Pretty hot December

Jonny Davy of Job for a Cowboy at Palladioum earlier this year (Sam McLennan photo)

Man, there really is no rest for the wicked. Usually this time of year there are piddling shows and, at best, opportunities for up-and-comers to make an impression.

But this year it’s almost worth cancelling the holidays to make room for more bands to work, since nobody seems all the interested in kicking back. The big catch this week is Job for a Cowboy’s return to the Palladium in Worcester, MA.  JFAC, who came through the city with the Summer Slaughter tour, this time headlines the upstairs room on Saturday, Dec. 15, and brings along Cephalic Carnage. The show starts at 4:30 p.m. and includes Legion, Conforza, Sexcrement, The Summoned, Carnivora, and Your Pain is Enduring.

Marc Rizzo, guitarist from Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy, brings his solo band to Club X, 681 Valley St., Providence R.I., on Friday, Dec. 14. The show also features Fear Reprisal, Black Mass (who, as video above demonstrates, just kicked ass as a last-minute addition to a recent Metal Thursday bill at Ralph’s in Worcester), The Curse of Humanity, Necris, and Needlework.  Show time is 7:30 p.m.

Speaking of  Metal Thursday, not only will there be a regularly scheduled event this week but also a show on Saturday, Dec. 15 marking booker Chris’s birthday. The Dec. 13 show has Xenosis, Ramius, Scalpel, and Plague for the Cure. The birthday bash brings in Shroud of Bereavement, Sonic Pulse, Replacire, and Seren. Both shows get going around 9 ish and happen at Ralph’s Diner, 148 Grove St., Worcester, MA.

Within Ruins and Fit for an Autopsy team at 6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15,  at the Webster Theater, 31 Webster St., Hartford, CT. Diecast, Dead by Wednesday, Rosalia, Flood of Arcadia, and Tides of Time are at The Elevens, 140 Pleasant St., Northampton, MA, for a 7 p.m. outing.

And sure it has bounced around a couple of venues, but Merry Rockfest is set to go Friday, Dec. 14, at the Franco-American Club, 592 South St., Athol. The music starts at 4:30 p.m. and the all-ages event features a shitload of bands including Run for Your Guns, Scare Don’t Fear, Shot Heard Around the World, Lydia Ayer, and others. Remember, don’t truck to Gardener for this one.

All this to get you to the end of the world, and there’s plenty after it as well.