NOISE

How does rock stardom compare to Broadway stage stardom [Finnerty has toured with Hair and Stomp]?

Who is the most mind-blowing person that's caught one of your shows?

Once when we were doing a show, all of the sudden the dressing-room door opened, and Gene Simmons from Kiss walked in. But then he kind of talked like the aardvark from The Pink Panther, or like Jackie Mason. He's like, "Hey! I'm Gene! Someone told me to come see the show! So I'm here to see the show!" And he shook all of our hands and backed out the door, and then I basically shit myself. So that was random, seeing Gene Simmons at our show. And another good one was when Alanis Morissette called and asked us to sing "You Oughta Know" with her at the House of Blues in LA. She was filming something for an A&E special. That was crazy.

Do you have any musical inspirations who are in fact not female?

You know, Styx is pretty kick-ass, if you're gonna go back. That's good drama-anthem rock. And Steve Perry.

How has public reaction been to your Christmas album?

So far it's been good. People have liked it. In reality we're singing all cover songs, but then I don't know why, but I suddenly had all this integrity, writing all these original Christmas songs when every other artist in the world just does Christmas covers.

Any New Year's resolutions?

I haven't had time to think of anything yet. I don't even remember my goals from last year. I think I'll start with eating less cheese.

Smash Mouth singer Steve Harwell appeared on the sixth incarnation of VH1's The Surreal Life. One of his housemates was Tawny Kitaen, the onetime girlfriend of Tommy Lee, whose Rock Star: Supernova reality show featured guest judge Butch Walker. Walker has produced tracks for the All American Rejects, whose "Dirty Little Secret" appeared on July's John Tucker Must Die soundtrack. The soundtrack also included OK Go's "This Will Be Our Year." OK Go hails from Chicago, as does the band of the same name. Vocalist/bassist Peter Cetera appeared on Billy Joel's 52nd Street; Joel performed at the October 20, 2001 Concert for New York City alongside Five for Fighting.

Conflicted about whether to see Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Van Morrison or neo-soul empress Erykah Badu at Mandalay Bay on Saturday? Snag low-end tix for both and see half-and-half. A few choice cuts to prep you:

1. Erykah Badu, "Apple Tree" (Baduizm, 1997) Anyone not want to hang out with Erykah and her artsy friends?

2. Van Morrison, "Astral Weeks" (Astral Weeks, 1968) Spinal shivers, courtesy of the 23-year-old George Ivan Morrison.

3. Erykah Badu, "Tyrone" (Live, 1997) "See every time you come around/You got to bring Jim, James, Paul and Tyrone." Guaranteed to bring the house down, every time.

4. Van Morrison, "Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)" (Saint Dominic's Preview, 1972) We love the brooding ballads best, but his early pop songs were none too shabby either.

5. Erykah Badu, "Danger" (Worldwide Underground, 2003) Extra credit if you can chant the "block on lock" chorus without getting tongue-tied.

6. Van Morrison, "Linden Arden Stole the Highlights" (Veedon Fleece, 1974) Van's '70s albums are loaded with semi-obscure gems like this.

7. Erykah Badu, "Orange Moon" (Mama's Gun, 2000) Whatever you do, make sure you hit HOB in time for this elegant trip to Billie Holidayville.

THE SHYS


ASTORIA (1 1/2 stars)

The Hives are reborn, now based in Los Angeles and calling themselves The Shys. Wait, these guys are actually a new band, and Kyle Krone isn't just some Pelle Almqvist pseudonym? Okay, to be fair, not everything on Astoria sounds exactly like a bad Hives imitation. A couple of tunes sound more like bad Oasis playacting.

THE NEW ROMANTICS


LOVE LETTERS & DEATH THREATS (3 1/2 stars)

Their names alone intrigued us, but the two Joeys (Thomas and Lowe), Brian Stylz, Lucky Dagger and Neil Impossible who comprise The New Romantics also play guitar-shredding, balls-to-the-wall, good-time tunes about drinking, girls, wasting time, and rocking and/or rolling. Plus, the Phoenix fivesome have opened for Mötley Crüe—consider us sold!