IPO - Chicago: Start The Week Rocking

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago returned this past Friday night for its 22nd year, and its fourth year at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side. The festival continues each day until its two-part finale next Saturday, April 27. I’ve fallen a bit behind in getting my showcase previews out a few days early, mainly due to my actually attending IPO - Chicago for several hours yesterday. It was definitely a rewarding experience. So, here’s the preview of the four-act, women-focused showcase taking place tomorrow night, April 28.

Singer-guitarist Hannah Frank (pictured above) has become an IPO - Chicago veteran, as well as a popular performer on the local club scene by honing a repertoire of original acoustic compositions such as “Mad Girl’s Diary” and “Is You Mine,” along with unexpected covers such as the 1939 tune “Comes Love.” Her 15 Horses album, originally recorded in 2015, was mixed and updated for a 2023 release. Geez Louise, AKA singer-songwriter Louise Dimiceli-Mitran, aims to explore the conflicting emotions that complicate relationships. Her most recent album, Dancing In The Storm, has drawn praise for songs such as “Being With You,” “Already Gone,” and “Mexico.” Singer-guitarist Kristin Rose Kelly’s performances tend toward hard-edged rock, whether it’s on originals from her recently released Pantyhose album or well-chosen covers such as Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” Mrs. Smith And The Present will likely perform their catchy recent singles “Pretty Things” and “Big Man” at tomorrow night’s IPO - Chicago showcase. They also have four solid tunes on their 2024 She’s Right Here EP to choose from.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

Slumgullion

Check out my recent posts for coverage of this weekend’s International Pop Overthrow - Chicago festival at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. As the days pass, I’m hoping to post a preview for each day of the IPO - Chicago schedule. Wish me luck.

Fans of indie and alternative rock seem to find a lot to like about the recently revealed lineup for Chicago’s upcoming Riot Fest, judging from various comments on social media. Performers scheduled for this year’s bash range from punk pioneers such as Sex Pistols, The Pogues, Marky Ramone, The Damned, The Effigies, Shonen Knife, and The Buzzcocks to more recently formed acts such as The Linda Lindas and Inhaler. Green Day, Jack White, The Beach Boys, Weezer, The Cribs, Dropkick Murphys, Sparks, and Rilo Kiley are among the other acts coming to Douglass Park on the weekend of September 19 – 21.

Kinks fans from around the world get an opportunity to express their admiration for the band in author Chris Kocher’s new book Thank You For The Days: Fans Of The Kinks Share 60 Years Of Stories. Those fans include musicians such as Jonathan Lea, John Wesley Harding, and Ron Sexsmith, along with other professionals who’ve worked with The Kinks over the years. Thank You For The Days is now available on Amazon.

The Radio Soul!: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello Tour, featuring Costello and The Imposters, is coming to the Chicago Theatre on October 16. The 22-date tour kicks off on September 18 in Bethelem, PA—with American singer-songwriter Charlie Sexton as a special guest—and wraps up in Omaha, NE on October 22. 

Dead Freddie, the self-described Punk Pop Phenomena, will join fellow Chicago bands Go Time! and The Spindles in a triple bill at the Heroes West Sports Grill in Lemont, IL on May 2. The music starts at 7:30 pm. 

The Big Star Quintet has three concerts coming up in July. The lineup comprises original Big Star member Jody Stephens; along with Mike Mills from R.E.M., Jon Auer from The Posies, Pat Sansone from Wilco, and Chris Stamey from the dB’s. They’ll be in Germantown, TN on July 19; Nashville, TN on July 20; Minneapolis, MN on July 23; and at my house on July 25 to celebrate my birthday. Just kidding about that July 25 gig.

Chicago’s legendary folk singer Bonnie Koloc will be right at home when she performs at The Old Town School Of Folk Music on May 2. Coming up later at The Old Town School Of Folk Music, Robin Hitchcock will perform on June 7.

EXPO Chicago, which bills itself as the city’s “premier contemporary and modern art fair,” returned to Navy Pier yesterday and will run through Sunday. Visitors can spend hours admiring paintings, photographs, sculptures, books, and other creative wonders from Chicago and around the world.

Bruce Springsteen plans to release an 83-song collection of previously unreleased material titled Tracks II: The Lost Albums on June 27. Springsteen’s website states the project will be available “in limited-edition nine LP, seven CD and digital formats.” It will also include a 100-page, cloth-bound hardcover book. Springsteen will also release a less ambitious set titled Lost And Found: Selections from The Lost Albums offering 20 highlights on two LPs or one CD.

Several bands will help out when Sketchbook Brewing Company in Skokie, IL, hosts A Night To Remember Cary Greenspon And Benefit Parkinson’s Foundation on May 3. The country and western Kent Rose Trio are among the acts involved. Sketchbook Brewing Company is located at 4901 Main Street.

The 40th Annual Printer’s Row Lit Fest will take place on September 6 and 7 in the southern area of downtown Chicago. Poet/fiction writer/essayist Sandra Cisneros will this year’s headliner. 

Stay tuned. Wolf Alice has a new logo, and possibly some new music on the way, if fans are correctly deciphering clues the U.K. band has been delivering via a series of social media posts. Wolf Alice used a similar teasing approach before releasing the masterful Blue Weekend in 2021.

