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The Sarasota Herald-Tribune broke the news yesterday that Justin Matthews, the owner of Matthew’s Wildlife Rescue  who made international news for planting his 14-foot pet python “Sweetie” in a Bradenton storm drain, has been charged with a third-degree felony for misuse of a 911 emergency system and a second-degree misdemeanor for maintaining captive wildlife in an unsafe manner, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Matthews could face up to five years in prison for the stunt, which he says was an attempt to bring attention to the Burmese Python problem in Florida. The Herald-Tribune says that Matthews was released from the Manatee County jail Thursday after posting a $5,750 bail, and that he thinks the charges are “extreme” and plans to hire a lawyer. David Sadkin, a volunteer director at Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center, compared the staging to a “wildlife version of the balloon boy.”

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Hello, fellow Sarasotans. It is my pleasure to introduce you to my new blog, which I have oh-so-fittingly dubbed “The Starving Artist.” My goal for these posts is to give you an insider’s view into the trials and tribulations of a musician trying to start a music career on the Suncoast. I plan to provide you with some valuable tips on how best to market your music and get shows booked, and also what it’s like to play at our local establishments from an artist’s perspective. I’ll let you know who draws the best crowds and how receptive they are to the music, what venues have the best sound, what it’s like dealing with the booking agents and what you can expect to earn for a night’s work. I hope I can entertain and enlighten you on what it really means to be a starving artist on the Suncoast.

First thing’s first. Any musician that wants to break into any music scene has to start by getting their name out there. And before you can do that you have to have a name. I will be writing this blog from a solo artist’s viewpoint, but most of the information should translate to full bands as well. A stage name or band name can be the most important decision a musician will ever make. Once you put all the legwork into marketing your name — website, MySpace page, press kit, promotional materials and, most importantly, public name recognition — you’re pretty much stuck with it. Unless you’re Jack White and you can come out with a new band every few months, you will probably be tied to that name for the entirety of your musical career.

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Miss Tess & the Bon Ton Parade play at New World Brewery Wed., Nov. 11

Ed. note: This piece was compiled by Jennifer Almond.

THURSDAY, Nov. 5
ACE’S Vulgarrity/Muphin Chuckrs
AMERICAN LEGION POST 312 Smokey & Duane
THE FLYING DOG CAFÉ Open Mic/Jam Night
THE GATOR CLUB The Cherry Bombs
HONOLUANA ISLAND GRILL Open Mic w/Lynn Haines
THE IRISH ROVER Rhythm & Blues w/Paul Duffy
LEBARGE BC Hathaway
MATTISON’S RIVERSIDE The Billy Rice Band
MOTHER’S MUSICAL BAKERY Open Mic
OLD PACKINGHOUSE The Wire Beaters
PALLADIUM THEATER Dr. John & The Lower 911 w/Bill “The Sauce Boss” Wharton Longtime New Orleans musician Dr. John plays blues-, boogie- and R&B- saturated rock, his key-playing and coarse, deep swamp drawling vocals backed by slinky funkin’ beats and grooves made for moving. Much of his songwriting focuses on his home, including 2008’s City That Care Forgot, about the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the years of neglect and social turmoil that have followed. Dr. John is joined by his full band, the Lower 911. Wharton cooks up his own brand of spicy blues to kicks things off. —Leilani Polk
SHARKY’S David Moore

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A still from Delta Rising, which will be screened at Burns Court Cinemas at 5:45 p.m. Sun., Nov. 8

Cine-World Film Festival
Burns Court Cinemas: 506 Burns Lane, Sarasota, 1-10 p.m. Nov. 6-12; Lakewood Ranch Cinemas, 10715 Rodeo Drive, Lakewood Ranch, 7:45-10 p.m. Nov. 7-12; 955-3456 or filmsociety.org.

The Sarasota Film Festival has become a sizable event in the movie-making industry and our city loves its brief time in the spotlight each spring. But in the off-season, another festival has been entertaining our film-feinding citizenry for the past two decades: Cine-World.

