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Music Planner: Holiday fun from the Fray, Beach Boys; heavy metal from Five Finger Death Punch

 
The Fray, who perform at the Mix 100.7 Mistletoe Show on Friday at the Mahaffey Theater.
The Fray, who perform at the Mix 100.7 Mistletoe Show on Friday at the Mahaffey Theater.
Published Dec. 7, 2016

KISS THIS: Mix 100.7 Mistletoe Show

You might not have expected it from an adult-alternative station, but in just a couple of years Mix 100.7's Mistletoe Show has become the quirkiest and arguably most entertaining year-end radio concert in town. The first shows brought engaging, interactive performances from twinkle-eyed charmers like Rob Thomas, Matt Nathanson and Train's Pat Monahan. This year's lineup feels a little more sad 'n' serious, with piano-rockers the Fray (How to Save a Life) and soulful grungers Blue October (Hate Me) leading the charge. But there's also the ever-Bubbly Colbie Caillat and sensitive singer-songwriter Joshua Radin (These Photographs), who might be able to connect one-on-one with the intimate crowd. In two years, that's one thing we've learned about the Mistletoe Show — whatever your expectations going in, it's likely to surprise you. 7 p.m. Friday. Mahaffey Theater, 400 First St. S, St. Petersburg. $35 and up. (727) 892-5767. themahaffey.com.

HEAVY HITTERS: Five Finger Death Punch

These are tough times for riff-roaring metal outfit Five Finger Death Punch. The band has risen to heavy music's A-list thanks to the twin guitar assault of Zoltan Bathory and Jason Hook, and a range of sledgehammerin' influences — glam metal, power metal, thrash metal, nu metal, you name it. But last week, the band announced vocalist Ivan Moody had "fallen ill" and would be replaced for the rest of this tour by All That Remains singer Phil Labonte. What happened to Moody isn't exactly clear, though in one recent performance he stated he "just melted down" and professed empathy for the recently hospitalized Kanye West. "Ivan is our brother," Bathory said in a statement, "and we fully and wholeheartedly support him taking care of himself so he can get well as soon as possible." So their concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Amalie Arena, 401 Channelside Drive, will feel a little different from your average Five Finger Death Punch show. But the band is soldiering on alongside Shinedown, whose Jacksonville roots come across loud and proud in their southern-influenced hard rock; As Lions, featuring vocalist Austin Dickinson (the son of Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson); and Sixx:A.M., featuring Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx. $37.50 and up. (813) 301-2500. amaliearena.com.

BY SANTA'S BEARD: The Beach Boys

As Brian Wilson travels the globe playing Pet Sounds for the final time live, his ex-Beach Boys bandmates Mike Love and Bruce Johnston are crisscrossing the country on their Little Saint Nick bobsled and bringing their annual holiday tour to Ruth Eckerd Hall at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. A grinch might point out the distinction between Wilson's loving farewell to one of the great pop albums ever written, and Love's jingle-hoppin' jaunt through the jukebox. But in this season of kindness and charity, let us not forget the popularity of these holiday tours, during which Beach Boys completists get their annual fill of holiday hits like The Man With All the Toys. And you'll still get a whopping selection of summertime classics like 409, Wouldn't It Be Nice and California Girls, among many others. Beach Boys shows at Ruth Eckerd tend to sell out, so grab your tickets early for $40 and up. (727) 791-7400. rutheckerdhall.com.

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ALTERNATIVE TAKE: Music of Peter Gabriel and Tori Amos

Credit pianist Jeremy Douglass for one of the coolest projects to emerge in the local music scene this year, a 15-odd-member collective of classical and jazz musicians obsessed with the alt-pop of yesteryear. Dubbed the Florida Bjorkestra, the group has gathered in St. Petersburg to perform lush, intricate arrangements of songs by Bjork and Kate Bush. Next up is Red Rain: The Music of Peter Gabriel and Tori Amos. With vocalists Ronnie Dee and Whitney James playing Gabriel and Amos, the group will bring songs like In Your Eyes and Cornflake Girl to life with strings, horns and layered vocals. 6 p.m. Sunday at the Palladium's Side Door Cabaret, 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. $20 and up in advance. (727) 822-3590. mypalladium.org.