Heavy Dates

by John O'Neill and Carly Carioli

WORCESTER: It's a promising weekend of entertainment here in the Land of Worm, starting on Friday, October 24, with the one-two punch of Tree and Eastcide at the Espresso Bar (Shootyz Groove were also scheduled; they've since pulled out). J-Base round out the bill. Meanwhile, over on Harding Street, the Space offers a hardcore night with Entropy, Godflaw, and All Else Fails. Saturday the 25th is chock full o' rock as Brooklyn thrashers Biohazard ass-kick their way into the Espresso Bar along with 25 Ta Life, Perseverance, and Veiled. Over at the Centrum the legendary Cheap Trick get stuck opening for rock "outlaws" Mötley Crüe. Yep, those guys -- only this time they're back with less-horrific hair and a truly awful new album. Shout at the Devil? More like "Blow My Accountant." Get to Sir Morgan's Cove early for an ear-splitting good time with Controlled Aggression, Seven Hill Psychos, N.E. Hostility, and Tank 26. German punk export Dumbbell pal it up at Dinny's with Rick Blaze and the Ballbusters. Free Radicals complete the Berlin, New York, Wormtown connection. If you prefer your Saturday a little more on the mellow side, check out the Marc Marquis Group at the Above Club. WCUW heavyweights Dave & Dave, cohosts of Radio Free Wormtown, have been heaping praise upon Boston's Purrr for most of 1997. Find out why on Thursday, October 30, when they share the bill with Hansel, mindFIELD, and Vamp at the Espresso Bar's pre-Halloween costume bash. Also that evening, harp-maven Mark Hummel lets it rip at Gilrein's along with J.B. and the Activators.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: Sharpen those gag reflexes and prepare to be shocked, amazed, and thoroughly grossed out -- the Jim Rose Circus is back with yet another installment of masterful exploitainment. This year the self-described "PT Barnum meets John Waters" has wrestling on the brain -- the line-up of self-made freaks includes both a topless female sumo match and Mexican transvestite wrestling, plus a woman who takes an electric sander to her genitals. Just in time for Halloween, they're at Pearl Street (413-584-7771), in Northampton, on October 28, the Paradise (617-562-8800), in Boston, on the 29th, and the Strand (401-272-0444), in Providence, on the 30th.

More Halloween raising-the-Dead goings-on when Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman bring their Ratdog to the Strand on October 28; they're also at the Orpheum (617-423-6398), in Boston, on the 26th. Home-grown groovy garage ghoulies 8-Ball Shifter spread the spook vibe at the Call (401-274-8584), in Providence, on the 29th before returning to their usual haunt at O'Brien's (617-782-6245), in Allston, on Halloween. Everyone's making Minutemen comparisons with the release of Mike Watt's new album (that's a PUNK-rock opera, and don't you forget it). Watt's always in season, and no less so when he brings a new band featuring former Saccharine Trust guitarist Joe Baiza and drummer Steven Hodges to the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence, on October 29 and the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Cambridge, the day before Halloween. If you were dumb enough to miss Link Wray's show in Boston last Wednesday -- or if you thought the last word on aging rock-and-roll heroes was the Stones at Foxboro -- your final chance at redemption comes October 25 at the Met Café. The Itchies open.

-- Carly Carioli