Club notes, Dec. 31, 2009

Paul Dagnello of Huck, photo by Duncan Arsenault

Tonight, it’s champagne, confetti, champagne and rock ‘n’ roll with The Grift and the Weight of Gravity at the Cannery; new cover band Mood Disorder rocks City Lights; The Dive’s hopping with Troy and Duncan; Huck’s back at Ralphs this year, along with Castine; Lietrim’s has a modified open bar for $25; Black River Sound jams at Jillian’s; Fuzion does pop tunes at Sakura Tokyo with new lead singer Dan Gorman; Mourning the Dead is part of Dirtnap Entertainment’s metal bash at London Billiard’s; Sam James is singing at the Lucky Dog; Guns of Navarone are at Beatnik’s; Jubilee Gardens hits the Sahara Restaurant; Auntie Trainwreck ties one on at the Kaz Bar; Mack the Knife’s in Hotel Vernon’s Shiproom; and doors open at 2 p.m. today at Dr. Gonzo’s condiments on Main Street for Knights of the New Year Colander party – it’s potluck, though plenty of dips and cheeses are provided. Oh, and wear a colander on your head. If you know Dr. Gonzo, you won’t even question this. And of course it’s First Night Worcester – you can find anything and everything you need to know on firstnightworcester.org.

Friday, Bill McCarthy leads a “hair of the dog party” at the Old Post Office Pub; The Grindhouse Takeover headlines Tammany Hall, joining the Dave Rivers Group; The Sift’s got Ralph’s; The Doctors Fox makes its debut at Vincent’s;

Saturday, Sasquatch, Growlers and the Polecats join forces at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; the Racky Thomas Band returns to Gilrein’s; Five Hole rocks JJ’s; Glenn Stewart leads South Station at Ralph’s; The Roosters reunite at Greendale’s; Jason James is ripping it up at Irish Times; Whalebone Farmhouse does its eclectic mix at Vincent’s; and Silhouette of a Small Town headlines Mill Street Brews.

And Sunday, Ryan Cabrera is at Tammany Hall.

Club notes, Thursday, Dec. 17

Thursday, there’s an opening reception for Home for the Holidays at Salisbury Mansion; Mike Lynch blows the harp at Squire White’s; The Dive Bar’s got its holiday party going on; and the Drunken Uncles perform live on WICN 90.5 FM at 8 p.m., putting a spin on classic Christmas classics.

Friday, Gabe Rollins heads his own supergroup for “its my birthday and I’ll rock the hell out if I want to” to celebrate his birthday at the Lucky Dog Music; Britney’s Spear joins Short Ride and others at the Raven; Driving Rain splashes the Hotel Vernon; Ript tears up Irish Times; performances of A Christmas Carol start at the Hanover Theatre and continue through the following Wednesday; also Friday, it’s the Dirtnap Entertainment Holiday Spectacular with God’s Green Earth, This Burning World, Widow Sunday, Fallen Shall Rise, Name in Vein and Rite of Passage at London Billiards; BYO Blues is at Greendale’s; 8 Amp Fuse fires up the Blue Plate; Mass Elite opens for White Chocolate at the Cannery; Bacchus King releases a CD, joined by The Series and Bonfire Bandit at Ralph’s; The Stream Rollers Band is led by Jack Kelly at Gilrein’s; SPF4 debuts at Beatnik’s;

Saturday, The Leicester Town Band performs in the afternoon at Tower Hill Botanic Garden; Skullfunked headlines Tammany Hall; Bad Dog’s up before 16 stitches at The Raven’ Buggs Moran and the Silver Weasels pay tribute to Gary O with a show at JJ’s; Sunlea opens for Mocha Java at Beatnik’s; Full Tilt’s ahead at Creegan’s; Clamdigger returns to the Galway; the Matt Shwachman Band debuts at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; BLOWW (which stands for Boston League of Women’s Wrestling) is joined by Route 44 and Whitey at Ralph’s; Auntie Trainwreck rolls in to the Wheelock Inn; Loose Salute’s back at Vincent’s; Five Hole rocks Jillian’s; and Old School goes back to the classic covers at Greendale’s.

Sunday, the All Saints Choirs performs at the Worcester Art Museum. Jim Perry’s jam session focuses on drums at Greendale’s with Drummerpalooza; Tammany Hall hosts a battle of the bands.

Event Notes, Thursday, Dec. 10

Thursday, Isador’s in Oxford hosts a food event in celebration of Terra Madre, a network of sustainable food communities; Cowboy Matt’s having a listening party to celebrate his new CD, Viva Psychedelia, at The Q; speaker John O’Toole is at the Worcester Hibernian Center; Inhale Mary joins Horse at the Palladium; David Wax Museum is at Nick’s; Addison Station opens for Brothers McCann at Tammany Hall; they’re showing the movie MASH at the Shrewsbury Public Library; and Nuncrackers continues through the weekend at the Calliope Theater.

Friday, The Weight of Gravity is at the Wheelock Inn; chamber folk trio The Accident That Led Me to the World is at the Harvard Café; the Tom Yates Group is at the Bull Run; From Sky to Sea headlines the QVCC with Coalmine Canary and the Sharpest; Summoning Hate rocks Ralph’s; Monique and Fingers, Subculture Stereo and Lonewolf James split the bill at The Raven; Ken Tracy Jr. sings at Dinny’s on Lincoln Street with the debut of the Regal Beagles; Umelt opens for Uncle Billy’s Smokehouse at Tammany Hall; Pantera tribute Trendkill leads the Dimebag Darrell memorial show at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; the Speakeasy Combo is back at Nick’s; the Coyotes howl at Greendale’s; Graveheart joins the Soul Remnants at Ralph’s; Hat On, Drinking Wine debuts at Beatnik’s; Hot Sauce spices up Squire White’s; Lori Brooks leads her band at Mill Street Brews; Stone Lily’s rocking the Cannery; Fingercuff does covers at City Lights; Jason James tears up the Blue Plate; Organ Eyes jams at Vincent’s; and Stone Soup celebrates its third anniversary with a big party at the Woo Church with performances by Salsa Storm, Mack the Knife, DJ Juami and Lucelia DeJesus.

Saturday, Powerline opens for Counter Attack, the Zeppelin tribute doing its annual reunion show at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; Whalebone Farmhouse returns to Vincent’s; Bret Talbert does his final show of the season at Tavern on the Common; The Cosby Sweaters do an all ages show at Junior’s; Mike O’Connell returns to the area, playing the Galway Bay; Herra Terra, Sleep Alive and Ghost Ocean share the bill at Ralph’s; Composted decomposes at the QVCC; meet a 14th century knight at Higgins Armory; Clark takes on Nichols in basketball at Clark’s gym; the Master Singers of Worcester sings at the Boar’s Head Festival at Wesley United Methodist Church; Chris Reddy sings at the Nines while Bret Talbert is out at the Tavern on the Common; Patty Keough’s doing her originals at The Q; benefit Hearts for Heat in Princeton at Norco Sportsman’s Club for a contra dance; Bill McCarthy’s bringing his acoustic to the Old Post Office Pub; the Breakfast jams with Oak Street at Tammany Hall; 7 Minute Stagger is with Rite of Passage and Lesions at The Raven; No Alibi’s back packing Greendale’s; Mike Crandall’s bluesing up Gilrein’s; The Ed Melikian Ensemble is back at the Sahara; and there is a benefit for Debbie Audette's family at the Canal Sports Pub. Debbie is struggling with terminal cancer and not expected to make it through Christmas.

Doctor Robert’s returning to Sakura Tokyo both Friday and Saturday night.
Santa’s at the Hebert Candy Mansion Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

Other events: The Gifts of the Magi is being performed at the Statton Players Theatre in Fitchburg throughout the weekend.
Cirque du Soleil continues at the DCU Center through Sunday.

Event Notes, Thursday, Dec. 3

Thursday, Andy Cummings sings and plays the acoustic at Hooligan’s; it’s a First Thursday celebration at Fitchburg Art Museum early evening that includes tours and refreshments; Worcester State takes on UMass Dartmouth in hockey at Auburn’s Horgan rink; Troy Gonyea and Jeremy Curtis join Duncan Arsenault at the Dive; there’s a holiday open show at the Post Road Art Center in Marlboro; Calliope Productions’ Nuncrackers opens and continue throughout the weekend at their theater in Boylston; Brooks Milgate’s trio is at Nick’s; Dana Lewis sings at Beatniks’; Black Pyramid and Space Train join metal night at Ralph’s; Brett Brumby’s at the bar at Point Breeze (as he is every week);

Friday, it’s the Holiday Open Studios at the Sprinkler Factory; New Pilot, Gutta and Crumb open for Marcy Playground at Mill Street Brews; Last Call rocks the Gaslight Tavern; garage rock hits Ralph’s with the Crybabies, the Time Beings, the Commandos and Musclecah; the Great Whiskey Rebellion’s at Beatnik’s; the third annual Holly Berry Craft Fair hits the Fitchburg Art Museum; the Assumption College Flute Choir performs in La Maison Francaise; Tower Hill holds its annual Holly Days party; the Lucky Dog Music Hall’s the home to Santapalooza, which raises money and toys for Toys for Tots, and it includes performances by Shotgun Blues (the GnR tribute), The Sift, The Dave Rivers Group and Castine; a big band and hors d’ouevres is part of the Winter Starlight Gala at the Southbridge Community Center; the Blackstone Valley Community Concert Band plays at Northbridge High School; as part of their film festival, the Shrewsbury Public Library shows “Casablanca”; the Gateway Players performs the holiday play “A Candle in the Window” at its theater; Ed and Dave sing at Greendale’s; the Nutcracker, by Ballet Arts Worcester, is presented Friday and Saturday at the Hanover Theatre; the Chorus and Chorale of Worcester State College performs a holiday concert at Our Lady of Angels Church; Luther “Guitar Junior” Johnson wails on his axe at Mechanics Hall; the Barre Players Theatre puts on the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life”; the Worcester County Light Opera performs the musical “She Loves Me”; Bill Kirchens goes honky tonk at the Bull Run; Mount Wachusett Community Theatre puts on Peter Pan Friday and Saturday; Dan Burke’s back with the Speakeasy Combo at Nick’s; Out of Sequence rocks The Cannery; Chillset is out at the Blue Dog; the Delta Generators return to Gilrein’s; the Killdevils rumble at Vincent’s; and the Rhythm Party returns to the Sahara.

