Heavy Dates

by John O'Neill and Carly Carioli

WORCESTER: Random Road Mother, like a rash, are back again this week. They're part of a fine bill over at the Espresso Bar this Friday, February 6, in a night that also features the underrated Puddle, Flipside, and Deadites. Over at the Space, Autoshunt kick off the evening. They may be the only band in the world to use both Charles Bukowski and a pocket Bible during the same set. Industrial Sonic Echo headline. On Saturday, February 7, 25 Ta Life return from New York to kick your fanny at the Espresso Bar. All Else Fails, Stitch, and Punch the Klown support. Jump, jive, wail at Gilrein's with J.B. & the Activators, who get a much deserved Saturday-night slot. El Dopa have been making lots of noise in Boston over the past two years. Find out what all the fuss is when they share the stage at Sir Morgan's Cove with Rawhead Rex, Psychotic Larry, and the above-mentioned Autoshunt. On the hippie side of town, Slipknot do their thing over at the Tammany Club, and Chuck and Mudd play Café Fantastique. Actually they're a folk duo, but don't most old hippies become folkies at some point? And why do we need labels? I mean, we're all human beings right? So why can't we just get along and see ourselves in the bigger picture. You know, our entire planet could be one tiny molecule in the thumb nail of . . . ah, never mind. On Sunday, Sir Morgan's has an early evening show with Seven Hill Psychos, Stick Face, Draind, Paco, 5 Gallon Bucket, and Widemouth.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: Of all the post-scum rock to come out of the Pussy Galore nexus -- the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Honeymoon Killers, Chrome Cranks, Free Kitten, to name just a few -- the group who work best as an actual rockin' band (and the first to put out a major-label record) are Boss Hog, the hypersonic R&B outfit fronted by Jon Spencer and his wife, Cristina Martinez. If you haven't heard their Boss Hog Geffen debut, shimmy on down and grab a copy -- it's PG's old gutbucket trash raunch on Slim-Fast, with the blues innuendo recloaked as innuendo instead of flat-out cussin'. On their current tour they're trying out all-new material before going in to press another platter. See 'em downstairs at the Middle East (617-864-3278) on February 6 or at the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence, on February 7, both with Thrill Jockey's Lonesome Organist.

Hillbilly garage punks the Swingin' Neckbreakers bring their wild-and-woolly Southern-fried selves to Dinny's (752-9667), in Worcester, on February 6 (Fearless Leaders and Free Radicals also appear); the next night they headline a bill at the Middle East with Fuzzy, Nada Surf, and fluffy garage-popsters the Woggles. (Could Fuzzy find post-major-label rebirth as underground garage-pop heroes? Stay tuned!) On the indie-er end of the alterna-country scene, you'll find the likes of Freakwater, Run On's Sue Garner, and Sub Pop's Mike Ireland and Holler, who have an affinity for the big string-laced production values of '70s commercial country superstars. All three of 'em are at the Met Café in Providence on February 11 and at T.T. the Bear's Place (617-492-2327), in Cambridge, the following night.

If you missed the big Stealth show last Monday at Mama Kin, you can catch Darryl (Bad Brains) Jenifer's band again at Pearl Street (413-584-7771), in Northampton, on February 8 with Sam Black Church. A couple of years ago, New York City post-hardcore kids Shift seemed destined to take over where Quicksand had left off, spinning out metallic pop contortions like spiderwebs. Now they've got a major-label debut that's a bit too precious a representation of what they do live, and Quicksand are preparing to re-emerge. Look out. Check Shift out at the Middle East on February 11, and at the Met Café the following night.

And last but not least, Elephant 6 superstars the Apples in Stereo -- whose new Tone Soul Evolution is coming out on Sire -- bring their lo-maintenance psychedelic pop to the Call (401-751-2255), in Providence, on February 12.

-- Carly Carioli