Roadtrips

World-class genius-level eccentricity reigns at the majestic Calvin Theatre (413-586-8686) in Northampton this week, beginning Wednesday January 13 with the Kronos Quartet, the dudes who did that album with Elvis Costello before he went all misty-eyed and Bacharach on us, and who've played everything from Zorn to Hendrix (as documented on a career-spanning 10-disc retrospective last year). The following night in the same joint, that ol' minimalist Philip Glass will perform his moving holiday piece from the Mr. Hankey South Park episode. Well, no, actually he -- along with his inventively named Philip Glass Ensemble -- will be offering live accompaniment and reprising his soundtrack to Godfrey Reggio's 1983 film Koyaanisqatsi. On the 15th, Glass and company will repeat their performance at the Wang Center (800-447-7400) in Boston.

Even without a Lemonheads gig in sight, it's not a bad week to be a Ray band. We were touting Baby Ray's XTC-ish pop debut back in November, when their Monkeypuzzle came out on Thirsty Ear; now they're finally getting around to doing a round of proper record-release parties. They're at the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Cambridge tonight, January 7, with the Ray Corvair Trio, who achieved rock nirvana on New Year's Eve by opening for Aerosmith at the FleetCenter and not getting booed off stage. You can also catch the Ray Corvair Trio at the Attic (617-964-6684) in Newton on Saturday. Look out for Baby Ray in Providence on January 23 at the Century Lounge (401-751-2255) with Purple Ivy Shadows; and on February 20 in Portland at the Maine Performing Arts Theatre (207-761-0591). Also catch former Roomful of Blues guy Sugar Ray Norcia on January 8 at the Call (401-751-2255) in Providence. But if you do, you'd be a fool not to return the following night for a deeper shade of blues with exquisite Deep South juke-joint troubadour Big Jack Johnson, who shows up at the Call on the 9th with the Bay State Houserockers.

-- CC