Saturday, Hat On, Drinking Wine returns to Nick’s; Indobox headlines The Cannery at 12 Crane; The Weight of Gravity is at the Fifth Amendment with MSB and Jediah; Leicester High School holds a craft fair; the Shamrock and Holly Fair hits the Hibernian Center; the town of Sutton holds its Chain of Lights; the second annual Fitchburg Chowdahfest bubbles at the Fitchburg Senior Center; “Barre’s Got Talent” brings together many artists of Barre performing in talent show style at the Barre Players Theatre; Larry Kangas joins local author day at Barnes and Noble in Worcester; Tom Rush sings at the Bull Run; Bill McCarthy’s strumming it at the Whistle Stop; Huck joins The Curtain Society, New Pilot and Gutta at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; Barefoot Bob’s with the Monkeyfish at Squire White’s; Orange Diesel opens for Demon’s Alley at The Raven; the Silverbacks do blues and classic rock covers at the Emerald Isle; the Fools get crazy at Firefly’s; the Racky Thomas Band is back at Gilrein’s; The Wandas join Sandal Foot Machine at Ralph’s; Jubilee Gardens pile in to the Sahara Restaurant; and Ron Stone puts on his fantastic annual big band Christmas show at Point Breeze Restaurant.

Sunday, Millbury joins Grafton for their Chain of Lights celebration. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. take the trolley around the towns and visit businesses and sites, enjoying music, refreshments and much more. Tammany Hall holds Bloodfest ’09 – donate blood, and enjoy live bands. Also, it’s stART at the Station at Union Station – 100s of vendors gather for stART on the Street’s annual holiday extravaganza.
Other Events:

Moments in Time continues through the end of the month at the Jewish Community Center. The show features original drawings in colored-pencil and in mixed-media by Elizabeth Freed. A Miniature Milestone: The Marianne E. Gibson Portrait Miniature Gallery at 20 opened this week at the Worcester Art Museum.

Club/Event Notes, Thursday, Nov. 19

Thursday, Goosepimp Orchestra headlines Tammany Hall; Sean Ryan sings at Beatnik’s; Duncan Arsenault is with Scott Ricciuti and the boys at the Dive.

Friday, Fear Nuttin’ Band is releasing a new CD at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; Fourth Gear rocks the Blue Plate in Holden; Johnny Press Mess headlines the Cannery in Southbridge; it’s progressive rock with Sky Blue Mind at City Lights; Guns of Navarone return to Beatnik’s; Hat On, Drinking Wine’s sipping tunes at Biagio’s; the Pamela Hines Duo is the Chloe Bistro; Bill McCarthy’s strumming his acoustic at Old Post Office Pub; Bret Talbert is solo at Applebee’s in Sturbridge; Double Take does covers at Classic’s Pub; Lori Brooks leads her band at Mill Street Brews; the Bubbleheads burst at Squire White’s; Undercover rocks Irish Times; and the Dan Lawson Band debuts at Gilrein’s.Saturday, American folk rocker Tony Bird is at the Bull Run in Shirley; The Empire Shall Fall releases a CD with a show at London Billiards; Dan Kirouac is singing at the Spruce Street Tavern; The Matt Schwachman Band’s getting down at The First Amendment; Floyd tribute Gilmour’s Breakfast does its last show of the year, at Tammany Hall; Whalebone Farmhouse headlines Beatnik’s; Rockhouse 6 blasts the Cannery; Jason James returns to the Galway Bay; Johnny Dollar jazzes up the Dzian Gallery (also enjoy shopping, a cash bar and hors d’oeuvres) and The Balls are back, joining JetSet, The Time Beings, Tony Jones and the Cretin 5 at Ralph’s.

Sunday, Sinfonia performs at Clark’s Razzo Hall; and there’s a new blues jam happening out at Trumbull’s in Spencer.

And next Wednesday, the night before Thanksgiving, we’ve got Lyle Pierce at Carmella’s Italian Kitchen; Fourth Gear at the Blue Plate; The Allens at Speakers in Marlboro; Probable Cause at the Fifth Amendment; Miss Tess and the Bon Bon Parade does the noontime Brown Bag Concert at Mechanic’s Hall; Patty O’Brien joins Patrick Egan at the Hibernian Cultural Center; Hitmen take ‘em out at Irish Times; the Silverbacks belt it at Greendale’s; the Duke Robillard Band packs Gilrein’s; Wilbur and the Dukes returns for its traditional show at Ralph’s; New Pond Fondle jams at Partner’s in Fitchburg; New Pilot pops at Mill Street Brews; and Uncle Billy’s Smokehouse at Beatnik’s.Other Events:

On Friday, there’s a mystery dinner theater called the “Doo-Wop Murders” at Salem Cross Inn; learn about dessert wines at Fitchburg Art Museum; it’s college women’s hoops at its best as Holy Cross takes on UConn at the DCU Center; watch All Quiet on the Western Front for free at the Shrewsbury Public Library; there’s a poetry slam at Clark with featured performer Jamaica Osorio, star of HBO’s Brave New Faces; the Seven Hills Symphony puts on their fall concert at UMass on Plantation Street; Jim McGovern’s 50th birthday and fundraiser are being held, simultaneously, at 55 Pearl Restaurant on Friday. Also Friday, WCCA TV-13 hosts its Harvest Moon Dinner Dance at the Knights of Columbus in Worcester. The Clark University Concert Choir and Chamber Choir presents “Music for the Ages: European and American Treasures” at St. Peter’s Church at 8 pm. Sima Kustanovich is on the piano for that one.

Saturday, the Jewelry, Gem, Mineral and Fossil show rocks the National Guard Armory; the UMass International Craft Fair happens at the EcoTarium; Katie Green hosts the annual Worcester Tellebration of storytellers at the Green Rooster Coffeehouse; and there’s a Zip Trip tour focuses on Norman Rockwell at the Worcester Art Museum.

Club Notes, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009

Thursday, New Pilot rocks at The Mill, and it streams online, live, on evolvingartist.com at 8 p.m. Brooks plays the keys with Duncan at The Dive; Jason James does rockabilly piano at Beatnik’s;

Friday, Trumystic pairs with the Alchemystics, Mafia Bong Hit and Orrin Slips at the Lucky Dog; singer Keri Anderson leads Whalebone Farmhouse at the Belfont Hotel in Millbury; the Holy Ghosts, Mack the Knife, The Terribles and the Numbskulls make it an ideal Friday the 13th show at the Hotel Vernon; the Delta Generators put a new spin on blues at the Cannery in Southbridge with opener Jon Short; Holmes does a free show in the Foundation Room at the House of Blues; The Pathetics do an acoustic set at Beatnik’s; The Ten Foot Polecats are out at the End Zone in Mendon; the James Montgomery Band is blaring at Mechanics Hall; Orange Diesel helps open for Brand New Sin at London Billiards; Elizabeth Lorrey and the Rafters celebrate a new disc with a release party at the Bull Run in Shirley; the Speakeasy Combo returns to Nick’s; Sun Jones joins Gary Backstrom at Tammany Hall; the Right Band is back at Squire White’s; the legendary Swinging Steaks resurfaces at Firefly’s in Marlboro;

Saturday, the Dust Bunnies and Dopapod open for BioDiesel at The Cannery; Before the Fall helps open for Sonic Disorder at the Lucky Dog; the wonderfully talented Sam James is back at Tammany Hall with Boston band Garlic and Moonshine; the Scissormen headline the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge; the Matt Schwachman Band returns to Irish Times; No Alibi rocks Beatnik’s; Bret Talbert sings at the Spruce Street Tavern in Clinton; Brett and Lisa from She’s Busy sing at Chuck’s Steakhouse; B&E’s the duo at The Nines; Richie Havens performs in Percival Hall at Fitchburg State College; Babe Pino blow the blues harp and sings at Nick’s; the Bruce Marshall Band gives it another whirl at Greendale’s; The Ed Melikian Ensemble plays the Sahara; and On the Rocks rocks the Emerald Isle.

On Wednesdays, B3 funk night fills The Dive.

Other Events:

The play Columbinus opens at the Little Theater at Clark University on Thursday and continues throughout the weekend. There are also performances next weekend.
People, Places & Things, photography by John Nunziato will be on display and for sale through November 30 at Booklovers' Gourmet in Webster.

On Thursday, there is a wine tasting from 5-7 p.m. at 55 Pearl Restaurant.

Friday, the Pink Floyd laser spectacular beams into the Hanover Theatre; Worcester Storytellers meets at Vasa Hall, as they do the second Friday of each month.

On Saturday, Buddha Hut holds its monthly buffet and fundraiser for VegWorcester. Drop by any time between noon and 7 p.m. and $10 gets you an all-you-can-eat vegan buffet, which is donated to VegWorcester. Visit vegworcester.org for more info. From 1-3 p.m. percussionist David Curry puts on a demonstration and hosts a drum circle at Union Music. The Sharks take on the Hartford Wolf Pack at the DCU Center in the afternoon. Two local authors, Christopher Burton and Jason Lamountian, read their work at Acoustic Java at 4 p.m. Old Sturbridge villages hosts an Evening of Illumination, which includes a guided candlelight tour. A few performances of
One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest occurs at Assumption College, with afternoon and evening performances.

At 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dr. Gonzo holds his no mistake steak grilling challenge at the Emporium on Main Street.

Throughout the month, those in active duty and their families get free admission to the Higgins Armory Museum.

Fall Events at Union Music

And the best part...all of these events are free at Union Music, Worcester, MA.

Visit unionmusic.com for directions and info.

