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

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4
Del The Funky Homosapien [pictured] Ice Cube’s cousin and one-time lyricist for da Lench Mob, Del tha Funkee Homosapien released his solo debut, I Wish My Brother George Was Here, in 1991 at age 18 with a little help from his cuz; you probably know its hit single, “Mistadobalina.” The California hip-hop artist parted creative ways with Cube shortly after, released several more solo albums featuring his easy flow and humor-laced lyricism, and collaborated with anyone from Kid Koala and Dan the Automator in Deltron 3030, to the Gorillaz on their 2001 self-titled debut. Del put out two digital self-releases this year — Funk Man: The Stimulus Package in March, for free, and a “name your price” digital release, Automatik Statik, in September. Skatepark of Tampa brings Del to town for its Tampa Am 17-Year Anniversary Party. 8 p.m. doors, Czar, Ybor City, $10 (all ages).

Have Gun, Will Travel Release Party w/Rebekah Pulley and The Reluctant Prophets/Will Quinlan and the Diviners/Geri x Tampa Americana makers Have Gun, Will Travel continues the party for their new album, Postcards from the Friendly City, with some support from their rootsy friends. 8 p.m., Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa, $13.

Perpetual Groove w/The Heavy Pets The Athens-based jamtronica four-piece brings their heady blend of psychedelic and Southern rock, funk, jazz and electro our way every few months, coloring their propulsive grooves with plenty of saturated lights. 7 p.m. doors, State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $15.

Select Start w/Set It Off/The In Crowd/Action Item/Ettison A bill of popular power punk-pop-emo acts hailing from the Bay area is headed up by Select Start, which was one of PureVolume’s Top 21 Unsigned Artists of 2008. 7 p.m., Orpheum, Ybor City, $10.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 5
Jay Reatard w/The Semis/Easybreezy The neo-punk rock misfit and recent indie favorite brings his re-figured band to Tampa. To read this week’s story on Jay, click here. 9 p.m., Crowbar, Ybor City, $12.

Pokey LaFarge & the South City Three [pictured] w/Blind Buddy Moody The music of St. Louis, Mo., troubadour Pokey LaFarge draws on elements of heartland Americana, riverboat blues, ragtime and folk in his throwback sound. LeFarge writes funny little acoustic ditties like “I Don’t Mind Dyin’” and “Sweet Seventeen,” sings in a burnished old-timey drawl, strums and fingerpicks guitar and guitjo (a six-string banjo with a guitar neck), plays harmonica and kazoo; the South City Three all provide backup vocals and include Adam “Boss Hoss” Hoskins on guitar, Joey Glynn on upright bass, and Ryan “Churchmouse” Koenig on washboard and harmonica. 9:30 p.m., Dave’s Aqua Lounge, St Petersburg, $6.

Jobsite Rocks VI: A Zombie Christmas feat. King of Spain/Bird Street Players/The Vodkanauts/Zero Time Ghosts Professional nonprofit theater company, Jobsite Theater, stages its annual end-of-the-year concert fundraiser, this year’s affair complete with local music, raffles and zombie hosts. 8 p.m., New World Brewery, Ybor City, $8.

The Joe Perry Project You may know Joe Perry as the lead guitarist of classic hard rocking powerhouse Aerosmith. But Perry’s no one-trick pony, and he’s out to prove it on his current tour in honor of his latest release, Have Guitar, Will Travel, his solo project’s first original album since 1983. The band has traditionally consisted of a revolving cast of musicians, and this time around, Perry is joined by bass player and former JPP/Aerosmith bandmate David Hull as well as German vocalist Hagen Grohe. St. Pete fans will likely be treated to material from Have Guitar as well as classic Aerosmith tunes, all while witnessing Perry’s legendary guitar skills and his little-seen turns at the mic. 7 p.m. doors, State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $28. –Kristina Welch

Nate Najar Holiday Show The annual Christmas concert features The jazz guitarist and his band are joined by some special guest artists for a program of holiday favorites, swinging hits, and selections from Duke Ellington’s Jazz Nutcracker. 8 p.m., Palladium Theater, St. Petersburg, $25.

