The classic creative core of Bad Religion is back together with the return, for their latest album, of founding guitarist/songwriter (and Epitaph Records founder) Brett Gurewitz, and your first look at 'em comes tonight (Thursday, March 14) at Avalon (617-423-NEXT) in Boston with Less Than Jake and Hot Water Music, in support of The Process of Belief, their first disc on Epitaph since they signed to Atlantic in the mid '90s. Your next chance to see Bad Religion won't come till the Warped Tour hits Suffolk Downs on August 15, where the headliners will also include NOFX, whose current tour makes its only area appearance at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876) in Providence on Monday, and major-label pop-punks Midtown, whose Living Well Is the Best Revenge is due in mid April on MCA. Midtown are in the midst of a tour with Boston's own Piebald; both bands are at the El-N-Gee (860-437-3800) in New London on Wednesday and at Lupo's next Thursday, March 21.

Rhode Island School of Design's Queer Arts Fest throws a couple of rock-and-roll parties at AS220 (401-831-9327) in Providence this week featuring the stars of the queer-centric Mr. Lady label. On Sunday, Lookers/Cadallaca gal Sarah Dougher, touring behind her third solo disc, The Bluff, joins teenage singer/songwriter sensation Tami Hart. And next Thursday, March 21, AS220 hosts V for Vendetta and the amazing Limp Wrist -- an explicitly gay straight-edge hardcore (as in, late-'80s youth-crew style) outfit fronted by Martin Sorrondeguy, the former frontman of Latino hardcore faves Los Crudos. Sample lyric, from "I Love Hardcore Boys": "Tight pants and wallet chains/Hooded sweatshirts and Adidas drive me insane/Dreadlocked crusties are hot and can't be beat/Just double up the condom and stay away from their feet."

The Chicago-based singer/songwriter Wesley Willis, performing solo with his keyboard, arrives at T.T. the Bear's (617-492-BEAR) in Cambridge on Friday and at AS220 on Saturday. A Jägermeister-sponsored new-metal tour brings Drowning Pool (of "Bodies" fame), Coal Chamber, and Ill Nino to the State Theater (207-775-3331) in Portland on Saturday. The hill-country blues outfit North Mississippi All Stars are at the Higher Ground (802-654-8888) in Winooski, Vermont, on Saturday; at the Met Café (401-272-5876) in Providence on Sunday; at Toad's Place (203-624-8623) in New Haven on Tuesday; and at the Paradise (617-423-NEXT) in Boston on Wednesday. Reggae great Beres Hammond brings lovers' rock to the Roxy (617-931-2000) in Boston on Saturday and to the Webster Theatre (860-525-5553) in Hartford on Sunday.

On the St. Paddy's front, the Saw Doctors are at the Calvin Theater (413-584-0610) in Northampton on Saturday, and Ronan Tynan opens the season at the North Shore Music Theater (978-232-7200) in Beverly on Sunday. And Mr. Vegas himself, Wayne Newton, drops by the Calvin next Thursday, March 21.