Roadtrips

It's too late to try to start getting into shape at this point, but it's always a good idea to conserve your energy before taking in a set by incomparable space-funkateer George Clinton, who's back in New England this week ready to raise the roof and sweat you to death with the P-Funk All-Stars. A rumored Boston date has yet to be confirmed, so you might want to make plans to see him at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876) in Providence on September 19, or else at John M. Greene Hall on the campus of Smith College (800-843-8245) in Northampton on the 22nd.

The roadtrips weight-loss program continues with another sweaty one, from the maximum R&B band Delta 72. (New album liner notes by former MC5 manager John Sinclair proclaim them heirs to "the intense performance aesthetic and direct emotional connection . . . that are essential elements of this incredibly vibrant African-American art form." Not bad for a bunch of punks from DC.) They headline a high-flying show with Jet Pack, Jet Lag, and Neptune at the Met Café (401-861-2142) in Providence on September 19. One more to soak those pores: super-bawdy mackstress Lil' Kim of Hard Core (Atlantic) and Biggie Smalls fame gets paid to do her wild thang at the Strand (401-272-0444) in Providence on September 24.

The anchor of Sub Pop's Americana-styled roster, the Grifters, headline a Sub Pop stage at the Central Square World's Fair (617-868-FAIR) in Cambridge on September 21. The next night, singer/guitarist Dave Shouse sticks around for a spinoff/solo gig at the Green Street Grill (617-492-9723) with something called Hot Monkey. On the 23rd, the Grifters move to the Met Café in Providence for a show with the Fly Seville.

After playing the Strand in Providence on September 18, Faith No More and Limp Bizkit will be heading out to Worcester to throw their weight behind the Gig Formerly Known As Localpalooza, which now calls itself Locobazooka. The all-day blowout at Green Hill Park (508-797-3305) runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with performances by Another Society, Cast Iron Hike, Eastcide, Forced Fed Shovelhead, Phluke, Industrial Sonic Echo, and more.

And Lower East Side noise-pop archeologists Skeleton Key detour their Boston residency to play a date with Roger Miller's Binary System at the Met Café on September 24; the next night they're back at the Middle East (617-864-EAST) with former Cop Shoot Cop singer Tod Ashley's new band Firewater and Boston's own Shiva Speedway.