*Got a couple of MOPPIN’ SAUCE dates to let you know about this week. The band will be at Amberjack’s in South Norwalk on February 4, and then Fat Daddy’s in Watertown on February 12. The band has added keyboards to its collective and a new “Whole Lotta Horn” player, all of which just jazzes up the funk that much more.

*Heard from, but haven’t yet visited, a new club in Danbury. Luigi’s Nitelife Café is now up and running at 278-280 Main Street. The café sent over its schedule, and is presenting open mic nights every Monday, and THE SAM GREEN JAZZ COMBO every Tuesday night. Jazz is featured each Wednesday night, with appearances planned in February by GARY WOOFSEY & HIS QUARTET on February 2; CHANCE BROWNE, MARK NAFTALIN & DANIEL J, February 9; BALSANOVA, February 16; and RELUCTANT LEMMINGS, February 23.

For Thursday nights, reggae and R&B/soul is making an appearance, with ANTHEM (reggae) on February 3; PHIL FORBES & THE SPARKLE BAND (R&B/soul), February 10; POSITIVE CAUSE (reggae), February 17; and ANTHEM (reggae), February 24.

Finally, it’s blues for the weekends. BOBBY T., with special guests, opens the month on Friday, February 4, and BLUE MONDAY follows on the 5th. SCOTTIE MAC & THE BONNEVILLE ROCKETS will be at the club February 11; JAMNESIA, February 18; BLUE IN THE FACE, February 19; MOJOMATICS, February 25; and EL DORADO KINGS, February 26. The performers for Saturday, February 12, have yet to be announced. For details closer to that date or additional information in general, Luigi’s can be reached by calling 790-7678.

*When the current ANTHRAX tour was announced late last year, plans were to have both of the band’s lead singers — original frontman Joey Belladonna and current lead singer John Bush — touring to support Return of the Killer A’s. Unfortunately, before the tour even hit the road, Belladonna and the band came to quits once again (there is a reason why the man is the band’s former lead singer, after all…). Apparently looking for too much cashola, Belladonna isn’t on the current tour after all, which visited The Webster Theatre in Hartford last week. Not only did Belladonna end up staying home and earned nothing when he had a chance to be earning at least something had he agreed to a smaller paycheck, but the fans who were looking forward to a meeting of the new and the old (something from the pages of any VAN HALEN biography, perhaps?) were the ones who lost out even more.

*Fans of PAULA COLE aren’t going to be losing out, on the other hand, when the Massachusetts native comes to Connecticut in March. While her current album, Amen, may not be making the kind of commercial splash her sophomore album did a few years ago, anyone who has ever seen Cole in concert knows how fiery this girl’s shows can be. Cole will be at Toad’s Place in New Haven on March 16. Tickets are on sale now for $20; remainders will be $23 the night of the show.

Also new at the York Street club is a return by SPRING HEELED JACK USA, February 20, with Edna’s Goldfish opening (tickets are $10/advance, $12/door); February 23, DREAM THEATRE (all ages; $27.50/advance, $30/door), with The Dixie Dregs opening; February 24, THE SAMPLES (all ages; $14.50/advance, $16/door); and February 25, DARIK & THE FUNBAGS ($8.50/advance, $10/door).

Additions for the March calendar include the club’s annual St Patrick’s Day Party, with the advance party being held Sunday, March 12 (the same day as the annual New Haven St Patrick’s Day Parade). THE TIPPERARY KNIGHTS will be at Toad’s for an afternoon show at 3:30 pm, following the parade, and entry is just $5 a head. MIGHTY PURPLE returns to the club on the 24th of March for its second CD release party. More on that in a moment. And JOHN VALBY returns on April 17 ($8.50/advance, $10/door).

Back to MIGHTY PURPLE… the band has been in the studio recently, putting the wraps on its second album, called how to make a living. The band is doing only a handful of full band shows leading up to the new CD’s release in March. The band — complete with new drummer Scott MacDonald — will be at Shenanigan’s in Norwalk this weekend actually, on January 29, with Sunflower opening.

Aside from a few out-of-the-area shows, the next time we will hear anything locally from MP will be in the form of a few appearances by Steve and Jon, who will be doing a small acoustic tour. The two will be at Camryn’s Café in Ellington on February 12, at Husky Blues in Storrs on February 11, at Koffee in New Haven on March 3 and again at Husky Blues on March 11 before the big CD release party at Toad’s Place. The CD party is going to be open to fans of all ages. Tickets for that evening are $8.50 in advance, $10 at the door.

