Seminal alt-rock heroes Jane's Addiction came to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater Saturday night, and a sold-out crowd of 2,180 was there to greet them. Sean Daly was among them, and he writes:

If you’ve always bought what Jane’s has sold since its late-’80s, early-’90s heyday — especially seminal alt-rock albums Nothing’s Shocking and Ritual de lo Habitual — the near-two-hour gig was out-of-this-world, a David Lynchian haymaker on the senses. (By the way, it should be noted that one of the dancing S&M strippers was Etty Lau Farrell aka Perry’s limber wife.)

If the whole thing seemed like a clock-watching slog after the fourth song of the set, the relatively straight-forward slam-dancer Been Caught Stealing, well, you were in for a long haul. Cuts from 2011 LP The Great Escape Artist were even curiouser than the other stuff.

For Sean's full review of Jane's Addiction in Clearwater, click here. And get more of Lara Cerri's photos after the jump. ... Read more

Some of us couldn't resist the allure of Chris Cornell at the Tampa Theatre, many of Tampa Bay's most ardent music fans were out in full force at Tropical Heatwave 2012, which spread more than 70 bands across 13 venues all over Ybor City.

WMNF's annual indie/funk/jam/folk/country/alternative music bacchanal took place Saturday at the Cuban Club, the Ritz Ybor, Crowbar and just about every other place with electricity in Ybor. (We heard varying reports about the crowd at this year's Heatwave -- some said it was less-than-impressive; others said some venues, like Crowbar, were packed. What would you say, dear readers?)

Photographer Andrew Carlton was on hand to snap shots of acts like the Wooly Bushmen (above), Black Taxi, Boom Chick, Sister Sparrow and the Dirty Birds, He's My Brother She's My Sister, the Revelations featuring Tre Williams and more. "Just about every show I saw was great," he writes, "from the Garbage-Men (kids using musical instruments made out of toys and cereal boxes), to Black Taxi, which killed it at The Ritz."

Get more of Andrew's photos of Tropical Heatwave 2012 after the jump... ... Read more

A few days ago, we brought you photos of Ziggy Marley at A Taste of Pinellas at Vinoy Waterfront Park in St. Petersburg. Today, tb-two* correspondent Dylan Dusseault weighs in on the All-American Rejects, who performed on the event's final day. Dylan writes:

I went to this Taste of Pinellas concert expecting a bit of throwback music, but along with that got a surprisingly entertaining show. The Rejects were high energy, technically superb and more than a bit vulgar. I enjoyed the old hits such as Swing, Swing; Move Along; and Paper Heart as well as the new, more adult sound they’ve developed with songs such as Beekeeper’s Daughter and Kids in the Street.

Click here for Dylan's full review.

Photo: Caitlin Howe, St. Petersburg High ... Read more

As the saying goes, all things must come to an end. Saturday was the evening that hometown favorites Nasty Savage played their last show ever. Crowbar in Ybor City packed in a standing-room-only crowd of longtime Tampa metalheads who were there not only to see one last performance, but to wish their longtime friends farewell.

Nasty Savage trace their routes back more than 30 years in Tampa, to the old Sunset Club and beyond. You probably know that Tampa was once the death metal capital of the world, and Nasty Savage was a key ingredient in forming that great reputation. In the crowd for their last show were members of many national and local acts: Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse, Pete Sandoval of Morbid Angel, and all members of Obituary were present, among many others. ... Read more