Roadtrips

New and noteworthy on the roots-rockabilly circuit are the Bourbonaires, the latest in a succession of fantastic New England collectors/musicians (Racketeers/Raging Teens) who play the Sun-era stuff as if they'd been born 40 years ago. The Bourbonaires have a full-length disc scheduled for a fall release, and they'll tease it with a single -- entitled, appropriately enough, "That Tease," backed with "I'm Gonna Lose My Mind" (Howlin' Records) -- that they'll release tonight (April 15) at Bill's Bar (617-21-9678) in Boston. The Ray Corvair Trio are along for that gig, and then the Bourbonaires are off to the Green Room (401-351-POOL) in Providence with, yep, the Raging Teens.

Evoking a more recent -- and pop-savvy -- take on Americana roots are Indiana's Old Pike, whom we'd put in a category almost by themselves (them and, say, Chamberlain) that would be something along the lines of "guys who can play country music but have also probably heard of the Promise Ring." They're also labelmates with John P. Strohm, if that does anything for you. You'll have to show up early to catch Old Pike opening for Bare Jr. and Pound at the Met Café (401-861-2142) in Providence on April 16. And of course we couldn't mention the word "roots" this week without informing you that the almighty Wilco -- beloved by everyone, us included -- are at Pearl Street (413-584-0610) in Northampton on Marathon Day, April 19, as well as at Avalon (617-262-2424) in Boston on April 23. Vic Chesnutt opens both dates.

Harking back to the pre-rock spirit of vaudeville, something called "The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Autonomadic Bookmobile Roadshow" shows up at Providence's AS220 (401-832-9327) on April 17 and 18 and at the Space (508-753-0017) in Worcester on April 20. Aside from a small-press book fair, the Bindlestiffers are promising a Jim Rose-ish assortment of oddities: sword swallowing, broken-glass dancing, human blockhead, fire eating, flea circus. Just in case you were thinking about bringing the kids, they're giving themselves an X rating -- which probably means Kinkette and her Disco Diablo aren't kidding. You get $2 off if you come in clown make-up.
-- CC