Cudmore plays Felix, one of the Volturi guard, in the new film that’s expected to be one of 2009’s biggest hits. He’ll also appear in “Eclipse,” the third installment of the franchise, next summer.

According to IMDB.com, Cudmore, 28, broke his leg while at Gannon and left the school to return home in Vancouver. He also played Colossus in “X2.” 

 Speaking of actors, Girard’s Marc Blucas – who was serenaded by Train’s Pat Monahan at his summer wedding — will give a talk at Mercyhurst College on Dec. 17 at Walker Recital Hall.

Comedians Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood of improv show “Whose Line Is It, Anyway?” will perform Nov. 30 at Edinboro University’s Cole Auditorium. Tickets are $25 if you get them by Friday; otherwise the price goes up to $30. You can buy them online at www.edinborotickets.com.

Their appearance basically makes Erie a regular Comedy Central in coming weeks. We also have Mike Epps at Bayfront Convention Center on Nov. 29, and sound-effect comedian Michael Winslow at Jr.’s Lat Laugh on Nov. 27-28.

When Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band wrap their American tour at Buffalo’s HSBC Arena on Nov. 22, they’ll play “Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J.” in its entirety. They haven’t done that at any other stop, which ought to make for a special show.

Makes sense, considering the game has already hosted a Beatle and the Rolling Stones. The NFL has yet to confirm that, however.

Speaking of Stones, Jumpin’ Jack Flash, the terrific, Pittsburgh-based Stones’ tribute with two Erie natives, will return to Docksider on Nov. 21. Don’t miss them.

After debuting at No. 17 on Billboard’s Hot 200 album chart, Train’s “Save Me, San Francisco” drops to No. 70. That’s not a good sign. Hopefully the single “Hey, Soul Sister” crosses over to Top 40. That would ignite the CD. The title track is another good single bet. Train hopes to be part of a package amphitheater in 2010, Pat Monahan told me. He couldn’t name which acts they might tour with but mentioned All-American Rejects as one band he wouldn’t mind hitting the road with.

Train was on “The Today Show” on Friday morning.

Billboard reports the Judds will hit the road together in 2010, and that Liam Gallagher has started a new band with his former Oasis band mates  — minus brother Noel, of course. James Taylor and Carole King will also tour together next year.

This was also a family gathering.

During a 19-song, 105-minute set, Monahan invited daugher Emelia on stage to help him sing “Hey, Soul Sister,” the rootsy, sunny, sing-a-long hit from new album “Save Me, San Francisco.”

Later, Monahan’s son Patrick  emerged with acoustic guitar and accompanied his father and Train guitarist Jimmy Stafford on “Hopeless,” a rarely performed track from “Drops of Jupiter.”

Those are moments no other crowds will ever get to see, and they lent a strong personal stamp to a satisfying, feel-good evening. Monahan has become quite a showman, orchestrating comedy bits and audience interaction with deft charm and sly wit.

He invited four young girls on stage –  the Trainettes, he dubbed them — to help out on “She’s on Fire”; while humorously playing “matchmaker” for Stafford during “Save the Day.”

That kind of shtick can slow a show down but they only added to the warmth and entertainment. Monahan, meanwhile, was in total command on stage but in a relaxed, confident way. He may not be Michael Jackson in the dance department but he has a funky, loose-limbed , twirling style that’s all his own and  works for him.

An upper-respiratory illness forced Monahan and Train to cancel two earlier shows but he sounded strong Saturday, even electing to belt out parts of When I Look to the Sky” without a microphone. He earned rapturous applause for that bravura.

Monahan also gave Erie plenty of love. “When we start on a tour, we usually play all the big cities first, then we continue to the smaller cities,” he said, after emerging for the first encore.  “We can’t make Erie a second city.”

He also referenced Erie in song, kicking off a three-song acoustic set with “Lincoln Avenue”  and accentuating the “back where I started” line in “Free.”

Train played a flowing, nicely paced set, that intermingled hits like Grammy-winner “Drops of Jupiter” and first hit “Meet Virginia” with the best songs from their new album, including high-gusto title track “Save Me, San Francisco.”

After joking that he doesn’t know any Led Zeppelin, Monahan sang a sparkling version of “Going to California.” Train later covered Aerosmith’s “Dream  On,” which they’ve done before, with Monahan nailing those hard-to-reach high-register wails once again, despite his recent vocal issues.

Train is all about the songs, not flashiness, but guitarist Stafford stepped up for a brief for but electrifying solo in “Free.”  Drummer and high-hat lover Scott Underwood handled Train’s disparate styles: rock, folk-rock, funk, and delicate ballads with equal ease.

Monahan closed the show solo on acoustic guitar with the tender, hushed “Marry Me,” which he sang at the wedding of Marc Blucas earlier this summer. It was an effective, low-key way to end perhaps the strongest show yet that Train has given in Monahan’s hometown.

