from stomping feet, and the merry strumming and plucking of a banjo all throughout. The band is currently offering their new self-released album, Our Hearts are Gold, Our Grass is Blue, for free download at greenlandismelting.com. 9 p.m., New World Brewery, Ybor City, $7. Read the rest of this entry »

Ruth Eckerd Hall continues its partnership with the historic and recently refurbished Capitol Theatre in Clearwater by bringing another show to its stage: Barrage, a nine-piece performance troupe that takes fiddling to a whole new level of fiery fusion. The ensemble actually began rehearsing for their U.S. tour at the Capitol and kick off their new program, Animado (which means “lively” in Spanish), at tonight’s night’s show. Described as a cross between Riverdance and STOMP, the music, song and dance production features a back-up band and six fiddlers who combine the traditional sounds of Old World Europe with contemporary world music influences (calypso, Latin jazz and bolero, rock, folk and more), layers of vocal harmonies, and throbbing rhythms, all of it choreographed into one stunning spirited spectacle. Thurs., Sept. 10, 7 p.m., Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater, $29.75 and $35, 727-791-7400, rutheckerdhall.com. – Leilani Polk Read the rest of this entry »

Tampa Bay’s got all that jazz, man. Here are two of the most promising events of the season:

At Last Call for Jazz, Best of the Bay-winning singer-actress Emilia Sargent (pictured) performs standards like “‘Deed I Do,” “Get Happy” and “Bewitched,” backed up by the Tampa Jazz Greats on piano, trumpet and bass for a great, late-night foray into the world of jazz. Fri., Oct. 9, 10:30 p.m., Shimberg Playhouse, Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, 1010 N. MacInnes Place,Tampa, $15, $5 student rush tickets 30 minutes prior to curtain, free for Jobsite season ticket holders, jobsitetheater.org. Read the rest of this entry »

Rarely are instrument and musician so closely associated that they become nigh inseparable in the minds of fans worldwide. Try this: When I say cellist, you say … Yo-Yo Ma. Perhaps the most famous man to bring bow to strings visits Ruth Eckerd Hall this fall, when he plays Bach’s Six Unaccompanied Cello Suites. Ma’s also got to be one of history’s hardest working musicians: He has 75 albums under his belt — 15 of which are Grammy winners — countless collaborators (including my personal favorite, Read the rest of this entry »

Saturday evening at Ruth Eckerd Hall, legendary folk rock trio Crosby, Still and Nash took the stage to a standing ovation and I was able to snap photos of the first few songs. They opened the sold-out show with “Helplessly Hoping,” a track from their 1969 debut, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and followed it with the classic sing-along, “Teach Your Children from 1970’s Déjà Vu, which was originally recorded with Neil Young and featured Jerry Garcia on pedal steel.

Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and David Crosby are CSN.
(More pictures after the jump) Read the rest of this entry »

Counting Crows frontman Adam Duritz; all photos by Tracy May.

As much as the Violent Femmes spoke to me as an angst/hormone riddled teenager, August And Everything After spoke to me as a 20-year-old manchild struggling to find my way in an adult’s world. Over the years, Counting Crows and I have grown and matured together, and as a result I’ve never been ashamed to admit that I am, indeed, a Counting Crows fan. That said, until Monday night, I’d never seen the band live, so when Creative Loafing needed someone to cover the show, I jumped at the opportunity.

The warnings were sent out weeks in advance: this show was structured differently and you needed to be in your seat by 7 p.m., else you’d be missing the show. My brother and I complied by getting there at 6:15 p.m. and pounding $6 whiskeys until the loud speakers said we had 5 minutes ’til showtime. Read the rest of this entry »