Suncoast Blues Society Holiday Party feat. Chris Thomas King w/Walker Smith Group Chris Thomas King starred as blues artists Tommy Johnson in O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Blind Willie Johnson in The Soul of a Man, and Lowell Fulson in Ray. But make no mistake about it – the occasional actor and Louisiana blues musician has much talent in his own regard. King serves as master of ceremonies at this public holiday party. Attendees are encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped toy for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s “Toys for Tots” program. 8 p.m., Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa, $15 in advance/$18 dos.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6
Derek Trucks Band [pictured] w/Col. Bruce & The Quark Alliance The slide guitar-slinging nephew of Butch Trucks spends a lot of time on the road as a member of the Allman Brothers, but he also enjoys a prolific career with his own sextet, which builds on a blues foundation with Southern rock, jazz, R&B, and world textures. Derek Trucks Band has released nine albums of classy originals and re-imagined arrangements of songs like John Coltrane’s “Naima,” Mongo Santamaría’s “Afro Blue” and most recently, on 2009’s Already Free, “Down in the Flood” by Bob Dylan. Trucks tours frequently with his soulful songbird wife, Susan Tedeschi, and last December’s DTB show featured the duo in solo and joined sets. This time, the fluid, sublime notes of Trucks take center stage. 8 p.m., The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City, $26.50 in advance/$26 dos.

The Misfits w/As Bridges Burn/Chamber the Cartridge The horror and hardcore punk band has been active in various forms since its inception in 1977, when it was founded by Glenn Danzig. The band has broken up and reunited in various forms since then; the current lineup includes original member, bassist singer Jerry Only, guitarist/backing vocalist Dez Cadena, and drummer Robo Roberto Valverde. The Misfits are currently on an extended 30th anniversary world tour and this October, released their first new song in six years, “Land of the Dead.” Warning: The one time I got kicked in the face at a rock show was by a crowd surfer at The Misfits. Shortly after the cheek-numbing blow, my girl friend (who’d brought me to the show and promised to watch out for me) hunted down the booted perpetrator and punched him in the head. It was all in good Misfits sport. 7 p.m. doors, State Theatre, St. Petersburg, $18 in advance/$20 dos.

Best Bassists in Tampa Bay Pay Tribute to Jaco Pastorius Bay area bass players Tim George, Kenny Walker, Sam Martinez, Elias Tona, Angel Vicens and Kevin Williams gather to pay tribute to Florida’s trendsetting electric jazz bassist, Jaco Pastorius, and raise money for local jazz drummer and recent surgery patient, David Via. The bassists are joined by several skilled area jazz fusion musicians and featured guest saxophonist Butch Thomas (a former member of Jaco’s solo projects). The concert will include selections from Pastorius’ solo catalogue, cuts from his tenure with Weather Report, and a performance of the title track from Pat Metheny’s Bright Size Life, an album that features Pastorius prominently. 5 p.m., Musicology, Clearwater, $6.

97X Next Big Thing w/Rise Against/30 Seconds To Mars/Chevelle/Matisyahu/Sick Puppies/Panic at the Disco/The Used/Framing Hanley/Anberlin/Metric [pictured]/Manchester Orchestra/Cage the Elephant//many others A big lineup of bands that get airplay on mainstream radio and/or endorsed in one way or another by MTV have been assembled for the ninth edition of 97X’s daylong fest: punk-rock-meets-melodic hardcore foursome Rise Against, Hasidic reggae rap artist Matisyahu, the Jared Leto-fronted dramatic alt rock trio 30 Seconds to Mars, snazzy dressing glammy baroque rockers Panic at the Disco, and dynamic electro rock ensemble Metric, which features the sweetened vocals, guitar and synth work of Emily Haines and guitar and theremin playing of James Shaw, both also members of Broken Social Scene. 10 a.m., Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa, $30-$55.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra A perennial modern holiday favorite, Trans-Siberian Orchestra takes symphonic rock to an extreme level of visual bedazzlement while offering an unconventional celebration of the holiday season. The 60-piece ensemble includes a full orchestra and rock band with a dozen lead singers. Their sound fuses elements of metal, prog rock and Romantic-era classical music into a program of seasonal songs paired with synchronized lights and pyrotechnics. It’s like Pink Floyd meets Phantom of the Opera meets the Nutcracker Suite, all wrapped in one fabulous, garishly-wrapped package. 3 and 7:30 p.m., St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, $25-$55.

Unwed Sailor w/Native Lights Bassist/vocalist/composer Johnathon Ford is the driving force behind Unwed Sailor, a melodic, mostly instrumental progressive rock project with members cycled in and out based on Ford’s creative vision at the moment. Ford also plays in the ambient psychedelic “supergroup” Native Lights, which also includes Bryce Chambers of Ester Drang, Aaron Hamby of Callupsie, and Hero Factor’s Nathan Price. 9 p.m., Fly Bar & Restaurant, Tampa, free admission (ages 18 and up).

Dr. Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys w/Richard Gilewitz & Tim May/Mitch Lind and The Scrambled Strays Octogenarian and legendary bluegrassman Ralph Stanley is a five-string banjo-playing vocalist who performs what he calls “that old time mountain music.” 6 p.m., Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa, $25.

Posted in Concerts, Music | Leave a comment