Roadtrips

By rights, the last band to play Boston's fabled Rathskeller should've been extreme-metal guys Brutal Truth, who were scheduled to headline on the dive's last official day of operation. Instead, Gang Green and a crowd of well-wishers destroyed the place the night before, and the rest is, uh, history. But the Brutal ones are back for a little pre-Christmas brawling tonight, December 18, at Pearl Street (413-584-7771) in Northampton with Converge and Cave In.

Blue Christmases abound. Back in town on holiday break from college, blues guitar prodigy "Monster" Mike Welch relieves a little post-finals stress by playing this Saturday, December 20, at the House of Blues (617-491-BLUE) in Cambridge as part of a three-night stand there by his Newton-based label, Tone-Cool, who also have maximum blues pianist Dave Maxwell at the joint tonight, December 18, and Amyl Justin with Kid Bangham tomorrow, December 19. Welch will also be at the Iron Horse on December 28. Ronnie Earl & the Broadcasters are at the Iron Horse on December 27, then ring in the New Year at the Sit 'n Bull Pub (978-897-7232) in Maynard on the 31st. Former Saturday Night Live bandleader G.E. Smith is at the Call (401-421-7241) in Providence on the 19th. And folkies Bennett and Lorraine Hammond do a Christmas show at the Bull Run (978-425-4311) in Shirley this Saturday, December 20, then show up at Club Passim (617-492-7679) in Cambridge on Sunday with Bob Franke.

If you've got some of that Christmas cash burning a hole in your pocket, or just an outbreak of disco fever brewing on your brow, Foxwoods Casino (800-200-2882) in Ledyard, Connecticut, offers up a little out-of-season dose of Donna Summer. She's at the casino December 27 through 29.

-- CC