You know what's nightmarish?

My occasional tendency to emerge from the shower in the steam-clogged downstairs bathroom, wrap myself in a towel and, sticking my head out the door, going full-falsetto to sing Maxwell's "Whenever Wherever Whatever" to my dog Gumbo. The poor fellow cringes at my efforts, rises to his paws, and trots wearily into another, quieter part of the house.

Now, if Maxwell croons that beautiful song Saturday in the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods, fans will also rise - presumably in a standing ovation. Of course, that tune harkens way back to his first album 16 years ago. Since then, the multi-platinum neo-soul artist has won myriad awards and, after a well-deserved break, he returned with the much-acclaimed "BLACKsummers'night" album, the first of a planned trilogy.

He's been recording, but an ambitious tour in which he'd play all of his albums and unheard material on successive nights, was cancelled earlier this year when the balladeer suffered vocal hemorrhaging.

Hopefully, all will be well at the MGM gig - and who knows what new and old tunes fans might hear?

- RICK KOSTER

Maxwell, 8 p.m. Saturday, MGM Grand at Foxwoods; $50-$70; 1-800-200-2882, foxwoods.com