Halloween Song: Sonic45 - “The Phantom”

Here’s a Halloween song profile that first appeared in 2024.

Sonic45 has been known to set troubling lyrics to irresistible new-wave arrangements, so it’s not surprising to find “The Phantom” on the Chicago-based band’s second album SuperSonic. I sometimes stretch the boundaries of what qualifies as a Halloween song, but make no mistake, “The Phantom” is the real deal. Some might suspect bassist-songwriter Len Kasper intends this tale of a creature who returns frequently but always unexpectedly has a political undercurrent. Or maybe it’s just about a carnivorous monster with invisible hands.

Following an extended and ominous instrumental intro, lead vocalist Matt Spiegel warns, “The world’s not as safe as you’d like it to be.” The mystery deepens with the lines, “Don’t know him now; didn’t know him then./There’s no telling how The Phantom shows again.” There’s a definite need to stay awake in order to survive. “If you don’t believe the Phantom is real, don’t close your eyes, you will be his next meal.” Just like the ending of so many horror films, the song suggests we’ll never be rid of this menace. “I swear on my heart, The Phantom will come again.”

In addition to being musicians, Kasper and Spiegel are also sports announcers, and the band’s other members—Liam Davis, Gerald Dowd, and Dag Juhlin—are also well-known on the Chicago club scene. That means live performances by Sonic45 are rare, but well worth checking out.

A Flight Of Witches: Sample Three

It’s long been a Broken Hearted Toy tradition to post a Halloween song profile each day during the month of October. Due to my wife and I being on vacation, I’ve fallen behind this year. In order to catch up, there will three posts today—each concerning a witch but done in a distinctly different style. Like a flight of wine or beer, only supernatural. Each is a repost from the Broken Hearted Toy haunted vault, and here’s the third:

Halloween Song: October Country - “My Girlfriend Is A Witch”

October Country’s “My Girlfriend Is A Witch” sounds like it could have been the theme song for a mid-1960s sitcom. Which makes sense since it was written, performed, and recorded in 1968 by producer Michael Lloyd, who would later use an updated version for the Saturday morning cartoon series The Cattanooga Cats. He formed October Country with guitarist Marty Arsenault, keyboards player/vocalist Jimmy Greenspoon, and drummer Jim Gordon but the act never achieved a following beyond the West Coast music scene.

“My Girlfriend Is A Witch” is just one of the many audio artifacts to be found on the very fun Rhino CD compilation, Where The Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets: 1965-1968. The boxed set comes with a book that provides background info for each track. In addition to singing lead, Lloyd joined Arsenault on some furious garage rock guitar licks. Almost half of this catchy psychedelic gem is taken up by the band’s spirited jamming, creating a live performance at a go-go club ambience. 

Lloyd introduces the lead character with the opening lines, “Riding high/Leaving trails of smoke across the sky/On a broom,” and quickly adds “Glad that I am safe within my room.” The girlfriend’s telepathic ability and other creepy talents don’t seem to cause any harm, but they do inspire a bit of competition. “What a fate/A worshiper of magic for a date/But tonight I become a warlock just for spite.”

A Flight Of Witches: Sample Two

It’s long been a Broken Hearted Toy tradition to post a Halloween song profile each day during the month of October. Due to my wife and I being on vacation, I’ve fallen behind this year. In order to catch up, there will three posts today—each concerning a witch but done in a distinctly different style. Like a flight of wine or beer, only supernatural. Each is a repost from the Broken Hearted Toy haunted vault, and here’s the second: 

Halloween Song: Steeleye Span - “Alison Gross”

Steeleye Span’s successful career of updating centuries-old ballads with electric guitar and drum arrangements began in England around 1969. “Alison Gross,” from the band’s 1973 release Parcel Of Rogues, spins the tale of a witch trying to win a man’s heart through bribery. She offers him a series of riches, starting with a red mantle with golden flowers and fine fringe. Nothing she conjures can change his low opinion of her appearance, though.

