Roadtrips

Although you wouldn't know it by listening to the radio or watching the MTV, Rancid put out another damn fine album in Life Won't Wait (Epitaph), having a grand ol' time down Jamaica way and generally out-Clashing themselves (and maybe the Clash, too). Go see whether rudie got game at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876) in Providence on October 28 and at the Palladium (508-797-9696) in Worcester on Halloween night, both with Hellcat's ska-clinic-on-wheels, Hepcat. And on the subject of Epitaph, that label was first in line to court Nashville Pussy -- and failed, because its office was too nice and because the Pussyfolk suspected the staff were Skynyrd-phobic. But Epitaph already had the next best thing in the Motörhead-meets-Motor-City sweepstakes, and that would be Zeke. Last time they were here, Supersucker Eddie Spaghetti introduced them as "the greatest rock-and-roll band on the planet. I mean, I like my band and everything, but Zeke? Come on!" You'll have to travel to Providence to catch 'em at the Met Café (401-861-2142) on October 23 with multilingual ska-punks Voodoo Glow Skulls.

Ever since Rancid have gotten all musicianly and stuff, the position of punk-rock crustkeeper has been up for grabs; and the extra-crusty cats in Suicide Machines are certainly in the running. They headline the all-ages pick of the week at St. John's Gym (800-477-6849) in Clinton on October 24 with thrashy shout-along favorites Avail and 30 Seconds over Tokyo. At the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Cambridge on October 23, you have the option of going upstairs to see mad-daddy garage-punk guys the Swinging' Neckbreakers -- on a bill with NYC's upscale trashcan girl group the Prissteens -- or going downstairs to catch a smashing roots-rockabilly bill with the Lord's gift to reverb and hair grease, the Racketeers, along with sci-fi novelty stars the Strangemen and New Hampshire's self-explanatory Ragin' Teens. On October 24 the Racketeers will be out at the Espresso Bar (508-770-1455) in Worcester while the Neckbreakers hit the Met Café.

And now for a real honest-to-God road trip: former Kyuss guitarist Josh Homme's band Queens of the Stone Age (formerly known as Gamma Ray) released an album on October 6 that'll someday be deemed as influential to the next decade of heavy metal as the combined weight of the first Alice in Chains album and the third Soundgarden album were about five years ago. Only this time it'll be a good thing. As close as they get this time around is Coney Island High (212-674-7959) in New York City on October 23. And yes, we're looking for a ride.

-- CC