Monday, November 9th, 7:00 PM, Martin Guitars and Union Music present an Evening with Kenny Sultan. Kenny will play and demonstrate his many styles on his signature model Martin guitar. Acoustic Blues is his specialty and I hope you can join us to hear Kenny play and talk about anything guitar. Kenny is a noted teacher based in Santa Barbara and has agreed to offer Private Lessons during the day on Tuesday. Please call 508 753 3702 or email to make a reservation for the workshop or private lessons. http://www.kennysultan.com/

Thursday, November 12th, 7:00PM, Hometown Guitar Hero Cliff Goodwin will be joined on the Union Music stage with drummer Billy MacGillvray, bassist Wolf Ginandes, and vocalist Mike Lynch for some great music in our casual setting. Cliff will share some of the things that have made him a sought after lead guitarist and the important role the guitarist plays in supporting the singer and the band. Maybe he’ll share some of his highlights while touring the world as the lead guitarist with The Joe Cocker Band. http://www.myspace.com/cliffgoodwin

Saturday, November 14th, 1:00PM-3:00PM, Dave Curry returns with his “Drums for one and all” Drum Circle to the Union Music Performance Space. This event is open to all age beginners and players and always brings musical knowledge and fun for all. Bring your own drum or hand percussion instrument or use one of ours. http://www.drumsforoneandall.com/

Sunday, November 15th, 7:00PM, Enjoy the 21st Annual Union Music Sawyer Saxophone Student Solo Workshop Concert in Webster at Point Breeze on the Lake Restaurant. Resident master teacher and arranger Ken Sawyer writes the charts, teaches the students, and the leads the band. This year the big band plays his special arrangements by Jimmy Dorsey, Chicago and Mozart. Thanks to the professional sidemen, Richard Pro Sound Gaudette, Dave Guitar Dick, Bunny Bass Price and Dave Drums Karacius for donating their time and effort. Call Point Breeze for dinner reservations. http://www.pointbreezeonthelake.com/

Friday, November 20th, 3:00PM-8:00PM, Union Music brings the Taylor Guitars Sales Event to Worcester. Sales Manager Guitarist Monte Montefusco will be on hand with some one of a kind and limited edition Taylors, Taylorware gift cards with many Taylor guitar purchases, Free restringing of your Taylor guitar, and 12 month 0%/no interest financing on Taylor Electric guitars.

For the November Sales Event take another 10% off on purchases over $100* (excludes consignment, rentals, repairs and already on sale items). And new this season, for new Union Music students, receive 4 free private lessons with your Electric or Acoustic Guitar, Bass guitar, Keyboard or Drum set purchase during November and December 2009.

Club/Event Notes Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009

Thursday, Michael Thibodeau and Roger Lavallee join Duncan Arsenault at the Dive; Wormtown Trading brings Hot Day at the Zoo back to Tammany Hall; Mythology joins Bog of the Infidel at Ralph’s for metal night; Matt Shwachman’s singing solo at the Blackstone Tap; Brooks Milgate is with a Pony for my Birthday on the bill at Nick’s; and Hustle Simmons spins tunes at the Fifth Amendment.

Friday, deep punk blues meets crazy funk with a killer horn section in Clutch Grabwell, hitting the Cannery with the Ten Foot Polecats; Bret Talbert is at the Stoggy Hollow in Connecticut; The Flo plays a set of Beatles music at Beatnik’s; T’s back with Ed and Dave at Greendale’s; Bobby Vee performs at the Hanover Theatre; Allman Brothers tribute the Peacheaters are with Fennario at Tammany Hall; Worcester’s Got Talent Hip Hop Showcase is out in Nashua NH at the Amber Room; Into the Mouth of Hell Tour brings Trivium into the Palladium; 7 Minute Stagger headlines Sully’s Birthday Bash at London Billiards with Old Cold Faith; Rose Colored Glasses returns to the Wheelock Inn; Naysayer, Fire and Ice, Backtrack and more join forces at QVCC; Lamp Attack headlines Hungerpalooza with From here to Zanzibar at Clark; Dental Plan does duty at Ralph’s with Bovachevo and Cure for Static; Uncle Billy’s Smokehouse joins Mass Elite at Copperfield’s; it’s cabaret night with the Speakeasy Combo at Nick’s; The Cosby Sweaters return with the Jell-O puddin’ to Biagio’s; the Age of Punishment makes it an ‘80s night at the Raven; Hunter Foote sings at Fiddler’s Green; and the Dave Rivers Group jams at the Lucky Dog.

Saturday, Touched rocks Forty’s; Andy Cummings opens for Amy Allison at Nick’s; Olox the Terrible, Renegade and Chatty Mattie spit the bill at the Raven; the Island Castaways pay tribute to Buffett at the Cannery; New Pond Fondle joins New Pilot at Tammany Hall; the New Pale Bluesmen debut at the Blue Plate in Holden; Mourning the Dead joins Nemecide at Ralph’s; Bill McCarthy sings at Junior’s Pizza; Go Gadget Go rock Beatnik’s; The Ten Foot Pool Cats headline Gilrein’s; Vermont singer songwriter Tom Woodbury gets the Green Rooster Coffeehouse series going again; Dr. Gonzo performs in Andy and Linda Levy’s cozy living room at 4:30 to raise money to save Petey the Wondervan. It’s potluck, so bring a dish. You can find more info about this on facebook. Also, bluegrass band Southern Rail plays a special dinner concert to celebrate the release of their long awaited disc, On the Road From Appomattox, at St. Michael's Church in Bedford. It's $15 for a show and home cooked bean supper. visit southernrail.com.

Sunday, the Boston Blues Challenge is happening at Johnny D’s in Somerville.

Other Events:

On Friday, opening night for the play “Big Maggie” is at 7 p.m. at the Hibernian Cultural Center.

On Saturday, the Worcester State College Chorale has its 20 year reunion at the college, with a meeting of old and new members – a concert to happen at some point in the day.

Keep in mind, it's National Shelter Week, so please consider donating food, supplies and money to your local animal shelter. They appreciate it more than you can imagine.

Event/Club Notes Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009

Join the Tokyo Tramps (below) and more at the Hotel Vernon on Saturday night for Helenween, when the ghost of Babe Ruth is sure to rise up from the speakeasy.

Thursday, Jon Short’s playing the Delta blues at the Dive Bar; Organ Eyes does funky jazz at Nick’s; Fires of Old joins DarkWor for metal night at Ralph’s; Wrighteous L and the Wendels are at Beatnik’s; Andy Cummings sings at Hooligan's; and the Flock’s doing its usually Flocking at the Dog.

Friday, Penny Dreadful is live in the WCCA studios on Main Street from 3-7 p.m. for its Halloween Spooktaculer; the Mohegan Sun All-Stars join the Hartford Symphony Orchestra for a performance at the Hanover Theatre; there’s a Police tribute at PJ’s; Probable Cause does what they’re terming a pre-Halloween party at Beatnik’s; singer Maria Muldaur is joined by the Garden of Joy Jug Band at the Bull Run Restaurant in Shirley; Hat On, Drinking Wine returns to Nick’s; Demon’s Alley, The Erotics, Teenagers From Mars and the Raw join forces for a show at the Raven; the Drunken Uncles first tip ‘em back at McFadden’s and then Allgo’s; Brendan Mahoney’s solo at Greendale’s; The Stumbleweeds blow through Vincent’s; Messin with the Blues does just that at Gilrein’s; Bill McCarthy’s got his acoustic at the Old Post Office Pub; and Jimmy’s Down at Jillian’s.

Saturday, Windfall’s over at the Kaz Bar; The Satellite Rockers join Truth and Rights at Beatnik’s; Sandal Foot Machine reunites at Ralph’s; Five Hole is rocking PJ’s; Auntie Trainwreck’s back to the Emerald Isle; it’s a party with Mass Elite at the Fifth Amendment; The Dive Bar hosts the second annual Dogfish Head Extreme Halloween Mayhem night; The Cosby Sweaters return to Junior’s Pizza early evening; Play for Blood Drive draws Fallen Shall Rise, Promised Eden, Silent Mind and more at Tammany Hall; Larry and the Lobsters claw into WPI’s Alden Hall; Bram and the Stokers headline Nightmare on Millbury Street at Nick’s, along with Andy Cummings; the annual Deadites costume ball is back to the Lucky Dog; Uncle Billy’s Smokehouse has a bus going out to 12 Crane; Touched rocks a non-Halloween party at Greendale’s; The Ten Foot Pole Cats join the Cobramatics and the Tokyo Tramps at Hotel Vernon; Clamdigger’s back at the Galway Bay; Dana Lewis haunts the Whistle Stop in Oxford from 8:30-10:30 p.m.; On the Rocks invites you to wear costumes to Squire White’s; Psychobilly Cadillac pulls into Vincent’s; B&E’s got The Nines covered; Ronnie Earl enlists his Broadcasters at the Bull Run; Groove Alliance hits Irish Times; Lietrim’s throws a party with no cover; and The Allens are at Speakers Nightclub in Marlboro.

Doctor Robert is back at Sakura Tokyo both weekend nights, and folks are encouraged to dress it up on Saturday.

Tuesday night, The Palladium is host to Hethenfest; and Smokestack and the Foothill Fury joins the Ten Foot Pole Cats at The Dive Bar.

Other Events:

Thursdays, the Manor Restaurant in West Boylston hosts trivia nights, as does PJ’s up the street from there.
Friday, The Sharks take on the Bridgeport Tigers at the DCU Center.

The Boston Vegetarian Food Festival hits the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center in Boston on Saturday and Sunday. Visit bostonveg.org for more info on this incredible event, which includes hundreds of vegetarian and vegan vendors.

On Saturday, the Second Chance Animal Shelter hosts a benefit Masquerade Ball at the Sturbridge Host Hotel, with proceeds benefiting the shelter. From 10:30 a.m. to noon, author Kelly McGovern signs copies of Be Kind to Earth at Isador’s Fruit and Deli in Oxford. The Unknown Works opens at the Sprinkler Factory with an exhibit reception at 6 p.m. There’s a salsa social and food drive sponsored by Salsa Storm at the Hibernian Cultural Center. Three big malls around – Solomon Pond, Auburn Mall and the Greendale Mall invites kids to trick-or-treat in their costumes at 3 p.m. The WPI Concert Band plays selections from Phantom of the Opera at the annual Pops Concert at Alden Hall at 4 p.m.

People, Places and Things by John Nunziato opens on Nov. 2 and continues through Nov. 30 at Booklovers' Gourmet in Webster. The artist reception takes place on Nov. 21 from 2-4 p.m.

