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Stuck in the 'burbs? Here's what's happening this New Year's Eve
BY CARLY CARIOLI
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We can’t imagine why anyone with access to First Night would leave the city on New Year’s Eve, but for those stuck in the ’burbs, we offer our annual look at what’s happening in the provinces. You can go kiss Bette Midler’s brass in Connecticut; the divine one’s tour will be at the FleetCenter (617-931-2000) in Boston on January 20, but if you can’t wait, she’s at the Mohegan Sun Casino (888-226-7711) in Uncasville, Connecticut, for two nights, on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Over at the other casino, visitors to Foxwoods (800-200-2882) in Mashantucket will find out how many times the Commodores are compelled to play "Brickhouse" on any given evening. At the Palace (781-321-1660) in Saugus, the Rockpile — the official suburban rec room of Yankee hard rock since the hairspray days — hosts Mass new metal’s next wave with Tool/Staind acolytes Dogfight headlining over Cherry S/T, Crumble, and Drinkfist. Those marooned on the Cape can catch funk-metal dudes Spookie Daly Pride at Joe’s Beach Road Bar & Grill (508-255-0212) in Orleans. And the year of the blues comes to a screeching halt with sets by Shemekia Copeland at Pearl Street (413-584-7810) in Northampton, Duke Robillard at the Call (401-751-2255) in Providence, and the Grammy-nominated Roomful of Blues at the Bank Street Armory (508-679-0922) in Fall River. Providence’s answer to First Night, "Bright Night," includes an evening at AS220 (401-831-9327) with a poetry slam and dance party headlined by the electro duo Mahi Mahi. NRBQ shack up at the Iron Horse (413-584-0610) in Northampton. Local jam vets Strangefolk are exiled to the State Theater (207-780-8265) in Portland for New Year’s Eve, but they’ll warm up with a two-night stand at Harpers Ferry (617-254-9743) in Allston on Monday and Tuesday. But before we get to New Year’s Eve, we’ve got a weekend to contend with. On Friday, while Phil Spector sweats out a murder rap in LA, ex-wife Ronnie Spector will be living it up at the Mohegan Sun. Will the former Ronettes leader, who covered both Brian Wilson and Johnny Thunders on her recent Something’s Gonna Happen (Kill Rock Stars!), revive the spirit of Christmas past with a run through "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus," the Ronettes’ contribution to Phil’s immortal A Christmas Gift to You? On Saturday, knotty indie hip-hopper Alias returns to Portland for an Anticon reunion of sorts at the Space (207-828-5600). That same night in Worcester, Ralph’s Diner (508-753-9543) hosts a B-movie-lover’s dream triple bill: Satan’s Teardrops, Sasquatch and the Sickabillies, and Gein and the Graverobbers, who offer up the ultimate in retro-raunch, instro-sleaze, and zombie surf, respectively. And it wouldn’t be Christmas without the Trans Siberian Orchestra — "otherwise known as Savatage!" bawled Dee Snider to his weekly radio audience recently, this being very nearly true. The East Coast touring company of the TSO arrives Sunday at the Mohegan Sun and Tuesday at the Cumberland County Civic Center (207-775-3458) in Portland.
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