Date: Fri 17-Apr-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNON

Quick Words:

Nicks-Meadows-Bellamy-Grease

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD/SHANNON HICKS

OK, so a little slip of the finger and I made a typo. I'd say sue me, but you

wouldn't get much of a payment.

My point? The radio 104Fest at the Meadows Music Theatre in Hartford is on

Sunday, May 17. I gave you the wrong day last week. Since last week, a change

has also come about in the band roster. Mind Tydes will not be playing radio

104Fest after all, according to the radio station's publicist.

The good news is, I have a new concert to tell you about: STEVIE NICKS will be

kicking off her 1998 tour at the Meadows on Wednesday, May 27. Tickets ($53.25

and $39.75 for Pavilion, $22.75 for lawn) go on sale Saturday, April 18, at 10

am. Charge through Pro-Tix or visit any outlet at Strawberries Records stores.

Nicks will be doing not only her own solo hits, but also some of the classics

from her days with FLEETWOOD MAC.

UNCLE WILL'S DOGS has a show Friday, April 17, at Classic Rock Brew Pub in

Danbury. The guys also have a few of their summer shows already set up, so ink

up your calendar now: July 18, the band will be at The Cook House, New

Milford; July 31, Bobby R's, Monroe; and August 8, on the CityCenter Green,

Danbury.

BILL BELLAMY, the so-called "comedian of choice for Baby Boomers" (so says his

press release anyway, but I don't buy it), will be at Sacred Heart University

Saturday, April 25, for a one-night show. Currently the host of MTV's

video/interview show "MTV Jams," Bellamy gives his audience "an eclectic mix

of street culture, music video soundbites and locker room observations."

Sounds interesting, anyway. Tickets are $20. The show starts at 8, doors open

at 7 pm. Details, call SHU's Public Relations Office, 371-7970.

Want to have some fun with the re-release of the film Grease ? Forget that

tired ol' soundtrack that was released years ago by the cast of the film. Try

this on instead: the album Greased , which is a take on the soundtrack by the

ska/punk band LESS THAN JAKE. How fun is that??! Greased is on the No Idea

label, and it probably is not in the racks of many record stores, but a short

call from the office this morning proved the album can be quickly and easily

ordered through any music dealer of merit.

Speaking of Less Than Jake, the band is headlining a touring festival this

month and next called THE SKA AGAINST RACISM TOUR. The festival will be

visiting the Webster Theatre in Hartford on April 25. The point of the tour is

to raise awareness about the problem that doesn't seem to want to go away.

Along with Less Than Jake, the tour features THE TOASTERS, BLUE MEANIES, 5

IRON FRENZY, MUSTER PLUG, MU330, THE MIKE "BRUCE LEE" PARK BAND and KEMURI.

Each show will also feature a local opening act.

Ska Against Racism will benefit several anti-racist organizations including

the Anti-Racist Association (ARA), Artists for a Hate-Free America and The

Museum of Tolerance. ARA has sent a representative along on the tour, who will

be selling T-shirts and also speaking to each audience regarding the

organization and other anti-racism groups.

Additional organizations selected by the individual bands will also benefit

from positive publicity, as well as part of the proceeds at the end of the

tour. Each band will choose the organization they want to benefit and will

decide independently what portion of their tour earnings will be donated.

In order to educate attendees, information booths are set up at all of the

shows, with literature about how to stamp out racism. Watch this column next

week for some direct comments from the band members of LESS THAN JAKE

concerning the tour and its success to date. The band is still touring to

support its Capitol Records debut, Losing Streak , which was released late in

1996 and continues to sell by the thousands. The guys also have that

soundtrack album mentioned earlier, and Pezcore (on the Asian Man Records,

formerly Dill Records). At one point this year all three albums were on the

Alternative Albums chart.

Tickets for the Saturday, April 25 show are $15 each. Showtime is 5 pm, and

this one is of course open to all ages. Tickets will be available at the door,

but if you want to reserve them in advance call Pro-Tix, 860/422-0000.

And finally this week, your last reminder from me concerning Sunday

afternoon's Modern Rock the Earth Day concert at Bushnell Park in Hartford.

This is radio 104's first big concert of the season, and it's going to be a

blast! Admission is free, there will be tons of environmental group booths,

food, and oh yeah... MUSIC! Performing this year are LETTERS TO CLEO, THE

SPECIALS, SUPERDRAG, THE AMAZING ROYAL CROWNS, THE ACOUSTIC LIVINGROOM

SUPERGROUP (that's Kevin The Afternoon Guy's band, BTW), MIND TYDES and BRAND

NEW BAG. See you there!

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 concert calendar at club locations are for ages 21 and

over unless specified.