Roadtrips

edited by Matt Ashare

Remember the first cast, also known as the "New York" cast, of MTV's Real World? Well, then, you may remember Rebecca Blasband, the New York group's aspiring singer/songwriter. It took a couple years, but she finally landed herself a deal with Mercury, and she's out supporting her first disc, the slickly produced pop offering Rapt, with a Northeast residency tour. She plays the Living Room (401-521-5200) in Providence on May 15, with Blind Ambition, Charlie Squash, and Dr. Zeus opening, before making the third of her four Wednesday appearances at Mama Kin (617-351-2525) in Boston on May 21 with Son of Lucy.

The exemplary groove outfit Medeski Martin and Wood hook up with funkster Maceo Parker for the last of Gamelan Productions and Jordi Herold Presents' first annual "Road Trip '97" concert series. They're joined by Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise on May 16 at the Orpheum Theatre (617-679-0810) in Boston. You can also catch Parker and Medeski Martin and Wood on May 18 at the Palace Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut (call 800-477-6849).

Over the years, NYC's Yo La Tengo have become one of the more consistently excellent live bands on the indie-rock circuit, in part because they've now had a steady bass player (James McNew) for a couple of albums, and in part because guitarist Ira Kaplan's long, winding solos often reach explosive peaks. They'll be joined by Boston's faux folk duo Damon and Naomi, featuring the former Galaxie 500 rhythm section of Damon Krukowski and Naomi Yang. That's on May 20 at the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Cambridge and May 21 at the Met Café (401-861-2142) in Providence. And another band who've paid some serious dues, Boston's Mighty Mighty Bosstones, headline over the Offspring at the Great Woods season opener on May 21 in Mansfield (call 617-423-NEXT). Or you can get your ska fix on May 21 at T.T. the Bear's Place (617-492-BEAR) or May 22 at the Met Café, when Spring Heeled Jack join the Cherry Poppin' Daddies and swing punks Big Rude Jake.