*TREBLEHOOK returns this month to The Fireside Inn. The guys will be at 123 Main Street South on Friday, December 8, at 9 pm. Andy Spencer dropped off a note to announce the show this week, and also included mention of some new music he and bandmates Alan Morgan and Brian Morgan have been working on over the summer.

*Bill Piccirillo, Jr scored himself quite a coup when he landed THE ZOO to play at his club’s grand opening night this weekend. Mr Piccirillo is the owner of Hot Shots II, the sports bar and restaurant at the corner of Route 25 and 6 in Newtown — the previous home to Sogno, Sweetbriar, and the long-ago Taunton Tavern. Keep your fingers crossed: Mr Piccirillo’s business sense may be the one that pulls the building at 130 Mt Pleasant Road out of the loop that continues to collapse businesses at a frightening rate.

But Mr Piccirillo, who has had his restaurant quietly open for a few weeks now in order to get his feet and those of his staff wet, is already off to a good start by booking one of the area’s favorite club bands. The Zoo, as mentioned a moment ago, will be playing at the Newtown club this weekend. Friday, December 1, will be the official grand opening for Hot Shots II (the original Hot Shots continues to operate in Ricky’s Shopping Center on Main Street South). There will be a cover charge, but there will also be raffles and giveaways, drink specials, and all the live music the band can fit in between 10 pm and closing.

The following night, music continues with THE GUTTER BOOGIE BAND, and music, Mr Piccirillo said this week, is something he plans to have every Friday and Saturday night from here on out. The rest of the month’s schedule looks like this: December 8, THE SAINTS; December 9, BUMP N’’RUN; December 15, OFF THE HOOK; December 16, J&B 2000; and December 22, TURN STYLES. Details? Call the club at 270-3373.

*Same band, different party: THE ZOO has been added to the Tuxedo Junction schedule for that club’s New Year’s Eve show. Tickets for the “New Year’s Eve Bash,” as the club is calling it, are $14 in advance or $17 at the door.

Also this month, Tuxedo Junction has its next No Alcohol High School Christmas Dance Party planned. High school students age 18 and under only will be admitted to the club on Tuesday, December 26. Among the special features of the event will be giveaways of TVs, VCRs, CD players and other prizes. Call for ticket prices and start time, 748-2561.

*And finally for new news, SOL DOG returns to Classic Rock Brew Pub tonight. This time Rev, Ron, Mark and Curtis won’t be doing the Goth Sol Dog thing.

If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, you weren’t at the Danbury club’s Halloween show last month. If you’re interested in seeing some of the evidence from that show, check out The Sol Dog House at www.soldog.com. If you want to hear something much better than the MP3 file available on the site, get out to 1 Wibling Road on December 1 and see the boys in action for yourself.

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.

 

UPCOMING CONCERTS

DECEMBER 1 — The Zoo at Hot Shots II, Newtown; Sol Dog at Classic Rock Brew Pub, Danbury; The Nerds at Toad’s Place, New Haven; FUBAR at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

December 2 — Joe Rock Star at Tuxedo Junction; The Gutter Boogie Band at Hot Shots II;

December 3 — Roomful of Blues at Towne Crier Café, Pawling, NY;

December 5 — M.O.P. at Toad’s Place;

December 7 — Dio and Yngwie Malmsteen at The Webster Theatre, Hartford, Doro opening (all ages); Sweeter Than Wine at Toad’s Place;

December 8 — The Saints at Hot Shots II; Treblehook at The Fireside Inn, Newtown; After Dark at The Webster Theatre, Hartford (all ages), Grey Cell Green, Madhat, Throne and Gaiah opening; Big Orange Cone at Tuxedo Junction.

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December 9 — Limp Bizkit and Godsmack at Hartford Civic Center, DMX and Sinnistar opening; The Pilfers at Tune Inn, New Haven; Fuel at The Webster Theatre; Bump N’ Run at Hot Shots II; Peanut Jones at Tuxedo Junction;

December 10 — Dark Star Orchestra at Toad’s Place (all ages);

December 11 — Deke Party at Toad’s Place;

December 13 — Melissa Ferrick at the Webster Theatre, Sara Lee opening;

December 14 — Sizzla at Toad’s Place; Mourning Widows at The Webster Theatre; Enon at Tune Inn;

December 15 — Shakedown at Toad’s Place (all ages), Smoke the Prophet, Spiral Trance and Eclectic Nobodies opening; Aztek Trip and Angry Salad at The Webster Theatre; Off The Hook at Hot Shots II; Invaderz From Marz at Tuxedo Junction;

December 16 — J&B 2000 at Hot Shots II; The Association at Foxwoods Casino Cinedrome, Ledyard (free show); The Benjamins at Tuxedo Junction;

December 17 — Leon Redbone at Towne Crier Café.