The long weekend starts THURSDAY (the 3rd) with a 7 pm set from local singer/songwriter GREG LATO at Hot Topic in Providence Place Mall. He's touring the region behind his recent full-length debut Monday Morning Breakdown. Check the hellbent psychobilly lineup at Cat's on FRIDAY (the 4th) with TONY JONES & THE CRETIN 3, THE JONEE EARTHQUAKE BAND, and THE EGOS; call 401.722.0150 for details. Buy COMA COMA frontman Eric Sampson a Bud or three and he may reciprocate with a sick Built To Spill cover; catch 'em at the Penalty Box (401.331.8545) on SATURDAY (the 5th).
The free show of the year has to be the ROCKTUCKET BLOCK PARTY invading Main Street on SUNDAY (the 6th). Music starts at 4 pm with a sick lineup including pro-Bucket bands SENSITIVE HEARTS, CHINESE STARS, GIRL HAGGARD, WRONG REASONS, hometown lyricist CHACHI (who'll come out swinging after his abruptly-cut four-minute set at Foo Fest), and a special appearance by SAGE FRANCIS & B. DOLAN, among others. Admission is zero dollars, with plenty of food and brews on hand for purchase. The Pawtucket Armory is the rain location, so get down there — no excuses. Visit pawtucketartsfestival.org for more information. Another worthwhile Sunday freebie is happening at Club Hell with a Fall Rivuh invasion starring EDDIE & THE LOUVERS and DRUNK ROBB & THE SHOTS, while upstairs at Jerky's Bar (401.621.2244), locally-harvested wordsmiths BIG CITY BUMPUS (check out his debut Everything I Do is Badass), BIG RUSH, and META P rush the mic. And report to AS220 on WEDNESDAY (the 9th) for a midweek sludgefeast featuring Portland, Oregon, psych-pop quartet THE INTELLIGENCE, with supporting help from must-see locals THE RAM and MING TORO. Admission is $7 at the door; call 401.831.9327.
Related:
Rude awakening, Sugar-coated pop, anyone?, Springing ahead, More 
- Rude awakening
Coma Coma singer/bassist Eric Sampson brushes off the notion that Rhode Island's music community currently lacks quality acts.
- Sugar-coated pop, anyone?
With lines such as "chock-full of sunny melodies and intimate, introspective lyrics with bright, polished production," I clearly didn't stumble onto the next Jesus Lizard here.
- Springing ahead
When I asked Chris Daltry just where exactly his acclaimed quintet the 'mericans had been hiding out, the founding father of the rootsy rockers was quick to deflect any insinuation that the Providence group had been slacking.
- The shovel-ready lessons of the New Deal
Action Speaks!, AS220's always-engaging panel discussion series, is back. "So soon?" you ask. Why, yes.
- Into the darkness
The new release from Route .44, This is My America (Blue Radio Records), provides further insight into lead singer Ian "Lefty" Lacombe's affinity for the dark side, as the enigmatic southpaw guitarist delves even deeper than on the acclaimed 2'07 debut, Worthless Lessons .
- Labor Pains
With an economy in free fall, and popular anger mounting over bailout-mania, one might expect the labor movement to be front and center. But the streets are relatively quiet. And the nation seems as ambivalent as ever about unionism. There is, in short, plenty of fodder for discussion.
- Web-Slinger
Liz Collins's Doll Cave at AS220's Project Space (93 Mathewson Street, Providence, through May 23) drapes the gallery with loosely-knit walls that look like spider webs or giant white granny shawls.
- Write. Record. Gig. Repeat.
The Warren-based Propellers are yet another notable band putting in work for the Warren-based label 75OrLess Rec-ords, and their sophomore release, The Propellers: 2 , offers a gradual growth from their self-titled debut.
- Passion players
"If music is your passion, then promote it. Get people to your shows. I honestly think people don't push themselves enough."
- Funhouse
AS220’s exhibit “New Obstructions” is one of those right-on ideas that seem to come so naturally to the institution.
- Live through this
Sustainable living has, of course, long been a concern, but worries about global warming have pushed it to the forefront. And increasingly made it the subject of art.
- Less
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New England Music News
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