Heavy Dates

by Joe Longone and Carly Carioli

WORCESTER: This Friday, September 19, Slipknot jam at the Plantation Club, talented singer/songwriter Ken Baxter entertains at Greendale's Pub, Toni Lynn Washington belts 'em out at Gilrein's, Communion, Phenol, Malediction, and Dimwit share the stage at the Espresso Bar, the Space showcases Third Program, Jack and Ben Wright, and Cylon War Machine, Marley's welcomes Auntie Death, Phluke, and Nathan Dupre. This Saturday, September 20, Dinny's hosts the Lyres, Time Beings, Free Radicals, and Fearless Leaders, Chillum celebrate their latest CD release at Sir Morgan's Cove, Ralph's reopens the Blue Moon Cafe with Honkeyball, Scissorfight, Miltown, and Chelsea on Fire, the Espresso Bar brings on the noise with Rawhead Rex, Staind, Kilgore Smudge, and Level, the Green Rooster Coffeehouse holds a benefit for the Green Hill Coalition starring Pamela Means, Lord Hill trip out at the Tammany Club, Barefoot Republic, Say Hi to Lisa, and Runaway Brain are at the Space, Julian Russell plays his guitar at the Java Hut, Bob Jordan brings his strange music to the Eco Village's Tea Room, Charley Dee and his band bring blues to the Wong Dynasty, and catch Too Much Saturn, Chafe, and Sloppy Joe at Marley's. After playing the Strand in Providence on September 18, Faith No More and Limp Bizkit will be heading here to throw their weight behind the Gig Formerly Known As Localpalooza, which now calls itself Locobazooka. The all-day blowout at Green Hill Park runs on Sunday, September 21, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with performances by Another Society, Cast Iron Hike, Eastcide, Forced Fed Shovelhead, Phluke, Industrial Sonic Echo, and more. Sir Morgan's Cove and the Espresso Bar host after-Bazooka bashes. This Wednesday, September 24, the Black Rebels bring reggae to the Tammany Club. Next Thursday, September 25, Sir Morgan's Cove brings in Two Can Slam, Newborn Kings, Tank 26, and Laid Back Manner, and the Space features Van Peltr and Transmegetty.

-- Joe Longone

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: It's too late to try to start getting into shape at this point, but it's always a good idea to conserve your energy before taking in a set by incomparable space-funkateer George Clinton, who's back in New England this week ready to raise the roof and sweat you to death with the P-Funk All-Stars. A rumored Boston date has yet to be confirmed, so you might want to make plans to see him at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876), in Providence, on September 19, or else at John M. Greene Hall on the campus of Smith College (800-843-8245), in Northampton, on the 22nd.

The roadtrips weight-loss program continues with another sweaty one, from the maximum R&B band Delta 72. (New album liner notes by former MC5 manager John Sinclair proclaim them heirs to "the intense performance aesthetic and direct emotional connection . . . that are essential elements of this incredibly vibrant African-American art form." Not bad for a bunch of punks from DC.) They headline a high-flying show with Jet Pack, Jet Lag, and Neptune at the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence, on September 19. One more to soak those pores: super-bawdy mackstress Lil' Kim of Hard Core (Atlantic) and Biggie Smalls fame gets paid to do her wild thang at the Strand (401-272-0444), in Providence, on September 24.

The anchor of Sub Pop's Americana-styled roster, the Grifters, headline a Sub Pop stage at the Central Square World's Fair (617-868-3247), in Cambridge, on September 21. The next night, singer/guitarist Dave Shouse sticks around for a spinoff/solo gig at the Green Street Grill (617-492-9723) with something called Hot Monkey. On the 23rd, the Grifters move to the Met Café for a show with Fly Seville.

And Lower East Side noise-pop archaeologists Skeleton Key detour their Boston residency to play a date with Roger Miller's Binary System at the Met Café on September 24; the next night they're back at the Middle East (617-864-3278) with former Cop Shoot Cop singer Tod Ashley's new band Firewater and Boston's own Shiva Speedway.

-- Carly Carioli