Worth hearing For What It’s Worth turn it up a notch; plus, Thee Wyld Card DJs BY BOB GULLA

In what should be a ferociously fun eve for local flag-flying punks, For What It’s Worth will be opening for the Groovie Ghoulies, the Helper Monkeys, and the Dollyrots on Tuesday (the 8th) at the Century Lounge. FWIW have been getting their name in people’s faces lately, playing lotsa shows in New England and beyond and gearing up for the imminent release of their new EP, appropriately titled Burned In. With new bass player Tom Purvis, of the late, lamented Routine 8, now in the fold, the band, together since last summer, has taken it up a notch, working hard at the trade, and is poised for any and all notoriety. In the year since its release, FWIW has sold more than 1000 copies of their homemade three-song demo. The songs on that disc, "Don’t Be Flattered," "Three Devils," and "This Was My Wish," are all rollickin’ punk ’n’ roll anthems underlined with a rusty guitar sound and Jenn Kitten’s slightly-less-desperate-than-Exene vocals. The band, which also includes Jim Federico and AJ Rathbun, has a new single, "Dead Over Misery," that will be featured on a Vivaldi Media compilation disc. That song, toploaded with a simmering intro followed by Kitten’s positively excoriating scream, is well off the beaten punk path, with some howlin’ wolf/Cookie Monster death metal growls thrown in for a good scare. You can hear their mp3s before most everyone else if you head to www.myspace.com/forwhatitsworthri.

CH-CH-CHANGES

As many of you know, the Custom House Tavern closed suddenly a few weeks ago. Word has it that the landlord may reopen it, but it remains to be seen whether it will go by its former name and retain that cozy comfort or change into something completely new. What does this have to do with you and Local Anesthesia? Well, one of the best aspects of the CHT, besides its warm ambience, was the Friday night spinning of Thee Wyld Card DJs, Brian, Dennis, and Ty. While they’ve been displaced from the CHT because of the closing, they’ve found an exciting new home with Jackie and Jake at Jake’s Bar & Grille, who have offered Thee Wyld Card DJs a Friday night residency starting this week (the 4th).

"It was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up," says Ty, "and we think it will be a positive change." The boys now have a larger bar to play to and more seating to work with, which wasn’t difficult considering the teensy capacity of the CHT. And there’s an actual dance floor for people to shake-shake-shake on, plus an outdoor patio and a full menu to round out the experience. Beyond that, everything will be the same, except they now plan to feature a special guest DJ every week.

"We’re all really excited about the possibilities at Jake’s," says Ty. For their opening night the spinners will be pulling out all the stops, including appearances by guest DJs Brandie Jefferson, Little Joe, and Chris Witt. It will be a night of eclectic rock-soul-punk-funk-mod and more in typical Wyld Card fashion. Records spin from 10 pm til 2 am now every Friday! See you there!

WANDERING EYE

The weekend schedule for the Nirvana Lounge on Main Street in Warren includes Latin music by Grupo Sazon on Friday evening. To entice you, there’s a complimentary dance lesson for an hour beginning at 7 pm. Could be hot, hot, hot!

Kanerko plays Friday at the Century Lounge with Ocean State, Down Shallow (from Jersey), and Days Unknown. The show is 18-plus. Mark Cutler will be playing an acoustic show at Eddie’s on Warwick Avenue on Saturday (the 5th) beginning at 9 pm. Cutler plans on having special guests playing accordion, banjo, harmonica, bass, and assorted rhythmic instruments. Incidentally, Cutler’s website has a new feature, a free monthly download. This month it’s "Kill the Devil." Go to www.mcutler.com for the 411. Cats in Pawtucket has a big and loud metal show on Sunday that doubles as a breast cancer benefit ("Rock For Racks"), with Metal Blade artists Beyond the Embrace, Woodland Creatures, Superkollider, Hypersolid, Kobalt, Prospect Hill (x-Driven), and Something Against You. Admission for the 21-plus bash is $8.

Massachusetts cowpoke country dude Chad Burdick will be celebrating the release of his new album, What’s In Store, at Kobalt at Lincoln Park on Saturday. Doors open at 8:30 pm. There is no cover for the event, but you have to be an adult. Also on Saturday at 8 pm at the VMA Arts & Cultural Center, the Providence Singers will perform Verdi’s Requiem with Julian Wachner conducting. The show will be presented with the New Haven Symphony. Tickets cost between $18 and $50 for adults and much less for students. Visit www.ProvidenceSingers.org for links to online sales.

Members of Outside the Box have formed a new band, Gravity Works, with Zack Fenner on vocals/guitar, Max Girouard on bass, and Paul Silvia on drumitar and bass. The band is looking for other instruments to add to their sound, so folks who play sax, harmonica, trumpet, fiddle, etc. might want to head to the Blackstone on Mendon Road in Cumberland on Saturday and apply. Also appearing that night are Marion Cobretti, Christopher Dale, and the Attic. For more info and/or directions, go to www.blackstoneclub.com.

The first 100 people to pre-order both Maximum Unicorn, the new full-length album from GrŸvis Malt, and Jonny Classic & the Classic Johns, the new one from GM’s lead singer Brendan Bell, will receive a limited edition disc, Vismal Zero, featuring covers by Grüvis Malt, Jonny Classic, Gavin Castleton, Reed Wallsmith, Joe Beats, and more. You can find it all at the band’s new online store: www.gavincastleton.com/catalog.

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