Heavy Dates

by John O'Neill and Carly Carioli

WORCESTER: Things heat up in a hurry this weekend starting with the "Ska Against Racism Tour" landing at the Palladium this Friday, April 24. Big shots the Toasters and Less than Jake share the bill with Five Iron Frenzy, MU330, Kemuri, and the Bruce Lee Band. Skank-out, baby! Stealth, featuring former members of the now-defunct Bad Brains, make a return appearance to our fair city where they'll share the Espresso Bar stage with Beantown heavies Tree, Wormtown faves Chillum, and Hollowpoint. At Gilrein's it's red-letter day for Ed Vadas and the Fabulous Heavyweights who toast the release of their new CD. One of the great shows to hit town this past year was the recent pairing of English 0i! rockers the Business with the Dropkick Murphys at the Espresso Bar. The Business return to the Espresso this Saturday minus the Murphys but with the just as formidable Bruisers. Showcase Showdown, Ducky Boys, and Ready Men also appear in a show that's guaranteed to please even the most-jaded punk as the Business prove they can still mop the floor with most of their younger counterparts. It's the long-awaited CD release party for popsters Huck, who finally stand on their own with Honeywagon. Pop-punksters Thinner and the ear-splitting Free Radicals help celebrate at Dinny's. Meanwhile, the Heywood Gallery hosts a send-off for local troubadour Bret Hart, who's packing the Hartmobile and heading for the warmer climate of North Carolina. Bob Jordan hosts the proceedings. On Tuesday, April 28, the Space offers up a little get-together featuring Sarge, Boxer, Halobox, and Shyness Clinic. The Big Moment arrives for one lucky band at the Tammany Club this Wednesday at the Battle of the Bands Finals. The smoke has cleared and after weeks of almost furious combat, and now their are two left standing as it comes down to the quasi-rockabilly and matching shirts of the Fearless Leaders versus the musical stylings of the as-yet-undetermined-at-press-time-victor of the semi-finals on April 22. It should be a real humdinger.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: After three self-released experimental/instrumental EPs, Sonic Youth are finally gearing up to release a new Geffen disc, A Thousand Leaves. The first single, "Sunday," just went to radio this week, and the band will be playing a preview gig in their adopted hometown of Northampton on April 24. Also on the bill is an instrumental duo featuring Television dude Tom Verlaine and Jimmy Ripp. And opening are a group whose namesake produced the latest SY disc, the Wharton Tiers Ensemble. That's at John M. Greene Hall at Smith College (800-477-6849).

C.J. Ramone -- yes, of those Ramones -- brings his new band, Los Gusanos, to the Linwood Grille (617-267-8644), in Boston, on April 23, and to the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence, on April 24 with Alley Sway and Veronica Black Morpheus Nipple. And the already legendary gearhead-punk outfit Nashville Pussy hit the Met on the 28th before moving to the Middle East (617-864-3278), in Cambridge, on the 29th. Gaunt and the Cosmic Psychos open both bills.

His daddy's old bandmates just did an album with Steve Albini, but Jason Bonham's still stuck in his father's footsteps, gigging with a Led Zeppelin cover band. Opening for this tour: a Canadian metal band, Noise Therapy. Oof. They're at Mama Kin (617-536-2100), in Boston, on the 24th and at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876), in Providence, on the 28th.

-- Carly Carioli