Roadtrips

We're guessing that on the evening of June 30, anyone with an interest in Detroit white-boy hip-hop will be either sitting at home with the new Eminem disc or, if he or she is lucky, headed to Foxboro Stadium (617-931-2000) to catch Kid Rock as part of Metallica's sold-out "Summer Sanitarium" bash (which also features Korn, Powerman 5000, and System of a Down, as well as a free show beforehand in the Foxboro parking lot with Tree and 7th Rail Crew). But just in case there are still folks left with a hankering for Motown's other white meat, those pro-wrestling-loving, KISS-make-up-wearing, Sharon Osbourne-dissing Insane Clown Posse characters will be throwing down with their ninjas at Avalon (617-423-NEXT) in Boston that night.

Ironic, isn't it, that Puff Daddy's biggest hit took a sample from a group who called themselves the Police? Puffy's benefactor's troubles with the law aside, former Police-man Sting goes off in support of his latest solo effort, Brand New Day (A&M), with a gig at the Tweeter Center in Mansfield (617-931-2000) on June 30; that same night country superstar Wynonna, sans Mama Judd, takes center stage behind her similarly titled New Day Dawning (Curb) at the FleetBoston Pavilion (617-931-2000) in Boston, and hippie jam-rock superstars Phish kick off a two-night stand at the Meadows Music Theatre (860-548-7370) in Hartford, Connecticut.

We'd heard rumors that In My Eyes had broken up while on tour in Europe, but it seems they're at least together enough to be playing in Worcester this holiday weekend. This is a spellbinding local hardcore outfit whose Nothing To Hide (Revelation) struck us as one of the strongest Boston straight-edge discs to come down the pike in some time. And hey, any group who name themselves after a Minor Threat song better be good, right? Catch 'em opening for Bane as a last-minute addition to the schedule at the Palladium (508-797-9696) in Worcester on July 3. Meanwhile, Providence sends one of its finest post-punk noise-rock oddities our way this week: Lightning Bolt, a duo who make a tremendous racket with just drums and bass, pull into the Milky Way (617-524-3740) in Jamaica Plain on July 6 on a bill with insane-in-the-membrane psychotherapist/world-beat oddity Dr. Nancy Mrocek, PhD.
-- Carly Carioli