Heavy Dates

by Joe Longone and Matt Ashare

WORCESTER: This Friday, May 16, the kings of Grafton meet when Popgun Picnic, Twist 160, and Gas Food Lodging appear at Marley's, the Westies, Radiolaria, and Tizzy rock Ralph's, get the Shirley Lewis Experience at Gilreins, the Sonic Explorers jazz up the Above Club, and Grimlock, Drained, Rebound, and Skkofant crash into each other at the Espresso Bar. This Saturday, May 17, the Above Club closes for the summer with their "Fabulous Last Night Until Fall" party that will feature the Above Club All-Stars and Blue Suede, the Espresso Bar welcomes rockers Drop Kick Murphys, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, the Trouble, and Sticker, Slipknot jams at the Plantation Club, Controlled Aggression, H8 Machine, NE Hostility, and War Horse plan to shake up Sir Morgan's Cove, popular local singer/songwriter Julian Russell is at the Java Hut, and the Blue Hornets will cause a buzz at the Wong Dynasty. This Monday, May 19, check out Gilreins blues workshop hosted by Patrick Murphy. This Wednesday, May 21, catch the cool jazz sounds of the Jim Porcella Trio at Tom Foolery's, and the latest new groups Rogue, Top Dead Center and Awakening Stick at Sir Morgan's Cove. Next Thursday, May 22, the Worcester Phoenix Awards Party celebration kicks off at the Tammany Club with She's Busy, the Charley Dee Blues Band, and the Curtain Society, this week's Oink! showcase at Ralph's features Forced Fed Shovelhead, and Big John Studd (18+), Third Eye, World of Concentric Circles, Gateway, and Race bring experimental sound to the Cove, and Bret Hart entertains at the Espresso Bar. Next Friday, May 23, the Worcester Phoenix Best Music Poll Award parties shift to the Cove with Super Creb Star Dynomax, Guerrero, Infuse, MINDfield, and SBGB and at the Espresso Bar with Puddle, Gas Food Lodging, the Westies, and Twist 160. Other shows of note about town are Another Planet at the Tammany Club, Clutch Grabwell at the Plantation club, and Rut, Big Lick, and Porn Star at Ralph's.

-- Joe Longone

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: Remember the first cast, also known as the "New York" cast, of MTV's Real World? Well, then, you may remember Rebecca Blasband, the New York group's aspiring singer/songwriter. It took a couple years, but she finally landed herself a deal with Mercury, and she's out supporting her first disc, the slickly produced pop offering Rapt, with a Northeast residency tour. She plays the Living Room (401-521-5200), in Providence, on May 15, with Blind Ambition, Charlie Squash, and Dr. Zeus opening, before making the last of three weekly appearances at Mama Kin (617-351-2525), in Boston, on May 21 with Son of Lucy.

The exemplary groove outfit Medeski Martin and Wood hook up with funkster Maceo Parker for the last of Gamelan Productions and Jordi Herold Presents' first annual "Road Trip '97" concert series. They're joined by Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise on May 16 at the Orpheum Theatre (617-679-0810), in Boston. You can also catch Parker and Medeski Martin and Wood on May 18 at the Palace Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut (call 800-477-6849).

Over the years, NYC's Yo La Tengo have become one of the more consistently excellent live bands on the indie-rock circuit, in part because they've now had a steady bass player (James McNew) for a couple of albums, and in part because guitarist Ira Kaplan's long, winding solos often reach explosive peaks. They'll be joined by Boston's faux folk duo Damon and Naomi, featuring the former Galaxie 500 rhythm section of Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang. That's on May 20 at the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Cambridge, and May 21 at the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence. And another band who've paid some serious dues, Boston's Mighty Mighty Bosstones, headline over the Offspring at the Great Woods season opener on May 21 in Mansfield (call 617-423-6398). Or you can get your ska fix on May 21 at T.T. the Bear's Place (617-492-2327) or May 22 at the Met Café, when Spring Heeled Jack join the Cherry Poppin' Daddies and swing punks Big Rude Jake.

-- Matt Ashare