Heavy Dates

by Joe Longone and Carly Carioli

WORCESTER: This Friday, September 5, catch the techno sounds of Dub War at the Espresso Bar, Cactus kick up their spurs at the Bar Mexico, the Space brings in Mineral, Get Up Kids, Jejune, and Lane and Feck, Marley's spotlights Backroad Five, Paddy's Pig, and Brian Brodeur, and '70s sensations Rare Earth appear at Point Breeze. This Saturday, September 6, Chillum, Thumper, Split, and Shmoove Rufus funk up the Espresso Bar, the Green Rooster Coffeehouse (United Congregational Church) reopens its doors with a show featuring Chuck and Mud and Bret Hart, Sir Morgan's Cove welcomes Tri-Sek-El, Flambookie and Ely's Gin to its stage, Astroland and Harriet the Spy perform at the Space, Slipknot play and host an end-of-the-summer show at the Marlborough Fish and Game Club, and Marley's starts off its Saturday-night series with Twist 160, the Westies, and Argyle Socks. This Sunday, September 7, Eastcide, Kill the Dancing Bear, and Inside Strike are part of the Espresso Bar's afternoon showcase (starting at 3 p.m.), and some of the best area CW acts are at the Country Fest New England at Indian Ranch. Next Thursday, September 11, the country music just keeps on flowing with Alan Jackson and LeAnn Rimes in concert at the Centrum, the Cove offers up the sounds of El Dopa, W.O.C.C., Blind Ambition, and Sector 98, and Regrets, Vehicle Birth, Wicked Farley's, and Lufa get together at the Space. Next Friday, September 12, Seven Hills Psychos, Swing Arm, Rebound, and Two Can Slam pump up the volume at the Espresso Bar, Jiggle the Handle bring their jamming ways to the Plantation, singer/songwriter Ken Baxter entertains at Brew City, Young Neal and the Vipers bring their blues to the Wong Dynasty, and Marley's has Sift, Flick, and Communion on its bill.

-- Joe Longone

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: The Beale Street Blues Boy himself, B.B. King, turns 72 on September 16, but still shows no signs of slowing down. A week before his birthday, he brings a blues festival bearing his name to New England, including J Geils' and Magic Dick's Bluestime, and Tower of Power. On September 7 you can check out a little living history at Great Woods (508-339-2333), in Mansfield. On September 9 he'll be at the Paramount Theater (413-732-0202), in Springfield.

The Natalie Merchant-less 10,000 Maniacs continue to plow bravely forward, hitting Pearl Street (413-584-7771), in Northampton, on September 9 and Avalon (617-262-2424), in Boston, on September 10. One-hit wonder turned folk-circuit troubadour Jill Sobule makes a couple appreances following a radio-station freebie in Boston last week; she's at the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence, on September 5 and the Iron Horse (413-584-0610), in Northmpton, the following night.

For all the disgruntled metalheads miffed by our dis of Testicle, er, Testament, we give a solid thumbs up (yer asses, thinskins) to Obituary, the fast-and-frightenin' death/ grindcore originals who swing through for shows with Stillsuit and Revelation noise-core kids Kiss It Goodbye. They'll blow the Epitaph off your trendiest T-shirt at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876), in Providence, on September 9th, Axis (617-262-2437), in Boston, on the 10th, and Pearl Street on the 11th.

For sea-breeze pop, we recommend checking out the Bay Area band formerly known as Allen Clapp & His Orchestra, now going by the nome de rock Orange Peels. "Weened on the nectar of Burt Bachrach, Brian Wilson, and Ray Davies," as they boast in press kit for their new Square (Minty Fresh), they've also got a little surf-reverb space-age snazz to 'em. They're at the Call (401-751-2255), in Providence, on September 10 with Minneapolis '60s-style pop guys the Autumn Leaves, before which both bands are at the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Cambridge, opening for Scottish twee-pop legends the Pastels on September 8.

-- Carly Carioli