*Final reminder for this show: MOPPIN SAUCE has a hometown show at The Fireside Inn tonight (Friday, April 21). The band will also be returning to Fat Daddy’s, its familiar stomping grounds in Watertown, on Saturday, May 13.

*The Hartford-based band — not to mention one of this weekend’s performers at the big radio 104 Modern Rock the Earth Day concert in Hartford — RANE is getting ready for the national release of its second album. The album, Camelopardalis, named after the region of outer space in which a star is registered in the band’s name, will be on the shelves June 13.

To prepare for that, the band will host a huge party at The Webster Theatre in Hartford the previous Friday — June 9 (my birthday, by the way, for anyone who would like to start planning that party). The evening will include live music by Rane, of course, and others yet TBA, along with other “surprises.” Copies of the new CD will be available for purchase that night, as well. Tickets are on sale now from The Webster’s box office, tickets.com or even at ranetides.com.

On June 10, the band will embark on a tour of New England and New York City.

*He’s coming! DAVE MATHEWS will return to Hartford, even after rumors that the musician and his band were pretty gunshy about returning to Connecticut after the chaos that surrounded the second and third shows by the band at The Meadows last year began circulating.  But earlier this week DAVE MATHEWS BAND confirmed additional dates for its summer touring schedule, which will now include a two-night stint at The Meadows in Hartford. The band will be in town Friday and Saturday, August 25 and 26. Watch for tickets to go on sale Saturday, May 6.

Another show that has been announced as coming, but not yet on sale, is the big MOTLEY CRUE tour, which will be at the Hartford venue on August 5. Anthrax had already been announced as an opener on that tour, and MEGADETH recently signed on as well.

*Also not on sale yet are tickets for MARY J. BLIGE, who will be at the Oakdale on June 15. Tickets are expected to be going on sale next weekend, however, for a June 13 appearance — the band’s debut at this venue, in fact — by LYNYRD SKYNYRD at the Oakdale.

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

APRIL 21 — Moppin Sauce at The Fireside Inn, Newtown; Off The Hook at Sogno, Newtown; Acoustic Junction at The Webster Theatre, Hartford; Simple Jim at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

April 22 — Max Creek at The Webster Theatre; The Wallbangers at Tuxedo Junction; radio 104 Modern Rock the Earth Day, Bushnell Park, Hartford, with Vertical Horizon, Goldfinger, Splender, Nine Days, Rane, Adios Pantalones and Wayward;

April 23 — Kenny Wayne Shepherd at The Webster Theatre;

April 27 — Vertical Horizon at SHU’s Pitt Center, Fairfield; Dick Dale at Toad’s Place, New Haven;

April 28 — The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction;

April 29 — The Benjamins at Tuxedo Junction.

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

May 4 —Nine Inch Nails at Hartford Civic Center, A Perfect Circle opening; Mustard Plug and Edna’s Goldfish at Tune Inn;

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

May 6 — Darik & The Funbags at Tuxedo Junction;

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); FUBAR at Tuxedo Junction;

May 13 — Big Orange Cone at Tuxedo Junction; Moppin’ Sauce at Fat Daddy’s, Watertown;

May 18 —Gunga Din at Tune Inn;

May 19 — Simple Jim at Toad’s Place, Ink opening; Simple Jim at Tuxedo Junction;

May 20 — The Wallbangers at Tuxedo Junction;

May 26 — Future Tense at Tuxedo Junction;

May 27 — The Benjamins at Tuxedo Junction.

JUNE 9 —Rane at The Webster Theatre, Hartford (performance & CD release party);

June 13 —Red Hot Chili Peppers at The Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford, Foo Fighters and Red Hot Blonde opening; Lynyrd Skynyrd at The Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford;

June 14 — 311 and Incubus at The Oakdale;

June 15 — Tina Turner at The Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford; Mary J. Blige at The Oakdale (no tickets yet);

June 16 — Poison, Cinderella, Dokken and Slaughter at The Meadows Music Theatre;

June 21 — Britney Spears at The Meadows.

June 30 — Phish at the Meadows Music Theatre (no tickets until May 13).

JULY 1 — Phish at The Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford (no tickets until May 13);

July 8 — Kiss at The Meadows, Skid Row and Ted Nugent opening;

July 24 —The Slackers at The Webster Theatre, Hartford.

AUGUST 5 — Motley Crue at The Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford, Anthrax and Megadeth opening (no tickets yet);

August 9 — Santana at The Meadows Music Theatre, Macy Gray opening;

August 23-24 — Eddie Money at Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville;

August 25-26 — Dave Matthews Band at The Meadows, Hartford (tickets on sale May 6).