Heavy Dates

by Joe Longone and Matt Ashare

WORCESTER

This Friday, July 11, one of the Bay State's most talented new guitarists Tomo Fujita and his band Blue Funk can be seen at the Tammany Club, Clutch Grabwell and singer/songwriter Lee Totten entertain at the Plantation Club, the New England Jazz Ensemble bring their big-band sound to the New England Science Center, Excessive Force, Blood for Blood, Fragment, Ambius, and Times Expired come into the Espresso Bar, and Ely's Gin, Chafe, and Sour Puss appear at Marley's. This Saturday, July 12, two of Boston's hardest hitting outfits Sam Black Church and Honkeyball join N.E. Hostility at the Espresso Bar, Native Rage, Mr. Hyde, Super Zero, and Syphalloids bring on the noise at Sir Morgan's Cove, and Cactus saddle up at Captain Ron's. This Sunday, July 13, the Plantation continues its Island Night with Joint Chiefs, and Espresso Bar offers up a wide range of sounds with the Deadites, SBGB, Colorblind, and Classic American Hamburger. Next Thursday, July 17, starts out with Dom V and the Swing Out Band performing a free concert at Elm Park (7 p.m.), the jazz continues a Ralph's with the Sonic Explorers, SBGB is out and about again, this time with Rick Blaze and the Ballbusters, Loco Lizard, and Dirty Larry, and She's Busy sing up a storm at the Tammany. Next Friday, July 18, Boston Rumble champs the Amazing Royal Crowns bring their wild show to the Espresso Bar, see one of the latest supergroups Stealth (ex-members from Bad Brains and Dog Eat Dog) at the Cove, the Deal bring pop to the Tammany, Marley's showcases Phenol, Argyle Socks, and Communion, and George Petit and Desired Effect jazz up the New England Science Center.

-- Joe Longone

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE

It's a proven scientific fact that kids love death metal. Also, kids who love death metal love Napalm Death. And Napalm Death love them right back. Napalm Death will be loving the kids -- and being loved right back -- at the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Cambridge, on July 13 with some other bands who have a lot of love to give, including Anal Cunt, Big John Studd, and Shadows Fall. The love fest continues at Pearl Street (413-584-7771), in Northampton, on July 18 with the lovable Tyrant Trooper, Dissolve, Fleshold, and Compost Pile. And just when you thought there was no more love to be had, Napalm Death will drag out their love once more at the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence, on July 19, with Ichor, Immolation, Incantation, and Vital Remains.

Meanwhile, indie guys and gals have their work cut out for 'em this week. Mississippi dude Jason Molina brings his sparse, Palace-esque (Palatial?) indie-country-folk persona songs: ohia -- in support of a sullenly majestic homonymous album on Secretly Canadian -- to the Green Street Grill (617-876-1655), in Central Square, with Georgia troubadour Tom Leach and Vic Firecracker on July 13, then teams up with dEUS and Havanarama on July 15 at the Met Café. The dEUS fellows then make their way to back to Bill's Bar (617-421-9678), in Boston, on July 16. Eddie Vedder's wife's band Hovercraft bring their multimedia avant-instrumental show to the Middle East on July 11 with Juneau and Lockgroove, then move on to the Met Café on July 13 with Treble Charger.

Last but not least, the new, improved, Cobra Verde-infused Guided by Voices will drink lots of beer at the Met Café on July 14, before heading to the Paradise (617-562-8800), in Boston, to drink more beer on July 15. Superconductor open both shows.

-- Matt Ashare