Roadtrips

Decade-plus career longevity is still a rarity in hip-hop; though the genre has proven its commercial salability as an album-moving medium, it's still driven primarily by fast-break singles, which often means that the half-life of any given stylistic innovation is only slightly longer than the running time on a 12-inch. The list of those who've managed to beat hip-hop's planned-obsolescence curse is pretty slim -- an incomplete short list would include KRS-One, L.L. Cool J, and Salt-n-Pepa. One of the benefits of such elder statesmanship (or stateswomanship, in the case of the last group) is that you get to play in places, like Boston, that are generally scared shitless of hip-hop. Which is what the groundbreaking duo will do on March 18 at Avalon (617-262-2424), in support of their most recent effort, Brand New (Red Ant), which finds them, against all odds, still at the top of their game. They're also at Pearl Street (413-584-0610) in Northampton on March 17; local neo-R&B act the Lyte Funky Ones open both shows.

Lou Barlow gives big-ups to N.W.A and drops a little rock-and-roll science on the Phoenix's Franklin Soults on page 14; Boston's former favorite son, who now calls La-La land home, makes his first prodigal return to these parts when Sebadoh swing through in support of what amounts to their major-label debut, The Sebadoh (Sire/Sub Pop). They're at Pearl Street on March 13, the Roxy (617-338-7699) on March 16, and the Met Café (401-861-2142) in Providence on March 17. Barlow's sister's band, Hospital, opens all three shows along with Playtopia.

Insurgent country outlaw Steve Earle makes a guest appearance on Simple Gearle, the debut album by his sister, Stacey Earle, returning the favor she done him by showing on his 1991 album The Hard Way. After slogging time as a Nashville songsmith-for-hire, Stacey's struck out on her own with husband/guitarist Mark Stuart and a batch of winning tunes just on the folk side of country. She's in the area opening up for folk funnygal Christine Lavin at Sanders Theatre (617-496-2222) in Cambridge on March 12; she'll also open for Brooks Williams at the Iron Horse (413-584-0610) in Northampton on March 13.

Irish traditionalists Nomos are at the Somerville Theatre (876-4275) on March 12 and the Common Fence Point Community Hall (401-683-5085) in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, on March 13. Junior guitar phenom Jonny Lang and Chris Whitley are at the Orpheum (331-2211) on March 13 and at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel (401-272-5876) in Providence on March 15. Those who think Tortoise are, y'know, just a little too rock can catch a couple of members doing some straight-up avant-jazz as the Chicago Underground Duo and Brokeback on March 12 at the Century Lounge (401-751-2255) in Providence, and on March 14 at the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Cambridge.
-- CC