After 12 years fronting cult band American Music Club, singer Mark Eitzel went solo. His fourth release in three years, 1998's Caught in a Trap and I Can't Back Out 'Cause I Love You Too Much, Baby, features Eitzel's trademark dark, dolorous tunes with help from Sonic Youth drummer Steve Shelley and Yo La Tengo bassist James McNew.

Mark Eitzel tour dates:

Dec. 22; San Francisco, Calif.; Great American Music Hall

Jan. 21; Cambridge, Mass.; Middle East Club

Jan. 22; Hoboken, N.J.; Maxwell's

Jan. 23; New York, N.Y.; Tonic

Jan. 25; Arlington, Va.; IOTA Club & Cafe

Jan. 26; Philadelphia, Pa.; Tin Angel

Folk-country singer/songwriter Richard Buckner will play his

passionate, heartbreaking songs on several dates through March, beginning

with a New Year's Eve performance in Edmonton, Alberta. His critically

acclaimed 1994 debut, Bloomed, was reissued with five bonus tracks

June 8.

Richard Buckner tour dates:

Dec. 31; Edmonton, Alberta; Black Dog

Jan. 19–20; San Francisco, Calif.; Bottom of the Hill

Jan. 21; Santa Monica, Calif.; McCabe's

Feb. 18; Seattle, Wash.; Tractor Tavern

March 30; Clinton, N.Y.; Acoustic Coffeehouse

March 31; New York, N.Y.; Mercury Lounge

Hard-rocker-turned-epic-balladeer Meat Loaf has had a busy few

months, appearing on talk shows, seeing the release of his albums and

movies, and touring all the while. His latest release, a collection of

hits as played during his appearance on "VH1 Storytellers," was released

Sept. 14.

Meat Loaf tour dates:

Dec. 22; Dayton, Ohio; Memorial Hall

Dec. 27–29, 31, Jan. 1; New York, N.Y.; Beacon Theatre

Jan. 5; Clearwater, Fla.; Ruth Eckerd Hall

Jan. 6; Orlando, Fla.; Hard Rock Live

Jan. 8; Jacksonville, Fla.; Florida Theatre

Jan. 9; Miami, Fla.; Gusman Cultural Center

Jan. 11; Atlanta, Ga.; Tabernacle

Jan. 13–14; Robinsonville, Miss.; Horseshoe Casino

Jan. 16; Dallas, Texas; McFarlin Auditorium

Jan. 21–22; Kelseyville, Calif.; Konocti Harbor Resort

Metal band Staind continue touring the Eastern states behind their

major-label debut, Dysfunction, released in April. Catch them New

Year's Eve in Boston with fellow hard-rockers Godsmack, Reveille

and Tree.

Staind tour dates:

Dec. 31; Boston, Mass.; Bayside Expo Center (with Godsmack, Reveille, Tree)

Jan. 14; Portland, Maine; Asylum

Jan. 15; Lancaster, Pa.; Chameleon

Jan. 16; Springfield, Mass.; Springfield Civic Center

Feb. 1; Old Bridge, N.J.; Birch Hill Nite Club

Feb. 2; State College, Pa.; Crowbar

Feb. 3; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Metropol

Feb. 4; Norfolk, Va.; Riverview Theatre

Feb. 11; Atlanta, Ga.; Cotton Club