This year’s edition features an impressive list of domestic, foreign and documentary films, screened at Sarasota Film Society’s Burns Court and Lakewood Ranch Cinemas. The Film Society continues its tradition of bringing in top-notch independent movies filled with big-name actors from countries all over the world, and mixing in local flicks and smaller projects that made it happen without the Hollywood budget. This year’s Cine-World selections reveal the many tiers of film production, and prove that no matter what kind of money, talent or location you’re working with, it all comes down to passion. We spoke with the directors from three of the festival’s films to get a glimpse into their process. (And don’t forget, we’re giving away to “Black Passes” to the festival.)

Special O’Laughics
Burns Court: 3:30 p.m. Sat., Nov. 7

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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels opens at Venice Theatre Nov. 10

Ed. note: This piece was compiled by Danielle Favreau.

VISUAL ARTS: OPENING

4TH BI-ANNUAL ESTERO FINE ART SHOW Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Road, Estero (755-3088 or hotworks.org). This massive event will feature a juried art show and sale of works by professional artists as well as food and live entertainment. Please see this week’s See & Do for more information. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov 7-8. Free.

ART UPTOWN 1367 Main St., Sarasota (955-5409 or artuptown.com). Jacquie Clark’s still life and dog portrait watercolors will be displayed along with Jon Greeley’s oil on canvas portraits. Exhibit runs Nov.7-13. Regular hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat. Free.

THE DANCING CRANE GALLERY 1019 10th Ave. W., Bradenton (744-1333 or dancing-crane.com). The gallery will have their three-year anniversary celebration with an art giveaway and a showcase of the gallery’s featured artists. 6-9 p.m. Nov. 6. Regular hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Thurs.-Sat. Free.

S/ART/Q INAUGURAL EXHIBITION 1549 State St., Sarasota (330-4838 or sARTq.com). This local group of professional artists will hold their Inaugural Exhibition of multimedia, painting, photography and more. Please see this week’s See & Do for more information. 5-10 p.m. Nov. 6 and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 7. Free.

SELBY GALLERY Ringling College of Art and Design, 2700 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota (359-7563 or ringling.edu/selbygallery). The People and Places Juried Photography Exhibition will be on display as well as the Annual Ringling College Faculty Exhibition and the College Staff and Instructor Exhibition. Regular hours are Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Tues. until 7 p.m. Free.

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Boyz II Men perform at Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall Fri., Oct. 30

Ed. note: This piece was compiled by Jennifer Almond.

THURSDAY, Oct. 29
ACE’S Soul Purpose/DJ Rafferty
THE FLYING DOG CAFÉ Open Mic/Jam Night
THE GATOR CLUB The Cherry Bombs
THE HALL IN PALMETTO Frank Lini
HONOLUANA ISLAND GRILL Open Mic w/Lynn Haines
THE IRISH ROVER Rhythm & Blues w/Paul Duffy
LEBARGE BC Hathaway
NEW WORLD BREWERY David Dondero w/Christina Wagner San Francisco-based folk rocker David Dondero sings in a pained emo tone and writes like a poet, setting his lyricism against solid and simple roots music. He gets melancholy in songs like “Twenty Years,” about a man readjusting to life after prison, and nostalgic in “South By South,” with its stream-of-consciousness memories of Florida that nod to Tampa’s own commercialized historic district: “So I jumped my pogo stick, all the way to Ybor City / Where they burned up a couple blocks, and to me seemed like a pity / That was once a Cuban district and a center for the arts / Was now a mall-like atmosphere, homogonous and insincere / They burned its heart right out / Down south of the south.” —Leilani Polk
OLD PACKINGHOUSE Acoustic Sunshine

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The Safe Sex Halloween Bash will be at the Van Wezel on Oct. 31

Ed. note: This piece was compiled by Danielle Favreau.

HALLOWEEN EVENTS

6TH ANNUAL AMAZING COSTUME CONTEST GIVEAWAY Siesta Key Oyster Bar, 5238 Ocean Blvd., Sarasota (346-5443 or skob.com). This party is half football and half Halloween with three major prizes for the top three costumes. Oct. 31. Free.

