Date: Fri 24-Sep-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNON

Quick Words:

Smithereens-Maniacs-Vai

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD FOR SEPTEMBER 24

The Sandy Hook trio TREBLEHOOK has a pair of shows coming up in the immediate

future. Brian Morgan (lead guitar and vocals), Andy Spencer (guitar, banjo and

vocals) and Alan Morgan (guitar, vocals and harmonica) will be at Kafe

International in Cheshire on Friday, October 1. For details on that show, call

the cafe directly at 272-4276.

Then on Friday, October 8, the trio will be right here in town, performing at

G.P. Cheffield's beginning at 8:30. For details on that show, call 270-6717.

Just weeks away from entering a new decade, the onslaught of all things

Eighties continues in full force. DOKKEN will be at The Webster Theatre in

Hartford on Wednesday, October 13. Fellow big hair boys GREAT WHITE will play

the opening set.

Still Speaking of All Things Eighties, whatever happened to THE SMITHEREENS?

Well, nothing really... Nothing bad, anyway. 20 years after forming, the band

is still together and is about to release God Save The Smithereens , its

eighth studio release and the first on the Velvel label (a change for the

band, previously heard on the Capitol/EMI and RCA labels).

The new album includes 13 tracks and the first single, "She's Got A Way," is

expected out momentarily; the album itself is scheduled to be released on

October 19. The new single is not a cover of Billy Joel's 1978 song of the

same name. The album features 11 more originals and a cover of Billie

Holiday's "Gloomy Sunday."

So why all the chit-chat about The Smithereens? Because just two days after

God Save The Smithereens is released, the band will be in New Haven at Toad's

Place. The October 21 date is part of a five-week fall tour the band will be

doing. A fuller tour is expected for spring 2000.

Tickets for the all-ages show are $10 in advance and $15 at the door. There is

no opener listed yet. (hooray!)

Also new on the Toad's Place schedule is an October 5 show, "An Evening with

GEORGE CLINTON & THE PARLIAMENT FUNKADE"; an all-ages show by BUJU BANTON &

BERES HAMMOND, October 14; SHANNON CURFMAN, October 25, all ages; THEY MIGHT

BE GIANTS, October 29, all ages; another "evening with" show, this one by MR

BUNGLE, November 6, also all ages and this one with an early start; MAX CREEK,

November 12, all ages; and JARS OF CLAY, December 7, also all ages. The final

change this week is the all-ages status for the STEVE VAI show in November.

A return to time even earlier than the Eighties will take place at The Warner

Theatre in Torrington this weekend, when DAVID-CLAYTON THOMAS and BLOOD, SWEAT

& TEARS take the stage Saturday night. Tickets for the 8 pm show range from

$19.50 to $37.50 apiece.

10,000 MANIACS will be at Foxwoods' Cinedrome Nite Club (their spelling, not

mine) on Saturday, October 9. It's a late start for the band -- 11 pm -- but

the show is a freebie, so there's a balance there somewhere.

The fairly quiet Palace Theatre in New Haven will wake up a little in November

when Grateful Dead member BOB WEIR brings his band RATDOG into town. The band

has a show on Sunday, November 14. Tickets went on sale September 18 for that

show, but there should still be plenty of good seats available.

SUGAR RAY is returning to the state, less than two months after the band's

concert with GOO GOO DOLLS and FASTBALL at the Meadows (August 21). The band

will be at Quinnipiac College in Hamden on October 11.

Until next week, I'll be seeing you... on the road, wondering when common

sense will kick in with people who can't be bothered to turn their headlights

on when it's raining, drizzling or even foggy out.

Questions and comments concerning "On The Road" (or anything music related)

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! 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 24 -- Black 47 at Toad's Place, New Haven, The Reilly Clan, The

Frames and The Limit opening; The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; radio 104

Big Day Off '99 at The Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford (with 311, Everclear,

Verve Pipe, Guster, Staind, et al); Nazal Navigators at Laszlo's Arts Cafe,

Monroe;

September 25 -- Big Orange Cone at Tuxedo Junction; Lynn Farrell and Festival

at Laszlo's Arts Cafe; David-Clayton Thomas and Blood, Sweat & Tears at The

Warner Theatre, Torrington;

September 26 -- Nelson at Tuxedo Junction;

September 28 -- The Watchmen at Toad's Place (all ages), Mad Hat and Hi-Fi

Automatic opening;

September 30 -- Zen Tricksters at Toad's Place (all ages), Space Cushion and

Dirty Sanchez opening; Hash Clyde at Laszlo's Arts Cafe.