Goo Goos, Fray play St. Petersburg's Mahaffey

   If you're upset about missing the Goo Goo Dolls when they played in Tampa two months ago, rejoice. The boys from Buffalo are returning to the area in December.

Goo Goo Dolls

   They'll be heading a show called "Mix 100.7 Acoustic Christmas" on Dec. 13. Also on the bill is the Fray and ZZ Ward.
   The Goo Goo Dolls hit it big commercially with their single "Iris" in 1998 and they've just released their ninth album, "Magnetic."
   The Fray, a rock band from Denver, had a hit with their debut album, "How to Save a Life," in 2005. Their second album entered the charts at number 1 and earned a Grammy nomination.
   ZZ Ward sings soul, blues, pop and hip-hop. She's best known for her first single, “Put the Gun Down,” released earlier this year. 
   There's also a "special guest" that the people at the Mahaffey can't confirm. But the Goo Goo Dolls site says it's Michael Franti, which would be really cool.
   Tickets are $39 are $59, and there's a $139 VIP deal with extra goodies. You can order tickets or get information by phone at 727-893-7832 or online www.themahaffey.com.
   Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, but only to members of Mix 100.7’s VIP club. You can sign up at www.tampabaysmix.com, or you can wait till tickets go on sale to the general public on Oct. 18.

Ron White, Margo Rey play St. Peterburg.

  If you're looking for a non-traditional way to celebrate

Halloween, head across the bridge to St. Petersburg to Nova 535. Blue-collar comedian Ron White, Latin "king of comedy" Alex Raymundo and alt-pop singer Margo Rey will be on hand performing a benefit for a Sarasota group called Brides Against Breast Cancer.
   White, of course, is the gruff, cigar-chomping comic from the "Blue Collar Comedy" shows. He's written a best-selling books and earned gold records and Grammy nominations.  
   Rey's best known for her hit "Let the Rain," which she wrote with John Oates, and her Christmas song "This Holiday Night." Her current single "Tempted" is on the charts on the radio.
   Opening the show is Raymundo, who was featured in the Comedy Central special “The Original Latin Kings of Comedy."
   It's $75 and seating is limited. (Nova 535 has only 200 seats.) If you want to meet White and Rey, you get VIP tickets for $200. Call 888-721-4673 or go to www.nova535.com.
   Nova 535 is at 535 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N. in St. Petersburg.

Artist in Sarasota wants what you don't

   Lisa Hoke wants your refuse.
   The respected New York City artist, who's famous for transforming discarded everyday materials into beautiful works of art, will spend three weeks creating one of her innovative installations inside the Sarasota High School. 

Hoke with one of her creations

   Her finished work will be exhibited Jan. 15-Feb. 4 as part of the Ringling College/ Sarasota Museum of Art "ARTmuse" program. 
   Hoke uses huge amounts of everyday consumer materials to create epic, color-saturated assemblages. During her Sarasota project, she'll  create a site-specific installation inside the historic Sarasota High School, the future home of the Sarasota Museum of Art.
    “Castaway treasures become my tools for expression of beauty,”  Hoke said. “My room-sized collages are derived from cardboard and paper packaging, reflecting the amazing unappreciated properties of colorful disposable consumer products. My new installation for SMOA will continue my exploration of color and form in large-scale works.”
   She invites area residents to participate by donating their discarded cereal boxes, paper goods boxes, produce boxes, office supply boxes, shoe boxes, liquor boxes and things like that. She's looking for colorful stuff that's not ripped or crumpled, and nothing made of plastic, and she needs a lot of it.
    You can drop off your refuse 11 a.m-2 p.m. Oct.19, Nov. 9 and Dec, 14, at Sarasota High School, 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.
   Call 941-309-7662.

SNL's Jim Breuer performs in St. Petersburg

   Former "Saturday Night Live" cast member Jim Breuer, who's known for his spot-on impression of Joe Pesci and family-friendly comedy, is coming to St. Petersburg. He'll be at the Palladium Feb. 23.

Jim Breuer

   He started on "SNL" in 1995 and he's probably best remembered for his Goat Boy character. He then moved to the big screen, in "Half Baked," "Zookeeper," "Dick" and "Beer League." He also hosted  MTVs "Beach House" and VH1's "Web Junk 20."

    Tickets are $29, $39 and $49. They go on sale Oct. 18. You can get them online at www.mypalladium.org, by phone at 727-822-3590 or in person at the Palladium box office, 253 Fifth Ave. N., St. Petersburg, from noon-3 p.m. Wednesday-Friday.

