Roadtrips

Until recently, 52-year-old singer/songwriter Warren Zevon ("Werewolves of London") was in danger of being retired to the used-to-be-good file. But Zevon revived his rock-and-roll heart and proved there was still vitriolic life left in him earlier this year on Life'll Kill Ya, a stripped-down production job by Boston's Sean Slade and Paul Kolderie that came out on Danny Goldberg's fledgling Artemis label. For years Zevon's been a great live act, so it's darn nice that he's finally got some quality new material -- such as Life's "My Shit's Fucked Up" -- to add to his set this time around. He's at the Paradise (617-423-NEXT) in Boston on Friday and at Pearl Street (413-584-0610) in Northampton on Sunday.

Back in 1983, Brazil's Ratos de Porão ("Basement Rats") released Crucificados pelo sistema, one of the first -- and finest -- hardcore punk records to emerge from South America. They've been at it ever since, through extensive line-up changes, stylistic advancements and reversions (crossover, thrash, metal, back to punk), and numerous labels, including a stint on Roadrunner (their countrymen Sepultura have proclaimed their affection for the Rats over the years). Earlier this year, Ratos climbed back into the studio with Melvins/Neurosis producer Billy Anderson and re-recorded their first album, releasing the results as Sistemados pelo crúcifa -- with the original 1983 recording included as a hidden bonus track at the end -- on long-time fan Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles label. Both versions are pretty strong stuff -- and the new one actually sounds a bit more radical than the old Septic Death-style crusty one. Ratos make a rare stateside appearance on Sunday afternoon at the Beach Club (978-465-8283) in Salisbury with Toxic Narcotic and the Unseen.

Brooklyn's Afu-Ra finally saw the release of his Body of the Life Force (D&D/Koch) after getting caught in limbo with the collapse of his old label, Gee Street. With DJ Premier in the producer's chair and guest spots by Genius and Masta Killer, the disc has the back-to-basics feel of early Wu-Tang/Gang Starr. Ra's at the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Cambridge with fellow Premier acolyte M.O.P. on Friday and at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876) in Providence on Monday.

In nü-metal: Shuvel and Slaves on Dope hit the Webster Theatre (860-525-5553) in Hartford tonight (November 30) -- with Crazy Town tacked on -- and the Palladium (508-797-9696) in Worcester on Saturday. Orgy, Disturbed, Linkin Park, and VAST team up for a radio-station-sponsored festival at Lupo's tonight; the fest continues Friday with Collective Soul, Dust for Life, and Dexter Freebish. Sevendust hit Lupo's on Tuesday and the State Theatre (207-775-3331) in Portland on Wednesday before hooking up with Megadeth and Staind for a big gig at the Worcester Centrum (617-931-2000) next Friday, December 8. SR-71 are joined by Nickelback and Lifehouse for an FNX-sponsored gig at Avalon (617-423-NEXT) in Boston on Wednesday; you can also catch Nickelback on Saturday at Pearl Street and Lifehouse a week from Tuesday (December 12) at the Met Café (401-861-2142) in Providence.
-- Carly Carioli