Heavy Dates

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE

Like John Wayne or Marlon Brando in The Wild One, Social Distortion main man Mike Ness works best when he gets a lungful of the loneliness at the heart of the American dream of self-reliance and independence. His fine solo debut Cheating at Solitaire (Time Bomb) continues his going-on-20-year legacy of punk-infected blues, country, and rockabilly, though here the roiling distortion is almost completely subsumed by pedal steel, stand-up bass, and other honky-tonk signifiers. He won't be completely alone for his performances in New England this week, where he'll be aided by a band including Solitaire's excellent pedal steel player Chris Lawrence; former Lewd/Joykiller dude Sean Greaves; and Charlie Quintana, who has the distinction of having played alongside Bob Dylan and Izzy Straddlin . . . not to mention a set list that reportedly includes "vastly reworked" versions of select Social D material. Ness is at the Berklee Performance Center, (617) 931-2000, in Boston, on June 11, and at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, (401) 272-5876, in Providence, on June 12.

There are some folks who just don't know how to say goodbye. Ozzy Osbourne is tops on the list; the guy's retired so many times he should have his own planned community in Florida by now. This time around he is, yet again, "retiring" the original Black Sabbath line-up, which headlines this year's Ozzfest. This year's monsters of rock include Rob Zombie, the Deftones, Slayer, Primus, Godsmack, System of a Down, Fear Factory, Puya, and Static-X. The June 16 date at the Tweeter Center, (617) 931-2000, in Mansfield, is already sold out; tickets remain for the second Tweeter show on June 18.

From Nashville Pussy to Kid Rock to the stoned-cold roster of Frank Kozik's Man's Ruin label, redneck chic has been the iconography du jour for the latest batch of rock-and-roll renegades. Get a glimpse of the real shit-kickin' Southern-rock deal when the Confederate freak flag flies over the "Volunteer Jam Tour" with the Charlie Daniels Band, the Marshall Tucker Band, and the legendary Molly Hatchet. It hits the Tweeter Center on June 11.

The South Shore Music Circus, (781) 383-1400, in Cohasset, has some of the best sightlines in outdoor amphitheater-dom -- no seat, they claim, is less than 50 feet from the in-the-round stage. Which means you can get all intimate and whatnot with our favorite rockabilly-lite crooner Chris Isaak when he hits the joint on June 13.

Some of you probably have tickets to see the Beach Boys on July 21 at the BankBoston Pavilion, (617) 931-2000, but you'd have to be crazier than a loon to be a Beach Boys fan without a ticket to see one of Brian Wilson's performances in the area this month. The certifiable pop genius/nutcase makes a couple of ridiculously rare live appearances on June 15 at the Calvin Theatre, (413) 586-8686, in Northampton, and on June 21 at Symphony Hall, (617) 266-1200, in Boston.

-- Carly Carioli