FRIDAY 10 p.m. Orpheum, 1902 Republica de Cuba Ave., Ybor City. $6-$7. (813) 248-9500.
The beats are friendly, the flow cozy and the melodies sweet, but the rhymes of troubled local rapper Eyeznpowa land sharply. "I took a drive with no car involved / waving to bears I am bipolar / continuous visits, that's what the doctor saw." Big on Hunter Thompson, Eyeznpowa might be compared to a deeper, darker Gorillaz. The veteran lyricist brings gutsy, highly personal accounts of substance use and desperation. Your eyes and ears won't be easily averted.
Flobots
With Busdriver
TUESDAY 8 p.m. State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St Petersburg. $12-$14. (727) 895-3045.
No doubt the word's reached your street — the Flobots can ride their bikes with no handlebars. The Denver act's breakout hit (Handlebars) has an infectious tick-tock rhythm and conquering crescendo. Some tunes drift into Linkin Park territory, but the 'Bots swap hard riffs for some slick viola and trumpet. Calling themselves "insurgents," they rhyme ambitiously for peace and youth activism.
Matt Butcher and the Revolvers
With Roppongi's Ace and Brahm Bones
FRIDAY 9 p.m. New World Brewery, 1313 Eighth Ave. E, Ybor City. $6. (813) 248-4969.
Talented troubadour Matt Butcher writes sleepy rock songs with big-time conviction. But the former frontman of Orlando's Heathens says he's "as much Bob Sagat as he is Bob Dylan," working for both love and laughter at shows. The Van Morrison and Ryan Adams influence is evident, and Butcher has solid covers of each.
311 and Snoop Dogg
With Fiction Plane
SUNDAY 7:30 p.m. Ford Amphitheatre, 4802 U.S. 301 N, Tampa. $29.50-$49.50. (813) 740-2446.
With so much drama in the L.B.C., California buds Snoop Dogg and 311 hit the road for a laid-back, genre-blazing time. Snoop's full-band versions of Gin and Juice and latest disco-infused Sensual Seduction should be full of flavor. No need to convince the 311 fans to attend — most joined the grass roots movement sometime during the past four summer stops at the Amp. Fiction Plane, captained by Sting's son Joe Sumner, opens.
Mayhem Festival
Featuring Underoath, Disturbed, Slipknot, Mastodon (above), Black Tide, Dragonforce, Five Finger Death Punch, Machine Head, Suicide Silence, The Red Chord, Walls Of Jericho, 36 Crazy Fists, Airbourne
TUESDAY 2 p.m. Ford Amphitheatre, 4802 U.S. 301 N, Tampa. $28.75-$53.25. (813) 740-2446.
Ozzfest, the former monarch of metal festivals, won't return to Florida this summer. But Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman has quickly stepped in with this potent substitute. Miami's Black Tide brings beefy, grimy hair metal, like a younger, tanner Motley Crue. Mastdon's melodic punk and metal crunch is full of tricky tempo and vocalist changes. And Tampa's own Christian metal success story, Underoath, will debut tracks from its upcoming September release. Fans can help pick the set lists for each act on pickrset.com.
In just the past few months, she's rocked with Pat Benatar, sung with Sheryl Crow and received a sponsorship offer from Daisy Rock Guitars. So what's next for Clearwater's Caroline Kudelko? Sixth grade, for one thing. The 11-year-old singer-songwriter will also release her first all-original album. Under the name Suite Caroline (bop, bop, baaaa ... sorry), Kudelko sings of crushes and friendships while strumming a sparkly brand of acoustic pop. From Me, an earnest ode to her five best pals, is the standout tune, and an adorably awesome gesture at that. She's into Taylor Swift, Colbie Caillat, and yeah, a little Neil Diamond. A few years from now, we might be recalling where she began.
Also playing
Brooks and Dunn Fri. With Rodney Atkins, James Otto. 7 p.m. Ford Amphitheatre, 4802 U.S. 301 N, Tampa. $15-$54.25. (813) 740-2446.
Morgan Heritage Fri. 7 p.m. Jannus Landing, 16 Second St. N, St. Petersburg. $14.99-$18. (727) 895-3045.
Icon Fri. With the Grecian Urns, Mogul Street Reserve, the Turncoat, Sides Of Ranch. 9 p.m. Crowbar, 1812 N 17th St., Ybor City. $5. (813) 241-8600.
Suburban Tragedy Fri. With New Violation, Irrational, Lettuce Olive. 8 p.m. State Theatre, 687 Central Ave., St Petersburg. $10. (727) 895-3045.
James Peterson and Lucky Peterson (reunion show) Sat. 8 p.m., Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa. $10-$13. (813) 971-0666.
Shane Meade and the Sound Sat. 10 p.m. Fly Bar, 1202 N. Franklin St. Free. (813) 275-5000.
Bear Colony Sat. With Look Mexico. 9 p.m. New World Brewery, 1313 Eighth Ave. E., Ybor City. $7. (813) 248-4969.
Cartel Sat. With There For Tomorrow. 7 p.m. Jannus Landing, St. Petersburg. $15-$18. (727) 895-3045.
Uncle Luke Sun. With J-Rod, Strizzo, Lil Kee. 8 p.m. Club 112, 901 N Franklin St., Tampa. (813) 204-9433.
Good Charlotte Tues. With Boys Like Girls, Metro Station, The Maine. 7 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. $25.50. (727) 791-7400.
Journey Wed. With Cheap Trick, Heart. 7 p.m. Ford Amphitheatre, Tampa. $25-$125. (813) 740-2446.
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