Sometimes the nicest guys play the meanest music. The members of Corrosion of Conformity, a band whose name alone might send Tipper Gore into spasm, are so congenial they make St. Ian MacKaye look like Satan’s drinking buddy. From their ’80s amalgamation of punk, thrash, and metal to more recent politically oriented crossover-rock, they’ve never been able to hide that they’re nice Southern boys from Raleigh, N.C.: No matter how many times Pepper Keenan sings, “I won’t call on the angels, no/Beating on the line as I turn to amputate…/I’m bleeding on you…,” his twang still confesses, “I love my mama, my country, and a nice, warm bowl of grits.” Opening is supergroup Handsome, whose members claim to be nice-looking, I suppose. With representatives of Helmet (tall), Quicksand (good hair), Cro-Mags (old and experienced), and Iceburn (straight edge: no fun at parties) on hand, a girl can only hope they live up to their name. At 7:30 p.m. at the 9:30 Club, 815 V St. NW. $10. (202) 393-0930. (Elisa Nader)