Heavy Dates

by Joe Longone and Matt Ashare

WORCESTER

This Friday, June 20, one of the most powerful female rockers around today, Jen Trynin, brings her show to Ralph's, a better blues duet is hard to find when Paul Rishell and Little Annie Raines get down to business at Gilreins, the Joe Parillo Ensemble jazz up the New England Science Center, Forced Fed Shovelhead, East Coast Psychos, Shed, and Pitchfork Seven lay it on heavy at the Espresso Bar, and Sloppy Joe, Westies, and Communion are featured at Marley's. This Saturday, June 21, a Celebration of Life: a day-long (2 p.m. to midnight) benefit concert held in memory of Robert Kerr will happen at Worcester's PNI Club, Chillum, Skingame, Crype, and Shmoove Rufus funk up Sir Morgan's Cove, Slipknot jam at the Plantation Club, Shirley Lewis belts 'em out at Gilreins, the Deadites, Runaway Brain, and XXXL bring a mixed bag of sounds to Ralph's, and Communion, Greymind, Cultural Zoo, and Mr. Rogers Project get together at the Espresso Bar. This Sunday, June 22, One People bring reggae to the Plantation Club. This Wednesday, June 25, the Swinging Steaks help celebrate the Plantation Club's new open-stage night, and check out the new bands Third Eye and Primrose Path at the Cove. Next Thursday, June 26, Black Rose Garden, the Measles, and Say Hi to Lisa take the stage at Ralph's, talented guitarist Tomo Fujita and Blue Funk appear at the Plantation, Mike Ladd performs at the Espresso Bar, Bob Jordan hosts the Space's new open stage, and N.E. Hostility, Sandoze, 5 Gallon Bucket, and Maladdiction rock the Cove. Next Friday, June 27, Cajun crazies the Boogaloo Swamis celebrate the release of their new CD, legendary punk rockers Gang Green joins Super Crebstar Dynomax, Ashere, and Infuse at the Cove, renowned jazz player Stan Strickland and Ascension are in concert at the New England Science Center, the Espresso Bar welcomes the Westies, Nigel 6, Assasin's 8's, and Inhale Mary, Bane, Converge, and Forward are at Marley's.

-- Joe Longone

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE

Fresh from the studio in LA, where he was just putting the finishing touches on the next Rolling Stones album, producer/bandleader Don Was brings his Orquestra Was to the Strand (401-272-0444), in Providence, on June 19 and the Paradise (617-562-8800), in Boston, on June 20. You want to check out Brit-folk specialists Steeleye Span June 22 at the Somerville Theatre (call 617-876-4275 for tickets), in Somerville, and June 23 at the Iron Horse (413-584-0610), in Northampton. On the other hand, folkies should avoid at all costs the unholy and Danzig-less Misfits when they assault Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876), in Providence, with Shed, Overcast, and Pitchfork 7 on June 22. The Misfits also do a two-night stand at the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Cambridge, on June 26 with D Generation and the Dropkick Murphys, and on June 27 with Killing Time and Overcast.

Eight-string guitarist Charlie Hunter does his acid-jazz thing with a quartet June 24 at the Iron Horse and June 25 at the Regattabar (617-876-7777), in Cambridge. Industrial disco clowns My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult hit the Strand on June 25 and Axis (617-262-2437), in Boston, on June 28 with Radio Iodine. Blues master Charlie Musselwhite comes to Pearl Street (413-584-7771), in Northampton, on June 25 and the House of Blues (617-491-2583) ,in Cambridge, on June 26. Five for Fighting finish up an East Coast residency tour with shows June 24 at the Middle East with Happy Bunny, Sway, and Sameasyou, and June 25 at the Met Café with Vigilantes of Love and Satellite Elvis. And hippie rockers God Street Wine are joined by Agents of Good Roots June 25 at the Paradise and June 27 at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel.

-- Matt Ashare