Second Pickin' Picnic set for Bradenton Riverwalk

  One the most popular events thus far on Bradenton's Riverwalk was the "Pickin' Picnic" back in May.
   It was so popular, in fact, that Realize Bradenton already has another edition in the works. It's set for 4-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19.
   Live music is the main attraction -- this month's event features five bands, including nationally known, Bradenton-based Have Gun, Will Travel -- but there's also food from Suncoast Food Trucks, and 2nd Street Bistro will be operating the Pavilion's concessions stand. You're also welcome to bring your own food along with your blankets and lawn chairs.
   Here's the music lineup:

4-5 pm: Faceless Bandits. A fun-loving band comprised of three “old-school punk rockers” who put a spin on bluegrass with rockabilly and punk undertones. 5:15-6:15 pm: Geri X. This Bulgarian-born singer-songwriter’s music show is influenced by several genres including folk, psychedelic rock, Americana and post-rock. She has garnered a sizable fan base and critical acclaim in the Tampa Bay music scene. 6:30-7:30 pm: Waking Giants. This group of long-time friends and collaborators is genre jumping and draws from an amalgam of styles (rock, blues, funk, world beat and electronic) to create a one of a kind, infectious sound. Skillfully crafted songs supporting powerful, sultry and soulful vocals provided by Kat and DeLaran. 7:45-8:45 pm: Muphin Chuckrs. This crown favorite formed in 1999 and have remained a Central Florida staple for 14 years. With roots that begin in new school punk, the band has constantly written and reinvented their sound, touching on reggae, jazz, rock and metal along the way. Their diversified repertoire have allowed them to share stages with the likes of John Popper, Marcy Playground, Nappy Roots, and Toots and the Maytals. 9-10 pm: Have Gun, Will Travel. This award-winning band has a natural instinct for combining folk, pop, rock and classic country influences to create a sound all its own. “Their music has a great energy to it, with infectious, sing-along choruses and refrains,” remarked NPR’s Robin Hilton. American Songwriter called HGWT’s music “organic, infectious Americana pop. Their music has a refreshing immediacy to it.” - See more at: http://www.downtownmattersblog.com/?p=1041#sthash.TQKzfcW7.gJU0cHxl.dpuf

   4-5 p.m.: Faceless Bandits.  Bluegrass with rockabilly and punk undertones.

Have Gun. Will Travel

    5:15-6:15 p.m.: Geri X. This Bulgarian-born singer-songwriter  influenced by  folk, psychedelic rock, Americana and post-rock. 

   6:30-7:30 p.m.: Waking Giants. A blend of  rock, blues, funk, world beat and electronic) 

   7:45-8:45 p.m.: Muphin Chuckrs. Punk with touches of reggae, jazz, rock and metal.

   9-10 p.m.: Have Gun, Will Travel. Americana rockers with a national following who just released their fourth album.

   Admission is free. For information, go to www.realizebradenton.com.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2013/05/23/4536591/bradenton-bands-play-pickin-pinic.html#storylink=cpy

Author Tom Clancy dies at age 66

   What Ian Fleming and James Bond were to the 1960s, Tom Clancy and Jack Ryan were to the 1990s and the early part of the 21st century.
   Clancy, the author of "The Hunt for Red October" and dozens of other novels of military espionage and strategy, died Tuesday, Oct. 2. He was 66 year old.
   Clancy, like Fleming, wrote well-crafted and well-informed high-tech novels about  dashing heroes who kept the Western world safe as they traveled through a secretive world of intrigue and danger. 

Tom Clancy

   Both authors were prolific and created hugely successful novels -- some of the most popular of their eras -- that brought readers into exotic locations and situations. And both spawned movie series that became pop-culture phenomena and seem destined to continue forever. (They both crossed into the game world  too: Several video games features Jack Ryan, and a James Bond pinball machines was  popular in the 198
0s.) 
   And, like Bond, Jack Ryan is a character that all the best and handsomest leading me in Hollywood wanted to play. Every time a new actor was cast in the role, it was big news, fodder for celebration and debate.
   In honor of Clancy, here's a look at some of the actors who have portrayed his most famous hero so far:
  Alec Baldwin, "The Hunt for Red October." Kind of hard to imagine the "30 Rock" guy as a borderline superhero, but he set the standard for the Ryan character.
  Harrison Ford, "Patriot Games," "Clear and Present Danger." Still the actor a lot of people most associate with the role. 
  Ben Affleck, "The Sum of All Fears." Not the most popular Ryan.
  Chris Pine, "Jack Ryan: Shadow One." An upcoming movie based on Clancy characters. Kenneth Branagh directs so this could be a treat.
  

Sunshine Festival returns to St. Petersburg

  The Tedeschi Trucks Band, Leon Russell, Stanley Clarke and Hot Tuna are among the big-name acts scheduled for the second annual Sunshine Blues & Music Festival. 
  The festival comes to St. Petersburg's Vinoy Park at noon Jan. 19. It's in Boca Raton the day before.

Tedeschi Trucks Band

   Among the other acts on the lineup are Galactic, the Ringers featuring Jimmy Herring, Wayne Krantz, Michael Landau, Keith Carlock and Etienne Mbappe, Tab Benoit, Bobby Lee Rogers and Oli Brown. Organizers say more will be announced later.
   Tickets officially go on sale at 10 a.m. Oct. 7, but there's an "early bird" deal with special prices from 10 a.m. Oct. 2 until 10 p.m. Oct. 4. The regular tickets are $49.50; early bird prices are $39.50. Reserved tickets are available for $99.50.
   You can order by calling 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting www.livenation.com.