The great American wordsmith, Nelly, once said, “It’s gettin’ hot in here, so take off all your clothes.” The Dunedin Fine Arts Center folks took that literally for the fifth annual Wearable Art Fashion Show. They’ve shed their duds, opting instead for couture art in a runway show that promises to be “hotter than ever.” That’s a lot to live up to, since past shows enjoyed sold-out performances and rave reviews from fashionistas and party people alike. This year’s line-up includes fresh designs from Sana Hassan, Ungala and more, along with returning champs of the catwalk Ivanka Ska, who turns paper chains into high fashion (though I wouldn’t want to get caught in the rain) and Frank Strunk III, whose metal-worked ensembles are part bondage, part garment, and all art. This year’s show also includes live music by Aimee Trachtenberg, Dave Helm, and Ramblegrass – and the fun don’t stop there: there’s an after-glow after-party where you can show off your own sense of style. (Pictured: Frank Strunk III, with a model wearing one of his creations) Aug. 15, Sat., 7:30 p.m. doors, 9 p.m. fashion show, Dunedin Fine Arts Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd., Dunedin, $15 general admission, $50-$75 reserved seating, 727-298-3322, dfac.org. - Franki Weddington

Skate fiends Chad Cardoza and the grinders at SPoT promise a “ripping bowl session” (yes, we’re talking about skating, here) and present the collected works of more than 30 local artists who use skate decks as their canvases at Art Deck Yo! DJ Blenda churns out the jams and folks from Red Bull are on hand giving away free wake-up juice to amp up those ollies all night long — and free drinks of a somewhat stronger nature to those of age. Visit skateparkoftampa.com for more info. Sat., Aug. 15, 7-11 p.m., Skate Park of Tampa, 4215 E. Columbus Dr., Tampa, free.

Hear all the music without all the mud at the Woodstock 40th Anniversary Tribute in honor of the most famous music fest of all time. Celebrate with a screening of the director’s cut of the concert film, with performances by Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Santana, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, The Grateful Dead and more. Proceeds benefit our local radio heroes at WMNF. Visit beachtheatre.com for more info. Fri., Aug. 14, 7 p.m., Beach Theatre, 315 Corey Ave., St. Pete Beach, $8.
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You can’t help but smile while watching a kitschy, sing-along show like Mamma Mia!, which jives onto the stage at Ruth Eckerd Hall this weekend. It might not be as glamorous as the big-big stage touring productions at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, but think of it as an off-Broadway gem – the cast of Mamma Mia! shines in the more intimate setting. Twenty year-old Sophia brings the audience in on her big secret: Read the rest of this entry »

Every time I think the musical theater world has outdone itself (surely nothing is sillier than “Springtime for Hitler” or more laughable than actors costumed as Cats channeling T.S. Eliot?)  somebody goes and proves me wrong. This time, it’s the ABBA-licious Mamma Mia!, which opens tonight at Ruth Eckerd Hall. The fact that anyone was able to create a jukebox musical from ABBA songs is a pretty impressive feat in itself (almost as impressive as it is ridiculous). But to set it on a Greek island (ABBA, from Sweden – hello? Am I the only one who thinks this is weird?) is more than anyone could hope for. Hits like “Dancing Queen,” “SOS,” and “The Winner Takes It All” are woven throughout the story of a young girl desperately trying to unravel the mystery of her father’s identity on the eve of her wedding by inviting three men from her mother’s past to the festivities. (Pictured: the touring cast of Mamma Mia!)Aug. 11-16, 8 p.m. Tues.-Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., 2 and 7 p.m. Sun., Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Rd., Clearwater, $47-$67, 727-791-7400, rutheckerhall.com. – Franki Weddington

It’s the last week to catch “Andy mania” at Andy Warhol Portfolios: Life and Legends, an exhibit of more than 70 screen-prints by pop master Andy Warhol. Classics including “Campbell’s Soup I (Cream of Mushroom),” “Flowers” and portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Superman and Muhammad Ali go on view, along with several lesser-known portfolios. The showcase spans Warhol’s career as a fine artist, from his heyday in the 1960s to the 1980s, when he produced the poignant “Endangered Species” series (included in the exhibit) — four years before his unexpected death of complications from gallbladder surgery in 1987. As a bonus, the show includes portraits of Warhol by Keith Haring, whose perversely Disney-esque “Andy Mouse” strikes the perfect irreverent note, and works by photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. Through Aug. 16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tues.-Sat., 1-5 p.m Sun., Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, $12 adults, $10 seniors (65-plus) and students with I.D., $6 ages 7 to 18 (children six and younger enter for free), 727-896-2667, fine-arts.org. — Megan Voeller

Welcome to Radar, where we run down the up-and-coming arts events to mark your calendar for. Today’s edition is a jukebox musical featuring the hit songs of none other than ’70s Swedish pop quartet, ABBA.

