SoundCheck: Pitbull, Miggs, Authority Zero, Big Cheese

, Pitbull

With DJ Laz

Details: 9 p.m. Friday. Ritz Ybor, 1503 Seventh Ave., Ybor City. $30-$35. (813) 247-2555.

Pitbull is on the path to becoming the biggest Latino rapper pretty much ever. Unleashed in 2002 with the backing of Lil' Jon, the catcalling Cuban American boasts a bilingual blend of loud, sticky reggaeton and hip-hop. Whether it's the synthesized saxophone sample of the Anthem, the steamy cadence of Hotel Room Service, or the countless "culo" cries, this stuff latches on tight and doesn't let go. Onstage, Pitbull employs live drums, percussion, keyboards and three-piece suits. The rapper cemented his title as "Mr. 305" a few weeks ago when he received the key to Miami.

Sweatshop III music, art and fashion

Featuring the Vera Violets, In Fireworks, DJ Mega, DJ Noi, Curse Mackey

Details: 10 p.m. Sunday. Czar, 1420 E Seventh Ave., Ybor City. $13. (813) 247-2664.

You'll nod. You'll sway. You'll chain-smoke. Longtime local champions of the dark and fuzzy, the Vera Violets provide echo-laden sounds for the third edition of runway and art show Sweatshop (run by local tastemakers Nessie Fernandez, Raven Reda, Kamran Mir and Ben Chmura). From brooding shoegaze a la the Jesus and Mary Chain to sprints of psychedelic rock reminiscent of Sonic Youth, Vera Violets tunes are the kind that go great with eyeliner.

Miggs

Details: 6:30 p.m. Friday. tbt* Party Deck at Tropicana Field, 1 Tropicana Drive, St. Petersburg. Free with ticket to 7:38 p.m. Rays game against the Detroit Tigers. Toll-free 1-888-326-7297.

When your record label files for bankruptcy and your bandmates take off, hanging it up might seem like the natural progression. But not so for Tampa singer Don Miggs (husband to Lisa DeBartolo, the daughter of former San Francisco 49ers owner and current Tampa real estate honcho Edward DeBartolo), who has parlayed challenge into triumph. He performed pop-rock single Perfect on Good Morning America last month, and Friday, he'll hit the Trop to perform. Handy but heartfelt, the Miggs sound recalls Collective Soul, Tonic and a bit of the Replacements.

Reax Rent Party

Featuring King of Spain, Glasgow, the Basiqs, Will Quinlan and the Diviners, Military Junior, Geri X, Life of Pi, Nessie, Memphis Train Union

Details: 6 p.m. Friday. Crowbar, 1812 17th St., Ybor City. $5. (813) 241-8600.

Indie Florida music mag Reax (headquartered in Tampa) hasn't been immune to the economic downturn this year (apparently, this month's issue won't go to press). Editor Scott Harrell and publisher Joel Cook have swallowed their pride and called upon readers to "show a little love and help with the bills." Lending support are some of the bay area's favorite local acts, including alternative funk-soul-hip-hop emcees the Basiqs, Southern folk-rock quartet Glasgow, Pixies-ish Life of Pi and rollicking blues-rock-country trio Memphis Train Union.

Authority Zero (acoustic)

With Stalling Dawn, Monstro, DJ Kidunot (drum/DJ duo), Burning Tree, Paint the Town Red, Elevated, Muphin Chuckrs, Unmotivated

Details: Noon Sunday. Durty Nelly's, 661 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. Free. (727) 824-8884.

Terrifically scrappy reggae-punk act Authority Zero heads up St. Pete Irish pub Durty Nelly's first major music event. In addition to Pennywise and Sublime-influenced songs like One More Minute, the Arizona act covers Celtic folk tune Rattlin' Bog and raspy sea shanty Drunken Sailor. Locals Stalling Dawn, led by Jesse Morris (his pop owns Clearwater recording studio Morrisound), bring pop-punk with crunchy guitars and towering vocals, and Paint the Town Red, composed of Weaksauce and Rude Squad members, offers earnest acoustic rock ditties. Bonus: Like any good green-walled Irish joint should, Durty Nelly's has installed a Breathalyzer machine in-house.

Big Cheese

With Jim Jones, Buffie the Body, Kit Muzik

Details: 10 tonight. Club Skye, 1509 Eighth Ave., Ybor City. (813) 247-6606.

A musical tribute to salty, cured breakfast meat seems long overdue, doesn't it? Local rapper and song parody man Big Cheese responds to Plies' hit Becky with Weird Al-style track, Gimme Dat Bacon. "Belly's so big I can't do Yoga / Have two sandwiches with some soda." Cheese, a.k.a. Jakeem Johnson, will perform at Skye, and high-flying Harlem rapper Jim Jones is also scheduled to appear.