Date: Fri 17-Sep-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNON

Quick Words:

Watchmen-Tizzard-Gasball-Ezra

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD WITH SHANNON HICKS

Spoke with KEN TIZZARD, the bass player for THE WATCHMEN, on Tuesday

afternoon, the same day the band's US debut on Capitol Records was being

released. Called Silent Radar , the album is the band's fourth release

although it's the first to be fully released in the United States.

Lead singer Daniel Greaves, guitarist Joey Serlin and drummer Sammy Kohn have

been playing in bands together since age 16, when they were primarily covering

other artists. The band is based in Canada, and three of its four members have

known each other since their kindergarten days (all three are from the same

neighborhood in Winnepeg, in fact, and Greaves and Kohn are cousins). The

Watchmen was formed by 1988, and Toronto-based Tizzard joined the band in late

1992, so none of these guys are new to the music scene... just to the US one.

Silent Radar and its first single, "Stereo," is now out, like I said, and it's

a very good album. It's very guitar-based rock, a nice slice from the

"alt-rock" sounds that have all but permeated too many of the radio airwaves

lately. The Watchmen's shows focus on the music and its sound, not the flashy

light shows too many concerts seem to fall back on. The band has a strong

following in its home country, of course, as well as in Europe and Australia.

Now the group is hoping to break into the market in lower North America. A

five-week stint while based in Chicago earlier this summer gave The Watchmen a

good start, and shows on the East Coast begin this week. On Friday the band

will be at The Bottom Line in New York City as part of the weekend-long CMJ

Festival. The good news is next week The Watchmen have their first of two

shows in Connecticut. On the 22nd, the band will be at The Webster Underground

in Hartford. The following week, on September 28, the group headlines at

Toad's Place in New Haven. A full story on the group will run in next week's

"Enjoy" section. Until then, try to find yourself a copy of this album.

A couple of reminders for you this week. First, the 6th Annual Gasball Music

Festival will be on the CityCenter Green in Danbury this weekend. The music

starts at noon on Saturday, September 18, and goes on until midnight. With the

bands performing under the green's bandshell, the event goes on Hurricane

Floyd or shine. Admission to the festival is free of charge. Refreshments will

be sold, and additional vendors will also be set up with T-shirts, recordings

and other goodies.

Among this year's performers are LITMUS, THE HERETICS, BLUE, DAMIEN PRATT and

FRO. If you'd like additional information, Gasball organizers can be reached

at 792-3546 or 836-8273.

Next Friday, finally, is the latest incarnation of radio 104's Big Day Off.

Once again, here are the stats: Friday, September 24, at The Meadows Music

Theatre in Hartford. Gates open 2 pm, the music starts at 3. Tickets are $15

for the lawn area, $25 for reserved seats, and are available through any

Pro-Tix outlet. Band list is 311, EVERCLEAR, VERVE PIPE, PUBLIC ENEMY, GUSTER,

AZTEK TRIP, PUSHSTARS, UNCLE HO, CHAVELLE and FACE TO FACE.

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

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 17 -- Harvey & The Wallbangers at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; John

Valby at Toad's Place, Danbury;

September 18 -- 6th Annual Gasball Music Festival, CityCenter Green, Danbury

(noon-midnight, free adm), performances by Litmus, The Heretics, Blue, Damien

Pratt, Fro, et al; Channeling Jim at Tuxedo Junction; Better Than Ezra at The

Webster Theatre, Hartford; Belligerance and Point of View at Laszlo's Arts

Cafe, Monroe;

September 19 -- Lollapalooza Music & Skate Jam at Woodbury Ski Area;

September 21 -- Sun Volt at Toad's Place (all ages), Continental Drifters

opening;

September 22 -- The Watchmen at The Webster Underground, Hartford;

September 23 -- Burning Spear at Toad's Place (all ages), The Lightning

opening; Billy McLaughlin at Towne Crier Cafe, Pawling, N.Y.;

September 24 -- Black 47 at Toad's Place, The Reilley Clan and The Frames

opening; The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction; radio 104 Big Day Off '99 at The

Meadows Music Theatre (with 311, Everclear, Verve Pipe, Guster, Staind, et

al); Nazal Navigators at Laszlo's Arts Cafe;

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

at Laszlo's Arts Cafe;

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.