Every time I think the musical theater world has outdone itself (surely nothing is sillier than “Springtime for Hitler” or more laughable than actors costumed as Cats channeling T.S. Eliot?)  somebody goes and proves me wrong. This time, it’s the ABBA-licious Mamma Mia!, which comes to Ruth Eckerd Hall next week. The fact that anyone was able to create a jukebox musical from ABBA songs is a pretty impressive feat in itself (almost as impressive as it is ridiculous). But to set it on a Greek island (ABBA, from Sweden – hello? Am I the only one who thinks this is weird?) is more than anyone could hope for. Hits like “Dancing Queen,” “SOS,” and “The Winner Takes It All” are woven throughout the story of a young girl desperately trying to unravel the mystery of her father’s identity on the eve of her wedding by inviting three men form her mother’s past to the festivities. (Pictured: The touring cast of Mamma Mia!) Aug. 11-16, 8 p.m. Tues.-Fri., 2 and 8 p.m. Sat., 2 and 7 p.m. Sun., Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Rd., Clearwater, $47-$67, 727-791-7400, rutheckerhall.com. – Franki Weddington

Blue-eyed soul was a term coined in the ’60s for white singers who could sing in an African-American style. Felix Cavaliere was among the first, and best, of the type (although his eyes are brown).

In the latter half of the ’60s, as lead singer for NYC-based The Rascals (initially the Young Rascals), Cavaliere set the standard for blue-eyed soul singing; his pleading tenor had a natural infinity for blues and gospel inflections. When he covered R&B standards like “Mustang Sally” and “In the Midnight Hour,” his vocals were authentic and commanding.

During the Rascals’ too-brief period of chart dominance — bookended by No. 1 singles “Good Lovin’” (early ‘66) and “People Got to be Free” (summer of ‘68) — the quartet evolved from a good-timey garage/R&B band to a maker of sophisticated pop hits like “Groovin’,” “A Girl Like You,” “How Can I Be Sure” and “A Beautiful Morning.”

Like so many acts of the period, the Rascals were overshadowed by the Beatles and other British Invasion acts. They are one of the most underrated bands in the history of rock, and their music has sturdily withstood the test of time. Read the rest of this entry »

X Bash is the ninth annual clothing-optional event that features indie artists, musicians and performers who showcase their talents while they showcase their, um, goods. But what would a naked party be without a foam pit, hot tub, sauna and fire eater? X Bash has that, too. What began as an adventurous young woman’s birthday party has become a much-anticipated networking event for the local arts community — but with more booze and less clothing than your run-of-the-mill mixer. Featured musicians include David “Scary” Perry, Dreddy John, Global Decay, DJ Kaos and more, along with spoken word performances and visual arts displays. Visit xzanthia.com for more info and event schedule. (Pictured: Foam pit revelers at X Bash 2008, courtesy xzanthia.com) July 17-19, The River Boat Club, 6901 Caliente Blvd., Land O’ Lakes, $15 per day, $40 weekend pass in advance; $25 per day, $60 weekend pass at the gates.

