School's Out, Rock Out, Help Out

Next Wednesday, Dec. 6, will be the last day of classes for University of Florida students. Though the poindexters might start studying for the next week's exams that night, the Music and Entertainment Industry Student Association has a far superior plan for that evening.


At 9 p.m. at The Side Bar they are hosting a benefit for music education in Alachua County Schools. How great is that? Admission and your support cost only $5.


I will be opening for The Patrick McDuffy AllStars, Flying Bagels of Cadence, and Subject to Change. Three great bands, and myself, and we're all doing it for the kids.


So forget your classes, your exams, your worries and your cares and head down to The Side Bar next Wednesday night. And rememeber, it's supporting the future local artists of Gainesville.

In Keeping With The New Approach...

In an effort to give you the opportunity to plan ahead, especially during the busy Thanksgiving holiday, I'm highlighting this Saturday's 9 p.m. show at 1982. Admission will cost $5.


You'll be seeing one of Gainesville hardcore's most popular bands, Battle!. With the attitude, talent and showmanship capable of converting even the most reluctant audience member to appreciate hardcore. They are more than a safe bet for a great show.


There will also be a rare treat for mention in this blog: the metal band, Cocytus. These guys are looking for a new guitarist, but that won't stop the show from going on this Saturday.

It will be an interesting mix, hardcore punk and metal. Hopefully I'll see you there.

An Early Notice for a Saturday Show

Normally I would probably post about this Saturday's show at Common Grounds on Friday, but I often feel that there isn't enough time between my post and the show for readers to attend.
I stumbled upon this show through the blog belonging to the headlining band, Squeaky. Having myself performed as the opener for the show's opening act, Hospitals on the Moon, it caught my eye.

The Music Venues of Gainesville

It has come to my attention (after reading the long list of responses to MarsIsLonely's question about Gainesville's most article-worthy venues) that I have failed to outline a list of venues. If my mantra is going to be, "the best way to discover great local music is to go to a show," then I'd better tell you where the venues are in The Ville.

	919 W. University Ave.
Abbey Road	238 W. University Ave.
	15 N. Main St.
Backstage Lounge	1315 S. Main St. (formerly Eddie C's)
	1 W. University Ave.
	210 S.W. 2nd Ave.
The Downtown Plaza	On the corner of S.E. 1st St. and E. University Ave.
Durty Nelly's Irish Pub	208 W. University Ave.
	120 S.W. 1st Ave.
Orange and Brew	Below the Reitz Union on the University of Florida's campus
	15 S.W. 2nd St.
The Shamrock	1017 W. University Ave.
Tim and Terry's Music and More	1417 N.W. 1st Ave.

If I have left out your favorite venue, please leave me a comment and I will update the list. Any exclusion is purely accidental, I want to include every venue that features local artists. Thank you in advance for your input.

For Whom The Morningbell Tolls...

It may be too soon to call Morningbell a Gainesville powerhouse just yet, but they're certainly a rising star. You can catch them this Thursday, 10 p.m., at The Shamrock. Admission costs $5.



Their sound is entirely their own, though I find the delightfully disjointed pseudo-psychedelic style to be very similar to Built To Spill. Even without playing their own material, they had a show-carrying performance during their Fest V show at The Shamrock where they played only covers of other Gainesville bands.



If you're looking for a good show this week, Morningbell are more than worth the admission price, and they are a safe bet to avoid disappointment no matter who they take the stage after.

You Sure Are Pretty When I'm Bluesy

The number of times they've put this show on says it all. The Fourteenth Annual Downtown Blues Fest begins tonight, Friday, Nov. 3. And don't bother checking your pockets for loose change just yet, because this show is free.

The show is being put on by the Gainesville-based North Central Florida Blues Society. They have a variety of events in this region of the state in the near future.

But we like to keep it local in the Ville, so before you head downtown to the corner of S.E. 1st Street and E. University Avenue, take a listen to Used Blues. They're playing at 7 p.m.

Their music clips on myspace aren't the greatest, but they have some videos on their website that do their best to make up for it. Just below the videos on the page they have a wide selection of songs available for download.

Blues is where it all began, as far as the Ville is concerned, so let's all enjoy a free show with our hometown boys who can pluck out some down-home bluesy tunes.