*It’s Gasball time again, and this year’s ten-hour non-stop concert will be featuring a band with Newtown roots. I like that already. (see related story about THE PARTING GIFT)

First the details on the big day: Gasball 7 will take place at the CityCenter Green on Saturday, September 16, “from noon to moon” as they say. This will be one of the final summer hurrahs for the busy green nestled between Patriot Drive and Ives Street.

Gasball 7 has 14 bands on its schedule this year, beginning with TIMBER (which describes itself as performers of organic indy [their spelling, by the way, not mine] pop) and continues with G13 (uplifting roots and rhythm), ANGEL BABY (soulful rhythm & blues); ALL THE WRONG REASONS (sonic emolodic buzz), OMINE (psychedelic ragga funk), ELECTRIC HILL (bluesy soul rock), LYS GUILLORN (acoustic rhythmic jazz), THE FANTASTIC SUPERHEROES (post groovy break-beat science), BENOIR WITH SAUCE ON THE SIDE (afrozilian-mundo jazz), THE PARTING GIFT (streamlines space rock), BIG TOP LOW (danger: explosive), BIG MIKE (Connecticut’s premier hip hop/r&b DJ), TOM GRIN (techno/house) and SCREAMING HEADLESS TORSOS (funk-organic soul in stereo).

A number of the bands on this year’s line-up performed a pre-Gasball show last weekend at Colorado Brewery, which is right around the corner and up the hill from the green where this weekend’s big show will be happening. Proceeds from that show went right into the hopper for this weekend’s big event, which remains free of charge. Why the benefit performance? Because even though the Gasball is a free-of-charge event for us, the folks working behind the scenes still have to cough up the cash for things like security, electricity, clean-up, and, ummm, bathrooms.

If it means toilets, I for one am glad that benefit show was played.

The Gasball is meant to highlight the sounds and visions that continue to emerge from the greater Danbury area. Admission is free, and there will be plenty of vendors offering food and drinks, as well as assorted CDs and other concert gear. The festival is (one more time…) named for the enormous steel propane tank just east of Main Street. While it is officially called a Hortonsphere by its owners, Yankee Gas, the object located immediately off Pahquioque Drive has long been referred to as “the gasball” by everyone also in the area.

*I have prices for you this week for the tickets going on sale Saturday morning at the Oakdale Theatre. ALICE COOPER tickets (October 18 show, 7:30 showtime) will all be $36, and GREGG ALLMAN and Friends (October 26, also 7:30) will be $35.50. Remember, that’s before sales tax and service charges are added on. Oakdale tickets are available from the theatre’s box office (203/265-1501) or Advantic (888/332-5600).

*MOPPIN’ SAUCE, who can proudly call itself (and does!) “the most explosive retro 70s funkin’ dance band in the world,” will make a return to its Newtown roots next weekend. And this time around, the nine-piece band is taking over the big room, the banquet hall. The band was established in 1996 and remains comprised primarily of Newtown residents and other regional musicians. The band will be at The Fireside Inn on Friday, September 22. There will be great music (of course), drink specials and other surprises all night.

Additional Moppin’ Sauce shows in the immediate future include a gig tonight (Friday, Sept 15) at Shenanigan’s in South Norwalk, and then tomorrow night at Lilylake in Wolcott. After the Newtown show next weekend, the band will then play another familiar place — Fat Daddy’s in Watertown — on Saturday, September 22.

*MIGHTY PURPLE continues to add dates to what seems like a never-ending tour schedule. The band’s newest Connecticut dates (which must feel pretty good to a band that is based in New Haven) are September 28 at Tune Inn in New Haven, September 29 at Husky Blues in Storrs, and September 30 at Acoustic Café in Fairfield. That Tune Inn event is a gig with JULIANA HATFIELD, by the way. Saturday’s show will be Steve and Jon doing the acoustic thing, with Darrien Cunnings also performing. Steve and Jon will also be doing their acoustic show every Sunday in October at Hungry Tiger Café in Manchester. The two are working on a CD of their own, which is expected to be released in time for their fall acoustic tour.

The next time you get out to see these guys be sure to offer them some congratulations, by the way. Mighty Purple just won the New Haven Advocate’s Best Band Award for the eighth straight year.

Until next week, I’ll be seeing you... on the road, having a gas at the ball.

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

SEPTEMBER 15 — Blue Oyster Cult at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Simple Jim and Chain Reaction opening; Joe Rockstar at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Carlos Project and Jusasis Secret at Laszlo’s Arts Café, Monroe; Off The Hook at Mimi’s, Danbury; Moppin’ Sauce at Shenanigan’s, South Norwalk;

September 16 — Gasball 2000 at CityCenter Green, Danbury, performances “from noon to moon” (see band list above; free admission and all ages welcome); The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction; Wilco at Toad’s Place; Days of The New at The Webster Theatre, Hartford; Outlet and Hour Zero at Laszlo’s Arts Café; Moppin’ Sauce at Lilylake, Wolcott;

September 17 — Joe Cocker at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford;

September 19 — Dar Williams at Toad’s Place, Catie Curtis opening (all ages); Ultraspank, Disturbed, Taproot and Liquid Gang at The Webster Theatre;

September 20 — Styx and REO Speedwagon at the Oakdale;

September 21 — Styx and REO Speedwagon at Mohegan Sun’s Uncas Pavilion, Uncasville;

September 22 — Moppin’ Sauce at The Fireside Inn, Newtown; Darik & The Funbags at Toad’s Place; The Benjamins at Tuxedo Junction; Eidipus at Laszlo’s Arts Café, local folk performers follow;

September 23 — Foreigner at Foxwoods, Ledyard; FUBAR at Tuxedo Junction; Adva at Laszlo’s Arts Café; The Dickey Betts Band at The Webster Theatre, Larry McCray opening; Moppin’ Sauce at Fat Daddy’s, Watertown;

September 24 — Culture Club and Hall and Oates at Mohegan Sun’s Uncas Pavilion.