You’ve got to wonder: were those some kabbalistic kisses of death she bestowed on MTV? With Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears sidelined, Madonna — or "Esther," as she told 20/20 she’s calling herself in Jewish Studies these days — has the pop-queen field to herself this summer. And despite a lackluster showing from her agit-pop American Life (Warner Bros) album, her latest megatour is doing blockbuster business: she’s sold out the first three nights of a four-night stand at the Worcester Centrum (508-755-6800) this Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and even if the "production seats" released last week have been snapped up for the sellouts, there are still scattered tickets remaining for the July 1 show. Meanwhile, long-time Madonna — er, Esther — back-up singer Donna DeLory uses the off-night to play a solo gig at the Paradise Lounge (617-562-8814) on Tuesday.

When John Rich and "Big Kenny" Alphin began playing as a duo under the name Big & Rich, the name was supposed to be a joke. It didn’t stay that way for long. Rich has the #1 country single and album right now thanks to Gretchen Wilson, the first member of Rich & Alphin’s Nashville-based insurgency, MuzikMafia, to have a breakout hit. The two had a hand in writing much of Wilson’s Here for the Party (Epic), including her monster single "Redneck Woman," which helped the album debut at #2 on the pop charts and put her instantly in Shania Twain/Faith Hill territory. Now Big & Rich are hitting the road behind their own debut, Horse of a Different Color (Warner Bros.), with none other than Mr. Faith Hill himself, Tim McGraw. They’ll be at Meadows Music (203-265-1501) in Hartford on Friday and at the Tweeter Center (617-931-2000) in Mansfield on Saturday.

The next time you see the Darkness, they’ll be touring behind an album produced by Shania’s husband, Mutt Lange. But they’re closing out their current US tour with one last night of mercilessly retro pop metal as part of "Reunion X," an all-star reunion of extreme-sports stars from ESPN’s X-Games including skateboard legend Tony Hawk. That’s at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center (401-331-6700) in Providence on Saturday. If you can’t wait for Wednesday’s opening of Spider-Man 2, you can go see emo heartthrob Chris Carrabba sing the first single from the soundtrack, "Vindicated," when Dashboard Confessional play Tsongas Arena (978-848-6900) in Lowell on Sunday with Thrice and the Get Up Kids.

Once upon a time, the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion had the blues-punk field pretty much to themselves; now they’ll try to remind folks they were doing it before the White Stripes. JSBX hit the Call (401-751-2255) in Providence on Saturday and Pearl Street (413-584-0610) in Northampton on Sunday. The Paris-based, West African–born Afropop diva Angélique Kidjo performs with Femi Kuti — son of Afrofunk great Fela — at the Paradise (617-562-8800) on Friday; Kidjo continues on to Pearl Street (413-584-0610) in Northampton on Saturday. And NYC mash-up king DJ Reset, who’s been getting commercial airplay for "Frontin’ on Debra," his unauthorized mind meld of Pharrell and Beck, hits Club Metronome (802-865-4563) in Burlington, Vermont, on Friday.