SATURDAY
Some 300 rockabilly fansand there were plenty more left out in the coldpacked Whitlow’s on Wilson in Arlington back in January to see the return of Billy Hancock and the Tennessee Rockets. Not that Hancock ever really went away: The Arlington nativewhose rock ‘n’ roll legacy has been lauded by fans and press around the worldhad simply traded in his ringing twang and throbbing backbeat for the cooler, more serious tones of his No Neck Jazz Band. But apparently the rockabilly fever has returned. Hancock and those very same RocketsBob “Newscaster” Swenson on guitar, Bryan Smith on slap bass, and Jeff Lodsun on drumswill spread “The Boogie Disease” tonight in the dance-friendly bandstand hall at the Birchmere. The band will rip through a set that will include “I Can’t Be Satisfied,” “Knock-Kneed Nellie,” “Rockabilly Fever,” “Rootie Tootie,” “Stay Awhile” (all of which are featured on the band’s latest, Shakin’ That Rockabilly Fever, which finely documents its career), and other blisteringly paced, two-minute-plus rockers. Hancock’s also worked up a Howlin’ Wolf cover just to keep the live set freshwhich, after 21 years on the bench, isn’t such a bad idea. Catch Hancock and the Rockets at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, April 7, at the Birchmere, 3701 Mount Vernon Ave., Alexandria. $15. (703) 549-7500. (Buzz McClain)