Heavy Dates

by Joe Longone and Matt Ashare

WORCESTER: This Friday, May 23, the Worcester Phoenix Best Music Poll Award parties continue at Sir Morgan's Cove with Super Creb Star Dynomax, Guerrero, Infuse, MINDfield, and SBGB, the Espresso Bar also hosts a poll party with Puddle, Gas Food Lodging, the Westies, and Twist 160. Other shows of note about town include Another Planet at the Tammany Club, Clutch Grabwell at the Plantation Club, Rut, Big Lick, and Porn Star at Ralph's, and Forced Fed Shovelhead, Eastcide, East Coast Psychos, and Bottled at Marley's. This Saturday, May 24, Best Music Poll celebration concludes at the all-day/all-ages musical festival Mass Mayhem at Green Briar Park (Route 12, in Oxford). Bands scheduled to appear include Chillum, Rawhead Rex, Shed, Rut, 3 1/2 Girls, Forced Fed Shovelhead, East Coast Psychos, Veiled, Eastcide, N.E. Hostility, 7 Dead, Super Creb Star Dynomac, 7th Rail Crew, Split, and Bottled. You might want to check out these other shows: the Allstonians and Big Lick bring ska to the Espresso Bar, the Racqueteers give a taste of rockabilly to Ralph's, and Bret Hart brings his fine songwriting talents to Eco Village. This Sunday, May 25, the Plantation Club hosts Lennie's (Peterson) First Annual 39th Birthday Bash featuring Valerie and Walter Crockett, Paul Della Valle, She's Busy, Clutch Grabwell, Wilbur and the Dukes, the Joeys, and Bad Pennies. This Wednesday, May 28, Bob Jordan sings at Shorty's, the Cove brings in three new bands: Roy Hinkley Trio, Dirty Larry, and Aesthetic, and the Jim Porcella Trio entertain those at Tom Foolery's. Next Thursday, May 29, the East Coast Psychos rock the Cove, and Cream Team headline Ralph's 18+ night. Next Friday, May 30, Gilreins will welcome the country swing of Prudence and the Plowboys, Marley's offers up For Julia, Revolving Radio, Userr, and Regina, the Espresso Bar plans to party with Phenol, Downer, Oxford Snow Kings, and Malladiction, and Greendale's welcomes She's Busy to its stage.

-- Joe Longone

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: The goth-rock gals in San Francisco's Switchblade Symphony hook up with like-minded frontwoman Caroline Blind and her New Jersey-based outfit Sunshine Blind for a tour that hits the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence, on May 25 and the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Cambridge, on May 28. The power-trio line-up of Failure, Poster Children, and pop-punk up-and-comers Summercamp invade the Living Room (401-521-5200), in Providence, on May 25 and the Middle East on May 26. And the Ben Folds Five have already sold out their May 27 gig at the Paradise (617-562-8800), in Boston, but there are still tickets available to see them with Bettie Serveert and September 67 on May 28 at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876), in Providence.

R.E.M.'s Peter Buck should be mighty tuckered out by the end of this week. He's on tour playing supporting roles in three outfits appearing on May 26 at the Iron Horse (413-584-0610), in Northampton, and on May 27 at the Middle East. First up both nights will be Buck and his Young Fresh Fellows buddy Scott McCaughey doing their Minus 5 thing, which you can also hear on their new The Lonesome Death of Buck McCoy (Malt/Hollywood). Then it's Tuatara, featuring Buck, Luna bassist Justin Harwood, Screaming Tree drummer Barrett Martin, and Seattle boho saxman Skeric. Finally, McCaughey and the members of Tuatara -- including Buck -- will back up former American Music Club singer/songwriter Mark Eitzel, whose new West (Warner Bros.) features tunes written by Eitzel and Buck.

And next weekend, look for lounge lizards Combustible Edison on May 29 at the Iron Horse, May 30 at the Middle East, and May 31 at the Met Café.

-- Matt Ashare