THIS OLD THEATER: Over the course of the last year or so, the Rialto Theater, 318 E. Congress St., has had a profound impact on the local music scene, bringing in national touring acts who otherwise might not have stopped in Tucson. Not only has a treasured landmark been salvaged in the middle of bottomline development country, we also gained a much needed larger-than-club-size venue in the process. Given the age of the building, it isn't surprising the Rialto has been a work in progress. Promoter Jeb Schoonover tells me that, after this weekend's shows, the theater will close for a few weeks while they make some renovations. Before they shut the doors and break out the power tools, here's what they've got on the burner: On Friday, June 14, the Rialto turns into a bayou roadhouse when Creole squeeze-box master Buckwheat Zydeco cooks up a scorching dance party. Buckwheat's latest release, Five Card Stud, was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos and features bandmate David Hidalgo sitting in on a couple of tracks with other guest appearances by Willie Nelson and Mavis Staples of the Staple Singers adding rock and roll, country, R&B, and gospel to an ample quantity of Buckwheat's renowned Louisiana boogie. The show starts at 9 p.m. and tickets are $10, available at Hear's Music, Loco Records and all Zip's locations. Call 740-1986 for more information. The Mudsharks have established a large following in the West and will appear at the Rialto on Saturday, June 15, playing high-energy ska in an all-day show designed to capture all the skankin' souls in Tucson. The Mudsharks incorporate jazz, punk, pop and R&B elements with ska, adding a liberal dose of wild stage antics to create a dynamic live show. The band has been performing at festival events with the Specials, Sublime and Skankin' Pickle in support of their latest release, Squalus Suculae. The show starts at 3 p.m. and tickets are $7 in advance, $9 day of show. Call 740-1986 for more information. The mudshark invasion continues when the Mississippi Mudsharks, a blues band not to be confused with the ska band. They return to the 3rd Stone, 500 N. Fourth Ave., for an outdoor performance on Saturday, June 15. Voted Best Blues Band in the 1995 San Diego Music Awards by club owners and fans, this trio plays more than 300 shows annually. Their Tucson fan base continues to expand with frequent stops at the Stone. Showtime is 7 p.m. with the Gila Monsters playing inside at 10 p.m. Call 628-8844 for more information. LAST NOTES: Janis Ian, who, as a teenager, shocked America with "Society's Child," a song about interracial dating which was banned from radio stations across the country in the mid-'60s, returns to the stage Friday, June 14, at the Berger Performing Arts Center, 1200 W. Speedway. Ian rebounded in 1975 with the song "At Seventeen," an open diary of a tune detailing the heartache of being a not-so-pretty-or-popular teenage girl. Ian is a gifted singer-songwriter whose collaborative associations with such disparate artists as Chick Corea, Leonard Cohen, James Brown and Mel Torme exhibits a rare versatility. Her songs have been recorded by Roberta Flack, Bette Midler, John Cougar Mellencamp and Hugh Masekela, among others. Although less controversial these days, Ian remains an intelligent voice whose humor shines through in live performance for a thoroughly engaging concert experience. Local singer Martie van der Voort opens the show with a short set beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $13 and $15 available at Antigone Books, Hear's Music, Loco Music and Girlfriends; or charge by phone at 881-3947 or 327-4809 (minimal fee). Club Congress, 311 E. Congress St., has a local band line-up on Friday, June 14, with Shoebomb, Dog & Pony Show and Van Christian. Cover is $3 and the show starts at 9 p.m. Call 622-8848 for more information. The Rock, 136 N. Park Ave., presents melodically aggressive Solution a.d. with Super Delux and Tucson's own Greyhound Soul on Saturday, June 15. You can thank the wonderful folks at KFMA for the low ticket price of $3. The show starts at 9 p.m. and you can call 629-9211 for information. The Scorpions and Alice Cooper storm the TCC arena at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18. Cooper says he'll be taking requests, so somebody shout out "Under My Wheels" for me--only nimrods liked "School's Out" better. Advance tickets are $25.65, available at Dillard's and Zia Records; or charge by phone at (800) 638-4253 or 791-4266. Honkytonker Dale Watson plays country, rockabilly and Texas swing at 9 p.m. Wednesday, June 19 at the Empire, 61 E. Congress St. The club will be providing plenty of dance room for this one. Cover charge is $5 and you can call 740-1986 for more information. --Jennifer Murphy

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