Roadtrips

edited by Matt Ashare

Combustible Edison have been around long enough for us to refer to them as "veteran" lounge cats, and they'll be doing their seasoned exotica routine this weekend at the Iron Horse (413-584-0610) in Northampton on May 29, the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Cambridge on May 30, and Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876) in Providence on May 31. No question that Cheap Trick are veteran power-popsters, so we won't even mention it. They're at Avalon (331-2211) in Boston on May 30 and the Strand (401-272-0444) in Providence on June 4.

Two up-and-coming guitar-pop outfits, Seattle's Cunninghams and Philadelphia's Huffamoose, hook up on May 30 at Bill's Bar (617-421-9678) in Boston. The Cunninghams then join LA's much-improved That Dog and Edgar on June 4 at the Met Café (401-861-2142). That Dog, who are supporting a really great new power-pop disc on Geffen, go on to headline the Middle East on June 6 with England's new-wavy Kenickie and Boston's Cherry 2000 opening.

The creature-double-feature double bill of Gwar and Chemlab, officially known as the "Carnival of Chaos" tour, hits Avalon (331-2211) in Boston on June 4 with the latex-and-leather-clad Women of Sodom opening, and Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel on June 6, when "Planet of Ass" titans Scissorfight go on first. Kentucky indie-country boy Will Oldham brings the latest incarnation of his Palace Music outfit to the Middle East on June 4 and to the Call (401-751-CALL) in Providence on June 5. The opening band on both bills, Ano*Moanon, are also Oldham's backing group. Philly's amped-up, Blues Explosion-style R&B rockers the Delta 72 headline shows with the Quadrajets, Jet Pack, and 22 Sunsets on June 5 at the Met Café and with Chrome Cranks, Quadrajets, and Daviess County Panthers on June 6 at the Middle East. And NYC's Skeleton Key rock the Middle East on June 5 and the Met Café on June 6.