Mike D’s Top 5 Can’t Miss Shows of March

1. Sunday, March 4: O Say Can You Sing?; 11am to 3pm; Free; All ages; The Warwick Mall. There’s something for everyone at the Warwick Mall, and on this occasion, we have local singers auditioning to sing the national anthem at this season’s upcoming Pawtucket Red Sox games. With Fergie’s recent “alternative” rendition of the song, the anthem is a hot topic around the water coolers. Gamblers almost never remember their wins, but they never forget their bad beats. We as a society don’t often remember great renditions, but we never forget the terrible ones. Fergie, Rosanne, and my personal favorite, R. Kelly (Youtube search it for all of its glorious hand clapping), stay with society through the annals of time. So be careful where you take your rendition of the the anthem; I am thinking about going with dry erase score board. What time does the bar in Buffalo Wild Wings open?

2. Saturday, March 10: Murder By Death; 8pm; Free show; 21+ only; Wolf Den Bar at Mohegan Sun. Road trip! It’s been a minute since Murder By Death have floated around the southern New England way. If you aren’t familiar with the band, I would describe their sound as indie orchestral Americana macabre. I don’t think I can name another band that fits into that genre, so it’s a small party. If you haven’t heard them before, I recommend starting with their 2006 record In Bocca Al Lupo. The band is tremendous live, and definitely worthy of checking out, and in this case it’s free! See you at the craps table.

3. Wednesday, March 14: Crazytown; 6:30pm doors; $12 advance / $15 day of; All ages; Alchemy, 71 Richmond St, PVD. Crazytown playing Providence in 2018 — what a time to be alive. Will they show up, and what will be left of them? It’s a fair question; last year they were scheduled to play in Attleboro and only half the band showed up. It’s been quite a journey, from being a band that sold 1.5 million copies of their debut in 2000 to half showing up to Attleboro. I saw they were playing SXSW last year, and was so surprised they were still at it I had to check it out. I laughed, I cried … on second thought I am pretty sure I only laughed. I love Alchemy, worst case scenario is they don’t show up and I spend $5 on video games.

4. Saturday, March 24: BODEGA BOYS Live Ft. DESUS NICE & THE KID MERO; 7pm doors / 8pm show; $28; All ages; The Strand Ballroom & Theatre, 79 Washington St, PVD. Television programming is “No New Friends” for me.  I have my stories, and I am not really pursuing new ones. I would rather read. There is one exception; however, and it’s Viceland’s “Desus & Mero.” The show is irreverent, starkly honest and drop-dead hilarious. They roast the news and popular videos in a way most millennials want to hear it: matter of fact and no holds barred. No topic is too taboo or trivial. Will it be stand-up or just roasting of each other and everyone in the room? I am not sure, but I will be there with bells on.

5. Saturday, March 31: Kool Keith; 8pm doors / 9pm show; $18 advance / $20 day of; All ages;  The Met, 1005 Main St, Pawtucket. Kool Keith is not only my favorite rapper of all time, but also maybe my favorite musical visionary. He was there in hip-hop’s infancy, being a founding member of the Ultramagnetic MCs in the Bronx in the early ’80s.  And in the ’90s, when hip-hop was taking itself way too seriously in clothing and subject matter, Kool Keith was a breath of fresh air by pushing the boundaries. He brought the flashy and savvy personas Black Elvis, Dr. Dooom and the critically acclaimed Dr. Octagon. There may never be a man as esoteric in hip-hop as Keith ever again. I once caught him in South Boston, and the opening acts were metal band Cave In and a sex show, including whips and women hanging upside down from the ceiling. With Keith, it’s always both unexpected and a spectacle.

Also check out: Mar 1 — Lucero @ The Met; Mar 1 — Jeezy, Tee Grizzley @ The Strand; Mar 3 — Jonathan Richman @ The Met; Mar 3 — Soja, Nahko @ The Strand; Mar 4 — Motionless In White, Every Time I Die; Mar 7 — CupcakKe; Mar 9 — Godspeed You Black Emperor @Colubmus Theatre; Mar 17 — Miguel @ The Strand; Mar 17 — Minibeast; Mar 23 — Circa Survive @ The Strand; Mar 24 — Lux Lives @ Pop; Mar 30 — Mallett Brothers Band @ The Ocean Mist; Mar 30 — Providence Tattoo & Music Fest with Hatebreed @ Fete; Mar 31 — Bleachers, Charly Bills @ The Strand