Heavy Dates

by John O'Neill and Carly Carioli

WORCESTER: There's lots and lots going on in Wormtown this weekend starting early Friday, December 19, with the Latino favorites Grupo Fantasia. You can learn to dance the merengue and cumbia before hitting the floor at this benefit for Centro Las Americas. Lessons are from 8 to 9 p.m. and rug-cutting from 9 p.m. till 1 a.m. in the Hogan Center Ballroom, Holy Cross College. Lee Totten, Brookfield's brilliant popster, opens for Clutch Grabwell at the Plantation Club, while over at the Space Stricken for Catherine head a rock-solid bill when they play with Cable, Satia, and Battle of the Network Stars. Ralph's (remember them) reopens the upstairs for a night of ear-splitting angst from Eastcide, Forced Fed Shovelhead, All Else Fails, and Super Creb Star Dynomax. TVT Records sends us another roster star in Dayinthelife, who play the Espresso Bar with 40 Days Rain, Rebound, and All Else Fails. Saturday, December 20, Ed Vadas and the Fabulous Heavyweights weigh in at Gilrein's, while Sir Morgan's Cove offers up 7 Hill Psychos, Mantra, Steel and Tec, and Rumble. Big Lick bring a little ska flavor to the Espresso Bar. 7/10 Split and Paddy's Pig round out that bill. Finally, if you aren't still running around trying to locate the last of the "Fondle Me Grover" dolls, stop by the Space on December 22 to check out Grace of God, Endeavor, Day's Gone, and Strike Three.

-- John O'Neill

BOSTON/PROVIDENCE/AND BEYOND: By rights, the last band to play Boston's fabled Rathskeller should've been extreme-metal guys Brutal Truth, who were scheduled to headline on the dive's last official day of operation. Instead, Gang Green and a crowd of well-wishers destroyed the place the night before, and the rest is, uh, history. But the Brutal ones are back for a little pre-Christmas brawling tonight, December 18, at Pearl Street (413-584-7771), in Northampton, with Converge and Cave In.

Blue Christmases abound. Back in town on holiday break from college, blues guitar prodigy "Monster" Mike Welch relieves a little post-finals stress by playing this Saturday, December 20, at the House of Blues (617-491-2583), in Cambridge, as part of a three-night stand there by his Newton-based label, Tone-Cool, who also have maximum blues pianist Dave Maxwell at the joint tonight, December 18, and Amyl Justin with Kid Bangham tomorrow, December 19. Welch will also be at the Iron Horse (413-584-0610), in Northampton, on December 28. Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters are at the Iron Horse on December 27, then ring in the New Year at the Sit 'n Bull Pub (978-897-7232), in Maynard, on the 31st. Former Saturday Night Live bandleader G.E. Smith is at the Call (401-421-7241), in Providence, on the 19th. And folkies Bennett and Lorraine Hammond do a Christmas show at the Bull Run (978-425-4311), in Shirley, this Saturday, December 20, then show up at Club Passim (617-492-7679), in Cambridge, on Sunday with Bob Franke.

If you've got some of that Christmas cash burning a hole in your pocket, or just an outbreak of disco fever brewing on your brow, Foxwoods Casino (800-200-2882), in Ledyard, Connecticut, offers up a little out-of-season dose of Donna Summer. She's at the casino December 27 through 29.

-- Carly Carioli