Tom's Eatin' and Drinkin' Place in Northboro Closed

Much to Ray Mason's surprise, his band isn't playing at Tom's Eatin' and Drinkin' Place in Northboro this Saturday night. In fact, no one will be eatin' and drinkin' there anymore, and haven't been for two weeks. Formerly known as Tom's Gourmet Marketplace, owners (Joe Seely, pictured with events director Erin Duggan) apparently hadn't let any of the acts know that the place had closed down.

"So nice that they never told any of the performers who were booked there, at least not me," said Mason. "I tried calling there today to find out that their phone was disconnected. Bad sign! A friend of mine headed me off at the pass so that I wouldn't have to drive out there for nothing. Showbiz is tough."

Hopefully Howie knows he's not playing Friday night, though he, and several others are still on the Website.

Club and Event Notes, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

Uncle Billy's Smokehouse, playing Saturday at Beatnik's for a benefit for William Hurley

Thursday, Scott Ricciuti, Troy Gonyea and Duncan Arsenault play the Dive Bar; The Scales run up and down 'em at Beatnik's; Macey and Hart sing country tunes at TJ's Seafood in Auburn; Sam James sings at The Banner (as he does every week); Brooks Milgate sings at Nick's; and Venerable joins Contortionist at Ralph's.

Friday, Bill McCarthy's bringing his acoustic to Al Fresco in Holden; Anomia headlines QVCC; Ottomatic Slim jams at Gilrein's; Guns of Navarone headline Beatnik's; The Throttles burn it up at Vincent's; a band called the Rubblebucket Orchestra's the main act at Tammany Hall; The Chicken Slacks funk up Ralph's; Bret Talbert and his Six String Thing are at Tavern on the Common; The Right Now opens for OSB at the Lucky Dog; Mulligan's Fancy returns to Fiddler's Green; Last Call is out at Trumbull's in Spencer; Dead tribute Fennario shares the night with Sunlea at The Cannery; Soulstice locks in at the Irish Times; Fourth Gear pulls into the Blue Plate; and the Matt Shwachman Band is at Chaser's.

Saturday, Bill McCarthy sings at Junior's Pizza; WAAF's hosting a big Halloween bash at The Palladium with a ton of bands, including the Pantera tribute Trendkill, Killa T and Bogus Trizzy; Chase Haven joins the bill, which includes Limited Sight and Wednesday Night Coincidence, at Tammany Hall; Melt drips at The Raven with Bullethead; No Alibi's rocking in costumes at Greendale's; Auntie Trainwreck returns to the Kaz Bar; SexCoffee is with Vulgarrity for Rocktober at Ralph's; Gilmour's Breakfast pays tribute to Floyd at the Lucky Dog; Alive and Kickin' does covers at the Fifth Amendment; Destruct-a-Thon plays its last show ever in the afternoon at the Midway Cafe in Jamaica Plain; The Alchemystics bring hip-hop and reggae to the Cannery; and Uncle Billy's Smokehouse plays a benefit at Beatnik's for the family of William Hurley, who passed away tragically after disappearing from a Boston train station a few weeks ago.

Other events:

On Thursdays, Chuck's Steakhouse in Auburn has got team trivia nights.

Point, Click, Shoot – Snapshots Celebrating Life shows more than 200 family snapshots, from poignant to hilarious, at the Fitchburg Art Museum through January. At Booklovers' Gourmet, Sarah Hage's paintings are up through October. Called Small Pleasures, this exhibit features the California artist's bright, whimsical works.

Reckless opens at the Gateway Players in Southbridge on Friday, and continues through Halloween. Also Friday, The Worcester Pride Association hosts Casino Night at Carrington Hall on Harding Street. Bill Maher is out at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston.

Saturday, the West Brookfield Elementary School hosts a Vendor and Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mount Wachusett hosts its annual Applefest; taste plenty of apple-induced treats, enjoy music, a moonbounce, farmer's market, take skyrides, and take in the beauty of the mountain in Princeton. And ClayTime Studio on Park Ave. celebrates 10 years with an open house from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. that includes snacks, free gifts and of course painting some pottery. The EcoTarium hosts its annual Great Pumpkin Fest, which includes displays of hundreds of carved pumpkins, hayrides, trainrides, costume contests, crafts, demonstratons and more from noon to 9 p.m.

The EcoTarium in Worcester, MA, Announces Extensive Development Plans

The EcoTarium Announces Extensive Development Plans - Top Floor to be completed in 2010 - Guest experience to include virtual trip up Mt. Washington, category-1 hurricane simulator, weather demonstrations and more - Early fundraising includes $1 Million contribution from The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation to Strengthen Ties to Local Schools

WORCESTER, Mass., October 19, 2009 -The EcoTarium, New England's largest and most popular science and nature center, today announced plans to significantly enhance its exhibits, wildlife habitats, educational and family programming, as well as amenities, creating an unmatched experience for its guests. The EcoTarium unveiled its "Third Century Plan" at its bi-annual gala auction, and announced early support for its fundraising efforts, with a gift of $1 million from The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc., adding to the more than $1.3 million already raised. The Third Century Plan is named in recognition of the center's approaching 200th birthday, in 2025. The plan includes $35 million in investments and upgrades that will be implemented in four distinct phases-all with the purpose of enhancing learning opportunities and the experience of inquiry, discovery and exploration in the physical and natural sciences. Setting the Stage for Growth Today's announcement follows several years of intense planning and progress at the EcoTarium. These efforts have set the stage for the organization's continued growth as a dynamic learning and educational resource for students and teachers, and a fun, family-oriented attraction that serves the entire region.

Under the leadership of Stephen M. Pitcher, who has served as its president since 2005, the EcoTarium has laid the foundation for this important expansion. In recent years, the organization has invested in the guest experience, including a nearly one million dollar investment to improve the planetarium-making it the first publicly accessible full dome digital planetarium in Massachusetts; more interactive exhibits; the purchase of two new exhibits that engage the public in both indoor and outdoor experiences; more family-friendly events; and a newly refurbished Animal Corner and Bird House; and wildlife, including otters. These improvements have resulted in an increase in visitors each year for the past three years.

The EcoTarium also is on target to meet its financial goals for the fifth consecutive year. "We are thrilled to be launching our Third Century Plan today," said Stephen Pitcher, president of the EcoTarium. "Each phase of this effort represents a dramatic step forward for our organization. Each phase better positions us to deliver on our commitment to inspire a passion for science and nature through discovery and to create an experience unrivaled by any other science and nature center. With this expansion, we will continue our long, proud tradition of serving our members and the people of Central New England." Creating a World Class Learning Experience When the Third Century Plan is completed, the EcoTarium will feature four new iconic exhibits: creating mountain, forest, water and urban environments and experiences for guests. Taken together, these interactive exhibits will provide families with countless new ways to learn about science and nature through hands-on exploration.

Phase One of The Third Century Plan, with a fundraising goal of $8.2 million, is already under way. The top floor expansion-a major component of Phase One- is expected to be completed by late 2010. The renovated space will enable guests to envision themselves standing on the top of Mount Washington, New England's highest peak and home to some of the most severe weather in the world. As part of this experience, visitors will be able to step out on a glass floor ledge, looking over the museum's landscape as if they are on top of a mountain. At the same time, by looking outward through the museum's three-story glass wall, guests will experience the panoramic views of the center's natural surroundings-an experience that invites both indoor and outdoor exploration. Through a virtual trip up Mt. Washington guests will envision themselves driving up the auto road and cog railway during two different seasons. This experience will introduce guests to the unique conditions and different life zones supported on the mountain. When entering a phone booth sized, hurricane simulator, guests will experience the fury and sound of category one hurricane-force winds. A spin browser will allow guests to explore and learn about New England's notoriously fickle weather. Guests will be able to look out the Ecotarium's three-story rear courtyard window while taking in archived views from the same window, showing the changing weather and seasons. A live Doppler image of Massachusetts will also be available, allowing visitors to see what kind of weather is coming our way. A climbing wall and faux-boulders, where visitors of all ages can test their mountaineering skills and balance. Rocks and minerals of the types found on Mt. Washington will be embedded in the climbing wall, and very young children can step carefully from "safe-rock to safe-rock," painted on the floor, taking care not to step on the delicate alpine fauna found at the mountain's summit. In addition, Phase One of the plan also will bring upgraded guest amenities, added shade and seating at the EcoTarium's "sundial plaza, site of the EcoTarium's popular Jazz-at-Sunset performance series," added wayfinding and signage, improvements to the power plant and exploration into alternative energy options, and a branding initiative to further build membership and attendance.

Community Partners Support Education and Local Economy The EcoTarium recently began fundraising efforts, gaining early commitments from numerous supporters, including The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, EcoTarium Trustees and other foundations. "The Hanover is proud to be partner to the EcoTarium as it plans for its third century of service to our community," said Fred Eppinger, chief executive officer of The Hanover Insurance Group. "More than ever, when science and math play such an important role in our economy, the EcoTarium is a vitally important resource to our city and our region. We look forward to helping develop and sustain exciting new learning opportunities for our families and our children, as well as teaching opportunities for professional educators." Building on a Rich History When it was founded in 1825 as the Worcester Lyceum of Natural History, it was six years before Charles Darwin's historic voyage, nine years before the term "scientist" was coined, and 40 years before the founding of the American Museum of Natural History. Over nearly two centuries of service to the community, the EcoTarium has been an essential resource in the education infrastructure of Central Massachusetts. Indeed, a visit to the EcoTarium has become a well-loved tradition for students, teachers and families from throughout the region, who come to be inspired, challenged, fascinated and educated by the EcoTarium's unique combination of accessible, science-based content and hands-on learning exhibits. The organization and facility have continuously evolved and grown to meet the educational needs of a region and economy that is heavily invested in and reliant upon a workforce highly skilled in the sciences, technology, engineering and math.

Today, as it looks forward to beginning its third century of service, the EcoTarium seeks to build on its commitment to the community and its legacy of inspiring wonder, fostering intellectual inquiry, and nurturing scientific literacy. About The EcoTariumEcoTarium, A Museum of Science & Nature, offers three floors of interactive exhibits, wildlife habitats, interpretive nature trails, Massachusetts' first digital planetarium, and a narrow-gauge railroad. The museum, located at 222 Harrington Way in Worcester, Mass., is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays 12 to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $8 for seniors, college students and children ages 3-18. Parking is free. For information, visit www.ecotarium.org, call (508) 929-2700 or email info@ecotarium.org.

