Roadtrips

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-NEXT) 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, (A Girl's Name Here), 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 (492-BEAR) 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 (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-EAST) 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