*Sandy Hook native J.D. HILL will return to Mocha Coffee House with his "impassioned brand of classic/indie rock vocals and funky guitar" to open this weekend. J.D. will be at 3 Glen Road on Friday night, performing from 8 to 10 pm.

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Oct 24, 2008 12:00 am

*Sandy Hook native J.D. HILL will return to Mocha Coffee House with his âimpassioned brand of classic/indie rock vocals and funky guitarâ to open this weekend. J.D. will be at 3 Glen Road on Friday night, performing from 8 to 10 pm.

SCOTT PARKER will host an open stage rock-folk-blues covers on Saturday night. All musicians are invited to join Scott for the October 25 event, also running from 8 to 10.

Then for Halloween, when youâre done dodging all the kids (and overgrown kids) in costume on Main Street, swing into Mocha for a Halloween-dedicated show by INFRASONIC (nÃ©e Will Lindsay). Will is planning another of his acoustic rock with folk, new wave, blues and psychedelic sounds all mixed together for October 31.

*The Webster up in Hartford has a handful of shows coming up theyâre particularly excited about, including SARA BAREILLES and MARC BROUSSARD on November 5; PUDDLE OF MUDD with Red, Ashes Divide and Tempered Cast on November 18; ANI DiFRANCO on November 24 (her first time at the theater); GAVIN DeGRAW on December 5; and SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS two nights later.

In the Websterâs Underground, ERIC HUTCHINSON will be stopping by while on his first solo tour for a December 6 show.

Additional information on these and all Webster shows is available at WebsterTheater.com, where tickets can also be purchased.

*TOWER OF POWER will be playing Mohegan Sunâs Wolf Den on November 7, 8 and 9, and The Palace Theater in Waterbury on Saturday, November 13.

Showtimes at Mohegan Sun are 8 pm for the first two shows (Friday and Saturday), and then 7 pm for the third show on Sunday. Admission is free for these shows.

Tickets for the Waterbury show, which will also include a set by AVERAGE WHITE BAND, are $40 and available through the Palaceâs box office; call 203-755-4700. A $75 VIP ticket for the Waterbury concert includes a pre-show party with food from DâAmelios; call the phone number above for details about those tickets.

Well known in the â70s for tunes such as âWhat is Hip?â and âYouâre Still a Young Man,â Tower of Power is experiencing a renaissance, touring most of every year and reportedly packing venues in the United States, the Pacific Rim, and all over Europe with its audience of new and old fans. Joined by singer Larry Braggs, who founding members Emilio Castillo described as âthe best singer weâve had since the 70sâ (to which Lenny Williams probably says âouch!â), the group released the studio album Oakland Zone on Or Music back in 2003, and have started work on a new album which will be covers of classic soul hits.

Itâs hard to say what the November shows will include â new music not yet released, perhaps, but even those will be familiars â but ToP shows are always good, as anyone else who has seen these guys live will agree with me on.

*Rock violinist and Newtown native SPENCER SWAIN is now a Fender artist.

Check out his profile on the Fender website, where he is credited with âinjecting a blistering excitement into the indie rock sceneâ and celebrated for âthe searing sounds of his self-styled virtuosic playing,â at Fender.com/artists

Nothing like ending my column on a good note (no pun intendedâ¦) for a local musician. Way to go Spencer!

Until next week Iâll be seeing you... on the road.

Questions and comments should be sent to Shannon Hicks c/o The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or shannon@thebee.com, or call the office at 426-3141. Shows listed at clubs are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

UPCOMING SHOWS

OCTOBER 24 â Billy Michaels at Proud Maryâs, Newtown; J.D. Hill at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook;

October 25 â Tony Summo and Lou Bellofatto at 100 Church Hill, Sandy Hook; 150 RPM at Proud Maryâs; Tesla at The Webster Theater, Hartford, with Pop Evil opening; Duffy at MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods, Ledyard; Scott Parker at Mocha Coffee House;

October 28 â The Who at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Rock Band Live: Panic At The Disco and Dashboard Confessional at Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, with Plain White Tâs and The Cab;

October 30 â The Misfits at The Webster Theater (4th annual Halloween Bash);

October 31 â Alice Cooper at MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Ledyard; 150 RPM at Proud Maryâs; Infrasonic at Mocha Coffee House.

