Heavy Dates

WORCESTER

Heavy dates

Thursday night kicks off with Muslecah, Dead City Rockers, and others keeping it punk at The Lucky Dog. On Friday night, the Unband return from a five-year exile to rock Ralph's with Phoenix writer/editor Mal Thursday and his Cheetahs. while Machinery Hall churns through the Alley and DJ Optimus Primus and DJ X-Kaliber wow the crowds with their disc-spinning dexterity at Mulligan's.

Saturday night is a must-go-out night. No excuses, too much good stuff going on. Tree celebrates its new CD at the Lucky Dog with Das Wheelchair, Donnybrook, and NOK. Mondo Topless, Downbeat 5, Nines, and the Fearless Leaders keep Wormtown alive at Ralph's and Clutch Grabwell makes a triumphant return to The Plantation Club. If that's not enough, cover bands run amok as 9-Teen plays it Steely Dan cool at Gilreins and the Wall gives the Tammany Club that eerie Pink Floyd feel.

-- Brian Goslow

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE

Erstwhile Canadian punks Propagandhi just released their first disc in five years, the bruisingly infectious Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes (Fat Wreck Chords). It's an early contender for pop-punk album of the year, and it's a good bet the ascendancy of George W. has got these radicals a little extra riled up -- regardless of what country they call home. Propagandhi are heading up a Fat Wreck Chords package tour that makes its only area stop Saturday at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, (401) 272-5876, in Providence with openers Avail, J Church, and Fabulous Disaster. California pop-punkers Counterfit and Tsunami Bomb are also headed this way: they'll be at the Middle East, (617) 864-3278, in Cambridge on Sunday, the Met Café, (401) 861-2142, in Providence on Monday, and Drifters, (603) 595-5200, in Nashua on Tuesday. Boston emocore guys Jericho will open the Providence show; they'll also be playing a pair of shows with the Stryder -- a benefit for the Marlboro Boys & Girls Club featuring Garrison, Eulcid, and a slew of others Saturday at the Civic League, (508) 875-5218, in Framingham, and an all-ages show Sunday at the Portuguese-American Club, (508) 222-9748, in Attleboro. On the rougher side of the all-ages spectrum, Hatebreed buddies Death Threat will be at New World, (781) 593-1300, in Lynn on Sunday with Mass metalcore monsters Killswitch Engage and a bunch more.

St. Patrick's Day fever begins in earnest on Wednesday with the Chieftains' annual stop at Symphony Hall, (617) 266-1200. Beyond that, you can take your pick of Irish rock bands -- both newcomers and old favorites. The Saw Doctors will be at the Paradise, (617) 423-6398, in Boston on Tuesday and Wednesday. The Prodigals celebrate the release of their new Dreaming in Hell's Kitchen (Grab) at the House of Blues, (617) 491-2583, in Cambridge on Saturday. Black 47 are at the Met Café on Friday and Seven Nations play Lilli's, (617) 591-1661, in Somerville with the Humming next Thursday, the 15th.

Tickets will be scarce for A Perfect Circle, and the big Pantera show in Lowell is sold out, but mainstream metal shows abound as usual in the suburbs. Ace Northampton rockers the Unband will be at Ralph's, (508) 753-9543, in Worcester on Friday, with garage rock dinosaurs Mal Thursday and the Cheetahs and trash-punk supergoup The Probates. The Lucky Dog, (508) 363-1888, will host Tree the following night, then Tree will move on to Karma, (617) 421-9595, in Boston on Sunday for a big all-ages show with 7th Rail Crew, Colepitz, and Superkollider. And Nuno Bettencourt's Mourning Widows will be at the Station, (401) 823-4660, in suburban Providence on Friday. Last and definitely least, the Monkees give it a go one more time at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium, (617) 931-2000, on Friday.

-- Carly Carioli