-- Boca Raton emo heroes Dashboard Confessional have had to cancel their fall tour due to an unspecified "family situation." That includes the band's two shows on Nov. 28 and 29 at the House of Blues in Orlando. "We don't take this lightly but family has to come first," the band said in a statement.

-- Speaking of Orlando-based concert cancellations, Queen Latifah has bowed out of her Nov. 18 gig at Hard Rock Live, according to Orlando Weekly.

-- Another cancellation, this one closer to home: Ratt has called off their Nov. 13 gig at Bourbon Street in New Port Richey. Thankfully, the Nov. 19 show by L.A. Guns is still on. Click here for details.

-- Universal Orlando will kick off its Holiday Concert Series Dec. 5 with gigs by Mannheim Steamroller (Dec. 5), Chris Isaak (Dec. 12) and Natalie Cole (Dec. 19). Mannheim Steamroller and Natalie Cole are both coming to Tampa Bay in December -- Steamroller Dec. 13 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center; Cole Dec. 21 at Ruth Eckerd Hall -- but this is Isaak's only stroll through Central Florida for a while. Click here for details.

-- When you think JJ Grey and Mofro, you automatically think, "PBS war documentary." Oh wait, no: The opposite of that. But Orlando Weekly says the Jacksonville swamp-rockers are indeed scoring a PBS doc.

-- Wait: Walmart has a Web feature called "Soundcheck Risers?" And they're interviewing a band from Tampa Bay? Our heads hurt.

-- Speaking of The Almost, for Tuesday only, get their new album, Monster Monster, for $7.99 on iTunes and $6.99 on Shockwave.

-- Finally: The Genitorturers' new album, Blackheart Revolution, dropped today. More on them later in the week.

-- Jay Cridlin, tbt*. Photo: Getty Images.