Heavy Dates

by Joe Longone and Matt Ashare

WORCESTER: This Friday, May 30, Prudence and the Plowboys bring country swing to Gilreins, Mr. Downchild rocks Ralph's, Phenol, Downer, Oxford Snow Kings, and Malladiction get together at the Espresso Bar, For Julia, Revolving Radio Userr, and Regina appear at North Grafton's new all-ages club, Marley's. This Saturday, May 31, it's another rockin' night at Dinny's when the Time Beings, Pothole, and Free Radicals plug in, Valerie and Walter Crockett have a CD-release party at the Green Rooster Coffeehouse, Sir Morgan's Cove brings it on heavy with Rawhead Rex, Willlies, Sleestack, and Altered, Ralph's spotlights the fiery sounds of Controlled Aggression and Fishbowl, the Tammany Club brings in groove-meisters Slipknot, the Plantation Club features reggae music with One People, and the Espresso Bar hosts Murphy's Law, Forced Fed Shovelhead, Eastcide, and Rebirth. This Sunday, June 1, country star Hank Williams III is in concert at Indian Ranch. This Wednesday, June 4, singer/songwriter Bob Jordan entertains at Shorty's. Next Thursday, June 5, Ralph's weekly Oink! Showcase features Popgun Picnic, Inhale Mary, and Third Eye (18+); Chillum, Forced Fed Shovelhead, and Rut go wild at the all-star surf jam at Sir Morgan's Cove, She's Busy sing at the Tammany Club. Next Friday, June 6, the New England Science Center's Jazz at Sunset series kicks off this evening (6 p.m.) with the Cecilia Smith Quartet, Angry Johnny and the Killbillies take over Ralph's stage, Rawhead Rex and El Dopa are sure to draw attention at the Espresso Bar, the Blue Hornets will be all the buzz at Gilreins, Cactus perform at Captain Ron's, and Fajugaly, Full Contact, and Uplift are at Marley's.

-- Joe Longone

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: Combustible Edison have been around long enough for us to refer to them as "veteran" lounge cats, and they'll be doing their seasoned exotica routine this weekend at the Iron Horse (413-584-0610), in Northampton, on May 29, the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Cambridge, on May 30, and Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876), in Providence, on May 31. No question that Cheap Trick are veteran power-popsters, so we won't even mention it. They're at Avalon (617-931-2000), in Boston, on May 30 and the Strand (401-272-0444), in Providence, on June 4.

Two up-and-coming guitar-pop outfits, Seattle's Cunninghams and Philadelphia's Huffamoose, hook up on May 30 at Bill's Bar (617-421-9678), in Boston. The Cunninghams then join LA's much-improved That Dog and Edgar on June 4 at the Met Café (401-861-2142). That Dog, who are supporting a really great new power-pop disc on Geffen, go on to headline the Middle East on June 6 with England's new-wavy Kenickie and Boston's Cherry 2000 opening.

The creature-double-feature double bill of Gwar and Chemlab, officially known as the "Carnival of Chaos" tour, hits Avalon on June 4 with the latex-and-leather-clad Women of Sodom opening, and Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel on June 6, when "Planet of Ass" titans Scissorfight go on first. Kentucky indie-country boy Will Oldham brings the latest incarnation of his Palace Music outfit to the Middle East on June 4 and to the Call (401-751-2255), in Providence, on June 5. The opening band on both bills, Ano*Moanon, are also Oldham's backing group. Philly's amped-up, Blues Explosion-style R&B rockers the Delta 72 headline shows with the Quadrajets, Jet Pack, and 22 Sunsets on June 5 at the Met Café and with Chrome Cranks, Quadrajets, and Daviess County Panthers on June 6 at the Middle East. And NYC's Skeleton Key rock the Middle East on June 5 and the Met Café on June 6.

-- Matt Ashare