Heavy Dates

What is alternative? Beats us. But if you want to blame someone, a good place to start finger-pointing would be at the Pixies: a band who created an interesting stew of punk and nails-across-the-chalkboard noise that lots of today's derivative bands call their guiding light. But we can't hold that against Frank Black, who actually went on to make good music on his own, culminating in two garage-style crunchers for his new label spinART. Catch the mighty Frank Black and the Catholics at the Lucky Dog this Friday night. You'll never look at Surfer Rosa the same. Local alt-country-rock-dude Jim Weeks opens. Jah Spirit hit the Firehouse Cafe. Rock Action rises to a dangerous level this Saturday at the Lucky Dog. First off, the Fleshtones will have the crowd in a full-throttle shimmy. If that isn't enough, the Worm's all-time garage punks, the Odds, bust out of the retirement home for this momentous occasion. Add to that, sets from Thinner (who sound more and more like the Neighborhoods' little cousins) and the Pathetics, and you get a guaranteed ticket to this summer's coolest rock-and-roll show. Monday the Space hosts a worthy benefit for the children of Iraq (old news to most of the world, but still desperately needy), which features sets from Axiom and World War. And Thursday brings the soon-to-be-next-craze Latin salsa to the Firehouse Cafe via the sounds of Rumbon 33, while over at the Plantation Club it's rockabilly legend Ronnie Dawson. The "Blonde Bomber" is still blond and still has the energy to bury alive most bands half his age. Everyone from the Cramps to Dave Alvin to locals Jason James and the Fearless Leaders willingly bow to Ronnie's pulpit. And this just in: Lucky Dog's Erick Godin called just before we shipped to inform us that John Entwistle (formerly of the Who) will appear next Wednesday, July 21, at the Dog. Entwistle, who performs at 8 p.m., will also be on hand (for a mere 10 bucks) to sign autographs during his open soundcheck at 2 p.m.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE