ROCK

Tracy Nelson and Mother Earth; --that's sure a blast from the past--are at Sandy's in Beverly starting Wednesday. Nelson's own style has changed little since the days of "Livid' With the Animals," in that the earth mother theme is played up: she wears long dresses, her full voice moans for sheer bulk--the images are supposed to be security, ripeness. Nothing whines and the come-on is not overly sexual; on certain numbers, particularly when her still-mediocre band keeps mum and lets the piano alone back her up, the sound is enveloping and strong. It's refreshing to have a female vocalist who isn't easily thrust into categories, especially weak and wispy ones. But Nelson is limited potential at best even so, and if a performance last spring was any indication, she just doesn't give a shit after all these years. She growled at the audience, growled at the band, and ran through a set that felt like she did it a hundred times a month. "Back To Tennessee" was an okay song; there were a couple of soulful Redding-like numbers that she steeped in; but it was a poor show. Maybe it was only an off night.

How Banks Fall. The bluegrass band with the best name in the world is playing the Zircon on Beacon Street, at the Cambridge-Somerville line, on Thursday. Wheslstrew appears there tonight and Wednesday.