*radio 104 morning DJ DEE SNIDER will be playing what he says is one of his last live shows this weekend. The former TWISTED SISTER frontman is going to be in Waterbury this weekend, playing at City Limits Saturday night.

Snider has just released his own solo record, called Never Let The Bastards Wear You Down, which I would imagine is a shot at, among others, record company execs. Snider had a tough time with some bigwigs a few years ago when he was working with a band called Desperado. That band, with Snider on vocals, also featured Bernie Torme on guitar, Marc Russel on bass and Clive Burr on drums. Desperado recorded a full album, Bloodied But Unbowed, and even toured, but red tape and other problems between the band and their record company forced the 13-track album to be shelved in the US and is now only a rare release in the foreign market.

Meanwhile, Snider seems to be enjoying himself with his program, “Dee Snider Radio,” the weekday morning show on radio 104 out of Hartford. I’ve been listening to it since he started and he sounded very comfortable with the format right from the get-go (although I admit I still sometimes miss the banter between Jake and Beth, the previous paring for the morning slot). His ratings are explosive. In the first ten months on the air, Snider and the morning show went from tenth place in the Hartford markter to fourth, from a 3 share to a 13.5, with the largest leap taking place this past June.

Snider also continues to present his “House of Hair” program, which is syndicated across the country on 84 stations. The weekly broadcast is a journey back to what Snider calls “old-school, lipstick and leather rock n’ roll” of the Eighties, the “music of the heaviest of decades.” Local stations presenting the show include WPDH 101.5 out of Poughkeepsie and of course his home station, radio 104/WMRQ (104.1 FM) in Hartford.

And work on StrangeLand 2 continues. This is the sequel to the entertainer’s really bizarre film that came out a few years ago. The script is finished, but shooting has been delayed. Budget problems.

So what does all of this mean? It means Snider is having a great time with his life right now and while he may not be planning on performing much in the future, he is currently in a good place. Look for a great show from this guy this weekend.

Doors will be opening Saturday night at 8 pm, and the show is open to all ages. Tickets are $15 for age 21 and over, $18 for the underage crowd. City Limits is at 57 East Main Street. Call 203/757-7961 if you need directions.

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

OCTOBER 13 — Sol Dog at Jimmy’s Seaside, Stamford; Jess Klein at Acoustic Café, Bridgeport; New Life Crises at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Jurassic 5 and Dilated Peoples at Toad’s Place, New Haven, Supernatural and The Beat Junkies opening (all ages); Off The Hook/Joe Proc at Carl Anthony’s, Monroe (solo acoustic show);

October 14 — Dee Snider at City Limits, Waterbury (all ages); Amy Gallatin at Acoustic Café; The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction; Lucinda at Bank Street Coffee House, New Milford;

October 15 — Funky Meters at Toad’s Place, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey and Santa’s Boyfriend opening (all ages); Mighty Purple at Hungry Tiger Café (Jon & Steve only, acoustic performance);

October 17 — Sunny Day Real Estate at Toad’s Place, Euphone opening (all ages);

October 19 — Alice Cooper at the Oakdale Theatre, Wallingford; Devon at Acoustic Café; Beenie Man at Toad’s Place, Tanto Metro & Devonte & Bo Jangles Muzic opening (all ages);

October 20 — Max Creek at Toad’s Place, Psychedelic Breakfast opening (all ages); Marc Teamaker & The Jackie Martino Band at Acoustic Café; Joe Rock Star at Tuxedo Junction; Off The Hook/Joe Proc at Putnam House, Bethel (solo acoustic show);

October 21 — Jennifer Kimball at Acoustic Café; Big Orange Cone at Tuxedo Junction;

October 22 — Mighty Purple at Hungry Tiger Café (Jon & Steve only, acoustic performance); The Misfits at The Webster Theatre, Hartford, with The Dillinger Escape Plan, Murphy’s Law and Shadows Fall also performing; GWAR at Toad’s Place, Amen opening (all ages);

October 26 — Gregg Allman and Friends at the Oakdale Theatre; The Listings and The Givin at Toad’s Place, Saffron and Farewood opening;

October 27 — Men at Work at Mohegan Sun Casino’s Wolf Den (free show); radio 104 StrangeJam with The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at CT Expo Center, Hartford, also 2 Skinnee J’s, Sum 41, Flogging Molly, and The Little Kingz; Anne Marie Menta & Friends at Acoustic Café; Them Bones at Tuxedo Junction; Type O Negative at Toad’s Place (all ages); Off The Hook/Joe Proc at Carl Anthony’s (solo acoustic show);

October 28 — Grapes of Vaudevillian Fantasy at Acoustic Café; Invaderz From Mars at Tuxedo Junction (Halloween Party); Off The Hook at Mimi’s, Danbury.