Begun last year as an experiment, the Craft Beer Expo has quickly shouldered its way into the hearts and mouths of beer fans across the Bay area. Sure, it’s a benefit for the endangered Gamble Mansion State Park down in Ellenton, but that’s just a side note to the huge line-up of brews poured at the event by more than 25 breweries. Unlike most donate-and-sip charity tastings around town, the Expo also takes the time to educate via a slew of beery seminars that are best enjoyed before you fill your tasting cup 30 or 40 times. Learn the ins-and-outs of beer and food pairing, beer judging, and tips for home brewing. Then, taste away. But remember: it’s a marathon, not a sprint. July 18, 2-7 p.m., Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S., St. Petersburg, $30 (tasting)/$50 (tasting and seminars), 727-892-5798, mahaffeytheater.com. —Brian Ries

If your idea of a special day includes big hair and a big dress, the Evolution of Drag is for you. More than 25 dressed-up, down ‘n’ dirty divas take over GaYbor to dance, sing, and swing their way through this fundraiser to send the local queen bee of drag, Daphne Ferraro, to the National Entertainer of the Year Pageant in Louisville, KY. Expect cameos from cross-dressing characters like Cher, Marilyn Monroe, Dionne Warwick, Wynona Judd and many others, who take audiences on a trip through the “Evolution of Drag,” complete with a Big Ole Gay finale. The lovely ladies’ creative stage names may be the highlight of the evening — they range from the demure April Fresh to feisty Chi Chi La Lique and the naughty nun-ishness of Divinity Everlasting. (Pictured: Daphne Ferraro, the creator and star of Evolution of Drag) Sun., July 19, 4 p.m., Honey Pot, 1507 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa, $10 in advance/$12 at the door, myspace.com/evolutionofdrag. —Franki Weddington

More naughty and nice weekend events, like the Tampa Bay Bridal Show and Elvis Fest, after the break:

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Sat. July 11th. Mistress Mayhem at The Quest. Tampa’s most wicked dominatrix will be stopping by to discipline naughty submissives. The Quest. 12517 66th St. N. Largo, FL 33773.

Sat. July 11. Ultra-Glam Fetish Party @ Purgatory. Show off your brightest colors, fishnets and animal print patterns, outrageous hair and over-the-top makeup! Custom steel bondage equipment will be set up throughout the club to encourage safe and consensual play. Creative bondage, spanking, flogging, fetish games and the ultimate mind fuck are also encouraged. DJs Danny Bled and Godfather.18+. $15-$20. Purgatory Nightclub. 1000 State Road 84 City, Fort Lauderdale, FL Zip. 33315. Read the rest of this entry »

Most pop singers from the ’60s and ’70s who are fortunate enough to still be touring resort to what I call vocal cheats. That’s when they get to a point in an old hit that has a particularly high note they can’t hit — a note that especially resonates with the baby-boomer audience — so they either drop it an octave or turn it over to the background singers.

There’s nothing really shameful about these vocal cheats — it would be worse, for instance, if Daryl Hall tried to hit that big release note in “She’s Gone” and failed miserably. Or if Roger Daltrey attempted to render the big scream in “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and sounded like a frog.

I tell you all this because I saw Boz Scaggs last night at Ruth Eckerd Hall and he didn’t resort to any vocal cheats. He’s 65 years old. Very impressive. When, on “Lido Shuffle,” it came time for the “Lido, whoa, whoa” part, he was right on it — with the backup singers helping, yes, but not drowning him out and thus protecting him. Scaggs came up a little short or a little thin on some of the high notes, but he went for them all.

It wasn’t just the lack of vocal cheats that made Scaggs’ 75-minute set in front of a near-sold-out crowd a success. His voice still has that full, creamy texture of the old days, and his delivery and phrasing brimmed with nuance. (more photos below; all are by Tracy May)

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July 2-5. GaYBOR Days 2009.

