Masshole rap-metal rowdies Nullset are finally releasing their homonymous major-label debut on the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal label. The release parties begin this weekend: things kick off tonight (July 19) at the Palladium (508-797-9696) in Worcester with Nothingface, Eastcide, and Dog Fashion Disco. Friday at 6 p.m. Nullset do Axis (617-262-2437) in Boston — tickets are being given away free with the purchase of the disc at Newbury Comics. And on Saturday the band hit Jarrod’s Place Sports Bar (508-222-8878) in Attleboro with Drop 360, 7th Rail Crew, and Dr. Bewkenheimer.

Oh, brother, where art thou? Well, this weekend, thou headest to the mammoth four-day, 25th annual Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, today (July 19) through Sunday at Rothvos Farm (888-946-8495) in Ancramdale, New York. Performers include Ricky Skaggs, Doc Watson, David Grisman, Jerry Douglas, the Del McCoury Band, and Nickel Creek, plus a reunion of the Whites.

The land of jam and related hippie-ish musical endeavors takes center stage this week. Phil Lesh and friends join Bob Weir’s Ratdog at the Tweeter Center (617-931-2000) in Mansfield on Friday and at Meadows Music (860-548-7370) in Hartford on Saturday. The String Cheese Incident hit the FleetBoston Pavilion (617-931-2000) in Boston on Sunday. An acoustic version of Hot Tuna do a House of Blues–sponsored boat cruise (617-492-BLUE) on Friday, then play the Iron Horse (413-586-8686) in Northampton on Wednesday. And the stomach-stapled John Popper leads Blues Traveler into the State Theatre (207-780-8265) in Portland next Thursday, July 26.

Girl group break up. Singer launches solo career. Solo career gets pretty good, then suffers commercial slump. Years pass. Girl group get back together. Result? Well, in variations on that same script, we got two pretty damn good albums: God Bless the Go-Go’s and God Bless the Blake Babies, each of which is better than anyone had a right to expect. Indie darling Juliana Hatfield, who’s been pretty prolific lately, came up with some of her best stuff in the company of old bandmates Freda Love and John Strohm. Boy muse Evan Dando pitched in too. The Blake Babies are doing a few East Coast dates including Saturday at the Middle East (617-864-EAST) in Cambridge. The Go-Go’s — with a little help from boy muse Billie Joe Armstrong — made, believe it or not, a vintage Go-Go’s album. They’re at the FleetBoston Pavilion tonight (July 19).

Issue Date: July 19 - 26, 2001