Slaves to the grind
The on-again, off-again metal merger of Soundgarden’s singer and the rapper-less Rage Against the Machine rated as one of the bigger disappointments of last year: as with AOL/Time-Warner, neither side seemed positioned to be able to take advantage of the other’s strengths. Even among diehard fans of both groups, the consensus on Audioslave’s homonymous debut was apologetically lukewarm — which means the group’s upcoming first tour could well be their last. It’s for that reason — and because Rage, at least, were always better live — that we find ourselves, against our better judgment, looking forward to Audioslave’s two-night stand at Avalon, 15 Lansdowne Street, this March 3 and 4. Tickets, at $29.75, will go fast, so you’ll want to be by the phone when they’re put on sale this Saturday at 10 a.m. The number is (617) 423-NEXT.
Fully baked
A veteran of such cinema classics as Half Baked (which he wrote as well as starred in), Undercover Brother, and Screwed, Dave Chappelle has carved out a career as the funny black dude who shines in movies featuring washed-up Saturday Night Live stars. Eventually Comedy Central connected the dots and gave him his own weekly half-hour variety/skit program, Chappelle’s Show, which debuted last week. He’s taken the opportunity to launch a national theater tour — such things require a title, and this one’s is "Dave Chappelle Is Blackzilla" — and it will end on April 13 here in Boston at the Orpheum, 1 Hamilton Place. Tickets are $26 to $39.50; call (617) 931-2000.
Well-heeled at Harvard
Shoes have been around a long time. The thrill of going barefoot quickly gave way to the agony of de feet, and all over the world, human beings began casting about for ways to get stylish footwear without paying full retail. Thus it was in the time of the pharaohs, and thus it will always be. Opening February 6, a new exhibit entitled "These Shoes Were Made for . . . Walking?" empties the closets of Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of Archæology and Ethnography for a walk though 60 pairs of shoes from around the world, including very early versions of the platform heel. The exhibit runs through February of next year; the museum is at 11 Divinity Avenue in Cambridge. Call (617) 496-1027.
Soul survivor
Having invented the ’60s-soul-worshipping mod-punk dialectic that’s all the rage with today’s skinny, stylish young indie boys, Paul Weller is embarking on his first full-band US tour in six years. That’s about how long it’s been since he released a new album here, though he’s continued to make chart-topping solo records in his native England. His new Illumination did the same and is enjoying a friendly critical response here, where it’s just been released by the indie Yep Roc. And if that isn’t enough carrot, consider that he’ll be sticking a few favorites by the Style Council and the Jam onto his set list for the trek. The tour shows up at Avalon on February 22, and tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m.; call (617) 423-NEXT.