-Thur. July 2. Weekend Kick-off Social Party. 2 hours of GameWorks fun card. Drag Show. Drinks & Tapas included! Families and adults welcome. $15. Gameworks.
-Fri. July 3. VIP Party at The Nest. 6-9pm. 1430 E. th Ave. Ybor City.
-Fri. July 3. DJ Manny Lehman and Pistol Pete Underwear Fashion Show. 10pm-3am. Steam Fridays 1507 E. 7th Ave. Ybor City.
-Sat. July 4. GaYBOR Poolside Beach Party. 4pm-8pm. $15. Tampa Howard Johnson Riverfront Plaza.
-Sat. July 4. Derrick Barry as Britney Spears. 9pm-3am. G Bar. 1401 E. 7th Ave. Ybor City.
-Sun. July 5. GaYBOR Brunch. 11am-2pm. Streetcar Charlie’s. 1811 N. 15th St. Ybor City.
-Sun. July 5. The GaYBOR Bar Crawl. $20. 5pm- Read the rest of this entry »

Boz Scaggs plays Ruth Eckerd Hall Thurs., July 2

To casual music fans, Boz Scaggs is that smooth dude from the ’70s with those disco-ey hits “Lowdown” and “Lido Shuffle.” They might even know about his 1976 smash album Silk Degrees, which included those tunes as well as “Georgia,” “What Can I Say” and “Harbor Lights.”

Although Scaggs’ days as a major hitmaker ended in the early 1980s — in large part because he took a self-imposed hiatus for most of the decade — he has made estimable music in the 1990s and, especially, this decade. And he’s done so by turning to a familiar riff for recovering rock stars: singing old standards.

That news might cause eyes to roll — especially if you think Rod Stewart — but it would absolutely not apply in the case of Boz Scaggs. His But Beautiful (2003) and last year’s Speak Low are among the best examples of a veteran pop star delving into such old chestnuts as “What’s New?” “Sophisticated Lady,” “Easy Living,” “I’ll Remember April” and “Speak Low.”

He sings the material in a supple, torchy style, burrowing into the lyrics, caressing phrases with his round, throaty tenor. Scaggs has a natural knack for seducing you into these literate, urbane numbers culled from the legendary writers of the American Songbook.

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Check out CL’s main music site.

Fri. June 5. Party with Playboy Playmate Candice Cassidy. Hang out with June’s Playboy Playmate, Candice Cassidy while listen to the DJ styles of Playboy’s 50th Anniversary Playmate, Colleen Shannon. Free. 21+. 8p.m.-10p.m. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa Pool.

Fri. June 5. St. Pete’s First Friday. The first Friday of every month St. Pete throws a block party in the heart of the downtown bar district. Wondering how this qualifies as a Sex and Love event? After the music dies around 10p.m., thousands of drunk, single people flood the bars around Central Ave. for a night of debauchery. The 1st Friday of every month. 5p.m. – 2a.m. Free. Downtown St. Pete. Central Ave., between 2nd St. and 3rd St.

Sat. June 6. Caliente’s Summer Sizzle Caribbean Beach Party. 9pm. Caliente Resort 21240 Gran Via Blvd. Land O Lakes, FL 34637.

Mon. June 8. Miss St. Pete Pride 2009 Pageant. Registration at 6pm. $250 cash prize. 10pm Club Nautico 4900 66th St. N. St. Petersburg, FL 33709. Read the rest of this entry »

Wanda Sykes has taken on all manner of roles, from a puppet with hair rollers on Crank Yankers, to a talking spokesapple in the Applebee’s commercials, to Stella the Skunk in the kid flick Over the Hedge, to her finger-pointing, name-calling cameos on Curb Your Enthusiasm. This Thursday, she brings her drop-dead funny stand-up to the Bay area. The Emmy-winning actress was named as one of Entertainment Weekly’s top 25 funniest  people in America and one of Comedy Central’s top 100 funniest comedians of all time (she was robbed at No. 70). Sykes is blunt without being aggressive, and has a flair for telling us what we already know in a “yeah, I said it” kind of way without relying on shock value to garner audience reactions. Most recently, she made headlines for her performance at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, where she roasted and burned conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh, accusing him of treason for his wish that the current administration fail, pointing out that Limbaugh’s negative rhetoric isn’t so different from Usama bin Laden’s, and telling President Obama, “You know, you might want to look into this, sir, because I think maybe Rush Limbaugh was the 20th hijacker. But he was just so strung out on OxyContin he missed his flight.” 8 p.m. Thurs., June 4, Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Rd., Clearwater, $37.50-$55, 727-791-7400, rutheckerdhall.com. (Franki Weddington)

Wine guide Charles Visalli leads Teach and Taste Wine, 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 choosing complementary wines and cheeses. E-mail timeforwine@tampabay.rr.com to reserve a spot, or visit carrollwoodcenter.org for more info. 6-7:30 p.m. Thu., June 4, Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa, $25, $20 for CCC members, 813-269-1310.

