Roadtrips

edited by Matt Ashare

Keanu Reeves has learned a valuable lesson from the legions of film-stars-turned-pop-artists who've come before him: if you don't actually sing, chances are you'll be spared the indignity of turning up on some future Golden Throats compilation. While Speed 2 cruises onto movie screens without him (and without much critical acclaim, either), Reeves picks up his bass and hits the road with his band Dogstar -- and probably milks a little advance publicity for his next flick, Devil's Advocate, along the way. They're headlining a bill with Ruby Horse and Silverjet at Avalon (617-262-2424) in Boston on July 8 and the Strand (401-272-0444) in Providence on July 9.

Elsewhere, indie icons June of '44 navigate a course between tempestuous discord and eerie calm, bringing along Chicago's like-minded Dinogah when they sail into the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Boston on July 5 and the Met Café (401-861-2142) on July 7.

At Great Woods (617-423-NEXT for tix) in Mansfield, this week's shows run the gamut from Bush and Jesus Lizard on July 6 to a "70s Music Explosion" with the Village People, KC & the Sunshine Band, and Kool & the Gang on July 10. In between, Lollapalooza rolls on in with a line-up including Korn, Tool, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Tricky, Orbital, James, and Julian and Damian Marley & the Uprising Band.

But if Korn strike you as, well, just a bit too nice, we recommend making a trip out to Providence for the three-day Faithless Festival at the Met Café. Billed unflinchingly as "3 Days of Noise," it's the death/grind/scumrock response to the psychedelic-cum-space-rock Terrastock festival this past May (though Lhasa Cement Plant could have gone toe-to-toe with the most extreme bands here). Friday's show starts at 6 and the Saturday and Sunday shows begin at 2, with bands from eight states and three countries including A.C., Japanese Torture Comedy Hour, Ojordo, Bongzilla, Dissucks, Lockweld, Charles Bronson, Dropdead, and many more.