Heavy Dates

by John O'Neill and Carly Carioli

WORCESTER: One really must hand it to the hard-working folks over at the Espresso Bar. For the past year or so they've continually presented outstanding bills. This weekend starts with a thumbs-up punk show on Friday, May 1, with a killer line-up of U.S. Bombs, Falling Sickness, (our beloved) Westies, Libertine, and Zippo Raid. Grab a sleeping bag and stay all weekend as Saturday is the beginning of a two-day, knock-down, drag-out, skankin' ska festival. Brass Monkeys, seXunAte, Hitman for Hire, Douglas Leader Orchestra, Brickmaster and this week's winner for Best Band Name Dow Jones and the Industrials round out showcase number one. On Sunday, it all cranks back up with the fine line-up of Kicked in the Head, Skatapults, Mobtown Beat, Late for Work, the Sellouts, and Take 5.

Not much has been heard from Houston Ruggles since his inclusion on the local Stones tribute Exile In Wormtown all those years ago,when Huck were a new band and the Time Beings weren't yet eligible for retirement benefits. He's back and playing gratis at the Club Car this Saturday, May 2. The Above Club features the one-two melodic punch of Jon Svetkey's Loomers and an opening set from Jack & Present Co. Sir Morgan's Cove hosts a benefit for the Muscular Distrophy Association with sets from Seven Hill Psychos, Tremble, Paco, Gangsta Bitch Barbie, Mantra, Junk Sculpture, Zeek the Flavor Freak, and Tribal Wisdom. On Sunday, the Sonic Explorers hold class at the First Unitarian Church Joy of Music Program. Start time is 3 p.m.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: Post-rock instrumental visionaries Tortoise return with another big-production experimental jazz/dub/electronic thingamabob, and tagging along is Berliner Marcus Popp, who records as Oval, which is also the name he's given to the software he's created to deconstruct and reassemble digital sound files. He'll be on stage accompanied only by his laptop, and the screen will be projected behind him so you can see how he does it. That's at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876), in Providence, on May 5, and at the Middle East (617-497-0576), in Cambridge, on May 6.

Elsewhere, punk-rock romanticism gets put through its paces by Lookout's Mr. T Experience, who bring their catchy caffeinated love songs plus the Teen Idols to the Middle East on May 5 and the Met Café (401-861-2142), in Providence, on May 6. And if you're really feeling romantic, Antonia Bennett (Tony's baby girl) is at Chan's (401-765-1900), in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, on May 1.

Last but not least, Northampton's Pearl Street club reopens this week -- for the time being, info can be had at (413) 584-0610, the same number as the Iron Horse, which now owns the building. On May 7 there's a grand reopening reggae bash with Toots & the Maytals and the Black Rebels.

-- Carly Carioli