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

JANUARY 28 — Peter Obre at The Inn at Newtown; The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction, Danubry; Simple Jim at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Paradise Vendors and Jive Bone opening; Indigo Girls at UConn’s Jorgensen Auditorium, Storrs;

January 29 — Sol Dog at Jimmie’s Seaside, Stratford; Sans Cherubs and Hash Clyde at Laszlo’s Arts Café, Monroe; The Wallbangers at Tuxedo Junction; Merle Saunders at Towne Crier Café, Pawling, N.Y., Tom Pacheco opening;

January 31 —Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals at the New Haven Palace.

FEBRUARY 1 — The Sam Green Jazz Combo at Luigi’s Nitelife Café, Danbury;

February 2 — Gary Woofset & His Quartet at Luigi’s Nitelife Café;

February 3 — Anthem at Luigi’s Nitelife Café;

February 4 — Sol Dog at Café 127, Shelton; Bobby T & Friends at Luigi’s Nitelife Café; Guster at Moppin’ Sauce at Amberjack’s, South Norwalk; The Webster Theatre, Hartford; Black 47 at Toad’s Place, New Haven; Screaming Broccoli at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

February 5 — The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction; Blue Monday at Luigi’s Nitelife Café; Blue Floyd at The Webster Theatre;

February 8 — The Sam Green Jazz Combo at Luigi’s Nitelife Café; Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Toad’s Place (all ages);

February 9 — Chance Browne, Mark Naftalin & Daniel J. at Luigi’s Nitelife Café;

February 10 — Phil Forbes & The Sparkle Band at Luigi’s Nitelife Café; Sol Dog at Jimmie’s Seaside, Stratford (showcase night for original music); The Derek Trucks Band at Toad’s Place (all ages), Soulive opening;

February 11 — Scream at Tuxedo Junction; Scottie Mac & The Bonneville Rockets at Luigi’s Nitelife Café; The Moody Blues at the Oakdale, Wallingford; Max Creek at Toad’s Place (all ages).

February 12 — Treblehook at Newtown Coffee House, Newtown; The Wallbangers at Tuxedo Junction; Moppin’ Sauce at Fat Daddy’s, Watertown;

February 13 — Jamakan Jam at Luigi’s Nitelife Café; Macy Gray at The Webster Theatre;

February 15 — The Sam Green Jazz Combo at Luigi’s Nitelife Café;

February 16 — Balsanova at Luigi’s Nitelife Café;

February 17 — Positive Cause at Luigi’s Nitelife Café;

February 18 — The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction; Jamnesia at Luigi’s Nitelife Café;

February 19 — Darik & The Funbags at Tuxedo Junction; Blue In The Face at Luigi’s Nitelife Café; The Misfits at The Webster, Snapcase opening;

February 20 — Spring Heeled Jack USA at Toad’s Place, Edna’s Goldfish opening;

February 22 — The Sam Green Jazz Combo at Luigi’s Nitelife Café;

February 23 — Reluctant Lemmings at Luigi’s Nitelife Café; Dream Theatre at Toad’s Place (all ages);

February 24 — Fiona Apple at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford; Anthem at Luigi’s Nitelife Café; The Samples at Toad’s Place (all ages);

February 25 — Suzanne Vega at Towne Crier Café, Pawling, N.Y., Willie Porter opening; The Mojomatics at Luigi’s Nitelife Café; The Benjamins at Tuxedo Junction; Max Creek at The Webster Theatre; Darik & The Funbags at Toad’s Place;

February 26 — Future Tense at Tuxedo Junction; El Dorado Kings at Luigi’s Nitelife Café;

February 28 — Cowboy Junkies at Toad’s Place (all ages);

February 29 — The Sam Green Jazz Combo at Luigi’s Nitelife Cafe.

MARCH 3 — The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury (band’s 5th Anniversary Party), The Notions opening;

March 4 — LFO at The Webster Theatre, Hartford (all ages);

March 5 — Blue Floyd at The Webster Theatre;

March 11 — The Broke & Hungry Blues Band at Newtown Coffee House, Newtown;

March 12 — Tipperary Knights at Toad’s Place, New Haven (***early/afternoon show, traditional post-New Haven St Patrick’s Day Parade Show);

March 14 — Kenny Wayne Shepherd at Toad’s Place, New Haven;

March 16 — Paula Cole at Toad’s Place (all ages);

March 19 — BR5-49 at Toad’s Place, New Haven;

March 20 — Buckwheat Zydeco at Towne Crier Café, Pawling, N.Y.;

March 24 — Mighty Purple at Toad’s Place (all ages; CD release party).

APRIL 8 — Dave DeAngelis & Friends at Newtown Coffee House, Newtown;

April 12 —Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young at Hartford Civic Center;

April 17 — John Valby at Toad’s Place, New Haven.

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

AUGUST 23-24 — Eddie Money at Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville.