Block-rockin’ beats The Cringe and Three Speed Amplifier BY BOB GULLA

On Friday night, the streets of Providence will be awash in the heavy decibels of a couple of important bands, both of whom will be celebrating the release of new EPs.

The Cringe serves up the immense Love Is Steel EP, a four-song beast that’ll work as the centerpiece of their Safari Lounge gig. Recorded by Mark Wilcox and Joe Francazio and mastered at New Alliance East, the disc includes three originals, one cover — the Stooges’ "I Wanna Be Your Dog" — and lots of distorted noise.

The platter kicks off with "Boys and Girls," a Mötorhead-inspired knockout punch with lots of snarly vocal attitude. "Venomosity" and the title track put the exclamation point on that opening K.O. with chugging chords, slogging tempos, and a dash of melody. It’s not punk, not metal, not rock, per se, but somewhere in that wild-ass, messy, riotous gray area that appeals to fans of all three.

Love Is Steel isn’t going to seduce hipper rock crowds, no sir. Its progressions and hammer-down performances are too black-and-white obvious. But what it lacks in compositional sophistication it gains in reckless passion, and that’s worth an awful lot these days. Two other excellent bands, the Hidden and No Regard, will lend their own considerable talents to the insanity. Remember, it’s Friday night (the 9th) at the Safari.

Where the Cringe are determined to beat you into submission with relentless noise, Three Speed Amplifier’s own ampage requires a little more gray matter to comprehend. The band will trumpet the release of its brand new Orange EP a few streets over at AS220. It’s really a fun disc, the Orange EP, its five tunes all revolving around squealing, unpredictable guitar textures, quirky vocals, and unique pop song structures. "Asiam" and "The Prom Song" begin introspectively and surge to a close, while the opening "Operator" clears the air with a clarion rhythm and a danceable keyboard-happy beat. "Bye (Art of Self Projection)" brings the session to a close with moody atmospherics that swirl and circle before propelling the song with a subtle increase in urgency. Really interesting, really promising.

Catch Three Speed Amplifier in all its giddy musical fertility at AS220 this Friday night.

TRAVELERS AID. Three years ago, Routine 8 lost its bass player, Johnny Marius. Since then, the band has vowed to preserve the memory of their fallen soldier by playing an annual gig, the Travelers Aid Benefit. "We want to celebrate Johnny’s life, and not dwell on his passing," says the band. "If you ever got the chance to know him, you know what a special soul he was."

As for the benefit part, the band wants to help out fellow Rhode Islanders in need. "Hundreds of people have lost their jobs this past year, if not thousands. Many families are two paychecks away from homelessness. We’d like this benefit to help them out."

The band would love for you to come to Cats in Pawtucket on Saturday (the 10th) to celebrate Johnny’s life and hear some really good rock music. Here’s the line-up. (And remember, it’s only $5 for five bands, plenty of libations, and lots of parking to boot.)

8:45-9:15: Jesus Candy

9:30-10: Been the Freak (featuring Leo, former Routine 8 drummer)

10:15-10:45: Reason to Fight (former members from Keg of Hate)

11-11:45: Routine 8

12-12:30: Slugworth

On a related note, Routine 8 has decided to take some time off to retool as a group, intending to come back toward the end of the year. They’ll be finishing up the recording of their new disc, then mixing, mastering, and duplicating it. They’re also looking to adjust their sound a bit in a slightly heavier direction. With a new vibe, a new approach, and a new disc, it’ll be interesting to see what results.

BIG NOISE AT THE GRAMMYS. The Providence-based artist development and promotion company Big Noise is now a nominating and voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, aka the Grammy Awards. Big Noise is offering all Rhode Island recording artists the opportunity to have their latest music sent to the Grammy nominating committee for consideration in the 2005 Grammy Awards. Contact Al Gomes at (401) 274-4770 or at al@bignoisenow.com. Last year Big Noise placed the Dino Club, Alan Gerber, and Maasai on the ballot. The deadline is Thursday, July 29.

BANDBATTLE. The Jason Colonies Band is at the Ocean Mist on Saturday. They’ll be playing material from their upcoming CD, due out this fall. In addition, JCB is hosting a Battle of the Bands at Daniel B’s in Wakefield on July 24. The grand prize is $500 plus four free hours of studio time at Boo Studios, also in Wakefield. Sets will be 40 minutes long and must contain half original music and at least two covers. Contestants should drop off a CD with one cover and one original at Daniel B’s; submissions must be in by July 12.

WANDERING EYE. Wakefield Music Concerts will present a special show featuring the luminous blues picker Paul Geremia on Saturday at 8 p.m. Geremia will be pushing his dazzling Love, Murder and Mosquitos project on the Red House label. Now in its tenth year of putting on shows, Wakefield Music is easy to find — located at 58 Main Street — but a tough ticket. For more information call 783-5390.

If you’ve got the gambling itch, why not scratch it with some smokin’ blues at the same time. Our own Smokestack Lightnin’ will be layin’ it down at Foxwoods this Saturday at B.B. King’s, with shows at 10 p.m. and midnight. Bop till you drop.

Chinese Stars celebrate the release of their new disc, A Rare Sensation, at Rothko (www.rothkonyc.com) in New York City. Joining the band will be Mommy and Daddy (www.mommyanddaddy.com), a New York electropunk power couple that sounds like "a tag team steel cage match between Le Tigre and the Liars on one side, and the B-52s and PIL on the other." Also, Providence’s own Mahi Mahi (www.mahimahi.com) will help to provide the Stars of this show a nice feeling of home.

E-mail me with your music news at big.daddy1@cox.net.