Heavy Dates

It's been the better part of three years since Toronto's An April March have graced the Worm with their presence. Catch them this Friday at the Lucky Dog Music Hall, cuz who knows when they'll be back again. Headlining the night are the Curtain Society, a band living on the wrong continent at the wrong time. They are however, still making music that is 100 percent gorgeous. We especially catch a buzz from the Brian Wilson-inspired vocals on the newest stuff. Boston's Count Zero and Huck's Scott Ricciuti round out the bill. Busta Rhymes is at the Palladium, but get there early for Worcester Phoenix Best Music Poll nominees Split, who draw the opening slot. Elsewhere, the Racky Thomas Band (also WPBMP nominees) head back to Gilrein's for a night of action. On Saturday it's a who's-who of poll nominee's starting with a battle of the BMP pop-elite when the Crybabies, Preston Wayne Four, and Das Fearless Leaders go head to head to head in a throw-down featuring surf-rod muscle, garage-pop smarts, rockabilly boogie, and general mayhem. It happens at the Above Club. Murphy's Law return to town to rock the Commercial Street Cafe with tunes about drinking, getting high, stealing panties, and other such weighty topics. Fatwall Jack (BMP) return to Gilrein's, High Water Moon (ditto BMP ) lay down the beat at Jillian's, Walter and Valerie Crockett play Cafe Fantastique, and Seven Hill Psychos and Eastcide headline the talent at the Lucky Dog. Also gigs from Rawhwad Rex at the Tiki Hut, Arthur Dent Foundation at the Tammany Club, and Twang at Vincent's round out our list of hard-working nominees for this evening's entertainment. Plan accordingly and vote with your heart.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE

New and noteworthy on the roots-rockabilly circuit are the Bourbonaires, the latest in a succession of fantastic New England collectors/musicians (Racketeers/Raging Teens) who play the Sun-era stuff like they were born 40 years ago. The Bourbonaires have a full-length disc scheduled for a fall release, and they'll tease it with a single -- entitled, appropriately enough, "That Tease," backed with "I'm Gonna Lose My Mind" (Howlin' Records) -- that they'll release on Thursday, April 15 at Bill's Bar, (617) 421-9678, on Lansdowne Street in Boston. The Ray Corvair Trio is along for that gig, and then the Bourbonaires are off to the Green Room, (401) 351-7665, in Providence, with, yep, the Raging Teens.

Evoking a more recent -- and pop-savvy -- take on Americana roots are Indiana's Old Pike, who we'd put in a category almost by themselves (them and, say, Chamberlain), which would be something along the lines of "guys who can play country music but have also probably heard of the Promise Ring." They're also labelmates with John P. Strohm, if that does anything for you. You'll have to show up early to catch Old Pike opening for Bare Jr. and Pound at the Met Cafe, (401) 861-2142, in Providence, on April 16. And of course we couldn't mention the word "roots" this week without informing you that the almighty Wilco -- beloved by everyone, us included -- are at Pearl Street, (413) 584-0610, in Northampton, on Monday, April 19, as well as at Avalon, (617) 262-2424, in Boston, on April 23. Vic Chestnutt opens both dates.

Harkening back to the pre-rock spirit of vaudeville, something called "The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Autonomadic Bookmobile Roadshow" shows up at Providence's AS220, (401) 832-9327, on April 17 and 18 (and at the Space, in Worcester, April 20). They're promising a Jim Rose-ish assortment of oddities -- sword swallower, broken-glass dancing, human blockhead, fire-eating, flea circus. Just in case you were thinking about bringing the kids, they're giving themselves an X-rating -- which also probably means Kinkette and her Disco Diablo aren't kidding. You get $2 off if you come in clown make-up.

-- Carly Carioli