*JOSHUA SWETTS and DAVID GOODWICK, two of the original members of the Newtown band PLAYBACK, have again collaborated — along with newest band member and frontman RICH DONNELLY — to create the band’s second Playback album, Urban Lullaby. Swetts and Goodwick are describing the new album as a 13-track collection of “contemporary, compelling modern rock music cuts.”

Urban Lullaby has been nine months in the making. A collaborative effort between Swetts, Donnelly and Goodwick, the trio is preparing for live performances in support of its release in June 2000. (If the name sounds familiar it may be because Playback was formed in the fall of 1997 and released its debut album, Perception Is Reality, in early 1999.)

*Details concerning the ticket sales next weekend for BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’s are trickling in. Tickets will be going on sale Saturday, February 19, at 10 am, for Springsteen’s performance at Hartford Civic Center on Sunday, May 7. There is going to be a four-ticket limit per person, and a two-ticket limit for all sets in the first 17 rows.

Also, the first 17 rows will be sold by phone only, and in an effort to reduce scalping and re-selling of those coveted seats, those who come by any of those tickets will have to pick up the tickets the night of the show at the box office. These will not be mailed out in advance. You will be required to use a photo ID to pick up these tickets, and their holders will be immediately escorted into the auditorium. Don’t give the escorts/security personnel a hassle when they ask for ID and escort you inside. That’s going to be the policy for the evening, and they’re only going to be doing their job.

*A reminder that this weekend will be the February presentation of Newtown Coffee House, with TREBLEHOOK the featured performers on Saturday, February 12, at Newtown Congregational Church House.

The trio finally has a new publicity photo, taken recently at a local railroad station. Doors open Saturday night at 7:30 pm and the evening will get started with one hour of open mic. The music should begin around 8:30 pm. Admission is $5 per person (free for age 12 and under), which includes the live entertainment and your fill of coffee/soft drinks and home-baked goodies.

*While still in the vein of TREBLEHOOK, the trio has also been contacted by The Fireside Inn for another performance next week. The guys will be at 123 Main Street South in Newtown on Friday, February 18. The music will get started around 9 pm, and there’s no cover charge to get in.

*The first concert announcement of the season came in from The Meadows this week. TINA TURNER will be at the Hartford ampitheatre on Thursday, June 15. Showtime is 8 pm, and LIONEL RICHIE is the opener.

Tickets are going on sale this weekend for the show, Saturday morning at 10 am, through Tickets.com. The ticket vendor is available, obviously via the Internet, and has now taken over the phone order business that was formerly Pro-Tix. Use the same phone number you used to use for Pro-Tix — 860/422-0000. Tickets will be available online or over the phone only; the Meadows box office has not yet opened for the season.

Turner’s tickets are going for $68.80 and $88.80 within the pavilion area, and $29.80 up on the lawn.

Until next week, I’ll be seeing you... on the road, where I will be contemplating the question: Was it really necessary for a major automobile manufacturer to include the tag line “Always drive on the road, not on people” in its latest commercial?

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

FEBRUARY 11 — Peter Obre at The Inn at Newtown; Free Style at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Scottie Mac & The Bonneville Rockets at Luigi’s Nitelife Café, Danbury; The Moody Blues at the Oakdale, Wallingford; Max Creek at Toad’s Place (all ages), New Haven;

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; Molly Hatchet at City Limits;

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 — Peter Obre at The Inn at Newtown; Treblehook at The Fireside Inn, Newtown; 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; Lucinda at Bank Street Coffee House, New Milford;

February 20 — Spring Heeled Jack USA at Toad’s Place, Edna’s Goldfish and siMent 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), Dixie Dregs opening;

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

February 25 — Peter Obre at The Inn at Newtown; 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, Epic, Hype and Public Disturbance opening;

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), Josh Rouse opening;

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; Bunny Brains & Drop Jaw at Laszlo’s Arts Café, Monroe;

March 4 — LFO at The Webster Theatre, Hartford (all ages); Zero Chance and Malpractice at Laszlo’s Arts Café;

March 5 — Blue Floyd at The Webster Theatre; Lit at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages), 22 Jacks opening;

March 6 — Dance Hall Crashers at Toad’s Place (all ages), One Man Army opening;

March 8 — The Wolfe Tones at Toad’s Place *(early show, call for details; 203/624-8623);

March 9 — W.A.S.P. at City Limits, Waterbury;

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

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

March 14 — Kenny Wayne Shepherd at Toad’s Place (all ages);

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

March 17 — Loose Groove and Adva at Laszlo’s Arts Café; Kittie at Toad’s Place (all ages);

March 19 — BR5-49 at Toad’s Place, The Souvenirs and The Honeydews opening;

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

March 23 — The Clancy Brothers at Toad’s Place;

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

March 25 — Amnesty Underground and Outspoken at Laszlo’s Arts Café;

March 31 — Slackjaw at Laszlo’s Arts Café, with two openers TBA; Shakedown at Toad’s Place (all ages).

APRIL 6 — Tower of Power and Average White Band at Toad’s Place, New Haven;

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

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

JUNE 15 — Tina Turner at The Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford.

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

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