About The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation: The mission of The Hanover Insurance Group Foundation, Inc. is to improve the quality of life in communities where The Hanover Insurance Group companies have a major presence, placing a special emphasis on helping to build world class public education systems and inspiring and empowering youth to achieve their full potential. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc., based in Worcester, Mass. is a leading provider of auto, home and business insurance in Massachusetts. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for a group of insurers that includes The Hanover Insurance Company, also based in Worcester; Citizens Insurance Company of America, headquartered in Howell, Mich., and their affiliates. The Hanover offers a wide range of property and casualty products and services to individuals, families and businesses through an extensive network of independent agents, and has been meeting its obligations to its agent partners and their customers for more than 150 years. Taken as a group, The Hanover ranks among the top 30 property and casualty insurers in the United States. For more information, please visit www.hanover.com.

Contact: Liz Foxwell, Manager of Marketing and Communications, 508-929-2738, lfoxwell@ecotarium.org.

Club Notes, Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009

Gold Star Campaign

Thursday, Johnny Dollar does the Third Thursday early evening show at the Worcester Art Museum; Turd Thursday's songwriter's challenge is at Dr. Gonzo's Emporium on Main Street – bring your latest song about monsters and zombies or love hate relationships; Jon Robert and MSB open for Eve 6 at Tammany Hall; Laid in Stone joins metal Thursday at Ralph's; Michael Thibodeau joins the Accident That Led Me to the World at Nick's; and Duncan Arsenault invites Scott Ricciuti and Jeff Burch to jam at The Dive Bar.

Friday, Bill McCarthy slings his guitar to Greendale's; Naughty Nurse Night welcomes This Burning World and more to London Billiards; Holmes funks up Beatnik's; Sean Kershaw's got his New Jack Ramblers at Vincent's; Revolver shoots Irish Times; Fourth Gear pulls into PJ's Bar and Grille; 66 Breakout is with Derek Drowne at the Raven; Jediah's with Ashland's Attic at the Cannery; Brian Richard's out in Boston at Kings; Ominous Black headlines the Grind at Clark; Touched lights up the Gaslight Cafe in Webster; The Weight of Gravity jams at the Pumphouse; and Dan Burke and the Speakeasy Combo joins Niki Luparellia at Nick's.

Saturday, Gold Star Campaign's headlining Beatnik's; Clam Digger's at the Centre Grille's parking lot on Green Street as part of the Green Street Octoberfest, which also includes performances by DRG; Jason James returns to the Galway Bay; Slave to the Metal Tour continues at Ralph's; New Pilot joins The Bargains and the Change-Up at the Middle East in Cambridge; Melvern Taylor returns to Nick's; Probable Cause returns to JJ's Sports Bar in Northboro; Brett and Lisa from She's Busy sing at Chuck's Steakhouse; and of course it's the Dreaded Event at the Lucky Dog, where Bugsy cuts off six years of dreadlocks, set to the music of Hey Now Morris Fader, The Luxury, The Curtain Society and Huck.

On both Friday and Saturday night, Ralph's is home to Slave to the Metal nights – with ten bands playing each night. Visit http://www.slavetothemetal.com/ for details on that one. Rock and Shock pummels the Palladium and DCU Center from Friday night through Sunday.
Sunday, Freedomsong II benefits the Massachusetts Veterans Association with a big show at the National Guard Museum at 4 p.m. with performances by Shakey Steve and the Blue Cats, Doctor Robert, Brett and Lisa Brumby, Big Dawg and many more.

Other Events:
On Thursday, bluegrass guitarist Richard Gilewitz gives a workshop at Union Music at 5 p.m. Michelle Lyons is one of the features at the Poetry Festival at Worcester State College.
Saturday, Haberdash in the Canal District starts at 10 a.m. at Alexis Grace.
Sunday, Worcester Earn-a-Bike and VegWorcester lead a casual 18 mile bike ride from downtown Worcester to Maple Farm Sanctuary's annual picnic in Mendon, MA. Leaves at 10 a.m. from the Major Taylor Statue outside of the Worcester Library. Maple Farm, which is a sanctuary that provides lifelong homes for abused farmed animals, hosts an event that includes music, tours of the farm, raffles, speakers and of course, the animals themselves.

Event Notes, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009

Super 400
On Thursday, Jon Short's bringing in the delta blues to the Dive – it's moving inside this week, folks; Sean McGorty and friends sing at the Raven; Police tribute Ghost in the Machine opens for the Flock at the Lucky Dog, where Nytemare also unleashes a new disc; The Wrecking Coast joins a Vital Might at Ralph's; Demon's Alley, the Suicide Mary's and 66 Breakout join forces at Tammany Hall; and the Dave Rivers Band picks up the Piccadilly in Marlboro.

On Friday, Bret Talbert sings at Beatnik's; Drunken Uncles hit McFadden's for the after-work crowd and then head over to Allgos later on Shrewsbury Street; Super 400's rocking with Township and Shryne at Ralph's; Celtic Crossroads fiddles at the Hanover; Beatles for Sale have got the Fab 4 covered at The Cannery (also in celebration of John Lennon's birthday); The Franks celebrate a new disc with a show along with the Weight of Gravity and Poor Pluto at Tammany Hall; and Taking Dawn joins Dragonforce at The Palladium.

On Saturday, there's a CD release show for Insomniaddict by Shane Hall at the Lucky Dog Music Hall along with Sleep Alive and This Burning World; Dana Lewis sings at Tavern on the Common; Brian Richard and his drummer buddy Maxwell, who also recorded his latest CD with him, do a show at Jillian's; HippoCampus is the act at the Cannery; Burn the Witch (which features Pete Cortese of Seemless) joins Graveyard Barbecue at The Raven; Gilmour's Breakfast nails Floyd at the Music Lady in Plainfield, CT; Auntie Trainwreck (do you say “antie,” or, um, “auntie?”) returns to London Billiards; Trigger's shooting at Irish Times; The Matt Shwachman Band's popping at the Galway Bay; Hat On, Drinking Wine sips it at Beatnik's; Jason James shakes the taxidermy at Vincent's; and Lisa Marie returns to the Sahara.

Both weekend nights, Route 66 rides into Sakura Tokyo.

Sunday afternoon, Rob Adams is the featured artist at the famous Frank's Pub blues jam; Dreaded Silence is with Shroud of Bereavement at Ralph's; Bill McCarthy's lugging his acoustic to Al Fresco; DRG headlines Tamfest at Tammany Hall, where Matt Shwachman and Silent Mind also play; the Tool tribute Schism headlines the Lucky Dog; and the Palladium has got Victims or Armeggedon; What You Missed, The Fighting Judges, Some Assembly Required and Blacklight, among many others, at this all day event.

Other events:

Last chance to view the Metamorphosis of an Object by world-renowned sculptor Rona Pondick at the Worcester Art Museum. The exhibit ends on Sunday.

Next Thursday, Oct. 15, it's Wodehouse Day at 55 Pearl, where you're invited to dress like it's the 1920s.


Charlene's fun prank of the month. Try this at home: If, by some chance, you have a completely overgrown zucchini or squash from this past summer's garden - we are talking one weighing in at more than five pounds here - you can have some fun with this. Sneak it in to a local supermarket, and strategically place the squash among the other, much smaller, squashies in the produce section. Watch as shoppers are confused at the lone monstrous vegetable. "Wow, should I buy this? Honey, look at this thing." Please send video reactions to weeklyshuffle@gmail.com.

Valerie Crockett loses battle with cancer

Valerie Crockett, 53, a singer, songwriter and musician, died Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, after a three-year battle with leiomyosarcoma. Valerie, devoted wife of longtime musician and journalist Walter Crockett, most recently recorded and performed with Valerie and Walter Crockett and the Oxymorons, a popular bluegrass-tinged folk-pop outfit that played at festivals and coffeehouses throughout the area.

Calling hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln St., Worcester, MA. A memorial s...ervice will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at United Congregational Church, 6 Institute Road. For information, visit http://nordgrenmemorialchapel.com/.

Club Notes, Thursday, Oct. 1

Thursday, Shane Hall's joining DJ Merf at Jerky's in Providence for a rap show; Josh Briggs sings at Beatnik's; Closed Casket joins Smite the Righteous and Summoning Hate at Ralph's; Tyra Penn and her Army of Snakes slither into Nick's; and the Dive's got soul – this week welcoming DJ Shame to the fold.

Friday, Ed and Dave sing tunes with T on bass at Greendale's; Bill McCarthy's got his acoustic at the Old Post Office Pub; Lesions is with Underlying Truth at the Raven; The Cosby Sweaters fill Biago's with acoustic '80s pop tunes; Another Soldier Down rocks London Billiard's with Helen Keller; Jason James rumbles at Beatnik's; Fighting Friday is the act on Friday at Jillian's; Ellis Island debuts at the Emerald Isle; Social Failure joins the lineup at the Lucky Dog Music Hall along with Hated and Pitfall; Fergus does contemporary Irish tunes at Fiddler's Green; The Ten Foot Pole Cats return to The Dive; The Rhythm Party is back at the Sahara; Johnny Dollar does jazzy covers of classic rock tunes at Mill Street Brews; The Sonic Explorers do jazz at Clark; Windfall blows in with the blues at Gilrein's; The E Street Shuffle, a tribute to the Boss, hides on the backstreets at Holy Cross College for a show at 8 p.m.; The Middle River Band's got City Lights this weekend; and DJ Corey Hill mixes the tunes at Red.

Saturday, Touched opens for The Fools at the Lucky Dog; Probable Cause is at the Fifth Amendment (which used to be Chasers) along with some comedy acts; Sarah Kauffman sings at Vincent's; Bill McCarthy's singing at Junior's; the Awake and Alive tour pulls into the Palladium with acts such as Skillet and the Letter Black; SBGB resurfaces at Ralph's with Chylde and the Numbskulls; Old School's holding class at Greendale's; Driving Rain splashes 3-G's Sports Pub; Whalebone Farmhouse is making waves all over the city, this week playing Beatnik's; and Marcy Playground smells sex and candy at Tammany Hall.

