*radio 104 has been giving away a lot of tickets recently for the sold out RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS and FOO FIGHTERS show coming up at the Mullins Center at UMass, which had for a little while been the closest date for that tour. Now the bill will be coming into Connecticut, with a show set for Thursday, July 13, at The Meadows in Hartford. In addition to the Chili Peppers and Foo Fighters, there will also be a set by Red Hot Blonde; showtime is 8 pm.

Tickets will be going on sale Saturday, April 1 (really! this isn’t an April Fool’s joke!), at 10 am. Prices are $42 for seats within the pavilion and $32 for the lawn area. While the Meadows bos office isn’t yet open full-time for the season, those of you who will be in the Hartford area Saturday morning can visit the box office this weekend for tickets between 10 am and 2 pm Saturday. Tickets for this show can also be charged through tickets.com, either through the firm’s Web site or over the phone at 860/422-0000.

*It’s official: Tickets for a July 8 Connecticut concert on the KISS 1973-2000 Farewell Tour will be going on sale this weekend, too. The band, along with special guests TED NUGENT and SKID ROW (an interesting combination…), will be at the Meadows Music Theatre in Hartford for the early July concert. Tickets range from $35 to $85 apiece, and like the Chili Peppers/Foo Fighters show, availability will be through in-person sales at the venue’s box office or via charges at tickets.com.

After the Oscars broadcast Sunday night, I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet that Pepsi is a major sponsor of this tour.

*Feeling a bit nostalgic for the rock boys of the 1980s? GREAT WHITE is in Waterbury tonight (March 31), headlining at City Limits. Opening is C.C. DeVille, of POISON fame.

*KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD is returning to the state in April, with a show scheduled for Sunday, April 23, at The Webster Theatre in Hartford. Also on the club’s schedule are shows by THE FLAMING LIPS, April 19; BLOODHOUND GANG, April 20; ACOUSTIC JUNCTION, April 21; and MAX CREEK, April 22.

Until next week, I’ll be seeing you... on the road.

Questions and comments should be sent to Shannon Hicks, c/o Bee Publishing Co., 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown 06470, or shannon@thebee.com. Include a phone number for confirmation, please. If you don’t have a stamp or a piece of paper or a writing utensil that works, give me a call! The phone number at the office is 426-3141. Shows listed on the calendar at club locations are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

 

UPCOMING CONCERTS

MARCH 31 — Sol Dog at Classic Rock Brew Pub, Danbury; The Benjamins at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Slackjaw at Laszlo’s Arts Café, Monroe, with two openers TBA; Shakedown at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages), Silent Majority opening; Spontaneous Combustion at Luigi’s Nitelife Café, Danbury.

APRIL 1 — Toybox at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Aztek Trip at The Webster Theatre, Hartford (all ages), Grey Cell Green opening; Zero Chance and Malpraktis at Laszlo’s Arts Café, Monroe;

April 2 — Pork Tornado at Toad’s Place, New Haven (featuring John Fishman of Phish; all ages show);

April 4 — Shannon Curfman at Toad’s Place (all ages);

April 5 — Mighty Purple at The Hawk’s Nest/Univ of Hartford;

April 6 — Tower of Power and Average White Band at Toad’s Place, New Haven; Phil Lesh & Friends at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford (SOLD OUT);

April 7 — Point of View at Laszlo’s Arts Café (CD release party), also 5 Finger Discount;

April 8 — Dave DeAngelis & Friends at Newtown Coffee House, Newtown; The Peacocks at Tune Inn, New Haven;

April 11 — Ben Folds Five at Uhartford’s Sports Center, West Hartford;

April 12 — Creed at New Haven Coliseum, Sevendust and UPO opening; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young at Hartford Civic Center;

April 13 — Mighty Purple at Husky Blues, Storrs;

April 14 — The Radiators at Toad’s Place; Hour Zero and Adva at Laszlo’s Arts Café;

April 15 — Royal Steel Pan Band at Laszlo’s Arts Café;

April 16 — moe at Toad’s Place (all ages);

April 18 — Bob Weir and Rob Wasserman at University of Hartford’s Lincoln Theatre (performance is by the duo, not their band Ratdog);

April 19 — The Flaming Lips at The Webster Theatre, Hartford;

April 20 —The String Cheese Incident at University of Hartford’s Lincoln Theatre; Sleepy La Beef at Tune Inn; Mighty Purple at Equator Club, Manchester; The Bloodhound Gang at The Webster Theatre;

April 21 — Amnesty Underground and Orange Glow at Laszlo’s Arts Cafe; Acoustic Junction at The Webster Theatre;

April 22 —Electric Mayhem and Hash Clyde at Laszlo’s Arts Café; Max Creek at The Webster Theatre;

April 23 — radio 104 Modern Rock the Earth Day at Bushnell Park, Hartford (band line-up TBA, concert all afternoon, rain or shine); Kenny Wayne Shepherd at The Webster Theatre;

April 27 — Dick Dale at Toad’s Place;

April 28 —Popa Chubby at Towne Crier Café, Pawling, NY; The Jerry Garcia Band at The Webster Theatre; Snotty Sox, Circle Cindy and Flip You For Real at Laszlo’s Arts Café; 2 Skinnee J’s at Toad’s Place (all ages), Intensify opening;

April 29 — Shadablu and Backwash at Laszlo’s Arts Cafe.

 

MAY 3 —The Vibrators at Tune Inn, New Haven;

May 4 — Mustard Plug and Edna’s Goldfish at Tune Inn;

May 5 — Spring Heeled Jack USA at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages);

May 7 — Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen at Towne Crier Café, Pawling, NY;

May 11 — “Weird Al” Yankovic at The Bushnell, Hartford;

May 12 — Max Creek at Toad’s Place (all ages);

May 14 — Nine Inch Nails at Hartford Civic Center, A Perfect Circle opening;

May 18 —Gunga Din at Tune Inn;

May 19 — Simple Jim at Toad’s Place, Ink opening.