Heavy Dates

by John O'Neill and Carly Carioli

WORCESTER: Lizzie Borden's new band, the Finch Family, will debut tonight, March 13, at Ralph's. Billed as KONG Fest, as in KONG Records, Wormtown popsters Pothole and the Free Radicals join in the we're-not-too-old-to-still-kick-some-ass festivities. At the Palladium, a BIG weekend kicks off with the "musical" stylings of the In(s)ane Clown Posse. Hey, they really dress up in pancake make-up so that must mean they're good . . . right? I mean as far as big, mean, foul-mouthed, singing clowns go. Also on the bill are Psycho Realm and Myzery. Meanwhile, over at Back in the Saddle (Fitchburg), it's Charley Dee's Blues Band. Someday this cat might actually get into town on a semi-regular basis. Clutch Grabwell continue their long-standing run at the Plantation Club, as does their opening act Lee Totten. On Saturday, the Palladium continues the national action, this time with college-radio and MTV darlings Portishead. Both nights are 7 p.m. starts. Jason James and the Bay State Houserockers check in twice this week, first at Partner's Pub this Saturday, then on Thursday, March 19, at Slattery's Front Room. Both shows are free, so it's certainly worth the ride to Fitchburg. And don't forget Amateur Night, also known as St. Patrick's Day. There are lots of cool places to go in the city but chances are everyone will insist on stopping at the Irish Times for authentic Irish-style drinking and the authentic Irish-style drinking songs supplied by the Rogues and Paddy Purcell.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: This week is all about the undead . . . and the punk bands who love 'em. Observe, my fair Van Helsings, the trash/spook/goth-punk (dis)harmonic convergence lining up late next week: in the span of three days, the Damned, the Cramps, and the Misfits are playing in New England . . . in 1998! Here's the true-blue horror-rock casualty's dream roadtrip of the decade. The Cramps are at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876) on March 18, in the middle of a leg with Tiki-surf luminaries the Bomboras and fave sons (not to mention the only major-label band on the tour) the Amazing Royal Crowns. Then the major-label Danzig-less Misfits are at Lupo's on March 20 with Orange 9mm and Marky Ramone's (yes, of those Ramones) new band, the Intruders. And the Damned -- with Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible intact -- arrive at the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Cambridge, on March 21. Just to prove that the last word on this stuff wasn't written 20 years ago, the world's greatest rock-and-roll party band, Rocket from the Crypt (who acknowledge generous debts to all of the above), are at the Middle East on March 20 with the Get Up Kids, and at the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence, with Mother Jefferson and the Sinners Club on March 21.

Blanks '77, a dress-the-part, sound-the-part '90s gutter-punk outfit, haven't yet figured out that statements like "I Wanna Be a Punk" and "I Don't Wanna Be like Everyone Else" form a nice oxymoron, especially when they're delivered at punk shows. A nice fan's tribute nonetheless -- think of 'em as a cover band who do originals -- they're at the Middle East on March 16 and the Met Café on March 18. And look out for Shotgun Willie, 'cause the Outlaw himself, Mr. Willie Nelson, is out at Lupo's with the venerable roadhouse warhorse Billy Joe Shaver. Meanwhile Joan Baez, who's become mentor to a whole new generation of folkies like Dar Williams and Richard Shindell, is at Lupo's on Tuesday the 17th, at Smith College (413-586-7282), in Northampton, on the 20th, and at Harvard University's Sanders Theatre (617-496-2222) on the 23rd.

-- Carly Carioli