Sunday, Nick's celebrates two years with many special guest appearances by the club's favorites.

Other events:

Bound by Fashion: the Corset in European Art is one of the featured exhibits at the Worcester Art Museum through the fall.

Friday is World Smile Day. As we know, the Smiley Face was invented here. Be sure to smile a lot. Every Friday, the Wine Vine's got free wine and cheese tastings. The Worcester Library hosts “A Celebration of Authors,” which is a fundraising event that features readings and remarks by nationally renowned authors Marilynne Robinson and Elinor Lipman. This event is 6-10 p.m. Also, the Regional Environmental Council holds its Slow Food Gala at Holy Cross from 6-10 p.m., as well. This five course meal costs $75. And be prepared to spend some time savoring, and waiting. Again, this is not fast food. “Love, Laughter, Comedy and Karaoke” night packs a lot of types of entertainment into one evening at the Holden Chapel. If you don't mind traveling, comedian Paula Poundstone is out at the Wilbur Theatre.

Saturday, it's the Douglas Octoberfest – the only Octoberfest without beer – which features vendors, food and plenty of performances, including the Delta Generators, Hat On, Drinking Wine, the Accident that Led Me to the World, Huck and many more. There's also a fundraiser to combat Polycystic Kidney Disease with an event at the Northbridge American Legion – it includes a buffet and tunes by Beatles for Sale. Waters Farm in Sutton celebrates Waters Farm Days starting at 1 p.m.

Interested in showing your stuff at stART at the Station? Applications are now open at http://www.startonthestreet.org/.

Club Notes, Thursday, Sept. 24

On Thursday, The Giant Yes plays a mix of funky stuff by the Meters, Herbie Hancock and more at The Dive; Johnny Dollar does jazz at the Dark Horse Tavern at 12 Crane; The G Spots are down at Tammany Hall; Know Nothing headlines London Billiards; PJ's has karaoke (not trivia as they initially advertised) and it's Corey Graves Comedy Buffet at Beatnik's. Meet the clowns from the Barnum and Bailey Circus (which I do not support because of their cruelty to animals, but it's ok to see the clowns) in Elm Park at 6 p.m. There's also some awards night that's happening down in the canal district.

Friday, Jubilee Gardens is at the Amazing Things Art Center in Framingham; Uncle Billy's Smokehouse rocks Beatnik's; the Coyotes rock Greendale's; Sasquatch and the Sickabillys headline a show with Gein and the Graverobbers and the Cadavers at the Lucky Dog; Rose Colored Glasses once again rocks the Kaz Bar; Bill McCarthy sings at Al Fresco in Holden; Reject joins Project Red at London Billiards; Lisa and Brett from She's Busy sing at Brian's in Northbridge; Scalpel joins This Burning World at the Raven; Jeff Norwood's at Gilrein's with the Ten Foot Pole Cats making it a deep blues night along with Jon Short; rockabilly master Jason James tears up Irish Times; Carol O'Shaughnassy returns to Nick's; The Weight of Gravity funks out with Holmes at the Cannery; the Chicken Slacks grease up Ralph's; Scott Ricciuti's doing his stuff with Huck at Vincent's; New Bay Colony's doing covers at Jillian's; and Singuya joins the Hornitz at Beatnik's.

Saturday, Backseat Lover is the ultimate Pearl Jam tribute at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; Linda Dagnello sings with the Pamela Hines Quintet at Nick's; there's a Bethlehem Artisan Festival on Sturbridge Town Common; Keri sings with Whalebone Farmhouse at the Sahara Restaurant; Quick to Judge has got London Billiards covered along with Wrecking for brutalfest; Bill McCarthy's singing tunes out at the Old Post Office Pub; and Bob Jordan is singing in the front room of this very studio, right at WCUW on Main Street.

Dr. Robert takes both nights at Sakura Tokyo (keep in mind, the now defunct Pet Rock originally was scheduled for these dates).

On Sunday, Rob Adams sings at the Stoggy Hollow in Connecticut.

Club Notes, Thursday, Sept. 17 2009

On Thursday, The Dive's always got a great act jamming down on Green Street, and this week it is the DB Trio, which also, earlier, opens up the next installment of the Third Thursdays at the Worcester Art Museum; Lisa Marie's with All Shook Up at Nick's; and it's metal night at Ralph's.

On Friday, Danny Dark and the Black Souls do '70s AM Gold stuff at the Blue Plate in Holden; Pleasure to Burn, When the Deadbolt Breaks, Orange Diesel and Ichabod rock Ralph's; Sunlea debuts at Beatnik's; there's an open mic at Acoustic Java; The Middle River Band returns to the Oxford Tavern; Bloodlined Caligraphy brings its tour to QVCC with The Burial; Bill McCarthy's got his guitar at Greendale's; Rose Colored Glasses rocks the Wheelock Inn in Millbury; SBT headlines London Billiards along with Suicide Marys and the Tin Thistles, who play tunes off their new album; and Lisa Marie sings the blues at the Sahara.

On Saturday, Guns of Navarone does punk reggae at Beatnik's; Beatles for Sale do the Beatles at the Gardner Music Hall; Rock House 6 rocks the Cannery; Over a Cardboard Sea joins the Crockpots at Vincent's; Orange Diesel and Pako join forces at the Lucky Dog; Jason James rips up the Galway Bay; We Are the Romans headline QVCC; The Turkeys are at Tammany Hall; Dr. Robert plays hits at Greendale's; the Barnstormers are back at Vincent's; Beware the Ides are at the Raven; Auntie Trainwreck crashes into Squire White's; Dogfight joins Sadplant at Ralph's; and a band called Right Angle Woman is debuting at Irish Times.

Touched rocks both weekend nights at Sakura Tokyo.

Other Events:

Friday, Russian Regimes in Music by the QX Quartet is at Razzo Hall at Clark University.

Saturday afternoon, there's a Main South Celebrates festival in, you guessed it – Main South; the September Salsa Social hits the Hibernian Cultural Center;

On Sunday, Start on the Street takes over Park Ave. starting at 11 and pretty much throughout the day. Visit 100s of art and craft vendors from all over New England, as well as eat food and enjoy many live performances by bands such as the Wandas, Harry and the Potters and Rich Bound Blues and many more.

Club Notes, Thursday, Sept. 3

Before the Fall, pictured, is part of the Concerts4Charity shows at the Palladium this weekend.

Special thanks to Dr. Gonzo, who visited the Weekly Shuffle radio this week, bringing mayhem, laughter .. and condiments to WCUW. Check out his stuff.




On Thursday, Duncan Arsenault and whatever band he brings with him plays in the beer garden at The Dive; Billy Claire's solo at the Piccadilly Pub in Marlboro; Bloadsoaked joins the metal lineup at Ralph's; Macey and Hart sing at TJ's Seafood in Auburn; The G-spots headline Beannik's; and it's Thirsty Thursday at Hooligan's with Andy Cummings. And don't forget, Shadow's Fall is on the Jimmy Kimmell show.


Friday, Danny Heath's with Workingman's Jazz at the Colonial Inn in Concord; Ed and Dave sing at Greendale's; The Luxury, New Pilot, The Sift and more plays a Concerts for Charity at The Palladium; Tailor Made's with The Humans at Tammany Hall; Fourth Gear rocks PJ's; The Delta Generators return to Gilrein's; Radio Edit debuts at Jillian's; there's a Sublime tribute at Beatnik's; The Doctor's Fox sneaks into Vincent's; The Rhythm Party's back at the Sahara Restaurant; Driftwood floats into Spiritual Haze; Darkwor is in the back at London Billiards; Varsity Drag, The Cretins and the Disconnect open for The Pathetics at Ralph's; Deep Six and Promised Eden help open for Mullethead at the Lucky Dog.



Saturday, The Johnny Dollar Experiment cuts loose at The Cannery in Southbridge; Bret Talbert sings acoustic tunes at the Post Office Pub; Brilliant, Gutta and Brilliant make it a poppy night at The Raven; Soulstice and The Weight of Gravity joins Sky Blue Mind at Tammany Hall. Sky Blue Mind is a new eclectic and esoteric progression, fusion project that features Bob Belanger from The Weight of Gravity on drums and former bandmate Steve Mossberg on keyboards. Jubilee Gardens is led by Jubilee Connolly at the Sahara Restaurant; The Shady Saints crowd the corner at the Galway Bay; The Middle River Band are out at JJ's in Northboro; there's a piano bar at the Other Place Pub (every Saturday); Route 66 rocks the Emerald Isle; Auntie Trainwreck's smashing into Greendale's; Concerts4Charity continues at The Palladium with Lot 54, Before the Fall and many more; Babe Pino sings and blow the harp with his band at Gilrein's; and Whalebone Farmhouse has got roots at Beatnik's.



Sunday, Probable Cause does its Boston Harbor Booze Cruise.



Other events:



Thursday, there's a reception at Rollstone Studios in Fitchbug for Feline, Canine, All Mine, which is an exhibit that includes pet portraits by Reverend Blamo, and Animal Translations, an in person appearance by “pet whisperer” Maureen Harmonay. The opening reception is 4-8 p.m.



The Rhythm and Roots Festival fills out the weekend with New Orleans R&B, zydeco, swing, Americana and more at Ninigret Park in Rhode Island.



Friday evening, Worcester State College takes on Assumption College football at Coughlin Stadium at 7 p.m.



Saturday, there's an open studio at the Sprinkler Factory; and Boxer Buddies Rescue holds its Wiggle Butt Walk fundraiser at Hopkinton State Park.

Sunday, there's a Wachusett Reservoir History Program at Old Stone Church in West Boylston.

Club Notes, Thursday, Aug. 27

Thursday, Bret Talbert sings at Beatnik's.

