Heavy Dates

by John O'Neill and Carly Carioli

WORCESTER: Friday gets off to a swinging start when the undisputed kings of "Super Rock," the Fleshtones, make their first appearance in Wormtown in more than 15 years. Get down with it when they hit Dinny's with the Fearless Leaders and Free Radicals on Friday June 12. The Espresso Bar hosts the first of a two-night throw-down for Boston's Wonderdrug Records. Sam Black Church, Non-Compos Mentis, Seventh Rail Crew, and Feces Pieces appear. The party continues the following evening at Sir Morgan's Cove. This time SBC and the Mentis-men are joined by Ohm and those sick, sick men known as Scissorfight. Champions of rockin' hard and amateur porn, could you really want more from a band? Also on Saturday the fabulous Ducky Boys celebrate the release of their new CD at the Espresso Bar. The Westies, who were going to debut their new release at this show, have decided to keep us waiting. They perform with 30 Second's over Tokyo, Spoilers, and Leadbellies. Stricken for Catherine just signed to 'BCN deejay Shred's new label. So what's left for an up and coming group to do? Break up. Stricken cash out tonight at the Space. Tammany's Rob Langly has been gushing at length about his next-big-thing pick Heir. He also says they aren't a jam band which we don't altogether buy. When a song hits the 10-minute mark, chances are very much in your favor you're a jam band. Anyhoo, they appear at the Above Club, so check it out and decide for yourself. On Sunday, June 14, old pal and Real Live Legend Big Al Downing headlines Indian Ranch's Family Fun Day. He's returned to his country roots for the most part, but Big Al was one of the pioneers of rock and roll right alongside Chuck and Richard and Wanda and a kid named Elvis. The still-great John Lincoln Wright also makes an appearance early on in the day.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE: In a way, it's a wonder Speedball Baby ever got signed to a major label. Crazed and trashy, with guitarist Matt Verta-Ray's feverish, rockabilly-laced squalls setting the stage for manic madman Ron Ward's stream-of-consciousness Pentecostalisms, they boast charms that lie beneath the belts and over the heads of the record-buying public. After a stint on a major as part of the bolloxed Fort Apache/MCA deal, they're back with a new disc, I'm Gonna Stomp Mr. Harry Lee, on Sympathy for the Record Industry, the decade-old label that's been home to such like-minded lost souls as the Honeymoon Killers, '68 Comeback, and the Workdogs. Ward, a former drummer for the Blood Oranges, brings Speedball Baby back to the area with a gig at the Call, (401) 751-2255, in Providence, this Friday, June 12, along with 12 Rods, Ashley Von Hurter and the Haters, the Erotics, and the Highway Strippers. On the 14th they'll do a stripped-down, semi-acoustic performance at the Green Street Grill, (617) 876-1655, in Cambridge, with former Pussy Galore/current Chrome Cranks guy Jerry Teel, who's bringing in his band Pork Chop. It'll also be a rare appearance by our own Daviess County Panthers, who'll play acoustic. The Panthers will do their full-bore Stooges/Birthday Party thing at Jacque's, (617) 426-8902, in Boston, on June 20 with Hamlet Idiot and Broadcaster.

A bunch of Scottish dudes playing meticulous '60s-period mod-garage pop, the Kaisers are doing a rare US tour with the Neanderthals (a side project of Eddie Angel from masked surfers Los Straitjackets). They'll be at the Met Café, (401) 861-2142, in Providence, on the 12th (with the Itchies).

The Pines Theatre, (413) 586-8686, a 100-year-old natural amphitheater at Northampton's Look Park, opens for the season on June 16 with "An Evening of Real Life Songs," a package tour with singer/songwriters Bruce Cockburn, Dar Williams, and Richard Thompson. The tour will also come to the Harborlights Pavilion, (617) 423-6398, in Boston, on the 18th.

-- Carly Carioli