CLANCY’S 9TH ANNUAL HOLLOWEEN BASH 6218 Cortez Road, Bradenton (794-2489). This party will feature a costume contest with cash prizes, Matt Brown on the tiki bar and Andrew’s Karaoke. 6 p.m. Oct. 30. Free.

COSTUME PARTY Honoluana Island Grill, 222 Airport Ave., Venice (483-3553). Costume party and contest featuring Koko Ray & the Soul Providers. 7 p.m.-midnight Oct. 31. Free.

EZRA HALLOWEEN PARTY Ezra Café, 5629 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton (792-0990 or ezrafinefoods.com). Come for dinner and stay for the after party with a costume contest and DJ Tasteman spinning killer dance tunes. 9 p.m. Oct. 30. Free.

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Jewel
8 p.m. Wed., Nov. 4, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 953-3368 or vanwezel.org, $30-$60.

Do you ever busk anymore just for fun?

I haven’t done that in a long time. It was tough work. Thank God for yodeling. I think that was the only thing that got me money.

What’s the weirdest part about going on five national TV shows in a week?

It’s gotten a lot less weird. When I started out I was in complete culture shock. I’m a pretty shy person to this day. I like to watch people; I don’t want them to watch me. But it’s a job that I love, and it’s just part of the job. The nice part is to be able to walk away and just go home.

How does it feel to be “Rock’s Sexiest Poet,” according to Blender magazine?

Take compliments where you get them. It’s been a really interesting social experiment. I wasn’t popular in school. I was barely in the same school longer than six months. So being in the public light has been very interesting. Whether it’s good or bad.

What prompted you to found the Clean Water Project?

When I was young I had bad kidneys and I had to drink about a gallon of bottled water a day. I told myself that if it’s this bad for me I can’t imagine what it’s like for people in Africa. I told myself if I was ever in the position to help I wanted to do something for people. So as soon as I was, I did.

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Bonnie Raitt plays at Ruth Eckerd Hall Thurs., Oct. 22

Bonnie Raitt plays at Ruth Eckerd Hall Thurs., Oct. 22

Ed. note: This piece was compiled by Jennifer Almond.

THURSDAY, Oct. 22
ACE’S DJ Rafferty
THE GATOR CLUB The Cherry Bombs
HONOLUANA ISLAND GRILL Open Mic w/Lynn Haines
THE IRISH ROVER Rhythm & Blues w/Paul Duffy
LEBARGE Sly McLeod
OLD PACKINGHOUSE Big Ray
RINGSIDE CAFÉ Surfin’ Racoons
RUTH ECHERD HALL Bonnie Raitt Though she hasn’t dropped a new LP since 2005, veteran slide guitar-slinging blues songstress Bonnie Raitt has enough material in her repertoire to make any fan happy. In the 1970s, Raitt hit the scene with bluesy roots that synthesized rock, folk and country music influences, and put out a string of albums that were well-regarded by critics but virtually ignored by everyone else. She went through various ups and downs in her life and career until she finally hit her commercial peak when she took an AC blues-pop turn and released her multiple Grammy-winning 1989 album, Nick of Time. I have much love and respect for the fiery-haired Raitt. While she may not write all her own music, she sure knows how to play it and with easy slide-driven licks to go with her warm rusty vocals. She just finished a co-headlining coast-to-coast summer tour with Taj Mahal, and this show makes up for her previously cancelled March 15 date. —Leilani Polk
SKIPPER’S SMOKEHOUSE Grateful Dead Night w/Uncle John’s Band

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The Sarasota Blues Festival always has an after party at the Five O’Clock Club every year. But this year, there’s an alternate after party at Pastimes for all those blues fans who enjoy their late nights with more of a jam band feel. Honeytribe will be rockin’ out the Gulf Gate scene courtesy of front man Devon Allman. I talked with Allman over the phone about life on the road with one of America’s premier power trios:

Have you played in Sarasota a lot?

“We’ve done the Blues Fest, the Van Wezel, the Five O’ and Pastimes a few times. It’s a cool little room, it’s always packed out uncomfortably and it’s a good time.”