Friday, Guns of Navarone joins Orange Diesel, Overshine and Build a Machine split the bill at Tammany Hall; The Roosters are back at JJ's in Northboro; Bill McCarthy sings at Greendale's; Broken Cross rocks London Billiards; Bill McCarthy sings at Greendale's; Rose Colored Glasses returns to the Kaz Bar; Girl Haggard is part of the bill at the Lucky Dog along with Jason James and the Cobramatics; Tori Pyne debuts at the Dive Bar; Sunlea opens for Uncle Billy's Smokehouse at Beatnik's; the Chicken Slacks funk up Ralph's;

Saturday, the Gears of Worcester Music bring the Hoosegow Kings to play the blues at Vincent's; the Cosby Sweaters return to Junior's; the annual spectacle and yard sale led by Bob Jordan takes place at 13 West Street in Grafton; Beatles for Sale does just that at the Grafton Inn; Bruce Marshall makes his Greendale's Pub debut; Craving Lucy headlines the Raven; Clamdigger is a fave at the Galway Bay; Clamdigger returns to the Galway; Dub Sack Dynasty does Moynihan's; and Emptyhead headlines Irish Times.

Sunday, it's the Boulder Beer Party's 30th birthday at The Dive Bar; Chris Brunelle makes his debut at Emerald Isle; and the Summoned is the one at London Billiards.

Tuesdays, Jon Short's always at Armsby Abbey.

Other events:

On Friday, They're showing The Firm at 2 p.m. at the Worcester Public Library.

Club Notes, Thursday, Aug. 13

Pictured, Emilie Poulin, owner of The Q, this week's guest on The Weekly Shuffle. Be sure to head to the Q on Sunday for their second year anniversary celebration.

Thursday, Chet Williamson's blowing the harp at Oxford's Casual Dining; Sean Ryan of Uncle Billy's Smokehouse sings at Beatnik's; Driven's rocking Ralph's; The Change-Up and the Alchemystics join the lineup as part of the Wonderland Music Series at Mechanics Hall; and the Tokyo Tramps join The Flock at the Lucky Dog.

Friday, Ben Cooley Hall and Sarah Winant return to Nick's; Shane Hall is part of the bill at the Raven that is called a Last Minute Awesome Fest and also features Greg McKillop; Christopher Bell debuts at Spiritual Haze; In Harm's Way opens for Zero Point at London Billiards; Fergus does contemporary Irish at the Fiddler's Green; The Ten Foot Pole Cats are back at The Dive Bar; Orange Diesel opens for, East Coast Runaways and All in Blind at Ralph's; and Lisa Marie is All Shook Up at the Sahara.

Saturday, Guns of Navarone fire at Beatnik's; The Curtain Society and the Bee's Knees are out at Sally O'Brien's in Somerville; Huck's hitting Finnegan's; the Thrash and Burn tour pulls into the Palladium with Seize the Day and Periphery; Stuart Ferguson sings at the Grafton Inn; Switchblade Suicide is with Sorry and the Sinatras at The Raven; Color Me Badd is with This Burning World, opening for Ozzy tribute Crazy Train, at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; The Mike Cranville Band debuts at Greendale's; Ben Cooley Hall sings at Nick's; SuperVolcano headlines Ralphs and also invites the Retakes; The Ed Melikian Ensemble is a favorite at the Sahara Restaurant; and Whalebone Farmhouse heads back to Vincent's.

Touched takes care of the weekend at Sakura Tokyo.

Sunday, Rounding Off Numbers is out at Boston Billiards on Grove Street; and Bobby Gadoury and the Speakeasy Combo gather at Nick's.

Monday, it's a bon voyage party for Brian and Goff with Sam Politz at Nick's.

Other events:

Thursday, it's Peterman Bobblehead night at the Worcester Tornadoes game - the first 1,000 gets one.

Friday, All Shook Up opens at Mount Wachusett Community Theatre and continues through the weekend; Worcester Storytellers returns to Vasa Hall (where readers get up to eight minutes of stage time).

Saturday's the annual and fantastic Latin Festival, taking over downtown with bands, food and frenzy; at the DCU bank in Marlboro there's a huge Soap Suds for Schools car wash all day; the Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival flutters at the Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary.
Sunday, the Q's celebrating two years in business with a big celebration, most likely including poetry and music.

Sunday, Julio's Liquors in Westboro is hosting a Belgian Beer Fest from 1-4 p.m.

Club Notes, Thursday, Aug. 6

Lisa Barthelson (pictured), interviewed today on WCUW's the Weekly Shuffle. Barthelson talked about Art in the Park, which opens Thursday, Aug. 6, at Elm Park at 6 p.m. The opening includes artist talks, food and tunes by the mighty Dinosaurs. This 22-piece exhibit, which will be on display through October, featuring an exceptional, and eclectic, mix of media by artists Andy Campbell, Vicente Garcia, Susan Champeny, Susu Wing and many more. Barthelson's piece, "Found Nest, After Ice Storm," was inspired by last year's monstrous ice storm that pummeled the area at the beginning of the winter.

Thursday, WCUW is presenting Duke Robillard at the Hanover Theatre as part of their series; Reverend JJ and the Casual Sinners preach at Tammany Hall; Eternal Embrace is part of the Ralph's metal show; Twitch the Ripper joins Streak at the Raven; Joshua English, Ghost Ocean and Nate MacKinnon do acoustic performances at Nick's; Ken Macy Jr. sings at Block 5, and down the street it's a funk party in the beer garden at The Dive.

Friday, Saint to Sinner joins Levity at London Billiards; Bill McCarthy brings his guitar to the Old Post Office Pub; Bottlefight hits the stage with Designer Drugs, Slitstitch and Sadplant at Ralph's; Hat On, Drinking Wine debuts, along with Only at Night, at the Lucky Dog; The Summer Street Band returns to Speakers; Ripcord racks 'em up at Jillian's; Shirley Lewis belts the blues at Gilrein's; BlackSheep herds at the Fiddler's Green; and Gold Star Campaign rocks Beatnik's.
Saturday, The Lights Out's at Ralph's with the Bad Bads; Still Aggravated rocks PJ's Bar and Grill; Slack debuts at the Emerald Isle; Beatles for Sale does the Fab4 at JJ's in Northboro; White Chocolate melts at Chaser's; Ben Cole's heating up the Boiler Room; Never Enough Bullets and New Ditty split the bill at The Raven; the Gobshites do surf at the Cannery; The Weight of Gravity jams at Oxford Tavern; The Trick Bag Blues Band improvises at Gilrein's; Go Gadget Go does covers at The Nines; the Middle River Band rocks Breakaway Billiards in Clinton; and DJ Reckless spins at Red 1888.

Friday and Saturday night, the Matt Schwachman Band returns to Sakura Tokyo; and speaking of Sakura Tokyo, a favorite there, Pet Rock, is calling it quits and doing so with two farewell shows this weekend at Foxwoods Casino, Friday and Saturday night. Speaking of breakups, Cathy's Clown and New England Soul Revue, too, have unfortunately called it quits, with no appropriate glue for repair in clear sight at this time.

On Sunday, Poison the Well, Bane and Madball are part of the $10 for 10 bands tour at the Palladium; Jason James tears down the place at Nick's; CD Stone and his Screamin' Blue Orchestra jams at the Blue Plate in the afternoon; and Letterday does an all ages show at the Raven.

Other events:

Art in the Park opens at Elm Park on Thursday, and will be on display through October. It opens at 6 p.m. with live music, artist tours and food.
Saturday is the Puttin' for Pawz event at the Leicester County Club to raise money for the Worcester Animal Rescue League. Also Saturday morning, at 10, Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary runs a program for kids called Insects Have Six Legs.

Saturday and Sunday the Worcester World Cup takes place at Foley Stadium.

On Sunday, the Import Evolution Car Show is at the DCU Center; there's a birthday celebration for Smokey the Bear at the Riverbend Farm Visitor's Center in Uxbridge; the fantastic Fat City Band swings at the Elks Club for their weekly Dance2Swing in Leominster; the Poet's Asylum brings words to Jumpin, Juice and Java; there's a Stone Beer Dinner at Armsby Abbey; and Jo Dee Messina sings country at Indian Ranch in Webster.

Do you have a show coming up? Want to be a guest on the weekly shuffle? Have your tune played on the show? Email Charlene at carsena882@aol.com. Mailing address PO Box 310, Auburn, MA 01501.

Club Notes, Thursday, July 30

Pictured: The Delta Generators, photo by Bree Bailey

On Thursday, The Dialogue plays the Cantina Bar; the Worcester Tornadoes present Beatles for Sale at Fitton Field; Organ Eyes crank at Nick's; Graveheart headlines metal night at Ralph's; Intermission is with the JC Young Band at Chaser's; Bret Talbert sings at Beatnik's; Jon Short and Jeff Burch join Duncan Arsenault at the Dive Bar; Pako opens for The Flock at the Lucky Dog Music Hall; and Build a Machine debuts at Tammany Hall.

Friday, The Cosby Sweaters sing '80s stuff at Greendale's; Windfall blows into the Kaz Bar; Tester's rocking the Raven with 7 Minute Stagger; Castine pops up the Lucky Dog Music Hall; Andy Dow is with Bruce Marshall at PJ's in West Boylston; Necktie Party ties one on with Vullgarrity at Ralph's; Chet Williamson's blowing the harp at Nick's; Jimmy's Down rocks Jillian's; Sunlea opens for Uncle Billy's Smokehouse at Tammany Hall; and Ken Tracy Jr. returns to Creegan's Pub.

Saturday, Zac Galen is at Milly's Tavern; Clamdigger is over at Breen's; Jumping Ship is with Challenges and Tales at QVCC; The Cosby Sweaters return to Junior's; The Walking Blues Band shuffles to the Old Post Office Pub; Leaving Eden joins the lineup at The Raven; the Delta Generators are out at Tommy Doyle's; The Roosters crow at Greendale's; Uncle Billy's Smokehouse joins Holmes at the Bull Run; The Rectangle Club joins the lineup at Ralph's, which also includes Mr. E. Floyd; Irish Times has Believer this week.

On Sunday, Chylde, You Need New Glasses and Shirts and Skins play Ralph's; and DJ Reckless is at a Club Universe under 21 party.

Other events:

On Thursday, the Blackstone Valley Community concert band packs onto the stage at Whitinsville Common.



MacBeth is in the park – Green Hill Park – through August 2.



Willy Wonka Jr. is performed at Calliope Productions in Boylston throughout the weekend.
Sunday, there's a bat program at the Elm Hill Center.

Club Notes, Thursday, July 23

Pictured: Coyote Run, playing at the Blackstone Celtic Fest.

