Heavy Dates

by Joe Longone and Matt Ashare

WORCESTER: This Friday, April 18, the Espresso Bar hosts a benefit for Amnesty International featuring Communion and Poppy, Super Creb Star Dynomax, D-Con, and Roadsaw all plan to rock Ralph's, the Acoustic Planet bring the many sounds of folk to the Above Club, and Turtlehead stick their head out at the Firehouse Cafe. This Saturday, April 19, the Espresso Bar helps Bim Skala Bim celebrate their new CD release along with Shmoove Rufus, Zippo Raid, and Sgt. Scagnetti, there will be a Nauset reunion show at Greendale's Pub, the pop splendor of Totaro will be on display at Jillian's, the Women of Sodom will whip Sir Morgan's Cove into shape, Slipknot take their jam to the Plantation Club, some of the area's young turks, Cream Team (First and Last), Dialtones, and Twist 160, show their stuff at Ralph's, and the WAGFest continues at the Heywood Gallery's Pelvic Carnival. This Sunday, April 20, the Heywood Gallery, in association with the WAGFest, will present the poetry of Nicholas Karcasinas and the latest New-Age sounds of Leonid Rogash, Gilreins holds an early talent showcase (4 p.m.) featuring Plastic Soul, and Volcano erupt at the Eden International Club. This Wednesday, April 23, the Cove continues its battle with Squirm, Infuse, Cypher, and Spike, and the Tammany Club is into its best band semi finals. Next Thursday, April 24, Quintaine Americana, Barefoot Republic, and Jr. Birdman all perform at Ralph's, Rut, D-Con, and Purr appear at the Cove, and She's Busy sing up a storm at the Tammany Club. Next Friday, April 25, the music of Rebby Sharp, Angel Dean, and Bob Jordan can be captured at the Above Club, Another Planet soar at the Tammany Club, Clutch Grabwell will have a ball at the Plantation Club, and Arise, Dissolve, Times Expired, Human Being, and Rare Form all gather at the Espresso Bar.

-- Joe Longone

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: The Loud Festival, which moves from Northampton to Cambridge this year, brings together an impressive cross-section of the local underground as well as some promising out-of-towners. Highlights include NYC's Run On with the Scud Mountain Boys and others on April 19 upstairs at the Middle East (617-864-3278); the Irish buzz band Divine Comedy with England's Statuesque and others upstairs at the Middle East on April 19; NYC's punkabilly Speedball Baby with Japan's Guitar Wolf and former Butthole Surfer bassist Jeff Pinkus's Daddy Longhead on April 20 upstairs at the Middle East; Boston's own Fuzzy and the Dambuilders headlining downstairs at the Middle East on the 20th; an afternoon ska show and evening rockabilly ball on April 19 at the Greek American Political Club; Combustible Edison's Brother Cleve and the Millionaire hosting lounge-music parties on April 18, 19, and 20 at the Cantab Lounge; and an A&R showcase with Ramona Silver, Boy Wonder, Swizzle, Brilliantine, Clem Snide, Star Hustler, Richmond Fountaine, and Little Shining Man on April 20 at Small Planet. Call 617-492-5446.

Pearl Street (413-584-7771), in Northampton, counters with the Really Loud Festival, a three-day blowout of thrash-punk and ska-core bands that kicks off April 18 with Oi-punks the Business and continues on the 19th and 20th. And if that's not loud enough for you, Boston thrashers Tree tear it up with Killgore Smudge at Providence's Strand (401-272-0444) on April 19, Northampton's Pearl Street on April 25, and Mama Kin (617-351-2525), in Boston, on April 26 and 27.

Minneapolis's Soul Asylum are on the road with Johnny Bravo. They hit Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876), in Providence, on April 21 and Avalon (call 617-931-2000), in Boston, on April 22. Surf guitarist Dick Dale does his thing on April 23 at the Iron Horse (413-584-0610), in Northampton, at 7 p.m., after which the mighty Archers of Loaf join Skeleton Key for a 10 p.m. double bill. And on April 25, Dale turns up at Mama Kin and the Archers play downstairs at the Middle East.

-- Matt Ashare