It's so damn refreshing when you hear an artist who just exudes raw talent and a white-hot attitude. Have you ever heard of Joanna Connor? Maybe not. But is that such a surprise? Let's look around at what the music industry is offering us. Patronizing annual issues of Rolling Stone and Spin offer their "Women in Rock" cover stories (it's comforting to know that Christina Aguilera can nestle a purdy guitar between her nubile, heavily bronzed breasts and suddenly she "rocks"), and the boys of emo are trapped in emotional jails, writing tear-soaked letters about all the nameless girls who have done them wrong. Maybe Connor should kick their collective asses. And she probably could, too. The Chicago blues singer and guitarist has firm roots in Southern rock and an obvious admiration for the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and the Allman Brothers. Her album Big Girl Blues showcases her trademark slide-guitar sound and sultry voice as she dutifully avoids the "my man done me wrong" lyrics and instead attempts to meld rock 'n' roll to blues. Check out her chops and get schooled in the blues at Alligator Alley (1321 E. Commercial Blvd., Fort Lauderdale) at 9 p.m. for a special Thanksgiving show. Cost is $6. Call 954-771-2220. -- Audra Schroeder
Seein' Green
Who doesn't have a tenor trio these days?
SUN 11/30
Ever since those first Three Tenors gained wide acclaim and offered a glimmer of hope that classical music could actually enjoy crossover popularity, we've been inundated by Three Tenor clones. There's the Welsh National Opera's Three Other Tenors. And who could forget the African-American Three Mo' Tenors? The Irish Tenors -- Anthony Kearns, Finbar Wright, and Ronan Tynan -- will appear at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts (701 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach) at 8 p.m. Sunday for a Christmas-themed show. Tickets cost $30 to $65. Call 561-832-7469. In the meantime, we'll be putting together our Three New Times Tenors to cash in. Buy our record, coming soon. -- Dan Sweeney