“Away, away, you ugly witch/Go far away and let me be,” he responds. “I never would kiss your ugly mouth/For all of the gifts that you give to me.” Infuriated, Alison Gross whips out her magic wand and turns him into a worm. According to Wikipedia, Steeleye Span added its own chorus and left off the original ballad’s happy ending, which had the man being restored to his proper shape on Halloween by a passing fairy.

Also, he may not have been transformed into an earthworm, since the original lyrics used the word wyrm, which meant dragon. Unlike some of the ancient ballads, which can be slow and gloomy, “Alison Gross” feels like a rowdy Halloween party song villagers might have sung while swinging steins of mead.

A Flight Of Witches: Sample One

It’s long been a Broken Hearted Toy tradition to post a Halloween song profile each day during the month of October. Due to my wife and I being on vacation, I’ve fallen behind this year. In order to catch up, there will three posts today—each concerning a witch but done in a distinctly different style. Like a flight of wine or beer, only supernatural. Each is a repost from the Broken Hearted Toy haunted vault, and here’s the first:

Halloween Song: Fleetwood Mac - “Rhiannon”

Stevie Nicks has explained that her melodic and haunting composition “Rhiannon,”  a Top 40 hit from Fleetwood Mac’s 1975 self-titled LP, was about a Welsh witch. Rhiannon was also a goddess in Welsh mythology who wore a gold dress and rode a white horse. Some sources claim Nicks based her “Rhiannon” on Mary Leader’s supernatural novel Triad, and discovered the mythological connections later.

Actually, the song’s mysterious lyrics such as, “Would you stay if she promised you heaven” and “She is like a cat in the dark/And then she is the darkness,” could refer to either the deity or the sorceress. Fleetwood Mac, having already recorded scary songs like “Hypnotized” and “Black Magic Woman,” knew how to bring “Rhiannon” to life with a classic rock arrangement. And Nicks was certainly able to make it mesmerizing in live performances.

Slumgullion

For events taking place this weekend, check out my previous post titled Weekend Reminders.

A Carnival Of Grey And White, the latest and long-awaited album from the Milwaukee-based power pop band Trolley is now available on Bandcamp. In addition to the catchy title track and Elvis Costello style “As Long As I Can Find You,” which were previously released as teasers, other energetic gems include “Leaving You Behind,” “Stepping Up,” and “Radio Silence.” I enjoyed talking to these guys a few times at International Pop Overthrow - Chicago some years ago, so it’s nice to hear them back in action.

The Webstirs, a Chicago-based band that’s been a reliable source for well-crafted and witty indie rock, has released an impressive single titled “When It’s Gone” from its upcoming new album. High Up In The Trees is due out on November 14, and The Webstirs will perform a free show at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL that night.

Yoko Ono - Music Of The Mind, a retrospective of her career that reaches back to the 1950s and explores her art, films, and music, opens on October 18 at the Museum Of Contemporary Art Chicago and will run through February 22. According to the MCA website, this will be the only venue in the United States that Yoko Ono - Music Of The Mind will visit.

In related news, the John And Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant’s Memory and Special Guests Live At The One To One Concert boxset is available to pre-order at the online Official John Lennon Store.   Recorded live at Madison Square Garden in New York City on August 30, 1972, the concert is available in 9 CD + 3 Blu-Ray Boxset; 4 LP; 2 CD; 2 LP, and 1 CD formats.

The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club, a Chicago-based power pop/indie rock band that has released several impressive albums over the past 10 years, will perform at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side on October 18.

The Miki Berenyi Trio (led by the former Lush founder) kicks off its North America Tour 2025 today in Washington, DC, and will perform at Lincoln Hall in Chicago on October 17. The trio will likely showcase songs from its Tripla debut, and the opening act will be Gina Birch from the Brit band The Raincoats. Birch, whose second solo album Trouble came out on July 11, will be backed by musicians Marie Merlet and Jenny Green.

The Other Art Fair, a global and inventive effort from online gallery Saatchi Art to create a place “where the experience exists outside of four white walls,” is coming to Artifact Events in Chicago on the weekend of October 31 - November 2. The price of admission ranges from $18 to $312.50, depending which day you choose. Artifact Events is located at 4325 N. Ravenswood Avenue.

