Heavy Dates

by Joe Longone and Matt Ashare

WORCESTER

This Friday, June 27, Cajun crazies the Boogaloo Swamis celebrate the release of their new CD, legendary punk rockers Gang Green join Super Crebstar Dynomax, Ashere, and Infuse at Sir Morgan's 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, Assassin's 8's, and Inhale Mary, Bane, Converge, and Forward get together at Marley's. This Saturday, June 28, Preston Wayne Four play at Dinny's, the Cove brings in some of the area's hardest hitting bands when the East Coast Psychos, El Dopa, Porn Star, and Sick Sense appear, and equally great show is at Ralph's when Rut, 3 1/2 Girls, Super Crebstar Dynomax, and Honkeyball show up, Bob Jordan can be found entertaining at the Java Hut, the Green Rooster Coffeehouse presents its Songwriter's Night and open mic featuring Jan Luby, Mike Duffy, and Kenny Dennis, and 25 to Life, Fragment, Veiled, With One Intent, and Bottled plan to rock the Espresso Bar. This Sunday, June 29, a memorial concert in the remembrance of Aron Harris, featuring Blues Deluxe, Cat Dog, Sean Ryan and Sue Staples, Lydia Fortune, and Tasha Connor, is being hosted by the Tammany Club, and the Plantation Club continues its reggae series with the Black Rebels. This Wednesday, July 2, its the Cove's New Band Night with Awakening Stick and Nuclear Moose. Next Thursday, July 3, see some musical fireworks on stage at the Cove when Groove Works and Squirm explode with excitement. Next Friday, July 4, celebrate the Fourth by seeing Forced Fed Shovelhead, State of Corruption, and Level at the Cove, Overcast, Dissolve, and Godflaw at the Espresso Bar, and the jazz ensemble Made In the Shade at the New England Science Center.

-- Joe Longone

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE

Poseurs take heart -- the '80s poodle-metal revival continues unabated this week, and you can be sure Satan is smiling (while Ozzy looks on and thinks, "There but for the grace of a Black Sabbath reunion go I"). Joining the ranks of L.A. Guns, Dio, and W.A.S.P., Dokken have repositioned themselves as independent-label underdogs. They've got a new album, a new haircut (one of 'em has been spotted with a mohawk), and a tour that brings them to Axis (617-262-2437), in Boston, on June 27 and the Strand (401-272-0444), in Providence, on June 28. Not enough? Then make plans to catch Ratt, who won't be bringing their "Miniskirt/Pump Party" to Boston but will be going round and round at the Strand on July 5. Or you can just check out the '90s equivalent when Seven Mary Three pop into the Paradise (617-562-8800), in Boston, on June 28, and the Met Cafe (401-861-2142), in Providence, on June 29, with Jump Little Children opening both shows. Along the same lines, Collective Soul hit Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876), in Providence, on July 2. As always, we urge you to keep those upraised lighters a minimum of two feet from your neighbor's hair.

The best thing about ska bands (besides ska) is their names, so it had to suck when some British techno act came within two letters of stealing Spring Heeled Jack's moniker. SHJ seem to be doing okay anyway: they're heading up a bill with Perfect Thyroid June 27 at the Met Café, then hooking up with Johnny Two Bad & the Strikeouts for shows on June 28 at the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Boston -- with Heavy D & the Kids' Table and something called Kicked in the Head -- and June 29 at Pearl Street (413-584-7771), in Northampton, with Too Hectic and Racketball.

As an antidote to all the above, check out Minneapolis's Legendary Jim Ruiz Group when they do the lounge-pop thing at the Call (401-421-7241), in Providence, on June 29 with Musical Chairs and Honeybunch, then toast the after-dinner crowd at the Green Street Grill at Charlie's Tap (617-876-1655) in Cambridge on June 30 with Penguin.

-- Matt Ashare