Heavy Dates

by Matt Ashare

This Friday, April 4, the Wonderland Festival commences at WPI's Harrington Gymnasuim with Cast Iron Hike, Weston, Bane, Barrit, and Follow Through in concert, Boston's latest sensations El Dopa play along with Rut at Ralph's, Slipknot jam at the Above Club, the Westies, Sloppy Joe, Edison, Cultivators, and Javatones party at the Espresso Bar, the Movers get folks moving at Gilreins, Cactus bring country swing to Captain Ron's, and Bob Jordan entertains at Eleni's. This Saturday, April 5, Black Rose Garden return to Ralph's, all hell will break loose when Native Rage, Super Creb Star Dynomax, 7 Dead, and SBGB show up at Sir Morgan's Cove, have some tasty blues while enjoying your Pu Pu platter when Young Neal and the Vipers entertain at the Wong Dynasty, Toni Lynn Washington sings up a storm at Gilreins, the new musical showcase the Eco Village will be filled with the talents of Julian Russell, Blind Pineapple Phillips, Mike Ladd, and the Passing-Lane Guitar Ensemble, Inspector 7, 7/10 Split, Cobra Skamander, and the Dialtones gather at the Espresso Bar, and Pamela Means appears at Eleni's. This Sunday, April 6, the Espresso Bar hosts an afternoon hardcore-fest with Lordz of Brooklyn, Eastcide, 7th Rail Crew, East Coast Psychos, and J-Base. This Monday, April 7, one of Worcester's more popular outfits, Another Planet, perform at the Plantation Club. This Wednesday, April 9, the Battle continues at the the Cove with Cringe, Voodoo Butter, and Hypnotic Kick, and there is a War of Recognition happening also at the Tammany Club when New Pond Fondle, Prehistories, and Lee Totten and the Real World Band vie for top honors. Next Thursday, April 10, Puddle, Inhale Mary, and the Measles bring the best of new rock to Ralph's, NE Hostility, 3 1/2 Girls, and Fragment rock Sir Morgan's Cove, and She's Busy bring beautiful harmonies to the Tammany Club. Next Friday, April 11, the Blue Hornets celebrate their new CD at Gilrein's, Jon Svetkey brings his great originals to the Above Club, Joe Macey brings his new band to Captain Ron's, and Classic American Hamburger, Leticia, Driftwod, Silve Si Dog, and the Deadites crowd into the Espresso Bar.

-- Joe Longone

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: North Carolina's jitterbugging Squirrel Nut Zippers are finally playing big enough venues for some serious dancing. So try to make room up front for anyone who knows how to do the Charleston, or just improvise your own version of swing-era rug-cutting when the band hit the Roxy (call 617-931-2000), in Boston, on April 4 and Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876), in Providence, the following night -- a benefit for the Amos House. Cigar Store Indians open both shows.

The guys in Max Creek have been doing their own version of Grateful Dead jamming for a quarter of a century now. So it's safe to assume that they'll know what they're doing when their 25th-anniversary tour brings them to the Living Room (401-521-5200), in Providence, on April 4 and the Somerville Theatre (call 617-931-2000), in Somerville, on April 5. There's no opening band for either show because that would cut into Creek's jamming time. And if you like what you hear at their shows, you might want to check out the like-minded, if somewhat more pop-oriented, Samples when they swing through the area next week. They'll play April 12 at Avalon (617-262-2424), in Boston, and April 17 at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel.

Two fine singer-songwriters with tortured souls are also on their way to the Northeast. Hailing from Portland, Oregon, Elliot Smith has a punk spirit, pop instincts, and a knack for writing some of the best rough-hewn indie-folk tunes around. He's supporting a new disc on Kill Rock Stars with a tour that lands at the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Cambridge, on April 10 and at the Elvis Room (603-436-9189), in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the following night. Former John Mellencamp violinist Lisa Germano also specializes in baring her soul in song, and she'll prove it April 11 at the Paradise (617-562-8800), in Boston, and April 12 at Pearl Street (413-584-7771), in Northampton.

-- Matt Ashare