Featuring Charice Pempengco, Deborah Cox, Ruben Studdard, Michael Johns, Peter Cetera, Philip Bailey, more
Details: 8 p.m. Friday. St. Pete Times Forum, 401 Channelside Drive, Tampa. $41.75 and up. (813) 301-2500.
David Foster could stroll down Hollywood Boulevard unrecognized. Yet his contributions to modern music are irrefutably massive. The songwriter-producer has penned hits for Whitney Houston, Céline Dion, Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Michael Bublé and Josh Groban, many of which have earned him a reputation as a sultan of pop schmaltz and a leader of long-winded ballads. This show, originally featured as a PBS special (the highest-pledged PBS show in history, in fact) includes Philip Bailey from Earth, Wind and Fire, Deborah Cox, American Idol's Ruben Studdard and Michael Johns, and teen phenom Charice, who's been tasked with big belting on tracks like Houston's I Have Nothing.
KMFDM
With Angelspit
Details: 8 p.m. Friday. State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. $22-$25. (727) 895-3045.
Some years before Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails pummeled the '90s with industrial angst, the Germans KMFDM were helping to pioneer the industrial genre's sound and style with ominous electronic grooves, guitars that moaned like souped-up leaf blowers and all-black apparel. The German translation of the band's name has always caused confusion, so we'll go ahead and say "The Bart, The."
Third World
At the Reggae Jerk Jam, with Paris and the Birds of Paradise, more
Details: 2 p.m. Saturday. Bayanihan Center, 14301 Nine Eagles Drive, Tampa. $10. (813) 792-1948.
Enduring reggae-soul-pop act Third World found success in the United States with a remake of the O'Jays' Now That We Found Love. But it's the rootsy, lesser-known 1865 (96 Degrees in the Shade) — especially appropriate for Florida in July — that shows the band at its best. Once a touring opener for Bob Marley and the Wailers, Third World continues to discuss the social turmoil that plagues Jamaica to the tune of crossover reggae.
Dang We're On Fire
With Floral Terrace, the Spin Room
Details: 7 p.m. Friday. Transitions Art Gallery, 4215 East Columbus Drive, Tampa. (813) 382-3477.
Sarasota's Dang We're On Fire plays sweet and spicy pop-punk with tenacity a la The Academy Is or Sing It Loud. And dang, they're on fire. In recent weeks, the young quartet has secured a Gibson guitars sponsorship, acquired more than 70,000 MySpace friends and a fan club in Spain, and released a sizzling new EP titled There's No Place Called Home. At this rate, the group looks poised to follow in the footsteps of fellow Sarasota pop-punk success story We the Kings.
Times correspondent Carole Giambalvo can be reached at carole.giambalvo@gmail.com.
Also playing
Alexander and the Grapes: Fri. With Proud Iron Lion, Sun Society. 7 p.m. Pangea Café, 34 N Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. Free. (727) 443-5040.
Buju Banton: Fri. 9 p.m. Cuban Club, 2010 N Ave. Republica De Cuba, Ybor City. $30. (813) 248-2954.
Car Bomb Driver: Fri. 9 p.m. With the Semis, more. Emerald Bar, 550 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. $3. (727) 898-6054.
The Ken Petersen Band: Fri. 9:30 p.m. Gaspar's Grotto, 1805 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. Free. (813) 248-5900.
Ted Lukas: Fri. 9 p.m. With Experimental Pilot, the Ditchflowers. New World Brewery, 1313 E Eighth Ave., Ybor City. $7. (813) 248-4969.
On Que Players: Fri. 7 p.m. Palm Pavilion, 10 Bay Esplanade, Clearwater Beach. Free. (727) 446-2642.
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