Heavy Dates

Friday's big highlight is no doubt the CD-release party for the boys from our favorite alterna-porch-folk-jammers Twang. Once, a weekend feature at Vincent's (until they annoyed the "hip" folks who couldn't get through the night without hearing Bauhaus a few dozen times), they're taking their act to the Heywood Gallery. It's at 8 p.m. so swing by -- you can even be back on Suffolk Street listening to new swing by 11 p.m. Meanwhile, Cafe Abba is going ballistic with sets from NE Hostility, Hitch, and Down 21, while local legend James Montgomery hits Gilrein's. We remember the Gravel Pit some nine or so years ago when we frequented southern Connecticut's "alternative" clubs like the Moon (and wondered why people weren't sick of Bauhaus). They were New Haven's answer to a poor man's R.E.M. All these years and, unfortunately, only some things have improved. At least Gravel Pit have forged ahead. They live in Boston now, and have graduated from being absolutely inconsequential to being a band worth believing. Their new disc Silver Gorilla (Q Division) is a top-flight, hunk of rock action that puts them on par with all-time greats like the Gigolo Aunts, Pills, Taxi Boys, and Remains. Bow down, kids. They headline the Lucky Dog Saturday with opening sets from the Curtain Society and Thinner. The Green Rooster Coffeehouse features Chris and Meredith Thompson, but get there early for our main man Dan Hart. Gilrein's features ol' pal Troy Gonyea and the Premieres, and Clutch Grabwell return to make a big mess on the stage of the Plantation Club. Sunday is nurse-the-hangover day, and what could be better than a spot of tea and a set from the lovely Les Sampou? Well, okay, lots of things, but we're sticking with Les. She plays a 4 p.m. showcase at Worcester County Traditions. Call (508) 754-5128 to reserve your cup and saucer. Week-wise, it's a bit thin in the Worm. We'll take the Deal going acoustic this Tuesday at the Lucky Dog, and Wednesday's open-mic night with the OutCats at the Above Club. Thursday get to the LD early to check out the Phil Pemberton Band, cuz they're pretty decent. Then run like hell, unless your idea of a good time is the yawn-inspiring sounds of Steeley Dan. 9Teen will wade through what's-those-guys-names songbook. We don't understand why you'd pay to be put to sleep when you can drive your car into a brick wall instead. It's faster and cheaper. Personally, we'd rather have to squat on a Steeley Dan (the dildo) for an hour than listen to even the shortest Steeley Dan (those dildos) song -- but then, we've got crazy notions about what does and doesn't blow.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE

Perhaps now that the Reverend Horton Heat has been obliged to perform the just-got-dropped shuffle on his way out of the Interscope offices, the popularizer of rocket-fueled neo-rockabilly raunch will be able to get back to his roots. We hear his new disc -- due out soon on Social Distortion's Time Bomb label -- is much closer to his early material for Sub Pop, on which the Reverend showed more affinity for Bible Belt skullduggery, moonshine sermonizing, and trucker-speed mayhem than for quaint, lounge-era martinis and swing tempos. Not that we have ever been able to keep from bopping, or succeeded in turning down a drink, in the Rev's presence. Heat and his trio blaze a path through New England -- along with West Coast ska-punk openers Dance Hall Crashers -- with stops at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel, (401) 272-5876, in Providence, on March 3 and the Paradise, (617) 423-6398, in Boston, on March 4.

Even as the Reverend's on his way in, some local faces are headed out. Amiable Boston college-pop guys Rocketscience -- whose latest disc, does not quite sound like the work of genuine rocket scientists, and whose publicist misspells Otis Redding's name in their bio -- embark on a month-long jaunt after a hearty sendoff at T.T. the Bear's Place, (617) 492-2327, in Cambridge, on March 3 with the Zips and Red Telephone. Topping that, top-notch former Lilith-Fair-serenading singer/songwriter Laurie Geltman plays one last romp at the Attic, (617) 694-6684, in Newton Centre, before heading to Kathmandu (no phone number available), where she'll play a benefit for a non-Beastie Boys-related foundation looking after exiled Tibetans in Nepal. Still on the A-list female singer/songwriter beat, Melissa Ferrick sold out her two-night, four-show stand at Club Passim, (617) 492-7679, in Cambridge, this weekend, March 3 and 4, a couple weeks ago, just as she always does. If you're without, try the Iron Horse, (413) 584-0610, in Northampton, on March 7. Or switch gears and check out everyone's favorite spooky, folksy mom -- former Throwing Muse (the gal throws her muse the way ventriloquists throw their voices) Kristin Hersh, who's doing a mini-tour in which she performs together with and alone alongside No Depression icon Vic Chesnutt. They'll hit the Iron Horse on March 8, Lupo's on March 9, and the Somerville Theatre, (617) 931-2000, on March 10.

Lookout! punks Ann Beretta -- who seem to be on the bill every time Avail hit town -- come off as a slightly rawer version of the first couple Rancid albums on their new To All Our Fallen Heroes. They're on a headlining tour that hits the Middle East, (617) 864-3278, in Cambridge, on March 6 and the Met Café, (401) 861-2142, in Providence, on March 7. Meanwhile, Avail's Erik Larson shows up in his shit-kicking sludge-metal outfit Alabama Thunder Pussy, who are about to release their third disc, Constellation, on Frank Kozik's Man's Ruin label; they'll likely be the least exciting band on a bill that includes Boston's boogie-metal standouts Milligram and rabid trash-scum punks Ghetto Thunder at the Linwood Grill, (617) 267-8644, in Boston, on March 3.

-- Carly Carioli