Tickets will go on sale soon for the Gram Fest - Cosmic American Music Festival taking place on November 22 at the Joshua Tree Cultural Center - Blak Box Theater in Joshua Tree, CA. Performers include Sin City All Stars with special guests Jonny Kaplan And Friends, plus numerous other acts.

Chicago-based melodic rockers Kevin Lee And The Kings have a gig coming up at the Goat Village venue in Norridge, IL on October 25. A Toys For Tots truck will be on the premises for those who wish to make a donation.

Paul McCartney’s Got Back North American Tour 2025 continues its run with a concert tomorrow night in Denver. Upcoming dates include Des Moines; Minneapolis; Tulsa; New Orleans; Atlanta; Nashville; Pittsburgh; Montreal; and San Antonio. The long and winding road ends with concerts at the United Center on November 24 and 25, which means Chicago area fans will have something fun to talk about with their families at Thanksgiving dinner.

Los Lobos fans in the Chicago area will also be grateful since the Los Angeles band has concerts scheduled for November 24 and 25 at SPACE in Evanston. Tickets are also available for Chicago folk legend Bonnie Koloc’s November 30 show at SPACE in Evanston.

Revolution(s), Zayd Ayers Dohrn’s play about a soldier who returns from Afghanistan only to find his south side Chicago neighborhood also in turmoil, has opened at The Goodman Theatre. Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine fame created the music and lyrics; and Steve H. Broadnax III is the director. Revolution(s) runs through November 9.

The Saint Rocke venue in Hermosa Beach, CA has a fun double bill of Flamin Groovies and The Pandoras coming up on November 19.

Ring in the new with Old 97s at SPACE in Evanston. Tickets are now on sale for the Dallas, TX band’s December 29, 30, and 31 shows at the Illinois venue. Old 97s will likely perform selections from their 2024 album American Primitive, as well as favorites such as “Champagne, Illinois” and “Big Brown Eyes.”

Congratulation to Irish rockers U2 on being chosen as the 2025 Woody Guthrie Prize honorees. Bono and The Edge will receive the award on the band’s behalf at a Harper House Music Foundation event at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK on Oct. 21. The official Woody Guthrie Prize site states the annual award is presented to “an artist who best exemplifies Woody Guthrie’s spirit and work by speaking for the less fortunate through music, film, literature, dance or other art forms and serving as a positive force for social change.” Previous honorees include Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Mavis Staples.

Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan’s new album titled Better Broken is now available; with the title track being the first single. Her 2025 North American tour kicks off on October 15 in Victoria, BC, and will include a stop at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on November 22.

Chicago has produced impressive music acts for decades, and the experimental, jazz rock ensemble The Flock first joined that legacy back in the mid-1960s. So there’s good reason to have high expectations for The Return Of The Flock, along with the Rick Biordi Band show coming on November 1 to Park West on the city’s north side.

Congratulations to Penn and Teller on 50 years of combining magic, humor, and audience participation in their entertaining shows. Their anniversary tour will make a stop at the Chicago Theatre on October 24.

Aliza Hava’s new album Into The Light is now available exclusively on Bandcamp. The Ashland, Oregon folk rock singer-guitarist creates emotionally charged songs such as “Let It Roar” and “Fix My Fate” that convey how to navigate this troubled world.

Chicago’s unpredictable and always entertaining covers band EXPO ’76 has recorded their debut album, with help from the Total Pro Horns. Hot In The Dark drops on October 24, and is currently available to pre-order on Bandcamp. The 12 tracks reflect the mind-boggling variety of music EXPO ’76 performs at its live gigs.

Henry Diltz has joined forces with Cindystock for a series of rock musician photo books that benefit the Yates Fund For Cancer Hope. The choices include Dan Fogelburg; Stephen Stills; David Crosby; Micky Dolenz; David Cassidy; Joni Mitchell; America; Graham Nash; and Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young. Each book contains 40 photos and sells for $24. I just received my copy of the Nash book and it’s really cool.

