Heavy Dates

Say what you will about the ups and downs of the live music scene, but there's little doubt that the Worm offers a pretty diverse selection of style -- same as all them big, fancy cities like Dallas, Philly, LA, and Boise. On Friday, local raggae officially makes the leap to CD with a release party for Jah Spirit's new disc. It's loaded with a dozen original tunes and a groovy Smokey Robinson cover; you can now catch the spirit live at the Tammany Club, and then take a copy home on the way out the door. Over at the Lucky Dog, it's the return of Beantown heavyweights Rippopotamus. They're pushing a new single in the hopes of a little national attention, but we aren't holding our breath. Get there early to check out the manic panic tossed out by the worthy Top Hat Charlie. Meanwhile, the almost-resuscitated Ralph's (it's still on the respirator, but the pulse is much stronger these days) goes loud and proud with Shortfuse, Skulltobban, and Leicester's favorite sons Dogleg. Well, maybe not favorite sons. Drunkest sons might be more accurate. Either way, we say, Go Wolverines! Saturday is quite a conundrum for fans of quality Rock Action. Huck celebrate the release of their third disc Nothing To Hold on to But a Grudge. Under different circumstances we'd say it's the band's finest moment, but we just got an earful of the stuff they recorded last month. Now we're forced to say "stay tuned," because this band have another beauty up their sleeve. The always-tuneful Curtain Society and Thinner (who, like Huck, have another stunner disc cooking) open for Huck at the Lucky Dog. Meanwhile, the Deal bash out their pop ditties Who-style at the Firehouse Cafe, the Swinging Steaks hit the Sit N' Bull Pub, and Young Neal and the Vipers unleash their killer blues-rock attack at Jillian's. It's a Phoenix Best Music Poll event, so stop on in and win something cool -- like a T-shirt made from a lovely 50/50 cotton blend. Who loves ya, babe? The Phoenix, that's who. Ah Sunday, a day built for rest, relaxation, and bathing your tired eyes with Visine. And what could be better than a little cabaret music? Normally, anything up to and including a big kick in the ass, but this gig is of no (monetary) cost to you, so you've little to lose. Valerie Sneade and Fred Frabotta warble gratis at Borders in Shrewsbury. And speaking of free, here's a little tip from your old pal, John -- free Jazz, good. Free Jazz, bad. Learn the distinction because, believe me, you don't want to make that mistake more than once.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE

A startling mixture of the sacred and profane, the Brazilian contralto Virginia Rodrigues can float ethereal hymns over a string section or give body to the exuberant carnival chants of her native Bahia. Rodrigues is at the Somerville Theatre, (617) 876-4275, on April 8 and at the State Street Church, (207) 761-1545, in Portland, Maine, on April 9. In the wake of the success of Catie Curtis's A Crash Course in Roses (a "folk-rock goddess" according to the New Yorker), Rykodisc is re-releasing the Cambridge singer/songwriter's first two albums and sending her on the road. She's at the Iron Horse, (413) 584-0610, in Northampton, Thursday (April 6), then goes to Providence to open for Tracy Chapman at Meehan Auditorium, (800) 488-1000, Friday. In barely related deity news, jazz goddess Diana Krall plays a one-off at the Calvin Theatre, (413) 586-8686, in Northampton, on April 8.

Chicago lads the Alkaline Trio do caffeinated punk pop without that starchy Blink-182 aftertaste -- think Samiam with the faintest hint of early U2 -- on their new Maybe I'll Catch Fire (Asian Man). They're at the Met Café, (401) 861-2142, in Providence, on April 11 and the Middle East, (617) 864-3278, in Cambridge, on April 12.

Brandeis University, (781) 529-5242, in Waltham, hosts the "Great Horned Festival," which has something to do with a tortured exiled Tibetan -- never a good sign -- and music by Run D.M.C., Less Than Jake, and the still Natalie Merchant-less 10,000 Maniacs. And if you've got friends at Bridgewater State University, (508) 531-1000, you might want to give 'em a ring. Past participants in the Spitfire Tour -- which brings together rocker types and activists on a speaking-engagement swing that travels to colleges -- have included Rage Against the Machine's Zack de la Rocha (who co-founded the tour) and Jello Biafra; the version that hits Bridgewater State on April 13 offers Michael Franti (Spearhead/Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy) speaking on "Staying Human" (uh . . . okay, dude, you too), X's Exene Cervenka on "Society's Toll on the Individual," and Moon Unit Zappa on "The Flaws of Gravity." It's free, but open only to students "and their guests."

-- Carly Carioli