Who do you meet up with when you come down here?

“I always hang out with Pedro (Arevalo). He’s always been an honorary fourth member of the Tribe. Love him.”

What’s been the hardest part of playing 300 shows a year for 3 years?

“Just trying to find good food, good sleep, trying not to miss your loved ones too much. Just making sacrifices to keep the music you love alive. It’s freaking worth it.”

How does the power trio compare to the original line-up?

“It’s cool, this band was started in ‘99 as a seven-piece, then went to six, then five. We’ve been doing the power trio for a year and it’s awesome. I can see how Cream and Hendrix loved it. It gives you so much freedom. A lot of people come up after the show and say ‘it’s great, it’s so powerful.’”

Was it strange coming from the north (St. Louis) and being so connected to the quintessential southern rock band?

“Well, I’m from south Texas so I’m from further south than most people who call themselves southerners. St. Louis might seem north to Jacksonville and Mobile, but it’s not that far north. We never beat our chest and say we’re the continuation of southern rock. We’re a kaleidoscope with blues and R & B and jazz. We don’t sound much like Lynyrd Skynyrd.”

Where did the name Honeytribe come from?

“I saw Buddy Guy play when I was about 23. That night I saw him he went from knocking your teeth in to so ultra quiet it was almost a whisper, and that dynamic was something I wanted. Honey is very sweet and Tribe is very fierce, and that just kind of embodies the vibe of the band.”

Did you write a lot of music during your four-year hiatus?

“I took time off just to be human and be a daddy. I did write a bit and did a bunch of acoustic shows to keep food on the table, but it was more about making sure my son understands what I’m doing. It wasn’t a hugely productive time, but I still played 200 shows a year.”

Did your father push for you to get into music?

“It was a completely and totally organic path to music on my own. It’s a common misperception that I grew up back stage with a guitar in my hand, but that’s not the truth. I grew up in the suburbs and played soccer. We do our own thing and we’ve had a lot of amazing shows. It’s great to be able to do it independently and not have some jack-off in a suit tell us what to do. It’s about taking it to the people, that’s what we do. Honeytribe is different than a lot of bands that come out these days. MTV is great but the side effect is people wanting to be celebrities rather than making great music. I was five when I heard a Beatles record, and I asked ‘what can I do to give back to music?’ When I ask what I can give back to music rather than what I can get from it, it all falls into place.”

Your father was known more for the keys. Do you get into the keyboard much?

“I definitely play, but I’m not very adept. I can’t take a solo on keys. I’m doing a song on the new album where I play piano. Guitar just seemed so much more badass when I was a kid. That sustaining note, that’s what makes it so cool. It’s like a modern day horn.”

Are your live shows pretty set or is there a lot of improvisation involved?

“It’s not a complete question mark, but anything does go. Typically every season I kind of change up the beginning of a show or a song. There are never two shows alike. We’ve never used a set list, ever. That probably works for a lot of artists, but not for us. We just do what we’re feeling and what the crowd’s feeling – just wing it man.”

Any plans for a new album soon?

“We finally have a date for the studio 
 where we did Torch. We’re gonna be in there for five weeks, which is amazing since Torch was done in two. It’s gonna be really nice to stretch and have a chance to be more free. It will be called Space Aged Blues. We’re looking at a May 2010 release. We’re finishing up North America in the fall and heading to Europe throughout Christmas and then hitting the studio. We work a lot but we love to do it. We’re doing our part to keep it alive.”

Do you realize your Pastimes show is the same day as Blues Fest?

“Which is crazy, but I think good. I called Barbara and she was like, ‘What the hell?’ They do an after party at the 5 O’ but that’s more of the older crowd and our show is more for the younger people that like jam bands. I think there’s something that night for everybody. It’s a strong market, and we got so many friends around there. They know they’re coming because Honeytribe will kick their ass. A lot of people come thinking Gregg Allman, but they leave with a whole new respect. They leave saying, ‘I got a new band to follow.’ It’s a great feeling.”

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