*Word comes from the Oakdale Theatre this week that The American Carnage show scheduled for February 9 has been postponed due to upcoming back surgery for Slayer’s Tom Araya.

Hang on to your tickets, however. Tickets for the February show will be honored at the rescheduled show, date TBD.

*Also from the Oakdale this week comes an announcement that THE DROPKICK MURPHYS will be performing in The Dome at the Oakdale on Wednesday, March 10.

Tickets went on sale last Sunday morning (don’t panic – they’re all general admission), priced at $29.50. Even better, if you pick up tickets in person between now and Sunday, January 17, you can get your tickets without any additional service fees. The box office will be open this Sunday 11 am until 4 pm.

*Mocha Coffee House in Sandy Hook will begin this weekend with music by KATHLEEN PEMBLE and her band COLD SPRING, who bring, according to this week’s note from Rob at the coffee house, “extremely diverse musicality and relentlessly honest writing to every performance; their alt-indie acoustic sound and rich vocal arrangements weave and sonic web which draws the listener close.”

Saturday night’s headliner will be third year photography major ADAM CALDERONE, who has been playing piano and drums and singing for eight years. Adam’s influences include the Grateful Dead, Phish, Coldplay, Ben Folds, Death Cab for Cutie, and Radiohead, all of which find their way into his performances as well as his original material.

Showtime for both events is 8 pm, at 3 Glen Road.

*THE WAY-BACK MACHINE will be playing music of the 1960s and 70s at The Redding Roadhouse this weekend. The band will be headlining on Saturday night, with their show expected to start around 9:30.

*Also in local musician music news, Sandy Hook resident DARRYL GREGORY will be performing two sets of his original songs at Molten Java next weekend. Darryl’s show will begin at 8 at 102 Greenwood Avenue in Bethel.

From a note that came in this week: “Darryl’s sound is an amalgam of many different worlds, yet it is still recognizable as American roots, rhythm and blues. His lyrics are evocative and tell stories that hook the listener with their compelling melodies and infectious beats.  Add to all this his powerful, guitar-driven style and you’ll understand why Darryl’s music has often been compared to that of such greats as John Mellencamp, Steve Earle and even Bruce Springsteen.”

If you’d like to get an idea of what he sounds like when he’s making music at his studio, the Sandy Hook based Blue Cave Studios, visit Darryl’s website, DarrylGregory.com.

*Huge news for anyone who is a fan of JAMES TAYLOR and/or CAROLE KING, who announced this week that the two legends would finally be getting together (musically…) nearly 40 years after helping each other launch their careers. On Monday, Taylor and King announced dates for the US leg of a much-anticipated Troubadour Tour, which will mark the 40th anniversary of their breakthrough shows — King played on Taylor’s Sweet Baby James album of 1970 and Taylor returned the favor on King’s Tapestry the following year.

The Troubadour Reunion Tour will kick off in the States (after having begun in Melbourne, Australia, on March 26) on May 7 in Portland, Ore. Concerts will be staged in the round, and both headliners will remain on the stage together through the shows, again according to this week’s press release.

The East Coast will have at least six opportunities to catch this tour, including a June 12 performance at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville. Tickets are $75 and $95 for that show and will be going on sale next Friday morning (Jan 22) at 10 am.

Additional shows have also been announced for June 10 in Philadelphia, June 15 at Madison Square Garden, June 19 at The TD Garden, and July 3-4 at Tanglewood in Massachusetts.

For those who want a preview of what we can expect this summer, Taylor and King will be the musical guests on The Today Show and The Late Show with David Letterman on January 20.

*Also coming to Mohegan Sun this year will be JAY-Z, who recently added more dates to his BP3 2010 North American tour including a Friday, March 5 appearance in Connecticut.

Tickets are $80 and $120 and will be on sale Saturday morning at 10 through TicketMaster. Tickets will also be available from the casino’s box office beginning Sunday morning if they don’t sell out before then.

Young Jeezy and Trey Songz will each have opening sets.

*BREAKING BENJAMIN and THREE DAYS GRACE will also be coming to Mohegan Sun, even sooner: Tickets for at Tuesday, February 16 show to feature special guest Flyleaf will be on sale this weekend as well, all priced at $30.

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

JANUARY 15 —Kathleen Pemble & Cold Spring at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook; Rascal Flatts at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Darius Rucker opening (also January 16); Mariah Carey at The MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods, Mashantucket (also January 16); The Walter Lewis Trio at The Georgetown Saloon, Redding;

January 16 — Adam Calderone at Mocha Coffee House; Bo Bice at Infinity Music Hall, Norfolk (acoustic show); Rascal Flatts at Mohegan Sun Arena, Darius Rucker opening; Sister Funk at The Georgetown Saloon; Mariah Carey at The MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods; The Way-Back Machine at Redding Roadhouse, Redding;

January 17 — Rakim at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Rhymefest, They Walk on Water and Phenomeno opening (tickets from original November date will be honored);

January 18 — Lady Gaga at Mohegan Sun Arena, Kid Cudi and Jason Derulo opening;

January 20 — Grace Potter & the Nocturnals at Infinity Music Hall;

January 21 — Julie Sorek’s open acoustic jam at Mocha Coffee House (monthly event, join to perform or listen).

January 22 — The Bernadettes at The Georgetown Saloon;

January 23 — Darryl Gregory at Molten Java, Bethel; The Marshall Tucker Band at The Ridgefield Playhouse; Old School Revue at Georgetown Saloon.

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January 28 — bluegrass & beer featuring Hoe at The Acoustic Café, Bridgeport;

January 29 — Blues Patrol at The Georgetown Saloon; JD Souther at Infinity Music Hall; Jeff Pitchell & Texas Flood at Black-Eyed Sally’s BBQ & Blues, Hartford; Chuck Wicks at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den;

January 30 — Smokehouse at The Georgetown Saloon; Marshall Crenshaw at Infinity Music Hall.