*MOPPIN’ SAUCE returns to its Newtown roots this weekend. The band will be in the big room at The Fireside Inn on Friday, September 22. There will be great music (of course), drink specials and other surprises all night.

*This weekend’s show by CULTURE CLUB and HALL & OATES that was to be played at Mohegan Sun has been cancelled because Culture Club has reportedly cancelled a number of its dates for the time being.

*TIM REYNOLDS will be playing a free solo acoustic show at University of Hartford this weekend. The frequent performing partner (and guitar teacher) of DAVE MATTHEWS will be performing on Saturday as part of the school’s annual fall festival.

*If you have the inclination to drive to the southeast corner of the state this weekend, college radio station WFCS-FM (107.7, which broadcasts off the campus of Central CT State University in New Britain) is presenting SMASH MOUTH, BETTER THAN EZRA and THE CORRS in a concert at the US Sub Base in Groton. This is not a bad place to see shows — perhaps you recall the summer promoter Jimmy Koplik brought in a number of shows to the same location, including VAN HALEN and LYNYRD SKYNYRD, among others (this was the summer of 1993, one year before Koplik’s baby The Meadows came to fruition in the much more centralized Hartford).

Tickets for this weekend’s show are $17.50 and can be picked up at any Strawberries Music and Video store.

*Former TWISTED SISTER frontman and the current morning DJ for radio 104 in Hartford DEE SNIDER released his debut solo record, Never Let The Bastards Wear You Down, on August 22. The album will apparently be the last for the multi-media entertainer, who has announced in a press released “I am definitely of the mind to put my musical career behind me. I see this record as the last chapter in my recording career.”

While the recording aspect may be over, Snider will be putting in a rare live appearance in October. On Saturday, October 14, Snider will be playing songs from his new album mixed in with the best of Twisted Sister at City Limits in Waterbury. Tickets for the all-ages show are $15 each, and can be purchased through any TicketMaster outlet including ticketmaster.com.

By the way, the release of Snider’s Never Let The Bastards… does not mean he will be getting off the airwaves — he will also continue to host his nationally-syndicated “House of Hair” radio program in addition to his radio 104 work — nor will it end his film career; Snider is still reportedly writing a sequel for his cult (bizarre!) film, Strangeland.

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.

 

COMING CONCERTS

SEPTEMBER 22 — Moppin’ Sauce at The Fireside Inn, Newtown; Darik & The Funbags at Toad’s Place, New Haven; The Benjamins at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Eidipus at Laszlo’s Arts Café, Monroe, 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, Hartford, Larry McCray opening; Moppin’ Sauce at Fat Daddy’s, Watertown; Tim Reynolds at University of Hartford;

September 24 — Smash Mouth, Better Than Ezra and The Corrs at the US Sub Base, Groton;

September 26 — Galactic at Toad’s Place;

September 28 — Juliana Hatfield at Tune Inn, New Haven, Mighty Purple opening;

September 29 —John Valby at Toad’s Place; The Wallbangers at Tuxedo Junction; Electric Mayhem at Laszlo’s Arts Café; Josh Rouse at Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art, Ridgefield (Aldrich After Hours series, begins 7 pm); Off The Hook at Carl Anthony’s, Monroe; Mighty Purple at Husky Blues, Storrs;

September 29 & 30 — Alabama at Foxwoods Casino;

September 30 — The Royal Crowns at Tune Inn; Them Bones at Tuxedo Junction; Mighty Purple at Acoustic Café, Fairfield (Jon & Steve only, acoustic performance); punk bands festival at Laszlo’s Arts Café (call for bands list).

OCTOBER 1 —Joan Osborne at Toad’s Place, New Haven (all ages); Mighty Purple at Hungry Tiger Café, Manchester (Jon & Steve only, acoustic performance).

October 3 — Kiss at Mohegan Sun’s Uncas Pavilion, Uncasville, Skid Row opening;

October 6 — Black 47 at Toad’s Place;

October 8 — America at Mohegan Sun Casino’s Wolf Den (free show); Mighty Purple at Hungry Tiger Café (Jon & Steve only, acoustic performance);

October 9 — De La Soul at Toad’s Place.