Date: Fri 11-Apr-1997

Author: SHANNON

Publication: Bee

Illustration: C

Quick Words:

Road-Metallica-Apocalyptica

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD FOR APRIL 11

Now here 's something you don't hear everyday! On Tuesday, Mercury Records

released the debut album by a band called Apocalyptica. Coming out of Finland,

these four cellists from Helsinki perform their favorite METALLICA songs on

their cellos.

Students at Sibelius Academy, Eicca Toppinen, Max Lilja, Antero Manninen and

Paavo Lotjonen started playing around with the idea of Metallica on cello

about four years ago. After playing around and experimenting with this sound

for three years on their own, Apocalyptica put this music to the test, booking

a show at a local metal club. Surprisingly, the show was a monster hit, with

the audience singing along to "Master of Puppets" by the show's end, and the

guys were quickly signed to a record deal.

To select the songs found on the debut album, aptly titled Apocalyptica Plays

Metallica By Four Cellos , Toppinen went through the collection of Metallica

albums he had amassed during his ten years as a fan of the band. With the

cello being a very physically demanding instrument on which to perform, there

was a limit to the Metallica songs the musicians were going to be able to

play. Fast solos, they decided, were definitely out of the question.

With a lot of other material to choose from, however, Apocalyptica has

released its album with an interesting mix of sounds, with hits like "Enter

Sandman," "Master of Puppets" and "The Unforgiven" in there along with

"Harvester of Sorrow," "Sad But True," "Creeping Death," "Wherever I May Roam"

and "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)."

The foursome has already opened for THE SEX PISTOLS, BAD RELIGION and

SEPULTURA. No word heard on what James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Jason Newsted

and Kirk Hammett think of the effort.

The Meadows Music Theatre has added another show to its summer itinerary.

Tickets go on sale Saturday morning for an August 2 show by THE WHO at the

Hartford venue. The Gold Circle tickets are the high end of the scale, at $48

each, the rest of the Pavilion is $33 a seat. Lawn tickets are $22.50 each.

So what is the big deal about SMASHING PUMPKINS' new single, "Eye"? They

performed that song at their last concert in Connecticut, and I found it

fairly unremarkable then... I really don't see what the big deal is now, but

radio is playing it and praising like it's the newest wonder since sliced

bread ( Wonder ... sliced bread ... get it??! I made a funny!). It's like BECK

- really, what's the big deal there???

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 send me your cyber thoughts at editor @thebee.com (put

Attention Shannon on the subject line). Include a phone number for

confirmation, por favor . 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. Leave a name, though, because anonymous messages left with the

receptionist don't cut it.

UPCOMING CONCERTS

APRIL 11 - Bush at the New Haven Coliseum, Veruca Salt opening; Fiction at

Tuxedo Junction; ElectricWater at Boppers, Danbury;

April 12 - The Zoo at Tuxedo Junction; ElectricWater at The Avenue Cafe,

Fairfield;

April 13 - Fountains of Wayne at Toad's Place; ElectricWater at Shenanigans,

South Norwalk;

April 14 - Soul Asylum at Toad's Place, Johnny Brave opening (all ages);

April 17 - Product of Society at Tuxedo Junction;

April 18 - Ani DiFranco at The Palace, New Haven; Foam at Tuxedo Junction;

April 19 - ElectricWater at Bailey's, Monroe; Widespread Panic at The Palace;

Bob Dylan at the University of Hartford; Bellybutton at Tuxedo Junction;

April 20 - Agnostic Front at Tuxedo Junction (all ages, early), The Business,

War Zone, 25 Ta Life and Hatebreed opening; Strutter at Toad's Place, Devlyn

Grace opening; Radio 104 Earth Day in the Park, Bushnell Park, Hartford;

April 21 - Dinosaur Jr at Toad's Place (all ages);

April 22 - Dick Dale at Toad's Place;

April 24 - Wescon Cabaret at Tuxedo Junction;

April 25 - Wonderama at Tuxedo Junction;

April 26 - Paradise Alley at Tuxedo Junction.

MAY 2 - Marshall Tucker Band at Toad's Place, New Haven, Johnson Building Band

opening;

May 3 - ElectricWater at Wings Cafe/Sikorsky Airport, Stratford; Toybox at

Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

May 7 - Marilyn Manson at the Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford, Helmet and

Rasputina opening;

May 8 - The Nields at Tuxedo Junction;

May 9 - John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers at Toad's Place, Smokin Opey and

Cross-Eyed Cat opening;

May 10 - Ray Davies at UHartford/Lincoln Theatre;

May 15 - Entrain at Tuxedo Junction;

May 19 - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at Webster Theatre, Hartford;

May 20 - Collective Soul at the Webster Theatre, Hartford (all ages);

May 30 - The Nerds at Tuxedo Junction.

JUNE 8 - Dave Matthews Band at the Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford, Bela Fleck

& The Flecktones opening.

AUGUST 2 - The Who at the Meadows Music Theatre, Hartford;

August 27 - Jimmy Buffett at the Meadows Music Theatre.