*Just a reminder for anyone who missed the online update to last week’s “On The Road” in the May 11, 2012 print edition of The Newtown Bee; BLINK-182 drummer Travis Barker needs an urgent tonsillectomy with a recovery period expected to extend beyond the band’s scheduled tour dates, according to an announcement received last Wednesday afternoon, which means this weekend’s show at Mohegan Sun Arena has been cancelled.

“The band apologizes for any inconvenience as a result of these cancellations and thanks their fans for their ongoing support,” the notice continued.

Customers who purchased tickets at the Mohegan Sun Box Office or Ticketmaster outlets should return to the point of purchase for refunds.  Purchases made online at ticketmaster.com or Ticketmaster’s national toll free Charge by Phone number will be refunded automatically.

*I had a nice note come in this week from Jim Allyn, a great local musician who will be joining his wife when she and her uncle celebrate the release of a special book this weekend at C.H. Booth Library.

At 2 o’clock this Saturday (May 19), Elizabeth Hoban and Lt Col Henry Supchak will be at the library to talk about their new book, The Final Mission: A Boy, A Pilot and a World at War. In July 1944, Lt Henry Supchak was flying his penultimate mission over Germany when his B-17, Priority Gal, was hit by anti-aircraft fire, disabling two engines and wounding him in the thigh. He attempted to reach neutral Switzerland, but was forced instead to order his eight crewmen to bail out over Austria.

As Supchak prepared to abandon his aircraft he saw that it was on a collision course with an Alpine village. He got back into his seat, adjusted the controls, and barely escaped before the plane exploded at the base of a mountain. He parachuted into a pasture where a shepherd boy and his aunt stared in disbelief at this “man who fell from the sky.” Almost immediately, German infantry surrounded the pilot and took him away to solitary confinement.

Although slightly burned by the exploding aircraft, the boy managed to find out where the wounded pilot was being held and snuck food and water to him before Supchak and his crew were taken away to a notorious prison camp for the rest of the war.

Elizabeth is the niece of the now 96-year old Lt Col Supchack, and they have collaborated on this new book.

Elizabeth is married to Jim Allyn, and he will be joined by violinist Sofia Chiarandini for a special performance during the program. The two will be performing “Priority Gal,” a song Jim wrote about Lt Col Supchak’s plane.

The library is at 25 Main Street in Newtown, and the program will be in the lower meeting room. 

*Foxwoods Resort Casino will welcome DURAN DURAN for a show at The MGM Grand Theater on Friday, August 24.

Tickets for the Mashantucket show are priced at $55, $65 and $75, will be on sale Friday, May 18, at 10 am, through TicketMaster.com, by calling the MGM Grand Box Office at 866-646-0609 or TicketMaster at 800-745-3000, or in person at the MGM Grand Box Office.

Also on sale Friday will be tickets for an August 18 show by JANE’S ADDICTION at The MGM Grand. Those tickets are $35 to $55, also on sale at 10 am Friday, and through the same channels as outlined above.

In addition, tickets for June 30’s An Evening with BOYZ II MEN, same venue, tickets $35-$55, will also be on sale, online, in person, and over the phone.

*Also on sale this weekend will be tickets for ENRIQUE IGLESIAS and JENNIFER LOPEZ’s July 26 stop at Mohegan Sun Arena ($95 and $135); and IAN ANDERSON’s October 4 stop at the arena ($35).

Both shows will be on sale Friday morning at 10 through TicketMaster online, vendor and phone (800-745-3000) outlets, and then also on Saturday at the casino’s box office in Unvasville.

*Saturday morning at 10, tickets for an August 24 show at Mohegan Sun by the pop band THE WANTED will also be going on sale, all $30, through TicketMaster. Tickets will be available at the casino beginning Sunday morning.

*Meanwhile, tickets for DETHKLOK and LAMB OF GOD with GOJIRA, who will grace the stage of the Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford on Friday, August 31, go on sale Friday morning. LiveNation.com doesn’t seem to have a direct link set up yet, so visit the general website and do a search for the theater if you’re looking for those tickets.

Until next week, I’ll 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

MAY 18 — Lady Antebellum at The Comcast Theatre, Hartford, with Darius Rucker and Thompson Square opening; CANCELLED: Blink-182 at Mohegan Sun Arena, with special guests The All-American Rejects and Le Blorr; The Wood Brothers at The Ridgefield Playhouse, Ridgefield; Joe Proc at Two Boots Happy Hour, Bridgeport (solo acoustic performance); SOLD OUT: Rusted Root at Infinity Music Hall;

May 19 — Boplicity Jazz Band at My Place Restaurant, Newtown; 106.9 WCCC Big Gig at The Comcast Theatre, Hartford, featuring Godsmack, Staind, Volbeat, Dead Sara, Black Stone Cherry, et al; Chickenfoot at Mohegan Sun Arena; New Riders of The Purple Sage at Fairfield Theater Company’s StageOne; Ronnie Spector at The Ridgefield Playhouse; Tim DeHuff at Fast Eddie’s Billiards Café; Midnight Rodeo Band at Redding Roadhouse;

May 20 — Liz & The Crickstones at McLaughlin Vineyards; Preservation Hall Jazz Band at The Ridgefield Playhouse; Glenn Frey at The MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Mashantucket; Fishbone at Fairfield Theatre Company’s StageOne;

May 22 — Collective Soul at The Ridgefield Playhouse;

May 24 — Sons of Cream at Infinity Music Hall; The McLovins at Fairfield Theatre Company’s StageOne; The Wailers at The Ridgefield Playhouse; Off The Hook at My Place Restaurant;

May 25 — Greg Brown at Infinity Music Hall; Jeff Pitchell and Texas Flood with special guest J Geils at Fairfield Theatre Company’s StageOne;

May 26 — The Pears at Fast Eddie’s Billiards Café; The Way-Back Machine at The Black Duck, Westport;

May 27 — ZZ Top, Three Doors Down and Gretchen Wilson at The MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods; Dangermuffin at Fairfield Theatre Company’s StageOne;

May 28 — Gomez&Sadlon at McLaughlin Vineyards;

May 31 — Tower of Power at Infinity Music Hall (two shows, 6:30 and 9:30 pm); Ivan Neville & Dumpstaphunk at The Ridgefield Playhouse.