SEPTEMBER NOTES

FREE PARKING WITH PAID ADMISSION IN THE LAZ LOT BEHIND CAFE 9. ASK THE DOORMAN OR BARTENDER FOR VOUCHER WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 GO KAT GO! PRESENTS AMERICANA ROOTS GUITARIST DEKE DICKERSON ALSO APPEARING THE GAMMA RAYS 9 PM $8 COVER THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2 LOCAL INDIE ROCK THE FIELD RECORDINGS ALSO APPEARING POP HEROES THE WEE BEES 9 PM NO COVER FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 ORIGINAL MUSIC ELECTRONICA / ALTERNATIVE MEASURE ALSO APPEARING SKRATCH HAPPY GOODNIGHT BLUE MOON 9 PM $5 COVER SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 BENEFIT SHOW WALLY GATES GONZO ROCK MEMORIAL CONCERT PERFORMERS WILL INCLUDE MEMBERS FROM SOME OF NEW HAVEN’S FINEST BANDS INCLUDING 100 FACES, THE GRAVEL PIT, MALACHI KRUNCH, THE MOCKINGBIRDS, BLEACHED BLACK, DEAN AND THE DRAGSTERS, AND MANY OTHER SPECIAL GUESTS CHRIS ARNOTT REMEMBERS WALLY GATES 8 PM $10 COVER

UPON YOUR RETURN TO CAFE NINE this September, we ask that you have with you a three-ring binder with color-coded tabs, No. 2 pencils, highlighters, gym clothes on Tuesdays, and a Charlie's Angels lunchbox. Oh, and don't fill up your days with school or anything, cause it's all happening here at night, and you may have a problem with your alarm the next day.

"Twang" is a term that gets thrown around too much to describe retro guitarists, but the word practically got invented for Deke Dickerson. His masterful blend of rockabilly, surf and country comes to Cafe Nine all the way from California, courtesy of our good friends at GO KAT GO!, on Sept. 1. They also bring the great Wayne "The Train" Hancock on Sept. 7. That hillbilly hep cat is as good as his name. Come back on Sept. 11, when Bad Livers' founder Mark Rubin brings the Atomic Duo, a roots-folk group with former local kid Silas Lowe. And if that ain't enough, Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons twist rockabilly and C&W in something really hard and sleazy on Sept. 17.

No less than Kinky Friedman, the next governor of Texas, raves about Lonestar swing trio Shotgun Party, who appear on Sept. 29. The Kinkster says: "Jenny Parrott has the purest most un-decaffeinated voice this side of Loretta Lynn."

Wally Gates was a great guy, a gifted musician, and an important part of the New Haven music scene for a long time. Sadly, he passed on in December 2009, and many of his talented friends will celebrate his legacy on Sept. 4.

If you need to get you LA glam-metal mojo working, look no further then Happenin' Harry & The Haptones All Star Band, who roll in on Sept. 8. It's one of the coolest acts in the LA clubs, featuring former members of Guns ‘n' Roses, David Lee Roth's band, and Mr. Big. Extend your pinky and forefinger now!

Not enough decadence for you? Then enjoy a trip to hell with black metal/stoner rock gods Black Pyramid, from Northampton, MA, on Sept. 14.

Generating a big buzz is Charlie Mars, who comes in on Sept. 30. He makes radio-friendly rock with a variety of influences, from Springsteen to Radiohead. Catch him in a club while you still can.

Power pop alert: New Haven's own Hannah Cranna made beautiful power pop in the '90s that is right back in style today. It's been way too long since we last dug them. The Cavemen Go, Bill Beckett, Frank Critelli and Al Raebuck round out this impressive bill on Sept. 10.

Guitarist John Lefler helped define "emo" in Dashboard Confessional, but his solo music gets compared to XTC and Crowded House. Sounds good to us. See him at a special Sunday evening show on Sept. 19.

Independisc's annual Birthday Bash is always a party, and this year it features the Big Fat Combo, enjoying the buzz of their hot new CD, on Sept. 18.

Litchfield's Kath Bloom plays progressive folk, and you may remember her music from the movie "Before Sunrise" with Ethan Hawk. See her on Sept. 22.

The Toasters?! Yeah!! These NYC ska heroes will be just getting back from Europe to play C9 on Sept. 28. If you can't have a party at this show, you're in trouble, brother!