;Thursday•10
;Taken for Looks As we swarm to the ocean this weekend, we'll try to make room for a visit to the Southeast Museum of Photography's visual feast in addition to the typical fast-food fare that goes so well with saltwater. (It's a good way to cop some free air-conditioning, too.) Vittles may be the subject at question in the Taken for Looks: Imaging Food in Contemporary Photography exhibition, but as curated by Sarah Tanguy of Washington, D.C., what you see doesn't make you want to bring a fork to your mouth. In the catalog, Tanguy writes: "A quick scan of the photographic landscape reveals a telling nexus of food, fashion and fiction as well as a fusion of desires. … Once their seductive tendrils unfurl, visions of plenty yield only empty calories. Life turns to decay and death with no promise of renewal. Caught off guard, we realize that we've become the real subject of these images, not the food we can't touch." Tanguy comes to talk about her atypical selections Aug. 30, with a meet-and-greet at 6 p.m., followed by a 7 p.m. lecture, "Ghost of Desire." (through Sept. 1 at Southeast Museum of Photography, Daytona Beach Community College, Daytona Beach; free; 386-506-4475)
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;KOW And thus does the beginning of the end begin. In this, the last month of Will's Pub's current incarnation on Mills, we find a steady stream of the bands that made the joint's reputation as, well, the best bar in town for rock & roll. KOW, of course, is legendary for stretching the definitions of both "rock & roll" and "funk," as the loose-limbed grooves they spin out are informed by the diversity and and ability of the band members. Oh yeah, that lineup: Anthony Cole, Dan Fadel, Mike Fadel, Bobby Koelble, Matt Lapham, Pat McCurdy, Mike Ryan, Roland Simmons, Eugene Snowden — you know, just some of the best musicians in this city. (Snowden, by the way, might as well set up camp at Will's during August, he'll be playing there so often.) We were overjoyed by every single one of the KOW "reunions" over the last few years; though we're just as excited about this one, we're feeling a touch bittersweet about it all. After all, with Will's closed, where will these lovely miscreants want to play? (10 p.m. at Will's Pub; $10; 407-898-5070);
;;JD Natasha If you crafted some glib description of JD Natasha that included the words "Latin," "young" and "Avril Lavigne" you wouldn't be wrong. However, you'd probably also deserve to be socked in the jaw, because this singer-songwriter from Miami is actually possessed of the emotion and personality that people assume Avril's eyeliner indicates. As a teenager firmly rooted in American rock and alternative music, Natasha's decision to sing her songs in Spanish (she's fluent — her mom is Cuban-American, her dad is from Argentina) on her debut album has made her a novel presence in both the Latin rock community and in the mainstream of American music. That very novelty has meant an abrupt and interesting career path — when was the last time a three-time Latin Grammy nominee played the Social? — and with her sophomore disc scheduled for release later this year, it will be interesting to see which audience claims her as its own. (with Milka, Kool Us; 9 p.m. at the Social; $15; 407-246-1419)
;;OSC Rocks! You heard it here first, ladies and gentlemen: The Orlando Science Center "rocks" … or at least that's what they want you to think. Heck, who are we to disagree? Last week, they put up a trio of local bands that we'd never heard of and followed it up with a freakin' Pink Floyd laser light show. This week, they're doing the same, except we've actually heard of one of the bands (local emo rockers Early Next Year). Even though you'll be missing the Led Zeppelin laser light show to watch the bands, don't worry your baked little brain over it; the psychedelic transcendence of both the Zeppelin and Floyd laser shows continues on Fridays and Saturdays throughout August. For the record, yes, we know that laser light shows are perhaps the cheesiest, most hackneyed small-town version of "cool" ever. And, yes, we know that only annoying ironists, bored teenagers and shiftless heshers will be in attendance. And yes, we still love ‘em anyway. (7 p.m. at Orlando Science Center; $5 for bands and Pink Floyd show, $9.95 for one laser show, $12.95 for two; all ages; 407-514-2000)
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;Pieces for a PURE Planet ;GO PURE, or for the clueless (like us), the Greater Orlando Public Urban Ritual Experiment, is hosting a night of performances from around the world in support of Greenpeace International and Defenders of Wildlife. The night promises a variety of drummers and dance styles, such as Middle Eastern, samba, bellydance and modern dance. The Shredd Theatre Troupe and Voci Dance Company, among other local performers, are scheduled to host a variety of vignettes. Darshan, the co-founder of GO PURE's parent organization, will be headlining the event. (7 p.m. at Studio Theatre; $10; 407-872-2382)
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;The Pull of Paradise: Images from Florida Springs It can't be said enough: The F state's freshwater springs and the ancient geological conditions that created them are unique. Such a system doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. At this sweltering time of year, if you can't submerge your inner-tubed self into one of the natural chill holes, you can at least psych yourself into a cool state by remembering that we all walk on water in Central Florida, however many inches of sand and limestone pad the connection. Inspired by our fountains of youth, UCF art professor Rebecca Schrock and a group of her students collaborated on a photographic and multimedia exhibition titled The Pull of Paradise: Images From Florida Springs. Schrock says, "This new work examines the occupied terrain at the mouth of Florida's rivers. These crystal-clear natural springs, connected through the vast network of the Florida aquifer, draw thousands of visitors each day. These images look at these visitors in the landscape — from tourists to locals, caretakers to afternoon swimmers." The artist will say more at an informal talk 10 a.m. Aug. 24, and there's a closing reception 10 a.m. Aug. 29 — both are early in the morning, before the sun grows merciless. (through Aug. 30 at UCF Art Gallery; parking $5; 407-823-3161)
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;; Contributors: Jason Ferguson, Amber Foster, Lindy T. Shepherd
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