Roadtrips

Yep, June of '44 have gone out on yet another limb with their new one. They may be the band to prove, once and for all for the post-indie generation, that repeated goings out on limbs can become just as boring as doing the same old thing over and over again. We wouldn't mind their dub-laced archeology and architectural meanderings so much if they actually went anywhere once in a while, but they've committed themselves firmly to the primacy of getting lost and staying there, a tradition that continues unabated on their new Anahata (Quarterstick). "Equators to Bi-Polar" would seem to posit their lack of direction as the result of attempting every direction all at once; and even on the anemic "Cardiac Atlas" they have trouble summoning up an ounce of heart. Those still looking for a reason to root can take solace in the thought that Victory at Sea's Christina Files was behind the board on a couple of tunes, which may or may not have anything to do with the lullabyish "Southeast of Boston." In any case, June of '44 will be south and west of Boston on September 12, when they play the Met Café (401-861-2142) in Providence; and then just slightly, uh, north of Boston, when they play the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Cambridge on September 13.

Ticketholders for the sold-out Barry White/Earth Wind & Fire gig on Friday the 10th at the FleetCenter are hereby congratulated. Everyone else looking for a little funk will have to settle for James Brown sideman Maceo Parker, yet again, at the Somerville Theatre (331-2211) on September 15 and 16. Cracker soul and goofabilly charm are the order of the day for Southern Culture on the Skids, the inaugurators of Chapel Hill's annual garage-punk dirty weekend, Sleazefest. They'll bring a little bit of the sleaze north with 'em when they hit the Met Café on September 14; the Middle East on September 15; and the Palladium's upstairs room (508-797-9696) in Worcester on September 16. SCOTS once recorded a damn-smokin' version of Link Wray's serial-killer instro-punk anthem "Jack the Ripper"; you're almost assured of hearing the original when Wray teams up with the Itchies at the Hot Club (401-861-9007) in Providence on September 11 and with the Lyres at the Lucky Dog Music Hall (508-363-1888) in Worcester on September 14. More spirited punk with a '50s rock-a-hooligan vibe comes courtesy of the Amazing Crowns, who've been promising their sophomore disc, Still Royal, but have yet to deliver. We hear it's due in a couple months, and the band are back on the well-distributed indie Monolyth after Velvel went bye-bye. The Crowns are at Bill's Bar (617-421-9678) on September 9 and at the Palladium's upstairs room on September 11 with Kicked in the Head and the Goonies.

Other odds and sods: NBC's "Gravity Games" are responsible for the September 10 Providence Civic Center (331-2211) gig featuring Spin coverboy Kid Rock, the rejiggered Foo Fighters (whose Nothing Left To Lose is due next week), Busta Rhymes, and Tom Waits's buddies Primus. R.E.M. sneak into the Tweeter Center (331-2211) at the end of the summer on September 11; former Soundgarden belter Chris Cornell tests out the solo waters at a sold-out Sanders Theatre at Harvard University on September 13. And Mr. Willie Nelson graces the Lowell Memorial Auditorium (978-454-2299) with his presence on September 14.
-- Carly Carioli