Heavy Dates

by Joe Longone and Matt Ashare

WORCESTER: This Friday, April 11, the Blue Hornets appear at Gilreins, Jon Svetkey and the Loomers perform at the Above Club, Classic American Hamburger, Leticia, Driftwood, Silve Si Dog, and the Deadites rock the Espresso Bar, She's Busy bring their beautiful harmonies to Greendale's Pub, and the Joe Macey Band start a two-night stand at Captain Ron's. This Saturday, April 12, the Strangemen and the Derangers bring the sounds of the surf to Ralph's, Rebound have their CD-release party at the Espresso Bar, East Coast Psychos, Rut, Gillyus Thunderhead, and Infuse make a big racket at Sir Morgan's Cove, the Deal plan to get 'em dancing at the Tammany Club, and the WPI Jazz Ensemble swing into the Green Rooster Coffeehouse. This Sunday, April 13, roots guitarist Dale Watson plugs into the Plantation Club, King Addis appears at the Eden International Club, and Fragment, Times Expired, Fallen, Incite, Duncan Wilder, and Fall From Grace get together for an afternoon show at the Espresso Bar. This Monday, April 14, Another Planet plan another party at the Plantation Club. This Wednesday, April 16, the WAGFest kicks off at the Above Club, Sir Morgan's Cove continues its band Battleground weekly competition with Heckling Nun, Machine Gun Kelly, Damit Dolls and Gateway, and the Tammany Club is into the semi-finals of its Battle of the Bands. Next Thursday, April 17, the legendary Jimmy Rogers stops into the Plantation Club, Boston's bad boys Tree join Stuck Mojo, Killgore Smudge, and Nothing Face at Sir Morgan's Cove, Colorblind and the Deadites are featured at Ralph's 18+ night, and Mike Ladd plays at Shorty's. Next Friday, April 18, the Espresso Bar hosts a benefit for Amnesty International featuring Communion and Poppy, Super Creb Star Dynomax, D-Con, and Roadside can be seen at Ralph's, and Turtlehead pop out at the Firehouse Cafe.

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: A couple of groups with local ties come through the area on headlining tours this weekend. The modern-rocking Boston trio Orbit, who are out promoting their well-crafted A&M debut with like-minded labelmates Blinker the Star, hit the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Cambridge, on April 12, with Boy Wonder opening, and the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence, on April 13. And the now LA-based funk-metal-rap outfit Powerman 5000 support their DreamWorks debut with gigs on April 13 at the Middle East and April 14 at the Living Room (401-521-5200), in Providence. The hard-hitting female trio Sexpod join Powerman for both shows.

Chris Collingwood, a clever guitar-playing singer/songwriter who spent a couple of years playing countrified pop in Boston with a band called the Mercy Buckets, is back in town to play the Paradise (617-562-8800) with his wonderfully Weezery band Fountains of Wayne and openers Sloan on April 15. Fountains also play the Living Room on April 17. Oh, and Alanis-style woman-in-rock Kristen Barry will have the honor of opening for Boston guitarslinger Nuno (Bettencourt), formerly of Extreme, on April 13 at the Strand (401-272-0444), in Providence, before headlining her own show on April 18 at Bill's Bar (617-421-9678), in Boston.

Groove-poppers the Samples have already sold out their April 12 show at Avalon (call 617-931-2000), in Boston. But they've booked a second show at the same venue with openers Sweet Maynard and the Sassy Sailors on April 13. They'll also be in Providence with Guster opening on April 17 at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel. The Canadian instrumental rock outfits Phono-Comb and the Sadies join forces on April 15 at the Middle East and April 16 at the Met Café. And Chicago jump-blues revivalists the Mighty Blue Kings hook up with Boston's suave loungesters on April 16 at the Middle East and with DJ Hula Bomb at the Met Café on April 17.