Heavy Dates

by John O'Neill and Carly Carioli

WORCESTER

Friday, January 9, finds Sleepy LaBeef still in the area, which is a very good thing for fans of roots music. See the ol' boy plow through an assortment of rockabilly, country, gospel, and blues at the Bull Run Restaurant (Shirley). It's the most enjoyable history lesson you'll ever attend. Partner's Pub offers up Jason James and the Houserockers, who should really, uh, rock the house, we reckon. Karen Sarkesian plays Gilrein's stage gratis at 8 p.m., followed by the Toni Lynn Washington Blues Band at 10 p.m. Wormtown's First Family of Punk, the Free Radicals, lead an all-star line-up at the Space. The Boys Detention Home for Juvenile Offenders must have given weekend passes out for Christmas because SBGB, Syphalloids, and the Westies have all managed to get on this bill. Cretin-Rock Weekend continues, only this time it's the Espresso Bar that does the (dis)honors on Saturday, January 10, as the Dropkick Murphys, fresh off their killer New Year's Eve set at the Centrum, head another super bill. The Ducky Boys, Bullyrag, and Assassin 8s join in the musical mayhem. At Ralph's, it's the CD release and Wormtown debut of Thinner. Long in the tooth but young at heart, these guys should make for an evening of terrific power-pop flavored rock when they're joined by Little Big Wheel and the Bedspins. Meanwhile, over at Sir Morgan's Cove, things get heavy as Forced Fed Shovelhead, Stained, Warhorse, and Tremble rattle the roof. One can never go wrong with Clutch Grabwell, the only known band in the world who somehow appeal to everyone, no matter what you think your taste is. They tear it up at the Plantation Club Drafthouse. Finally, J.B. and the Activators continue to hold down the fort on Wednesday night at Gilrein's. For a meager two clams you can see a great night of swingin' blues.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE

Art-pop chameleons Ween will show up at the Roxy (617-338-7699), in Boston, later this month; this Wednesday, January 14, they're at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876), in Providence, with raucous New Orleans lounge-funksters Royal Fingerbowl. Combustible Edison have a make-up date January 9 at the Call (401-751-2255), in Providence, rescheduled from a December cancellation. Lockgroove warm up for their impending album-release party at the Middle East (on January 24) by splattering the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence, with catalytic, pop-savvy wall-of-noise guitar heroics tonight (the 8th).

-- Carly Carioli