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The Editor suggest a meeting between the "Rock This Democracy " and the Police Commission. As a former Police Commissioner the Chief should have followed the chain of command and discussed this with the Police Commission. The Chief reports to the Elected Police Commission not our Republican First Selection. Can't help but feel this is Republican politics again making an issue out of a non issue.

Assembly Ordinance?

I support Chief Kullgren’s request to explore permitting, and cost-sharing for large gatherings. The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I fully support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly. However, where and how often these protests occur matters. Main Street is not just a symbol — it’s a vital artery for daily life in town. When events are held there monthly, and at increasing scale, they cause disruption to residents, businesses, and traffic. While the Rock This Democracy group may describe these protests as unique or urgent, the frequency — roughly once every two weeks this spring — suggests more of a recurring series than a singular, spontaneous moment of civic expression. This isn’t about silencing anyone. It’s about fairness, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. Every time a protest happens, our police department is forced to assign resources, often on overtime. That expense adds up quickly. If any group wants to use public space regularly, particularly in a way that impacts traffic and requires police presence, then it’s reasonable for the town to consider permitting and cost-sharing — just as we do for other organized events like races, festivals, or parades. Let’s protect everyone’s rights — including the right of the community to function smoothly and the right of taxpayers not to bear undue cost for repeated events. I trust the Council to consider a reasonable path forward that balances speech with responsibility.

David, your passion for transparency would carry more weight if it weren’t routinely wielded like a cudgel. Let's set the record straight: no one is against easier access to documents or better online availability—we all want an informed public. But there's a difference between constructive advocacy and the kind of grandstanding that costs this town time, morale, and taxpayer money. You cite Ridgefield’s practices—great. Let's talk about that like adults. But instead, what we see is a steady stream of accusatory posts, legal challenges, and FOIA blitzes aimed less at solving problems and more at creating headlines. It’s not “slander” to point out that your approach often does more to divide and exhaust than to help. I’ve been at the very meetings you claim are inaccessible or opaque. I’ve seen your group turn logistical hiccups into conspiracy theories. I’ve watched as staff—who already work overtime—are dragged into another fishing expedition while real civic needs are left hanging. You’re not just pushing for access; you’re using the tools of open government to grind its gears to a halt. That’s not progress. That’s obstruction dressed up as advocacy. And the people paying for it—literally—are your neighbors. Let’s stop pretending it’s just about uploading PDFs. The issue here is how we engage. We can have real conversations about modernization without constant accusations, FOIA skirmishes, and Facebook pile-ons. Until then, I’ll continue to call out tactics that undermine, not uplift, our town.

Calls For Policies To Create Greater Transparency

The bottom line is this: costs are up, and no group—including teachers—is exempt. Ignoring Anthem’s recommended 22% increase last year may have directly caused the $2 million shortfall. Everyone has to share in the fix. That might mean higher premiums and leaner benefits. Complaints alone won’t solve the problem—realistic solutions will. I urge all Newtown Teachers to email their Union leaders and express their support for higher premiums.

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Its really easy to make assertions and cast doubts from behind a keyboard....a little too easy aparently. You might try conducting the actual research BEFORE doing it next time. If you do, you too will find that there's no need to imagine such a policy to improve public transparency and participation. Take a look at Ridgefield's P&Z meeting agendas on their website for starters. They are just one town that provide links to electronic copies of applications and other public documents, so that their commissioners and residents can easily access them and be well-informed, before meetings and public hearings occur and without making them drive to town hall (during business hours) to ask their land use staff to pull the files and make copies of them, saving everyone time (time is money), and gasoline, and missed work. Most applicants alrleady submit electronic copies, and for those who don't, it's a lot easier for a staffer to scan them once, than to have to make copies every time someone asks for them. And please don't misrepresent or slander those who advocate for smart, low impact & sustainable development policies and practices as 'anti-development'.

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*Sandy Hook native J.D. HILL will return to Mocha Coffee House with his "impassioned brand of classic/indie rock vocals and funky guitar" to open this weekend. J.D. will be at 3 Glen Road on Friday night, performing from 8 to 10 pm.

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