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You Are Here: Home » Things to Do » Culture » Rockin' Venues »
Rockin' Venues
By Mischa B. Vieira-Kirby
My music-loving hippie parents left big shoes for me to fill in terms of musical attunement. They drove around the country in a van with me as a baby; they owned several music stores and my dad has even been mistaken for David Crosby (thankfully Melissa Ethridge didn’t put a call into the Vieira house when she was looking to conceive).
Despite my brain being filled to the brim with pop/rock culture by the time I was eight, I would fail miserably at a round of “Name that Tune.” I do know a good party, though, and that’s what counts when you’re going to a concert. Come with me on this tour of the best places to hear live music along Florida’s Beach, from national acts like They Might Be Giants and Blues Traveler to our own local bands that rock with the best of them.
For as long as I can remember, Jannus Landing has been the spot for a concert in St. Petersburg. The place bills itself as the state’s oldest and largest outdoor concert spot, and while I can’t vouch for the age, the sound of guitar riffs bouncing off the brick walls of the courtyard and echoing downtown always charms me.
The crowd and the music acts that come here are an eclectic mix. The Cowboy Junkies may be playing one night only to be followed by the rock group Yellowcard, pop singer Pink and then Dwight Yoakam. Classic acts like Joan Baez and Iggy Pop have also played at Jannus, named for the aviator Tony Jannus who opened the first regularly scheduled passenger airline between St. Petersburg and Tampa. With room for only 1,500, local bands may be exposed to their largest audience yet and national names get to play for a more intimate crowd than large arenas. Ticket prices typically range from $12 to $25
Nearby is State Theatre, an old movie house that welcomes music and comedy acts, or musical comedy like one of my favorites, Stephen Lynch. There are still seats in the balcony and rear of the theater, but a large dance floor opens up the place for standing room during the concerts. The 1924 building was actually first a bank before the depression, which explains the white columns and arches, but it seems to have found its calling as a concert hall outlined with red neon lights.
Inside the dark building, the music loudly plays. People say the concerts at the State are a little louder and a little wilder. Okay, maybe a lot louder and a lot wilder. Well, what can you expect from a small 5,000-square-foot venue that attracts performers like George Clinton and Skid Row? At the State, there’s definitely a chance of discovering a new band with music genres ranging from punk and hardcore to ethnic and avant garde. Ticket prices typically range from $10 to $15.
Also in downtown St. Petersburg is The Bank. The Bank is half-club, half-concert venue. Funk bands and acoustic acts take the stage midweek, and on Friday and Saturday nights DJs spin for a large college crowd. The drinks are cheap ($1.50 for a beer and $2 shots are some of the specials), and the vibe is nothing but fun in this old Savings & Loan building. Be sure to look around at the walls while visiting because The Bank features the work of local artists. Usually the pieces are for sale.
Outside of St. Petersburg you’ll find Gasoline Alley in Clearwater. The Alley used to be a biker bar, but today has a more mixed crowd that comes to hear local blues, rock and occasionally jazz. While listening to music you can nosh on fajitas or play pool away from crowd. There’s even a spot at the bar for sports fans who want to check in on the game between music sets.
You can’t talk about concerts in Clearwater without mention of Ruth Eckerd Hall. This concert hall is just that – a hall, and the upholstered seats and soft lighting will make you want to clean up a little to see favorites like Melissa Ethridge, Al Green, B.B. King and even Ted Nugent, as well as today’s popular acts like Train and Tori Amos. With room for just less than 2,200, Ruth Eckerd Hall is a great place to relax and see a personal and intimate performance.
Finally, in the northern reaches of the Florida’s Beach area is the truly funky Neptune Lounge in Tarpon Springs. The Neptune Lounge features all original music and local bands from throughout the area, five nights a week. What makes it so unique, though, is that half of the Lounge is a bicycle shop. The owner had a passion for music and cycling, so he opened the Lounge to serve both of his hobbies. By day customers pull off the nearby Pinellas Trail for flat tires or gear adjustments and by night they come in for cold beer and great tunes.
Happy concert-going for those of you looking to discover what goes on along Florida’s Beach when the sun sets.
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Copyright ©2008 St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. All rights reserved.