Roadtrips

Seems there's a new Chicago post-hardcore/post-rock band coming through town just about every week, but of all the recent visitors, Traluma are the only one whose disc (Seven Days Awake, on Caufield) has stayed locked in our stereo -- mainly 'cause it's more rock, less post. They can be evasive in a June of '44 kinda way, but they're also liberal with those mid-period Fugazi-ish choruses most of the time. And they're on a tour with fellow Windy City fellows Sweep the Leg Johnny (all we know is they have a saxophonist) that brings 'em to the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Cambridge on July 14 with the Wicked Farleys, and to the Call (401-751-2255) in Providence on July 15 with Rose of Sharon and Kind of like Spitting. The Farleys also hook up with the Make-Up July 12 at the Space (508-753-0017) in Worcester -- the only publicized Massachusetts/Rhode Island show for Dischord's gospel yeh-yeh heartthrobs this time around.

Former Bongload/Shockabilly dude Kramer is at the Call on the 10th with Sean Eden and Damon Krukowski (of Galaxie 500/Damon & Naomi fame); on the 11th Kramer's at T.T. the Bear's Place (617-492-BEAR) in Cambridge with Ms. Pigeon, Shiva Speedway, and Lou Barlow's sister's band, Hospital. Northampton still claims Buffalo Tom as its own. We'll grant them dual citizenship, but BT -- who have a new album due in the fall -- give the western half of the state first crack at the new stuff when they play the Iron Horse (413-584-0610) on July 16.

Matador's Bardo Pond bring the space rock to the Middle East on July 15 with local psychedelic pop masters Lockgroove, Abunai!, and Charlene; the Pond are also at the Met Café (401-861-2142) in Providence on the 16th with Super Jesus and Terrastock vets V. Majestic. And on a merely semantic note, Spacehog are at Pearl Street (413-584-0610) in Northampton on the 15th.

There'll be plenty of painful scenes played out when the Genitorturers -- who do, indeed, torture their genitals -- mangle themselves industro-goth style at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876) in Providence on July 12 and at Pearl Street on the 16th. It may be even more painful, however, to sit through Stabbing Westward and God Lives Underwater at Lupo's on July 11 or at Avalon (617-262-2424) in Boston on July 21.

For those of you who want to be close to the water, the Wellfleet Beachcomber (508-349-6055) hosts blues gal Marcia Ball on July 9, and an excellent pop bill on the 10th with Tugboat Annie, the Sheila Divine, and Fly Seville. Another blues dude, Sugar Ray Norcia, does the boat-cruise thing on the 9th, which leaves from Long Wharf in Boston (call 617-876-4275); he's also at Chan's (401-765-1900) in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, the following night.