Lots to do on the eve of Thanksgiving — because the holiday we have off from work involves alot of eating and lounging around and napping, so the night before is primed and ready for carousing. I've compiled a list of likely fun-having possibilities, all with their own pre-holiday drink specials and at least one with some gobble-worthy eats, too.
Wooden Indian Burial Ground—which plays New World— is the latest Portland band to earn a positive buzz from the likes of the New York Times and NPR, their riffy, expansive, grungy sci-fidelic garage rock sound marked by the haunting crowing Jack Black-eqsue vocal quality of bandleader/guitarist Justin Fowler. Alaskus, Sonic Graffiti and The Porch Sessions open. 9 p.m., New World Brewery, Ybor City, $TBD.
The Lou Collazo-led Brand New Opiates throwdown some damn fine pre-Turkey Day sounds — a mix of twangy roots rock, swampy gumbo blues, Euro-gypsy swing and shades of psychobilly and punk. 9:30 p.m., The Hub, downtown Tampa, free.
Orlando ska-reggae rockers The Supervillains land in upper Pinellas for to play a show with support from Johnny Cakes and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypso and Saganaki Bomb Squad. 8 p.m. doors, Orbit 19 Lounge, Holiday, free admission before 9 p.m., $3 after.
DJs Casper and LeSage — the fine fellas who normally bring you Ol' Dirty Sundays — are joined by DJ Fader for the 2nd Annual Drunken Turkey Fry in the Crowbar courtyard. Casper and Bossman Tom fry up three turkeys and serve the fixings free throughout the night (or until they run out). Indoors, the new humpday party "What You Need Wednesdays" (hosted by Chris Wood and DJ Silence) add some additional funky grooves to the classic hip-hop, reggae and soul party happening outside. 8 p.m. doors, Crowbar, Ybor City, free.
If you can deal with the Shepard's crowd, the beach resort is presenting Electric Beach Music Festival this Thanksgiving Eve, with three stages and more than a dozen DJs, including George Acosta, DJ Deville, Kid U Not, DJ Ray and Nerd Rage. 8 p.m.-3 a.m., Shepard's Beach Resort, Clearwater Beach, $10.
And finally, if you want to go to a real banger, Reign: 10th Anniversary of Czar celebrates the danceclub's longstanding tenure as part of Ybor City nightlife. All three rooms of The Ritz will feature DJs — Sloane with special guests spinning music that was hot when Czar opened in Cyberia, SIRIUS in the Main Theatre spinning hot current dance tunes, and NEIVA in the Revolution Room spinning tunes popular from between now and the '03 grand opening. 10 p.m., Czar at The Ritz Ybor, Ybor City, $10 (admission is free for all guest list attendees).