Times almost out to see Icons of Innocence by Carolina Cleere, winner of the Mayor’s Award at the 2009 Gasparilla Arts Festival and Best of Show Awards at the Gulf Coast Museum of Art’s ARTE 2007. Her surreal portraits are created via a fusion of mixed media photo collage, traditional art techniques and contemporary digital technology. Continues through June 11.  (Pictured: White Robes, an example of Cleere’s digital artwork) Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Fri., HCC Performing Arts Building, Corner of Palm Avenue and 14th Street, Ybor City, free, 813-253-7674.

Jack Holloway in Hat Trick's 2006 production of "Private Eyes" (Bob Gonzalez photo).

Local arts centers are crowing about two major wins for their people. Jack Holloway, an actor with Ruth Eckerd Hall’s Eckerd Theater Company, took first place (and $10,000) in a drama competition earlier this month sponsored by the National Society of Arts and Letters (NSAL). And Michael Kilgore, vice president of marketing and customer experiences at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, has been cited for outstanding achievement in road marketing by The Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway industry. Bonus: Jack and Michael are among the nicest, most personable guys in the Tampa Bay arts community.

Creative Loafing readers are already familiar with Jack. His work with Hat Trick, Stageworks and Jobsite, among other companies, has regularly garnered critical raves; we cited him as a Young Artist to Watch a few years back, and theater critic Mark Leib named him Best of the Bay in 2005. Now he can lay claim to being best in the country. Read the rest of this entry »

Fri-Sun. May 8-10. Exxxotica Miami. The largest adult event and expo on the east coast, featuring adult entertainers Jesse Jane, Stoya, Angelina Armani, Riley Steele, Jenna Haze, Ron Jeremy, Sasha Grey, Teagan Presley, Savanna Samson, Bree Olson, Kaydeb Kross, Sunny Leone, Eva Angelina, Alexis Texas, Joanna Angel, and Gina Lynn.

Fri. May 8. Clothing Optional Foam Party. Live Bands, DJ, Foam, a potluck dinner, a pool, hot tub, camping, and nudity. What more could you want? A music video will also be shot on location so bring some friends to fill out the crowd. 7pm. $10. The Riverboat Nudist Club. www.NaturallyNude.com.

Sat. May 9. Foot Party at the Quest. The Fabulous Mistress Diana and friends will be hosting a foot, show, and boot fetish play party. Bring all your fabulous fetish shoes, high heel spikes, your skit kicker boots and your cute little twinkle toes and join us for a stomping good time cleaning, licking, sucking, and worshiping Tampa Bays most fabulous feet. 10pm. $30. The Quest. 12517 66th St. N. Largo, FL 33773. Read the rest of this entry »

Fri. May 1. Grand Opening of The Ybor Eagle. Tampa’s newest leather bar is scheduled to open with a bang. No cover and free drinks from 9pm – 11pm. Live appearance by Raging Stallion model Tyler Saint. Leather dress code is strictly enforced. A locker-room is provided for you to get geared up. The club also features and in-house leather store stocked with Raging Stallion products. 1909 N. 15th. Ybor. Largo Florida 3 12517 66th St North Largo Florida 33773.

Mon. May 4. Lingerie Mechanical Bull Riding Contest. Think Urban Cowboy except with hotter girls and less clothing. $1 drinks all night. Girls in lingerie drink free. $1000 in total prize money. Strokers 11236 W. Hillsborough Ave. Tampa, Fl. 33635.

