Heavy Dates

Friday is a cornucopia of punk action. The Time Beings headline the Above Club, the Pathetics return to rock the kiddies at Cafe Abba with Critical Condition, and New Yawk glam man Rick Blaze leads the Ballbusters out at the Blue Plate. For the heavier stuff, check out Tree and Colepitz at the Lucky Dog. Saturday Jujitsu go unplugged at Cool Beans, Dr. Bewkenheimer release a new demo disc at Ralph's with Seven Hill Psychos, and the majestic and magical Magonia headline the Heywood Gallery. Wednesday is the big Worcester Phoenix Best Music Poll kickoff at the Tammany Club. There will be lots of sooprises so come on down and shake some action.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE

Chicago-style indie gals Victory at Sea return from the road to a homecoming at the Milky Way Lounge and Lanes, (617) 524-3740, in Jamaica Plain, on March 10. Also on the bill are 27 -- a quiet band featuring the principals from two fairly loud bands, the Dirt Merchants and Spore -- and the suburban indie band Tigersaw. Tigersaw go on to a bill at the Gloucester Artspace, (978) 283-1381, on March 12 backing singer/guitarist Mara Flynn, who has recorded two albums (with her label boss, notorious Shimmy Disc honcho Kramer, on backing instruments) under the name Milksop Holly. Also on the bill: a solo shot by Dub Narcotic/Beat Happening/K Records honcho Calvin Johnson.

On their new Crown Royal (Arista), with guest spots from Kid Rock and Fred "Limp" Durst, Run-D.M.C. put on a rap-rock clinic for the new school. And then they head back to school themselves, on a jaunt that will bring them to New England no fewer than nine times over the next two months, including stops at Worcester State College, Brandeis University, Boston College, Rhode Island College in Providence, Fitchburg State College, UMass-Lowell, and Wheaton College. For the moment, though, they're at Toad's Place, (203) 624-8623, in New Haven, on March 13 and at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel,(401) 272-5876, in Providence, on March 14.

Now that Marilyn Manson's shaved his head, changed his name to a runic symbol, and started babbling conspiratorial cosmology -- i.e., finally gone off the deep end -- spooky kids will have to get their goth-metal fix from Coal Chamber and Type O Negative, who hit Avalon, (617) 423-6398, in Boston, on March 9 and Lupo's on March 10, with the Deadlights and Full Devil Jacket in tow. Or maybe from Detroit's Suicide Machines, now on Disney's Hollywood Records label, who look to follow Blink-182 into the pop-punk promised land when they hit the Skinny, (207) 871-8983, in Portland, Maine, on March 9 and the Met Café, (401) 861-2142, in Providence, on March 10 before meeting up with No Doubt for a tour that reaches Avalon on March 29.

-- Carly Carioli