Thursday•17
Electric Frankenstein Known nearly as much for their visual sense as for their face-pounding rock & roll, this long-running group has remained faithful to the sound of classic punk, distilling everything that's great about high-octane garage/street punk into a legendary live show. After a decade-and-a-half of existence, they've had a longer lifespan than most of their idols, and their experience shows in the brutal effectiveness of their anthemic, riff-heavy attack. (with Fashion Fashion & the Image Boys, Jeannie & the Tits; 10 p.m. at Will's Pub; all ages; $10; 407-898-5070)
Friday•18
Benefit to relocate Will's Pub The tributes, benefits and last-chance-evers are rolling out fast and furious for the final month of Will's Pub doing business on Mills Avenue. Jason Ferguson (our very own music editor) and Bao Le-Huu (music columnist for Orlandocitybeat.com) crossed the inter-company divide that separates them in order to pay tribute to the phenomenal contributions the Pub has made to Orlando's scene, while raising money to put toward the venue's eventual relocation. The handpicked lineup of some of Orlando's best bands — New Roman Times, the Punching Contest, History and Kingsbury — will rock the stage one last time, while acoustic performances by the equally impressive likes of Travis Adams (Inkwell), Matt Butcher (the Heathens), Mike Dunn and Christina Wagner will entertain the crowd between set changes. After the last band wraps up, a predictably drunken DJ brawl will ensue, with Le-Huu and Ferguson showing off their, um, collections. (8 p.m. at Will's Pub; $8; 407-898-5070)
The Meeting What would have happened had Martin Luther King Jr. met Malcolm X? Well, it actually happened once, after a March 1964 press conference in Washington, D.C. ... and it lasted all of a minute, giving the hugely influential African-American cultural leaders no time to discuss their wildly disparate ideologies. In writer Jeff Stetson's acclaimed first play, The Meeting, the two men get to have a more lengthy private debate, one that delves deeply into their conflicting methods and mutual goals. The latest Orlando-area interpretation of Stetson's speculative text is by the wonderfully named Think It's Not When It Iz theater group, which has been hosting poetry nights and occasional theatrical performances at founder/show director Sonya Hemphill's Pine Hills eatery, Clouds in My Coffee. A move to Uncle Lou's Lounge on South OBT for this latest production should help draw attention to the group's 2006-2007 season, an ambitious slate of six shows. (8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday, through Aug. 27 at Uncle Lou's Lounge; $15; $20 with Harlem chicken-and-waffle dinner, by advance reservation only; 407-970-1550)
Crealdé Cup-A-Thon This quirky, thrifty fund-raiser is an annual tradition at Crealdé School of Art, and there's not a high "sexy" value to the affair. There are tables filled with cups, mugs, all kinds of vessels from which to sip any beverage of choice. But they are unique and handcrafted, formed by art students (inexpensive) as well as the teaching artists (they cost more), and the critical eye of artist Vincent Sansone will guide the inventory. Even if you drop $3 on something fairly straightforward, you're still walking away with a potential gift or self-reward, as well as supporting local artists. It's no wonder that the event is so popular. (7 p.m.-10 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Crealdé School of Art; 407-671-1886)
The Klash Community leaders have employed the term "world-class" to numbing excess, but here are some true North American-class baseball games. The Olympic teams from Canada and Puerto Rico compete Friday; the U.S. plays Puerto Rico Saturday. After stretching their muscles and practicing public displays (i.e., sliding, striking, spitting) the warmed-up trio heads to Cuba for the Americas Olympic Qualifying Tournament. (7 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Osceola County Stadium; $10; 321-697-3200)
Saturday•19
An Evening With John Charles Musician John Charles is becoming synonymous with the Orlando Repertory Theatre's fund-raising efforts, having provided the entertainment at their last two annual benefits. It's easy to see why: A one-man font of melody and comedy, he's able to re-create several generations' worth of pop with just a guitar, his voice and some limited effects enhancement. Why, he can even turn in an amazing solo impersonation of Herb Alpert and his entire Tijuana Brass — a talent that, we recognize, may mean nada to folks in the sniveling-young-punk demographic of our readership. But our ear horns are greased and ready. (reception and silent auction 6 p.m., performance 8 p.m. at Orlando Repertory Theatre; $40; 407-896-7365, ext. 224)
Marcus Garvey Celebration Poets, drummers and others inspired by the 19th-century civil rights activist who sought economic and cultural independence for African-Americans honor what would be Garvey's 119th birthday (Aug. 17) at Orlando's newest Rastafarian eatery. The event, which kicks off weekly "consciousness nights," features entertainment by local spoken word enthusiasts, singers, musicians and anyone brave enough to take a chance at the open mic session. (8 p.m. at Ital Youths Rastaraunt; $3-$5; 407-298-2019)
National Reptile Breeders Expo Oh, you said herpetology? Whew. Hundreds of reptile enthusiasts gather for a series of seminars, demonstrations, auctions and an art show containing homages to cold-blooded creatures this weekend. Snakes, spiders, lizards and turtles featured in more than 650 exhibits, and a variety of books and supplies, slither into the Ocean Center for this annual event. The main attractions, however, are the giant boa constrictors. After all, who doesn't love a good cuddle at night? (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Ocean Center, Daytona Beach; $10; 386-254-4500)
Sunday•20
Severance Fest We hear that the benefit package for bartenders at Will's Pub is pretty crappy; something like a six-pack of PBR and black lung for anyone who's been there longer than a week. So this little festival — featuring an astonishing lineup of some of Orlando's best punk-rock bands — was put together by Sarah, one of the Pub's friendliest barkeeps. In lieu of rolling over her 401(k) into a pack of smokes and a half-tank of gas, she decided to take it upon herself to put on the show she wanted to see and, not surprisingly, bands like New Mexican Disaster Squad, Country Slashers, Fashion Fashion & the Image Boys, the Hamiltons and others were quick to say yes. Ten bucks gets you 10 bands, some barbecue and a whole afternoon and evening of saying, "Man, it sucks that this place is closing." (with the Hamiltons, Carlisle, New Mexican Disaster Squad, Suburban Lockdown, Fashion Fashion & the Image Boys, Polluted Youth, Country Slashers, Racin for Pinks, the Broomheads, Recycled Ruins; 3 p.m. at Will's Pub; all ages; $10; 407-898-5070)
The Furious Felons Tough girls on wheels — when will the unnecessary aggression stop? Not on Sunday, when the newly formed Furious Felons team from Central Florida takes on the Recon Rollers for their first full-length competition in an all-female flat-track roller derby league. The website thickly lays on the hot bodies/punk derby trash-talk. (Example: "These babes say they are ‘innocent until proven guilty,' but the evidence is stacking up against them, just like the body bags piling up in the corner of the rink — ouch!") But what's a sporting event without a little drama? (tailgate party 5 p.m.-7 p.m., bout 7 p.m.-9 p.m., all-skate 9 p.m.-10 p.m.; DeLand Skating Center, 1779 N. Spring Garden Ave., DeLand; $10-$12; 386-734-9444)
Contributors: Jason Ferguson, Amber Foster, Steve Schneider, Lindy T. Shepherd
