Some shows you just don’t want to have happen yet because you want the fliers to stay on the telephone poles longer. So it is with the latest photocopy touting The Modern Madcaps, who got a friend (known only as “Harvey”) to draw all the band’s members as big-eyed cartoon characters.

“I know, it’s only a flier and it should be like an album cover,” quoth MM drummer “Katnip.” To which bassist Audrey hopefully adds, “Maybe it will be.” Alas, the other half the band, purposefully sluggish guitarist Tommy and speed-rapping vocalitst Moe, are due to graduate—from high school!—next month, leaving the band’s future in doubt.

Post-Modern Madcaps, perhaps?

“We’re working on something. We’re obsessed with keeping something together,” Katnip klaims.

He’s making a joke—we once described the band, not altogether positively, as “obsessed and overwhelming.” One set had them pasting polka dots all over the Bullfinch stage, then doing an entire set of songs about dots. Another time, their “money set” had them spilling bucketfuls of play money out into the audience.

But we’d be the last to want them to burn out altogether. Their cartoon energy is more needed than ever in our currently oh-so-serious scene. Hold onto that poster art, pals.

Kat and Aud, by the way, won’t tip as to whether this Friday’s show at Hamilton’s will have an aesthetic concept, or what it might be. Also unverified—whether this could be the Modern Madcap’s final set ever. We’d ask Tommy and Moe, but they’re not talking to us anymore.

Less decorous gigs in the offing: Dollaire’s has a dance party with Hot Stuff and Spirit of ’76 and Magic Master, with Black Cat doing an early set in the back lounge for the really old class-reunion cretins. Sounds like a crowded line-up for a dance party, no? But we’re told that Spirit of ’76 and Magic Master are basically the same band, only one’s got a disco set and the other does Motown.

At the Bullfinch: Call it solo indie pop if you wish, but some of the old-timers in town it will seem awfully like old-school acoustic folk. Short sets by Captain Flower, Pirana, Tiger Boy, Jack Q. Frost and ringleader Royal Roy…. Wednesday, Hamilton’s may not have realized they booked a hardcore show, but they kind of did, starring The Sad Sacks and featuring up-and-coming cuththroats Boy’s Ranch and Stumbo. It’s a basement show gone bigtime…

Before that Sad Stumbo Rancho round-up, have dinner across the street at the Blazing Scarab Asian restaurant, where The Ghostly Trio are trying to start a midweek houseband jazz tradition. Don’t know ‘em? Oh, but you do—Stand-up bassist “Stretch” Fusso is from the same Fusso family that gave us The Wendys, pianist “Fats” spent time in Scare School, and percussionist Lazo is still one of The Uncles….