Heavy Dates

Mike Watt has long espoused a mostly selfless blue-collar workaholic ethic -- like Hank Rollins, he's a workhorse first and an "artist" second, or maybe third. The options offered by the title of his '95 solo debut, Ball-Hog or Tugboat?, suggested that his view of himself was more artisan than artist. So it's not too surprising to find Watt hitting the road, without an album to promote, with a backing outfit he refers to as if it were just another tool in the box -- the Pair of Pliers. This time around he's promising a career-retrospective set including songs from his pioneering '80s punk band with the late D. Boon, the Minutemen; his post-Boon band fIREHOSE; his two solo discs; and a couple of sweeteners like Blue Öyster Cult's "The Red and the Black" and the Stooges' "Funhouse." This Friday, October 15, Watt's at the Met Café, (401) 861-2142, in Providence, with Cobra Verde -- whose time serving essentially as Robert Pollard's back-up band in a recent Guided by Voices line-up apparently turned them into arena-rock hopefuls, as is attested by their deliciously debauched, glam-splashed Nightlife (Motel). The next day, October 16, Watt and Cobra Verde are joined at T.T. the Bear's Place, (617) 492-2327, in Cambridge, by Boston's own Wheat -- who've put out two stunning albums but still tend to sound a bit too introspective and delicate live. Watt's also at the Iron Horse, (413) 584-0610, in Northampton, on October 21.

Formerly a grade-B rap-metal act (back when Judgement Night was still considered the highpoint of the genre), Shootyz Groove were probably the least likely band in the world to attempt an XTC cover. Said cover didn't get them anywhere near as close to the radio as did their sublime Sugar Ray impersonation, "L Train," a summer-sweet paean to public transportation and leaving all your cares on the platform behind you. The rest of their disc, High Definition (Warner Bros.), ain't bad either, especially if you think Everlast could use louder guitars. They're upstairs at the Palladium, 797-9696, in Worcester, on October 21, and at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, (401) 272-5876, in Providence, on October 22.

The Goo Goo Dolls try to revive flagging interests by headlining MP3.com's "Music and Technology Tour." This from a band, we are reminded, who made a million-odd dollars without plugging in an acoustic guitar. At least on that song. Whatever it was. The Goo Goos are at the Mullins Center at UMass-Amherst, (617) 931-2000, on October 20.

-- Carly Carioli