GO BOOM: Los Angeles reggae group Boom Shaka's latest album, Freedom Now!, crosses social concerns with hard-edged rock licks and R&B, all set against a hypnotic drum-based backbeat. It's a potent enough combination to get the group a spot on the same playbill as reggae legends Aswad, Black Uhuru, Burning Spear, Jimmy Cliff, Maxi Priest, Steel Pulse and the Wailers. To warm up for an upcoming tour with superstar Pato Banton, Boom Shaka plays The Rock at 9 p.m. Friday, August 2. Tickets are a measly $5, available at The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave. Call 629-9211 for more information. The Rock brings you more rastarific tunes with Israel Vibration at 9 p.m. Tuesday, August 6. Stricken by polio as children, this trio found strength in the faith of Rastafari and spread their gospel through traditional roots reggae. Tickets are $12 in advance, available at University Postal, Loco Records and 12 Tribes. SPIN CONTROL: For weeks, Tucsonans have been hauling up to Maricopa County to catch those three-ring rock circuses. Now Maricopa County comes to Tucson, in the form of Tempe band Spinning Jenny. While they carry traces of Robin Hitchcock, XTC and the early Beatles, Spinning Jenny has developed a heavier, more streamlined approach to the three-minute pop song--a style that seems to be catching on faster than endorsement deals for Kerri Strug. But here's the bummer: The band had no sooner released Piñata Full of Bees when the original drummer and guitarist quit. Nothing like a shake-up to send things right to hell. Well, after a year-long hiatus that included some re-grouping, the band is back on track. You can catch 'em on Friday, August 2, at the Chicago Bar, 5954 E. Speedway. Fellow Tempe tramps the Scones open the show at 9 p.m. Cover charge is $3. If you need to know more, call 748-8169. FOUL BALL: KXCI's Tucson Musicians' Showcase is taking it to the streets, hosting concerts as part of the Downtown Saturday Night Celebration on the first and third Saturdays of the month at Winsett Park on North Fourth Avenue. Here's how you play: Listen for the artists on the Monday Night Showcase on KXCI (That's 91.3 on your FM dial). Then, if you like what you heard, come on down and catch the band live the following Saturday nights at Winsett Park. The first concert features Al Foul & The Shakes from 7 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, August 3. Best of all, it's free! (But, of course, KXCI is always happy to accept a donation to keep things going.) CONGO LINE: The Rugburns, 35 Summers and Henry Electric shift into high gear at Club Congress, 311 E. Congress, at 9 p.m. Friday, August 2. Cover charge is $4. For information call 622-8848. THREE-ALARM FIRE: Yes, there is yet another of those corporate-sponsored festivals up in Phoenix this week: The Barnburner tour fires things up with headliner Joe Cocker, who was propelled to stardom nearly 30 years ago with his gravel-voiced take on "She Came In Through The Bathroom Window." He followed that up with a cover of the Box Tops' "The Letter" and his unique voice has kept his career on a steady course ever since. But if you ask us, the guy to see at Barnburner really is The Guy--as in living legend Buddy Guy. The inspiration to an entire generation of guitarists (folks like Robert Cray and Stevie Ray Vaughan), Guy perfected his licks as a session player at Chess Records in the '60s. But, as the Cat in the Hat once said, that is not all, no, that is not all: The Fabulous Thunderbirds, who shook the much-missed Rialto to the rafters earlier this year, will also be onstage. And be sure to get there early enough to catch The Radiators. According to sources who have seen 'em play, this New Orleans combo will clean the wax right out of your ears. And finally, there are The Gales Brothers (Eric, Eugene and Manuel), three southpaw guitar slingers who play their instruments upside down. The guitars start screamin' and wailin' at 5 p.m. Wednesday, August 7, at the Blockbuster Desert Sky Pavilion in Phoenix. Tickets are $17.50, $25 and $50 (without service charges), available in Tucson at vile Ticketmaster, located in Foley's Department Stores and Blockbuster Music on Stone Avenue at River Road. To charge by phone call 321-1000. If you wait 'til the last day, you can only score 'em at Desert Sky Pavilion. For more information call (602) 254-7200. Desert Sky Pavilion is on Encanto Boulevard, one-half mile north of I-10 between 75th and 83rd avenues. --Jennifer Murphy

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