Pittsburgh’s long-running Clarks opened with a too-brief but still-solid set, accentuating their remarkable new CD, “Restless Days.” Adding a pedal-steel player to the mix, lends more of an alt-country vibe and occasional twang that suits them on songs like “Sunshine” and springy “Trampoline.”

They reached back for “Penny on the Floor” and “Let It Go” was rollicking, hand-clapping fun. I could have gone for more than 10 songs…guess we’ll have to wait for their Penn State Behrend show on Dec. 3.

Look for another story on Pat Monahan, including quotes from his band mates, in Saturday’s Weekend edition of the Erie Times-News. Pat graciously gave a second interview, despite battling an upper-respiratory problem that forced Train to cancel two shows and put him on vocal rest. We appreciate him taking time out for Erie, but then again, this is one reason why he’s succeeded all these years. He’s a pro who  makes time for the media and, of course, remembers where he came from.

Halestorm will open for Shinedown and Papa Roach on Dec. 6 at Tullio Arena. The fourth band has yet to be announced.

Jay-Z and Young Jeezy will play Pittsburgh’s Mellon Arena on March 16. Tickets go on sale Nov. 13 at livenation.com.

Mayday Parade returns to Forward Hall in Erie on Dec. 3. Jason Ricci and New Blood bring their “Done with the Devil” band to Erie’s Avalon Hotel on Nov. 15. The venue was switched from East Erie Turners.

Amazon.com has posted the first Best of 2009 list; It names Neko Case’s “Middle Cyclone” as the year’s best CD. Avett Brothers’ “I and Love and You” came in No. 5. Amazon listeners voted U2’s “No Line on the Horizon” as No. 1.

Tickets go on sale Saturday at the usual outlets: Ticketmaster, civic center box office, by phone at 452-4857. But Rocket 101 is offering fans a pre-sale opportunity through its web site starting Thursday at 10 a.m. and continuing through Friday at 10 p.m.

Log onto www.rocket101.com. The password is Rocket.

Tickets are $37.25 and will be available as either general admission on the floor or reserved seats in the stands, if you don’t feel like standing all night.

Good to see us finally land a big concert. A couple more are in the works, though it’s far too early to drop any hints.

Lilith Fair will rise again, the all-gal concert event spearheaded by Sarah McLachlan. No artists have been confirmed yet, but you know Sarah will be part of it. A list of 17 cities that will host the Fair in 2010 is listed on the tour’s web site. Not one is near us…but the good news is, the notes says it’s just the first round. More dates will be added.

The most disappointing itinerary is U2’s return to the U.S. in 2010. They are once again skipping the tri-state area, with no shows in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, or Buffalo. Pretty hard to believe they’d skip Cleveland, especially, home of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, and where the U2 3D concert film just opened.

I wonder if the still somewhat new Cleveland Browns’ stadium, the only possible site for their mammoth 360 tour, simply doesn’t want to host a concert. Let’s hope that itinerary is flexible and will squeeze in a few more dates.

A video Q&A with Train’s Pat Monahan and Jimmy Stafford is posted at www.billboard.com. USA Today reviewed Train’s “Save Me, San Francisco” on Tuesday and was pretty harsh though it ultimately awarded the CD a not-too-bad 2 1/2  stars. It read nastier than that, however.

I still think it starts out great with the title cut and “Hey, Soul Sister” then gets hit-and-miss. Still, it features some terrific cuts. Don’t miss their Nov. 7 show at Warner. We get a real treat with the Clarks opening, instead of Unkle Cracker. Clarks’ “Restless Days,” released earlier this summer, isn’t just one of their best CD, it’s one of the best of the year, so far.

Look for interviews in next week’s Showcase (Nov. 5) with Train, Darius Rucker, and the Clarks. Yup, we hit the trifecta. We also already have an interview with Papa Roach in the works, and Shinedown won’t escape the Showcase microscope, either.

Look for Shinedown and Papa Roach and two other bands (one may well be Pennsylvania’s Halestorm) to play the arena on Dec. 6.

Keep checking Dr. Rock’s blog as well as Showcase for on-sale date information and the final confirmed lineup.

Shinedown broke through in a huge way this past year with “Second Chance,” a Top 10 single from 2008’s “The Sound of Madness.” They’ve toured with Disturbed, Chevelle, and Staind, among others, including Halestorm.

Papa Roach’s fifth album, “Metamorphisis,” debuted at No. 8 on Billboard earlier this year.

The signature event will be a Nov. 14 concert at Cleveland’s State Theatre. So far, the guest list includes Lucinda Williams, Carolyn Wonderland, Susan Tedeschi, Nona Hendryx, Bettye Lavette, Country Joe McDonald, Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel,, and Guy Clark. More will be added later.