Thursday, A War for All Seasons joins The Sharpest at QVCC; Vance sings at Tower Hill Botanic Garden; Only at Night helps open for The Flock at the Lucky Dog; Leslie Crozier sings at Beatnik's; For What It's Worth, The Pity Whores and Sadplant do metal night at Ralph's; and DJ Soup mixes it up at Irish Times.



Friday, She's Busy is on Brookfield Common from 7-9 p.m.; Candy Striper Death Orgry joins The Summoned and more for an all agest show at QVCC; Sonic Bridge debuts at Tom's Gourmet Marketplace; John Small is back at Borders Books in Shrewsbury; Rose Colored Glasses rocks the Kaz Bar; Badmajik pays tribute to Godsmack at The Raven; Highfire Skyline comes in to Tammany Hall with The Cold Beat; Little Red's back at the Sahara; The Roosters reunite at the Lucky Dog, opening for Italy's number one Stones tribute; Alan and the Alligators take a bite out of Oxhead Tavern; The Jennifer Lee Band joins Phase 2 at the Cannery; Treadwater rocks Creegan's; Runaway Roses is out at JJ's; and Jason James rips up the Irish Times.



Saturday, Worcesterfest hits the Palladium, bringing in Four Year Strong, Set Your Goals and many more; Bill McCarthy's singing down at Junior's Pizza; Ropetree headlines Tammany Hall; Go Gadget Go packs 'em into Greendale's; Castine pops up Spiritual Haze with Necktie Party; Critical Condition rocks the Raven; the Black Eye Bone Daddy's tear up the Lucky Dog, opening for the mighty Mullethead; Nytmare's hip hopping at Creegan's; The Cosby Sweaters return to the Galway Bay; the Fat City Band blasts the Bull Run; Animal Crackers hit Jillian's; Jim Weeks brings his Little Big Wheel to the Sahara; Superbug joins the Golden Spurs at Ralph's; The Pandas debut at Nick's; and Birch Hill Dam joins the lineup in the back room at London Billiards.



Other Events:
MacBeth is being performed in Green Hill Park through Aug. 2.
Paintings by Tom Mahoney are on display at the Worcester Public Library through July 31. Twelve Zodiac Animals opened at the Worcester Art Museum.



On Saturday, the Blackstone Valley Celtic Festival takes over Indian Ranch, featuring Coyote Run and Jug O' Punch and many more. The event also features plenty of ethnic food as well as the Men in Kilts contest. 12 Crane holds a Classic Car Show.

Musical Masonry - Ray's got a new disc out

You can trace Ray Mason's gritty, down in the dirt rock and roll sound to one thing: his 1965 Sears Silvertone guitar. OK, that might be a slight exaggeration, but as Mason says, "I try to base my sound on good songs and a guitar that sounds like a guitar."

His new disc, Like Bugs Chewing on Paper (now how Mason-like is that?), isn't a drastic departure from his past efforts, and if you're a fan, you wouldn't want it to be. With out of left field lyrics, pure rock 'n' roll riffs and an honest delivery, Mason keeps the spirit of bands such as the Kinks and the Stones alive. "These are songs that remind me of listening to the AM radio," says Mason. "Three minute blasts that bring back feelings of summer, heartbreak...all those good things."

Mason credits producer Jim Weeks (not the one from Little Big Wheel, though he's a talented bugger) as having a major effect on his new disc. "His relentless creativity is mind-boggling to me," says Mason. "Couldn't have done it without him. He knows the way I think and I know he knows this. "

He started his first band in Holyoke in 1966, calling it The Gladiators. Mason gobbled up records, and had been doing so for years, holding myself in his room listening to music for hours on end. From the late '60s through 1980, he played bass in a variety of bands in Western Massachusetts, including the Buck Rogers Movement, The Fourgone Conclusion, Seagull, The Sailcats and Signal. During that time, Mason has stockpiled quite a few songs of his own, and decided he needed an outlet for them. In the early '80s, he self-released at least five cassettes (yup, cassettes) and then later a single on his own Captivating Music label. His first full-length CD, Between Blue & Okay, came out in 1994 and 11 more followed. In 1985, he and Jim Armenti also started the Lonesome Brothers in 1985, producing seven CDs.

"Is that too many," says Mason. "Yikes."

Turning 60 next year, Mason has no plans to slow down on writing and recording. Already armed with 11 new tunes for his band to record, he's got the the framework and lyrics for 18 more. Mason appears solo at the Harvest Cafe in Hudson on Saturday, July 25 from 8-10 p.m. You can also find out more about Mason, and his band the Lonesome Brothers, at myspace.com/theraymasonband and myspace.com/lonesomebrothers.

Live Clips of the Cosby Sweaters at Junior's, July 2009

Club Notes, Thursday, July 16

Thursday, Sean Ryan sings at Beatnik's; Lisa Marie's All Shook Up at Nick's; Darkwor and Cursed for Eternity are among the acts for metal night at Ralph's; Worcester's Got Talent takes place at Gilrein's; and Sunlea shines at the Blackstone Tap.

Friday, Stuart Ferguson performs and Sweetwilliam Farms in Upton; Skullfunked headlines Chasers; The Chicken Slacks funk up Ralph's; Henry Gale is with White Mountains, Deep Fried Eagle and more at Spiritual Haze; Monkeyfish is with Barefoot Bob at the Kaz Bar; the Have Nots play a benefit for the West Boylston Arts Foundation at Goodale Park; New Ditty joins Social Suicide and Panther Lee Johnson at London Billiards; Brokedown Serenade joins the Revival Preachers and Sawmill at the Lucky Dog; Ken Tracy Jr. returns to JJ's; Bow Thayer and Perfect Trainwreck heads back to The Dive; Niki Luparelli and Dan Burke present the Speakeasy Combo at Nick's; Bret Talbert sings at Tom's Gourmet Marketplace; and Jug O Punch mixes it up at Fiddler's Green.

Saturday, the Matt Schwachman Band returns to the Irish Times; the Summer Slaughter Tour hits the Palladium; The Young Leaves fall at the Hotel Vernon; Owl Watcher joins rock for your face at Hotel Vernon; Ape Debris opens for Vultures at Ralph's; Chyldz Play rocks Chasers; Auntie Trainwreck pulls into Squire White's; the Red Riders head back to the Sahara Restaurant; New Pilot and Nude Black Glass teams up for a night of pop at Mill Street Brews; Treadwater's swimming at Beatnik's; Collin Raye and Restless Heart countrify Indian Ranch; and Crumb joins Ill Conceived and 16 Stitches at the Lucky Dog Music Hall.
Touched rocks Sakura Tokyo both weekend nights.

Other events:

Calliope Productions puts on Bye Bye Birdie through the weekend at its theater in Boylston.
Thursday, the Worcester Chamber Music Society puts on the Thayer Chamber Music Festival at Atlantic Union College.

Saturday morning, learn about Dragonflies in a program with the Massachusetts Audubon Society at Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary. It's Fire and Ice Day at Old Sturbridge Village, which means such things as a fire muster as well as homemade ice cream. The movie A Good Year shows for free at the Worcester Public Library.

On Sunday, the Art and Music Fest takes over Riverbend Farm in Uxbridge from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It features live music, vendors, food, face painting, kids stuff, karate and much much more. Admission, too, is free. The Oak Ridge Boys headline Indian Ranch. And there's jazz on the patio every week at the Castle Restaurant in Leicester. This weekend, it's Dick Odgren and Bob Simonelli. The 85th Romanian Festival takes place at St. Michael's in Southbridge.

Club Notes, Thursday, July 9

Thursday, Billy Claire is solo at the Piccadilly Pub in Marlboro; Sean Ryan is with Matt Bruce at Beatnik's; and Sarah Collett joins Grand Evolution at Chaser's.

Friday, Uncle Billy's Smokeouse is at Mechanics Hall, of all places, as part of the Wonderland Music Series, also including performances by Sam James, Skullfunked, The Gary Backstrom Band and Black River Sound; Tomorrow's World teams up with the Search and Rescue and Teamwork at the India Center in Shrewsbury; Sean Ryan sings at the Galway Bay; Bill McCarthy sings at Al Fresco in Holden; the Matt Schwachman Band is at Biagio's; Fergus brings Irish to the Fiddler's Green; Johnny Press stomps into Gilrein's; Your Move is a tribute to progressive rock, headlining Ralph's; Soulstice funks out with the Weight of Gravity; Jason James rocks Beatnik's for the first time; Never in Vegas rocks Jillian's; and The Flock is at Boston Billiards.

Saturday, it's the annual cancer benefit at the Singletary Rod and Gun Club with Rose Colored Glasses, Rock House Six and many more; Absense of the Sun joins Nova Project and more at the all-ages QVCC; No Alibi does cover tunes at Greendale's; Jerkus Circus livens up Ralph's; Revolver rocks Irish Times; the Boston Slang Band makes its PJ's Bar and Grille debut; Beatles for Sale is the act at the Grafton Summer Concert Series; Treadwater's swimming at the Nines; Andy Cummings sings tunes at Vincent's; Whalebone Farmhouse tries out Beatnik's; Identical Image is at Mint; and A Rising Eclipse headlines Tammany.

The New England Soul Revue does Friday and Saturday in the Atrium at Foxwoods.

Other events:

Batter Up! Peanuts at Bat showcases some of Charles Shultz's best baseball themed comics at the Worcester Historical Museum through August 8.

Tonight, Beatles for Sale is in the park – Elm Park, that is.

Among the many cruise nights around town is Friday nights at Sam's Club. Also Friday, Shakin' All Over does the Friday night concert series at Brookfield Common. The Worcester Jazz Orchestra hits the EcoTarium for the wondeful Jazz at Sunset series.

Saturday, the Big Dipper smothers City Hall Plaza with ice cream, in many varieties and brands – apparently Ayla Brown is performing at it, too. And of course Paulie's NOLA Jazz and Blues Festival takes place from noon to 11 p.m. at John and Son's Fairgrounds on Chandler Street. It features traditional New Orleans food, a Harpoon beer tent, vendors and performances by the Hurricane Horns, Henri Smith, River City Slim and the Zydeco Hogs, the Chris Fitz Band and Lisa Marie.