Halloween Song: The Who - “Boris The Spider”

In honor of October 9 being John Entwistle’s birthday, here’s a Broken Hearted Toy Halloween song profile I first posted on October 13, 2022. The Who used to perform it in concert, but I’m not sure they would anymore since this humorous gem was written by, and will be forever associated with, the late and legendary bassist Entwistle. It’s hard to imagine anyone else capturing his comically deadpan vocals, even with drummer Keith Moon heckling him during live performances.

“Boris The Spider” sets childlike observations about a spider invading someone’s bedroom to a playful, bottom heavy arrangement, with Pete Townshend adding backup vocals. The title arachnid maintains a safe distance at first but soon takes a more threatening position. “Look, he's crawling up my wall/Black and hairy, very small/Now he's up above my head/Hanging by a little thread.”

Even after Boris moves on, the observer still doesn’t feel safe having this ‘creepy, creepy, crawly, crawly” creature around. “There he is wrapped in a ball/Doesn't seem to move at all/Perhaps he's dead, I'll just make sure/Pick this book up off the floor.” Though “Boris The Spider” comes to a sticky end, it’s likely this catchy musical tale would go over well at a kids Halloween party as well as one for adults.

Weekend Reminders

Thursday posts focus on events that were previously mentioned on Broken Hearted Toy, and are taking place during the upcoming weekend. Plus, the occasional event taking place this weekend that has just come to my attention, or concert tickets going on sale.

It's Johnny's Birthday. John Lennon would have turned 85 today, and as the multitude of posts across social media clearly illustrate, his goal of world peace, as well as his tremendous talent as a musician, vocalist and songwriter still resonate to this day.

The John And Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant’s Memory and Special Guests Live At The One To One Concert box set is available to pre-order online at the Official John Lennon Store. Recorded live at Madison Square Garden in New York City on August 30, 1972, the concert is available in 9 CD + 3 Blu-Ray box set; 4 LP; 2 CD; 2 LP, and 1 CD formats.

Chicago area singer-guitarist Phil Angotti will be joined by musicians Casey McDonough, John San Juan, Tom Ryan, Blair Holmes, and John Perrin for his John Lennon 85th B-DAY Bash this Saturday at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue. Guitarist Joel Paterson will be the opening act. Angotti and his mates performed The Beatles song “You Can’t Do That” during a guest appearance on the WGN Morning News TV show earlier today. 

October 9 is also the day John Entwistle, the powerful and inventive drummer for The Who, was born. Back in 1944, in Hammersmith, United Kingdom. Several current-day drummers credit Entwistle as being a major influence on their playing.

As noted on the The Chicago Loop website, the Chicago version of Better Cities Film Festival opens tonight and will run through Saturday at The AMC DINE-IN Block 37 at 108 N. State Street. The schedule features three different screenings each day. Better Cities Film Festival describes its presentations as, “The world’s most inspiring stories about making better cities towns and neighborhoods.”

Patti Smith will release a Horses (50th Anniversary Edition) via Legacy Recordings tomorrow. In addition to the original tracks, it will offer alternate versions and outtakes from the album sessions. Her Horses 50th Anniversary Tour is currently visiting cities in Europe, but will arrive in the USA next month and include concerts at the Chicago Theatre on November 17 and 18. 

Chicago’s long-time indie rockers The Bad Examples will perform at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL this Saturday at 8:00 pm. As often mentioned here on Broken Hearted Toy, lead vocalist-guitarist Ralph Covert creates songs that are reminiscent of the clever and melodic music of Squeeze.

Pravda Records Presents, a showcase featuring three of the Chicago-based indie label’s acts, takes place tomorrow night at Martyrs’ on the city’s north side. Per a recent Facebook post from drummer Brad Elvis, his band The Handcuffs will follow a 7:30 solo performance by Nathan Graham, and Brian Krumm And His Barfly Friends will be the closing act.

Chicago singer-guitarist Michael Cohen, along with two like-minded musicians, will perform love songs at an MC3 Swinging On Wing Street gig tomorrow at the Tuscan Market And Wine Shop in Arlington Heights, IL.