Heavy Dates

Heavy Dates

There isn't much left to say about the Ducky Boys that we haven't already said. They're young, they're punk (and we mean the good, old-school stuff, not that new-fangled metal junk), and they're worth catching. All you younguns, get ready to get down with it; and all you old scenesters, get your leather out of the closet, cause the DBs return to the Espresso Bar for a round of fanny thumpin' this Friday night. Also along for the ride are the Billy Yanks, Daltonic, 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, and Zippo Raid. It doesn't seem more than a week goes by before we have to mention 7 Hill Psychos are out and about. This time they headline Ralph's, along with opening sets from State of Corrosion and NE Hostility. Meanwhile, the Blue Plate (remember that place?) gets into the swing of live music again with the odd and original OutCats doing the honors this time, and John Stone's Inn (Ashland) features the Blue Hornets for all you roadtrippers. On Saturday, it's the return of Harvard's Revielle, that bunch of dudes slated for Big Deal status. Which makes sense, given their wholly unoriginal take on music. See if you can spot the five albums they've listened to when they headline a gig at the Espresso Bar. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll yawn seven bucks goodbye. Over at the Plantation Club, it's the return of the Push Stars, yet another band tapped for star status. Great melodies, big hooks, and inclusion on the There's Something About Mary soundtrack are strong points on the band résumé (a two-page spread for Levi Dockers their dubious achievement), and the much anticipated Capitol debut should be out any day now. Opening the night are Little Big Wheel, who should be seen if only to hear this tune they have called "Shooting Holes." It's a pretty fab number that's knocked our socks off. Also on Saturday, it's your last chance to catch the Radio Kings locally, who, after three great albums, will be packing it in. They play Slattery's. Vincent's plays host to Twang (formerly sorta the Primitive Characters) and their brand of moonshine-induced porch music, and Troy Gonyea and the Premiers return to Gilrein's.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE

No, that's not the new Garbage single you've been hearing on the radio. It's "Paralyzed," the new single from those formerly sweet & saucy Swedes the Cardigans. Still saucy, but leaner and even a bit meaner-sounding, the Cardigans have hit the road behind their latest CD, Gran Turismo (Mercury), toting a newer Swedish sensation, the boy-pop band Kent with them as an opening act. They'll play the Roxy, (617) 338-7699, in Boston, on February 5 and Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, (401) 272-5876, in Providence, on February 6.

Had Kurt stayed away from the gun, it's entirely possible that Nirvana would've ended up at some point, or at some distant festival, opening for Bush. The scenario of the pioneer who ends up working for the come-lately is on display this very week, however, as Liz Phair finds herself the opening act for Alanis Morissette, at the Mullins Center at UMass-Amherst, (413) 733-2500, on February 11 and at the Cumberland Civic Center, (207) 775-3458, in Portland, Maine, on February 12. Oh, to be a fly on the dressing-room wall. By the time Alanis makes her way to the FleetCenter, (617) 931-2000, on February 22, Liz will have ceded the pole position to Shirley Manson and Garbage. Phair play? You make the call.

Think of it as a hippie version of Golden Smog -- three Allman Brothers Band guys, two guys from Aquarium Rescue Unit, and Blues Traveler's John Popper make up the touring ensemble known as Frogwings, who'll sit around the stage at Lupo's on February 7 and Pearl Street, (413) 584-0610, in Northampton, on February 11. The Derek Trucks Band -- whose namesake is also sitting in with the headliners -- open both shows. On the subject of blues travelers, New Orleans legend Dr. John has done his share of gettin' around. He makes his way to the Iron Horse, (413) 584-0610, in Northampton, on February 7 and the House of Blues, (617) 491-2583, in Cambridge, on February 18. You can catch the Doctor's N'awlins compatriots, zydeco cat Geno Delafose and French Rockin' Boogie, at the Call, (401) 751-2255, in Providence, on February 6.

In cased you missed 'em here . . . reggae star Luciano -- just off a gig last week at the Roxy in Boston -- heads up a bill at Lupo's on February 9 with Mikey General, Dean Fraser, Firehouse Crew, and Holy Smoke; and another at Pearl Street on February 10. And Chick Corea and Gary Burton -- who perform a jazzical thing with the Handel & Haydn Society at Boston's Symphony Hall, (617) 266-1200, on February 5 -- do their acclaimed usual deal at the Calvin Theatre, (413) 586-8686, in Northampton, on February 6.

-- Carly Carioli