Date: Fri 25-Apr-1997

Author: SHANNON

Publication: Bee

Illustration: C

Location: A14

Quick Words:

Bush-Rossdale-Road-

Full Text:

ON THE ROAD FOR APRIL 25

GAVIN ROSSDALE is a wicked handsome man! No doubt about it! Just look at that

picture!

Rossdale and his band, BUSH (of course), returned to Connecticut last weekend

for the third time in just over the span of a year, and played another

knockout concert. Last year the band played in February at the Meadows in

Hartford, then returned for an April show at the New Haven Coliseum. On April

11, the foursome returned to the New Haven venue, this time supporting its

second album, Razorblade Suitcase (the name, by the way, is from a line in the

album's song "Synapse").

It was a convenient stop for the band, who had performed on "The Late Show

With David Letterman" the previous night. The British band not only showcased

its latest album ("Swallowed," "Greedy Fly" and "Cold Contagious"), but also

packed the show with a truckload of songs from its first album, along with

show opener "Come Down." We also got to hear "Glycerine," "Everything Zen,"

"Little Things," "Machinehead" and "Alien," the last of which was never

officially released as a single but rates among a favorite of yours truly.

The show isn't much different from last tour around - Bush presents a lot of

flashy lights, backed up with good music... a formula that is obviously

working for the band influential British magazine Q has dubbed "the biggest

British band in America since The Beatles and The Rolling Stones." And judging

by the number of fans who came out for the show - the 15,000-seat house wasn't

completely full, but there weren't a lot of empty seats, either - it's a

formula worth working a while longer.

BUSH is already scheduled to return to the area, with a show confirmed for

July 6 at Great Woods in Mansfield, Mass. That might lead to another

Connecticut show within a few days either way, but I wouldn't count on it: The

band's schedule as it stands right now has Bush playing six nights straight,

culminating in the Great Woods appearance, followed by another concert two

nights later in Montreal. That doesn't leave much travel time, never mind down

time for the guys. Tickets for Great Woods have not gone on sale yet.

Woodbury Ski Area will present its first concert of the season next month.

A Grassroots Festival (subtitled "Soon To Be Famous Tour") will be held at the

ski area/racquetball center/skateboard and inline skating facility Sunday, May

18. Headlining will be The Fiji Mariners. Also on the bill are Moxy Fruvous,

Yep, The Disco Biscuits, Somah, Jingle The Handle, 420 and Same As You.

Tickets are already on sale for this, $15 in advance if purchased at the ski

area; $17.50 at ticket outlets (like Strawberries); or $20 at the gate.

Multi-cultural concessions will be set up all day, and there will be

skateboard and inline skating exhibitions and lessons.

Rain date would be the following Sunday (May 25), but only, according to the

ski area, "due to severe weather" ...like last week's snowstorm, maybe?

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 25 - Wonderama at Tuxedo Junction, Danbury; Barenaked Ladies at Sacred

Heart University, Fairfield;

April 26 - Paradise Alley at Tuxedo Junction;

April 29 - Warrant at Toad's Place, New Haven (all ages).

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

and Center opening;

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

Tuxedo Junction, Danbury;

May 4 - The Jayhawks at Toad's Place, Blue Mountain opening;

May 5 - Sister Machine Gun at Toad's Place (all ages), Groove Fiction Sex

Ceremony opening;

May 6 - Chris Whitley at Toad's Place;

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; Roomful of Blues at Toad's Place, The

Bandidos and The Bernadettes opening;

May 18 - Grassroots Festival at Woodbury Ski Area w/ The Fiji Mariners, Moxy

Fruvous, Yep, The Disco Biscuits, Somah, Jingle The Handle, 420 & Same As You;

May 19 - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at the 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.