Date: Fri 18-Dec-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNON

Quick Words:

Playback-Obre-Hawley-Mohegan

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD/SHANNON HICKS

An interesting show will be taking place at Towne Crier Cafe in Pawling next

weekend. THE DUKE ROBILLARD BLUES BAND, led by the founder of ROOMFUL OF

BLUES, will be performing Sunday, December 27, beginning at 8 pm. Mr

Robillard's latest release is called Dangerous Place, and it is his latest

exploration of what he calls African-American "root music."

Showtime for the Blues Band is 8 pm, and tickets are $20.

Guitarist PETER OBRE will be at the Mary Hawley Inn in Newtown this weekend.

The Newtown resident, who usually performs during the inn's brunches on

Sunday, has a couple of evening performances scheduled. Mr Obre will be at the

inn on Saturday, December 19, and Wednesday, December 23. He usually starts

his evening performances around 9.

Also this Saturday night, the saxophone player DAVE KOZ will be in Connecticut

with his touring "Smooth Jazz Christmas" show. Mr Koz released his holiday

album, called December Makes Me Feel This Way, in October 1997. Appropriately,

the album gives a jazzy spin to some holiday classics, including "White

Christmas," "I'll Be Home For the Holidays" and "Winter Wonderland," among

others, while also presenting original songs like the title track.

Mr Koz has gathered up three of his friends this year for the aforementioned

four-week tour. Along with Mr Koz, the tour includes the pianist David Benoit,

singer and songwriter Brenda Russell and acoustic guitarist Peter White.

Saturday evening, the "Smooth Jazz Christmas" tour will be visiting Mohegan

Sun Casino's Wolf Lounge, in Uncasville.

The Newtown band PLAYBACK announced this week the date for its CD Release

Party. The band -- Bob Evans, David Goodwick, Joshua Swetts and Paul Tofincho,

all of whom live in Newtown -- just released its first album, called

Perception Is Reality, and will be celebrating this fact Friday, January 22,

at The Fireside Inn in Newtown. Doors open at 7:30, and all ages are welcome

to the event.

In addition to a set or two by the host band, a few younger bands in Newtown

will also be performing. Playback will be giving away copies of its CD as door

prizes during the night.

Cost to get into the party is $5 per person, which will go directly to Newtown

Youth Services, Inc. There will be light refreshments included in the price of

admission; a cash bar will be available as well. Tickets will be available at

a number of Newtown locations, including C.H. Booth Library, Newtown Youth

Services, Drug Center Pharmacy and Newtown Savings Bank offices, as well as at

the door that night.

Tuxedo Junction in Danbury will be open Christmas night next week. On Friday,

December 25, the club will be opening for a show by FLIRT. THE ZOO returns to

the Ives Street club the following night.

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 18 -- The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; The Clancy Tradition at

Towne Crier Cafe, Pawling, NY;

December 19 -- Peter Obre at the Mary Hawley Inn, Newtown; Dave Koz at Mohegan

Sun Casino, Uncasville ("The Smooth Jazz Christmas Tour," with pianist David

Benoit, singer & songwriter Brenda Russell & acoustic guitarist Peter White);

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

Haven;

December 22 -- Vicious Circle at Toad's Place, XFactorX and Denied Existance

opening;

December 23 -- Peter Obre at Mary Hawley Inn, Newtown;

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

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

Expo: Mokijam, Ricky Alan Draughn, and The Russ Becker Quartet at Toad's

Place;

December 28 -- Dream Theater at Toad's Place;

December 29 -- Mighty Purple at Toad's Place (all ages), Hot Rod Circuit

opening;

December 31 -- The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction; New Year's Eve Celebration at Town

Crier Cafe, featuring Bill Perry Blues Band, Todd Charles and Von Em, 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 7 -- The Hornets at Toad's Place, New Haven (all ages);

January 8 -- Gargantua Soul at Toad's Place (Opus' Birthday Bash), 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, Prezens, 13 O'Clock and

Link opening; The Nields at Towne Crier Cafe;

January 16 -- John Hammond at Towne Crier Cafe;

January 21 -- Atmosfear at Toad's Place (all ages);

January 22 -- Playback CD release party at The Fireside Inn, Newtown

(performances by Newtown band Playback, also few addt'l Newtown bands,

proceeds benefit Newtown Youth Services); Max Creek at Toad's Place, 4:20 and

Carnival Dogs opening;

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

January 29 -- Simple Jim at Toad's Place, Paradise Vendors and Eclectic

Nobody's opening;

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

The Palace Theatre, New Haven.