Heavy Dates

by John O'Neill and Carly Carioli

WORCESTER: The weekend kicks off with the return of Hatebreed who have an album of very angry thoughts called Satisfaction Is the Death of Desire (Victory). These lads certainly know how to get worked up and make some noise, which they do at the Espresso Bar this Friday along with Blood for Blood and Candiria. Doc Hopper continue to churn out tasty pop-punk. They return to rock the Space with the Marshes, Viejo, Hallraker, and Guilford. On Saturday, April 11, you'll have to make decisions because it's the best night for music this sleepy hamlet has seen in years, starting at the Palladium with the vo-de-oh-do-stylings of Chapel Hill's current hot shots Squirrel Nut Zippers. They vamp, they swing, they turn the clock back for a live show even ol' granny would enjoy. Speaking of back in time, the Performers turn the dial of the wayback machine to 1979 when the title "Wormtown" was understood as the banner under which the then-burgeoning punk movement flew. They re-form for a much anticipated show at Ralph's along with the Fearless Leaders. Over at the Space, Phoenix Best Music Poll nominee Curtain Society, champion of melodic indie pop, head a bill that also includes a rare Worcester appearance from Tizzy. Charley Dee celebrates the release of his second CD, Bloodshot Blue Eyes, at Slattery's along with local rowdies Jason James & the Baystate Houserockers. Sir Morgan's Cove checks in with the return of Beantown ultra-heavies Tree. Gangsta Bitch Barbie and Drained also join in to thump some noggins. The Espresso Bar matches the score with a line-up of Shootyz Groove, Seven Hill Psychos, and Commonwealth. On Wednesday, former Spacemen 3 singer/guitarist Jason Pierce continues his thesis on psychedelics and pure pop when the excellent Spiritulized hit the Centrum Centre. They'll open for everyone's new darling Radiohead, a band who have taken misery, cynicism, frustration, and self-loathing, wrapped it in a pop song, and took it to the bank in a big, armored truck.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: It's getting close to a decade since Superchunk started making a tuneful racket in Chapel Hill. And except for a few keyboard embellishments on Indoor Living, their last disc, they haven't changed their brand of brisk, smart, bittersweet punk pop all that much. Which is a good thing. They're at the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Cambridge, on Tuesday April 14, and at the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence, on April 15, both with the instrumental outfit Shark Quest, who have a new CD out on Superchunk's Merge label.

Just when ska is getting really, really popular, Fishbone are now traveling the country billing themselves as a funk band. It's not that they aren't funky -- they're way funky -- but wethinks their marketing guy oughta be pimping their ska cred while there's some dough up for grabs. Also on their bill: the venerable former James Brown sideman Maceo Parker, and the Five Fingers of Funk. The show's at the Roxy (617-338-7699), in Boston, on April 14 and Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876), in Providence, on April 15.

R&B hitmakers Blessid Union of Souls -- whose latest recording, just in case you care, is a cover of Bread's "Everything I Own" -- skirt the city with shows on April 16 at the Beach Club at Salisbury Beach and then an all-ages affair the following night at the Beverly Field House in Beverly (call 978-922-9988 for info on both shows). Reggae elder statesman Burning Spear is at the Music Hall (603-436-9900), in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on April 9, and Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel on April 10. And if you just can't wait till her April 18 gig at Johnny D's (617-776-2004), in Somerville.

-- Carly Carioli