Tickets are on sale now at (216) 241-6000 and through www.rockhall.com. They range from $30 to $50.

Tonight, Joplin’s former band, Big Brother and the Holding Company, will tell their story through a live interview at the Rock Hall’s new Foster Theater. Admission is free. Email education@rockhall.org for reservations.

Also, Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane plays an intimate show at the Foster Theatre, on the museum’s fourth floor, on Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. The event is free but  you must reserve at education@rockhall.org or by calling (216) 515-8426.

Guns ‘n Roses have announced tour dates for Canada in early 2010, the precursor to a larger tour. They’ll play London, Ont. on Jan. 25 and Toronto on Jan. 28. The Toronto show go on sale Friday at www.ticketmaster.ca.

Cable’s Spike network will air the Scream Awards on Tuesday at 10 p.m. Look for Johnny Depp to give a Rock Immortal Lifetime Achievement Award to Keith Richards, who played his father in the last “Pirates” movie. George Romero and Stan Lee also earned lifetime achievement honors.

As for the regular winners….watch the show (but be advised that “True Blood” did bloody well). Scream honors the best in sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and comic books.

The Heliotropes will open.

Browns’ adoring fans figure to pack the place to show their love. Look for more on Mary Alice in the Oct. 22 Showcase.

John Fogerty issues “Comin’ Down the Road: The Concert at Royal Albert Hall” on Nov. 3. It features songs from his CCR days, plus “Revival,” his excellent solo CD from a few years’ back. He’s currently touring behind his second “Blue Ridge Rangers” CD and it’s an enjoyable listen but not as strong as his own solo work.

The same day, Nov. 3, Foo Fighters unleashed their first greatest hits’ set while Rolling Stones’ fans have reason to cheer. A four-disc version of “Get Your Ya-Yas Out,” their 1969 live release, will add five songs from that show, plus CDs with opening acts B.B. King and Ike & Tina Turner. You also get a live DVD with Stones’ performances of “Prodigal Son,” “You Gotta Move,” “Under My Thumb,” “I’m Free,” and “Satisfaction.”

Tickets will go on sale Oct. 24 for the Kiss/Buckcherry concert set for Dec. 13 at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh.

Oh, it also revealed this: Springsteen will play “Born to Run” in its entirety (and a whole lot more). So, if that’s your favorite album, don’t miss this.

ALso, Bob Dylan and his Band will play the Canton Memorial Civic Center on Nov. 5. Tickets go on sale Oct. 16 at Ticketmaster. What a shame we can’t get Dylan back at the Warner Theater.

Some fun stuff is on tap, including the Eerie Horror Film Festival. I enjoyed Thursday. “Colin,” the zombie flick from England that was shot on no budget, had a little too much shaky camcorder work and a jarring segueway or two. But it was pretty riveting, surprisingly gory, and well-acted. You develop empathy for “Colin,” even if he has an appetite for humans. The twist on how he became a zombie was a nice touch, too.

“Cornered,” a serial-killer horror flick, had a twist you could see coming from three miles away. Folks play poker upstairs from a convenience store, knowing full well a madman is slaughtering folks at places like that. He picks them off, one by one. Still, the screenplay was a riot, and James Duval was totally convincing as a guy coming off drugs who sees hallucinations.

Tonight features “Phantasm,” including a cast reunion, while Saturday brings “The Lost Boys.” Check www.eeriehorrorfilmfestival.com for more details.

Pittsburgh’s excellent Poogie Bell Band hasn’t played Docksider in awhile but they ride back in tonight. If you like prog-rock, don’t miss Joe Rockhead at Sandbar on Saturday. Their musicianship is first-rate but so are the group vocals. It’s not easy pulling off bands like Yes, Boston, and Deep Purple but they do it extremely well.

Musicians and bands who hope to make it someday should do themselves a favor and check out a free TourSmart seminar by Martin Atkins on Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Beer Mug.

After years of touring with underground-leaning, non-commerical bands like Ministry, Public Image, and Killing Joke, Atkins knows the ropes of how to save money on the road, as well as promote yourself, organize cost-effective tours, and sell merchandise.

Repeat: This event is free. Afterward, there’s a good show, too, with Atkins playing DJ and three bands playing live: Johnny James and the Absolutes, Cryptic Demise, and Yawn Thieves. Admission is $4 for the live-music part.

Jazz fans should also check out nationally known violinist Christian Howes, who’ll sit in with Ahimsa Beat tonight at Nelson’s and also with 3 Bop when the Jive Unlimited kicks off its afternoon jazz series on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m.

The Monkees’ Davy Jones will perform Oct. 17 at Franklin’s Barrow-Civic Theatre. Call 814-437-3440 for ticket information.