Roadtrips

edited by Matt Ashare

Poseurs take heart -- the '80s poodle-metal revival continues unabated this week, and you can be sure Satan is smiling (while Ozzy looks on and thinks, "There but for the grace of a Black Sabbath reunion go I"). Joining the ranks of L.A. Guns, Dio, and W.A.S.P., Dokken have repositioned themselves as independent-label underdogs. They've got a new album, a new haircut (one of 'em has been spotted with a mohawk), and a tour that brings them to Axis (617-262-2437) in Boston on June 27 and the Strand (401-272-0444) in Providence on June 28. Not enough? Then make plans to catch Ratt, who won't be bringing their "Miniskirt/Pump Party" to Boston but will be going round and round at the Strand on July 5. Or you can just check out the '90s equivalent when Seven Mary Three pop into the Paradise (617-562-8800) in Boston on June 28, and the Met Café (401-861-2142) in Providence on June 29, with Jump Little Children opening both shows. Along the same lines, Collective Soul hit Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876) in Providence on July 2. As always, we urge you to keep those upraised lighters a minimum of two feet from your neighbor's hair.

The best thing about ska bands (besides ska) is their names, so it had to suck when some British techno act came within two letters of stealing Spring Heeled Jack's moniker. SHJ seem to be doing okay anyway: they're heading up a bill with Perfect Thyroid June 27 at the Met Café, then hooking up with Johnny Two Bad & the Strikeouts for shows on June 28 at the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Boston -- with Big D & the Kids' Table and something called Kicked in the Head -- and June 29 at Pearl Street (413-584-7771) in Northampton, with Too Hectic and Racketball.

As an antidote to all the above, check out Minneapolis's Legendary Jim Ruiz Group when they do the lounge-pop thing at the Call (401-421-7241) in Providence on June 29 with Musical Chairs and Honeybunch, then toast the after-dinner crowd at the Green Street Grill at Charlie's Tap (617-876-1655) in Cambridge on June 30 with Penguin.