Date: Fri 12-Jun-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNON

Quick Words:

Van-Halen-Moppin-Sauce-Hope

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD/SHANNON HICKS

Two bands are making returns by popular demand to the local scene this

weekend. That's the good news. The bad news is both are playing on Saturday

night, so it's a choice between the two.

MOPPIN SAUCE, the awesome dance band that performs all-70s music, returns

Saturday to Boppers in Danbury... just in time for the opening of Whit

Stillman's The Last Days of Disco (playing at Bethel Cinema). There's no doubt

Saturday's show will be another great time for everyone that gets out to see

these guys (and gals), who always put on a terrific show.

Also performing Saturday night is HARMONY STREET. The Doo-Wop vocal group will

be at The Fireside Inn in Newtown; showtime is 8:30 pm. Tickets for this show

are $27.50 per person, plus sales tax, and includes dinner. Additional music

will also be performed by The Songs. An important note: tickets for Harmony

Street will not be available at the door. Call 426-7001 for tickets or

reservations.

The Oakdale will host THIRD EYE BLIND's return to the area. The band will be

in Wallingford on July 18. Our Lady Peace and Eve 6 open.

Tickets are still available for the July 31 DAVE MATTHEWS BAND show at the

Meadows Music Theatre. The August 1 show has sold out. Surprisingly, tickets

also still remain available for the September return of PEARL JAM. Ben Harper

will be opening the September 13 Pearl Jam show.

Saturday morning (June 13), tickets will be going on sale for two more shows

at the Meadows Music Theatre: The SMOKIN' GROOVES tour will be at the Hartford

venue Saturday, July 25. This year's line-up includes PUBLIC ENEMY, CYPRESS

HILL, WYCLEF JEAN AND THE REFUGEE ALLSTARS (including CANIBUS), BUSTA RHYMES,

GANG STAR and BLACK-EYED PEAS. Tickets for this show are $22.50 for Lawn, and

$31.50 for Pavilion.

Also going on sale will be tickets for the August 29 return of VAN HALEN.

These tickets are $35.50 and $43 for the Pavilion, and $22.50 for seating on

the lawn.

A reminder that VIXEN headlines a show at Tuxedo Junction next week. The gals

from the 80s will be on a bill that also includes Supergroup and Low Rider.

The evening is a tribute to 80s metal... and hair, one could presume. The June

18 show is not an all-ages concert. Doors open at 8 pm, with Low Rider

scheduled to start around 9 pm or so. Tickets are $13.50 in advance, or $15 at

the door.

Direct from Portugal, THE TEDIO BOYS will be headlining the next festival

event at Woodbury Ski Area. Organizers call the band "the Kings of

Psychobilly." The festival -- with a line-up that also includes PLEASURE

CRUSH, MISSING JOE, ME AND JEREMY, FAT MAMA, PERFECT THYROID, ATTIC OF LOVE,

MIGHTY PURPLE, JIKER, MATT'S ALTAR, UNIQUITY and GARGANTUA SOUL -- will be

rounded out with the sounds of rockabilly, porkabilly (???), ska, funk, punk,

garage and pop alternative. Not bad for the reasonable price of admission:

tickets are $15 in advance, or $20 at the gate. There will be continuous live

music, with performers on two stages. The festival will run 11 am to 6 pm

(rain date is Sunday, June 28). Coolers are welcome at no additional charge.

Bring your own blankets for seating.

Woodbury recently opened a 24 by 44-foot kidney shaped concrete bowl for

skating and bicycling, too, so the festival will also be a kick-off for the

bowl's use. Concertgoers will be welcome to use the bowl, or to watch

demonstrations by factory teams. For additional festival information or to

reserve tickets, call 263-2203. The ski area is on Route 47.

Finally this week, details will come in the next few weeks but organizers have

announced GASBALL 5, the annual free day-long gathering of local musicians and

other artists (in the sense of painters, sculptors, photographers, etc), will

take place at Danbury's CityCenter Green on Saturday, August 22. That's great

news for the local music scene, which can always use a boost of excellent

exposure like this. Details on who will be performing and when still to

come...

Until next week, I'll be seeing you... on the road, where Hope Lives On

(contrary to late last week's rumor mill, Bob is alive and well and laughing

this week at the Associated Press...).