Mixed bag The PBRC’s Xxodus Café, Slaughtercore and more BY BOB GULLA

Congrats and lotsa luck to Don King and the good folks at the Providence Black Repertory Company. They have a sweet new space at 276 Westminster Street called Xxodus Café, all dolled up with cozy tones of brown and amber, African décor on the walls, and cushy leather couches and chairs to chill in.

On July 23 and 24, the PBRC hosted Sound Session ’04, a free, cross-cultural musical experience that included massive jazz bassist Ron Carter, acclaimed guitarist Ronny Jordan, and jazz great Bruce Gertz, among many others. It began at Waterplace Park and marched right through downtown to the club proper, where the party continued on through the night.

More than a party spot, though, the PBRC is a venue for adventurous musical ideas in a downtown spot that could sorely use some adventure. The night I attended, I caught super rock-soul man Van Hunt, who wowed the audience with a dozen or so searing, neo-Isley Brothers/Stax soul trax from his major label debut. It was the perfect venue for him and, we would imagine, a whole new style of artist who can’t find a home in the city’s more rock-oriented locales.

Their intention, says King in his welcome brochure, is "to further explore the possibilities of sacred sounds in secular spaces." In this instance, sacred could mean sacred, as in gospel or other spiritual-type stuff, or it could mean "sacred" like Coltrane’s music was considered sacred. Either way, a trip to one of PBRC’s bookings will be a rewarding experience. And if it isn’t, at least you can have a tall frosted glass of something good and a truly comfortable chair to plant your ass in.

BRINGTHENOISE. In continuing this column’s tribute to crushingly loud rock, we’re happy to inform you there are plenty of opportunities to punch a hole through your eardrums over the next few days. The first night of this metal/punk/crust/noise barrage is on Saturday (the 7th) at AS220. Fight Mental Armageddon, a show sponsored by the Armageddon Shop on Broadway, begins at 9 p.m. with Fall of the Bastards (Portland, OR) and continues with Nefarious (RI), Ascendancy (MA), and I, Destroyer (RI).

The decibels will also echo throughout Sunday when something called Slaughtercore goes down at the Living Room. The show, booked by the Departed (www.thedeparted.net), featuring former members of Soulshed and Slowly Growing Deaf, is a huge metal fest with nine bands and two stages, all for three measly bucks. Doors are at 7 p.m. and the first band is on at 8. Dual Evo, Knuckle Down, Imprint, Soma City Ward, Inner Self Lost, Clip, and Obsidian will all play 30-minute sets, and Throne of Hate will close things at midnight. Call 521-5200.

Load Records brings it on Sunday night at AS220 at 9 p.m., with Fast Forward, Orthrelm, Lotus, as well as (tentatively) Kites and White Mice. This is a good chance to catch a bunch of Load’s signature white noise, designed to beat down even the most courageous of souls. Lose yours for only $6. Call 831-9327.

The fun continues at AS220 on Monday, with some intense hardcore and ultra-noise. Get Killed, Deadfall (CA), and Bruce Banner from Sweden will lead the way in another show overseen by the decibel mavens over at Armageddon.

People complain about the rock scene in our town, and in many ways they probably have a point. But if there’s one thing this city and its musicians have done absolutely and unequivocally right, it’s make a loud freakin’ racket. If that’s your thing, then this weekend will surely be music to your ears.

THE BLUES. Extreme music isn’t the only genre getting a full airing this weekend. On Saturday in Wareham, Massachusetts, it’s the annual Onset Blues Festival. The music begins at noon in the Village and continues until 7 p.m. The lineup includes Sugar Ray Norcia & the Bluetones, the Shirley Lewis Experience, the Racky Thomas Band, and the Blue Gills. Headliners will be Duke and the Drivers, former heroes on the southeastern New England blues scene who shared stages with Aerosmith, B.B. King, and ZZ Top back in the day. Tickets are $15 at the gate. Call the Onset Bay Association at (508) 295-7072 for details or visit their website at www.onsetvillage.com.

On Sunday, the annual Sakonnet Rhythm &Blues Festival will kick off at 11 a.m. at Sakonnet Vineyards (Route 77 in Little Compton), featuring performances by Entrain, Smokestack Lightnin’, Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish, Dave Howard’s All-Stars, and the Music School of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Jazz Combo. Tickets are $18; proceeds benefit the Little Compton Community Center. Call 635-8486.

Also on Sunday, the Reel Blues Fest takes place from 4 to 10:30 p.m. at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis. A unique idea, it combines music with film, and has good lineups supporting each art form. Under the big tent, you’ll find Dickey Betts, Koko Taylor, G.E. Smith & the James Montgomery Band, Entrain, Jon Pousette-Dart, and more. Under the small tent, catch a film or two among four that are playing, all of which address musical subjects. Tix are available at www.ticketmaster.com, and proceeds will benefit the non-profit Reel Blues Fest, which helps with health care for musicians and supports the work of independent filmmakers. Look at www.thereelbluesfest.org or call (508) 495-3456.

And if that ain’t enough, you can catch Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater on Saturday. If you need a reason to see this red-hot bluesman, then at least go to thank the folks over at the Catfish Grill on West Shore Road in Warwick for booking so much great blues music. And isn’t that what we’re all about ’round here anyway?

WANDERING EYE. On Friday (the 6th) at KCats in Pawtucket, there’s a high-quality triple bill with Failed Attempts at Flying, Hawkins Rise, and Grandizer Punch. On Saturday, Black & White plays the Fall River Celebrates America Festival, appearing with Eric Burdon & the Animals. The band writes in to mention that the gig will be the first with new frontman Mark Iannuccilli, who joins B&W merry men following the departure of veteran singer/guitarist Mark Wagner, who left the fold after 13 years. Good luck, Mark I., and best of luck to Mark W. as he discovers that there is, in fact, life outside of B&W’s musical embrace.

Congrats to locals A Breed Apart. They’ve been selected to perform along with major national acts in this year’s Locobazooka festival on September 25 and 26 at the Fitchburg (MA) Municipal Airport. Check out their site at www.abreedapart.net.

The Rocky Point Pub on West Shore Road in Warwick has live entertainment Thursday through Saturday (and some pretty good food every day and night). This Saturday it’s a rock dance party with Almost Homeless and AudioCentrix.

Providence’s Hearts & Stars Records and Centre St. Tracks (of Jamaica Plain, MA) are coordinating a tribute show to the Magnetic Fields, to be held at the Somerville (MA) Theatre on August 7 at 8 p.m. The show will feature 16 or so bands performing the first volume of the Magnetic Fields’ masterpiece, 69 Love Songs. Performers will include Swim Team, the Jena Campaign, Soltero, Whistle Jacket, Mercy James Gang, the Good North, Verona Downs, Ad Frank and the Fast Easy Women, Taxpayer, Choo Choo La Rouge, Capsela, Butterknife/Lamont Chucklehan, the Bon Savants, the Volunteer Arms, and Camellia, plus more to be confirmed. A portion of the proceeds will benefit a local music education charity.

Finally, congrats to Eric Vincent, a 14-year-old guitarist who played his first-ever gig on the deck at a South County coffeehouse recently. His CD, with acoustic covers of popular punk and rock faves, along with a few originals, is well-meaning and a great way to kick off a young career.

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