Tues. May 5. Cinco De Mayo Bikini Contest. Florida’s Finest Bikini Babes Presents this contest for $1000. 7pm. Mojo’s 1845 E. Memorial Lakeland, FL 33801.

Tues. May 5. Cinco De Mayo Bury the Burrito Contest. $100 dollar cash prize to whoever can bury the burrito the fastest, I think. I can’t figure this one out. I assume it’s an eating contest, but the judging could be based on style or creativity. Or it could be some new gay code word or fetish I’m not hip to. If you go, please write and tell me what the hell is going down. In any case, 2 hours of an open bar, 9pm-11pm. G.Bar 1401 E. 7th Ave. Ybor City Tampa. Read the rest of this entry »

The first time I saw James Taylor in concert was in college.  It was the early ’90s, and I was on a date.  This was a very big-deal date because there was dinner before and the concert so I think my suitor had very high hopes about how the evening would end. James (yeah, I’m calling him James) played in a 1500-seat concert hall near Chapel Hill, NC (In my mind I’ve gone to Carolina…), which is just about the best geographic location to see him play. The second time I saw James in concert was at Tanglewood, an outdoor venue in the Berkshires.  I was doing summer stock in Stockbridge (..and so was the turnpike from Stockbridge to Boston…) and the interns all blew a paycheck on a lawn ticket and a bottle of cheap wine.  The photos from that night show a group of unwashed, unattractive, drunk 20-somethings.  We were so far back that I cannot be sure that James actually played that night.

My most recent viewing of James was not under what I would consider the ideal circumstances.  If one is an employee of Ruth Eckerd Hall (as this particular one is) then it is understood that the staff ticket policy is somewhat strict.  I didn’t even attempt to get staff tickets when James was added to the schedule.  Then, out of the blue, a loophole appeared!  I could watch part of the show if I would be willing to man a satellite soda and water station in the west lobby.  Hmmm…would I get tips?  Maybe? I’m in!  Everyone who passed though the west lobby and gave me that pitying look as I hawked water and sodas, don’t you worry about Susan, my vantage point was better than yours. Read the rest of this entry »

Tampa Theatre continues its run of The Great Buck Howard (pictured below), a dramedy about an aspiring writer (played by Colin Hanks) who goes against his father’s wishes and drops out of law school to search for some meaningful life experience. Enter new employer Buck Howard (John Malkovich), a once-famous mentalist who’s in search of a comeback. Also stars Emily Blunt, Steve Zahn and Tom Hanks. 7:30 p.m., Tampa Theatre, downtown Tampa, $9 adults/$8 students with ID/$7 seniors, military, members.

I was just listening to Sweet Baby James the other day in the car — randomly, not ’cause of James Taylor’s show — and it’s … y’know, really, really good. Taylor’s full-bodied voice is still the sonic equivalent of fine cognac. This show is sold out, however, member exchanges may open up some seats (call the box office early), or, if that doesn’t pan out, you may find the random extra outside the hall. Good luck. 8 p.m., Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater. —Eric Snider Read the rest of this entry »

This American Life — Live! Four Tampa movie theaters host a hi-def simulcast of this two-hour stage adaptation of the hit Chicago Public Radio show, broadcast live from NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Ira Glass, along with several of his This American Life co-contributors (Starlee Kine, Mike Birbiglia, David Rakoff, Dave Hill and CL’s “Savage Love” columnist Dan Savage), tell stories related to the theme, “Return to the Scene of the Crime.” The program also includes a cartoon by Chris Ware, visuals by Arthur Jones and a special musical performance by Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon. 8 p.m. Regency 20, 2496 W. Brandon Blvd., Brandon; Woodland Square 20, 3128 Tampa Road, Oldsmar; Citrus Stadium Park Mall 20, 7999 Citrus Park Town Center Mall, Tampa;  Grove 16 Cinemas, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., Wesley Chapel. $20, fathomevents.com. Read the rest of this entry »