Well, you no doubt have heard about the famous Quizno's Coyote of Chicago, but have you heard about the city's gangster-loving 'gator?

America's favorite weekly "wiseguys" from the hit television crime drama, "The Sopranos," are getting bitten by the blues yet again by Chicago's Alligator Records.

On the April 8 episode, viewers heard Chicago blues guitar legend Lonnie Brooks performing the song "It's Your World," from his classic Alligator CD release, "Roadhouse Rules."

Now comes word that Alligator's Little Charlie & The Nightcats will be heard on the show's April 29 episode. The group's song "Slap Happy," featured on its new album, "Nine Lives," was hand-picked by the show's producers for use in a special scene.

Area fans of the group can hear "Slap Happy" a week earlier, by catching red-hot guitarist Little Charlie Baty and his Nightcats busting it out live at Buddy Guy's Legends (754 S. Wabash). The Sacramento-based jump blues combo's tour supporting the 13-song "Nine Lives" CD stops at Chicago's most famous blues joint April 21.

Music notes

* While thanking local music fans from the stage as he was accepting his "Favorite Regional Songwriter" award at last the March 31st "Midwest BEAT Regional Music Awards" gala, singer/songwriter Chad Clifford announced his band, The Crawpuppies, has begun work on the follow-up to its highly acclaimed debut CD, "Peaceful Amnesty." The quartet has been tracking the new tunes at recording studios in both Valparaiso and Chicago. "It's coming along very well and we're shooting for a fall release," Clifford said.

To appease the group's local following until then, a new DVD -- "Crawpuppies Live At The Double Door: Chicago" -- will be released at the end of April. The footage was recorded in front of a huge audience last July as the group played its hearts out during the final round for the Emergenzia Music Festival.

* Drummer/vocalist Mike Columbo of local band, The Muddsharks, e-mailed to report he has officially given up his drum throne and is now at the front of the stage wielding his microphone as he belts out songs.

Taking over beat-keeping duties is former Notch House drummer, Rob Crider. Also new to the group is keyboardist Matt Novotney (ex-Calico Cats).

Columbo noted that the reconstituted lineup plans to focus a lot of time and efforts on writing original material. More info at themuddsharks.tripod.com.

* Valparaiso singer/guitarist Bob "Lefty" Shudick has reformed a mostly original line-up of his once popular Northwest Indiana club band, All Tooned Up. Back in action with rhythm picker Shudick is bassist Mike Comstock and guitarist Rick Scobey. Original drummer Greg Shaginaw opted out of the reformation and has been replaced on the kit by Matt Mengel from Crown Point.

* Keyboardist Keenan Baxter of Valparaiso (www.keenanbaxter.com) wrote an original instrumental song dedicated to the U.S. fighting forces in Iraq. His song, "Tapestry of Freedom," can be heard online by logging on to the national military Web site: www.americasupportsyou.mil

* Porter County rock band Drena Reign is back in action after a long absence following the departure of its drummer, who has been replaced with a drum machine the band stressed sounds just like an acoustic drum kit. The down time was spent programming its new "member" and rehearsing to tighten up now that they play to perfect meter.

* Vocalist Mike Meadows formerly of the Chicago recording group, Ditchwater, has joined up as the new throat for Northwest Indiana hard rock group, Chasing Fear (www.chasingfearmusic.com).

* Ditchwater has had a revolving door in its vocals department since its 1990s beginning. The newest one being a Madison, Wis., transplant named Mike Loomis. The group already is writing and rehearsing songs for its next album, to be recorded in early summer.

In the interim, Ditchwater is keeping fans busy during the change-over by issuing an exclusive iTunes-only album, "Sacred Relics," composed of 13 tracks taken from Ditchwater recordings originally recorded in 2000 and 2001, featuring vocals from yet two earlier vocalists, Eric Chez and Bill Matthews.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at beatboss@aol.com.