Date: Fri 04-Dec-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNON

Quick Words:

Oakdale-Playback-Bandwick

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD/SHANNON HICKS

After the tickets for the band's March 28 concert sold out so quickly last

month, THE ROLLING STONES decided to add another date to their itinerary. So

now the band will also be performing on Monday, March 29, at the Hartford

Civic Center. Tickets for the new show will be on sale Saturday, December 5,

at 10 am, through TicketMaster charge lines and outlets. Costs are again

ranging from $40.50 to $126 apiece, and Goo Goo Dolls will again be opening.

Good luck.

It's never too early to start thinking about New Year's Eve plans, especially

when Christmas is just three weeks away.

The Towne Crier in Pawling, NY, will be welcoming the new year with a lot of

music. The cafe's 26th annual New Year's Eve Celebration will feature THE BILL

PERRY BLUES BAND, TODD CHARLES, and VON EM, with a special appearance expected

by STEVE KATZ, of The Blues Project and BS&T.

Tickets are $100 per person, which includes a five-course dinner from 7-10 pm,

a bottle of champagne per couple, and the entertainment. (If you'd like to do

just the show only, which begins at 10 pm, and stick around for the midnight

champagne toast, tickets are available for $45). Early reservations are

suggested for two reasons: one, this is a pretty popular event at the cafe;

and two, the Towne Crier is a pretty tiny place, so it isn't going to take too

long to fill the available seats to capacity.

The following day, THE McKRELLS will bring their blend of Celtic, American

folk and bluegrass to the cafe for a New Year's Day (evening) wake-up call to

1999. Showtime is 9 pm, and tickets are $15.

The Oakdale has a continuously busy schedule this month. On Monday morning,

Nancy Aborn was broadcasting live from the lobby of the Wallingford theatre

when a number of theatre shows went on sale ( Fame , February 16-21; Jekyll &

Hyde , April 13-16; and The Wizard of Oz , with Mickey Rooney, April 22-May

2). In addition, there was also the new availability of tickets for BILL

COSBY, August 6, and of course, a concert. THE MOODY BLUES will return to

Connecticut on March 17.

Tickets for the venue's next concert, NATALIE MERCHANT, are still available.

Ms Merchant, who is a wonderful performer to see live, returns to the state

December 10.

The Newtown band PLAYBACK is actively looking for someone to play keyboards

with the group when they perform live. The band was originally going to be

simply a studio project, but now has a CD that's about to be released and is

ready to start playing shows. David Goodwick is the band's bass player, Joshua

Swetts is the guitarist, Bob Evans is vocalist and guitarist, and Paul

Tofinchio is the percussionist.

Playback's CD, Perception is Reality , will be released next month during a

release party at The Fireside Inn in Newtown. Details on the party and the

band itself will be forthcoming in a full feature later this month in "Enjoy."

Keyboard players interested in learning more details right away should contact

David Goodwick at 426-1267 x102 or write to bandwick@goodwick.com.

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

Questions and comments concerning "On The Road" (or anything music related)

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! 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

DECEMBER 4 -- Hole at the O'Neill Center, Danbury; Maniac at Tuxedo Junction,

Danbury; Shakedown at Toad's Place, New Haven, Giggle Juice and Tyme Peace

opening; The Tragically Hip at the Webster Theatre, Hartford (all ages);

December 5 -- Peat Moss at Tuxedo Junction; Buddy Guy at Toad's Place (early

show, check on start time), Wes Cunningham opening; Rick Danko at Towne Crier

Cafe, Pawling, NY, Too Human opening;

December 6 -- Commander Cody & His Lost Airmen at Towne Crier Cafe;

December 8 -- Morbid Angel at Toad's Place (all ages), Scapegoat and Evilution

opening;

December 9 -- Billy Joel at Hartford Civic Center (rescheduled from September,

tickets honored);

December 10 -- Natalie Merchant at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford, Nancy

McKeown opening;

December 12 -- Brooks Williams at Night Lights Coffeehouse (United Methodist

Church), Norwalk; Tuck & Patti at Towne Crier Cafe;

December 13 -- Madball and Turmoil at Toad's Place (all ages), Payback and

Rev6Eight opening;

December 18 -- The Clancy Tradition at Towne Crier Cafe;

December 20 -- Marion Meadows at Toad's Place (annual Christmas show);

December 26 -- Aztec Two-Step at Towne Crier Cafe, Devonsquare opening;

December 27 -- Duke Robillard Blues Band at Towne Crier Cafe;

December 29 -- Mighty Purple at Toad's Place (all ages);

December 31 -- New Year's Eve Celebration featuring Bill Perry Blues Band,

Todd Charles and Von Em at Town Crier Cafe, Pawling, NY, special appearance by

Steve Katz (The Blues Project); Max Creek at the CT Expo Center, Hartford,

Sassagrass opening.

JANUARY 1 -- The McKrells at Town Crier Cafe, Pawling, NY;

January 8 -- Gargantua Soul at Toad's Place (Opus' Birthday Bash), New Haven,

Candiria opening; Chris Smither at Towne Crier Cafe;

January 9 -- Treblehook at Morris Coffee House; Livingston Taylor at Towne

Crier Cafe, Christian Bauman opening;

January 14 -- D.R.I. at Toad's Place (all ages);

January 15 -- Darik & The Funbags at Toad's Place; The Nields at Towne Crier

Cafe;

January 16 -- John Hammond at Towne Crier Cafe;

January 22 -- Max Creek at Toad's Place;

January 26 -- Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Toad's Place;

January 29 -- Simple Jim at Toad's Place;

January 30 -- Fabulous Farquar, Eight to the Bar and Galvanized Jazz Band at

The Palace Theatre, New Haven.