The 15th Annual Blue Whiskey Film Festival starts this Sunday and will run through May 6 at venues in Chicago, Elk Grove, Downers Grove, and Palatine. This year’s BWiFF will screen six feature films and several shorts.

The Chicago Blues Festival, an annual event since 1984 and believed to be the world’s largest blues festival, returns to Millennium Park for the long weekend of June 5 – June 8. Mavis Staples will be among the headliners, and there will be a centennial tribute to the late B.B. King. Opening day will take place at the Ramova Theatre at 3520 S. Halsted and feature performances by Bobby Rush and Billy Branch And The Sons Of The Blues.

The Cincinnati, OH publisher Ruffian Books has released a new one titled 500 Essential Pop-Punk Albums - From Blondie To blink-182, offering more than 550 pages of famous and lesser known artists. It’s available for $29.95.

The New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival recently opened and will run through May 4, with well-known acts from several genres taking part. This year’s lineup includes Pearl Jam; Lenny Kravitz; Kacey Musgraves; Santana; John Fogerty; HAIM; Cage The Elephant; Patti LaBelle; Gladys Knight; Joan Jett and The Blackhearts; Cheap Trick; Diana Krall; Branford Marsalis; The Wailers Featuring Julian Marley; Taj Mahal And The Phantom Blues Band; Stanley Clarke; Rickie Lee Jones; Shemekia Copeland; and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Detroit-based singer-songwriter Jeremy Porter will bring his Spring 2025 Solo-Acoustic Tour to the Lakeview Uncommon Ground venue in Chicago on May 7. Porter, whose songs mix catchy melodies with dark humor, will share the bill at Uncommon Ground with Phil Yates and Gary Camaro.

Billy Idol will be joined by Joan Jett on his It’s A Nice Day To . . . Tour Again! series of concerts starting April 30. That includes a stop at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheater in Tinley Park, IL on May 20.

I’m proud to share the news that my nephew Joe Flamm will co-chair this year’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry, along with fellow successful chef Diana Davila, on June 27. The event will be held at Rockwell On The River (3057 N. Rockwell) and feature 50 chefs and mixologists. Several well-known Chicago area restaurants will be involved, including Joe’s Rose Mary and il Carciofo; and Diana’s Mi Tocaya Antojeria. General Admission is $150, while an All Access Pass is $200.

The always engaging duo Sparks will release a new album titled Mad! on May 23 in vinyl, CD, and cassette fomats. After a world tour that will take them across Japan and Europe, Ron and Russell Mael will arrive in Atlanta, GA on September 5 to kick off an American tour that will include 15 dates. Chicago is not among the cities on the U.S. tour, which is likely to leave fans here, well, Mad.

Todd Rundgren’s July 13 concert at The Riviera Theatre in Chicago will be part of his Still Me (Still We) Tour. The 22-date tour kicks off on June 21 in Cranston, RI, and will also include stops in Syracuse, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Kalamazoo, MI; Minneapolis, MN; Cleveland, OH; and Orlando, FL.

Peter Checksfield, a UK-based music historian/author whose previous efforts have covered The Rolling Stones and Jerry Lee Lewis, has released a new book titled The Hollies - Elevated Observations: The Graham Nash Years 1963 – 1968. It’s available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback and kindle versions.

Online applications are now available for those interested in being part of YippieFest 2025 at Chopin Theatre on Chicago’s north side. The freewheeling, in-person entertainment event will return for its seventh year on the weekend of August 22 – 24. The long-running sketch/musical comedy group Famous In The Future will once again host YippieFest, which is inspired by the annual Abby Fest that was staged by Mary-Arrchie Theatre for several years.

Hung Up On A Dream, director/musician Robert Schwartzman’s 2023 documentary covering The Zombies’ entire career, will come to American theaters this May. The film features the British Invasion band’s most recent live performances, along with archival footage.

Peter Asher, who was half of the popular British Invasion duo Peter and Gordon before moving on to a highly successful career as a producer, also continues to perform music himself. His multimedia show A Musical Memoir of the 60s and Beyond comes to The Old Town School Of Folk Music May 16.

The Color Purple - The Musical is coming to the Goodman Theatre in Chicago starting June 21. The production will be directed by Lili-Anne Brown, with book by Marsha Norman, and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Alee Willis, and Stephen Bray.

Garbage, the band that gave us songs such as “Stupid Girl,” “I’m Only Happy When It Rains,” and “I Think I’m Paranoid,” have a Happy Endings Tour with special guest Starcrawler coming this fall. It kicks off on September 3 in Orlando, FL, and will include a stop at The Salt Shed in Chicago on September 29. Let All That We Imagine Be The Light, the band’s eighth album, is due out May 30.

Chicago-based, guitar-powered instrumental band Outronaut recently released an extensive and ambitious new tune titled “Demonic Republic.” Check it out, along with other previous gems on the Outronaut Bandcamp page.

Aimee Mann has a 22 1/2 Lost In Space Anniversary Tour with guest Jonathan Coulton coming this summer. It opens on June 5 in Cranston, RI and wraps up at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago on June 27.

Weekend Reminders

Photo from the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

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.

Where have all the good times gone? Sunny Afternoon, the UK play based on the music of The Kinks, wraps up its run at Chicago Shakespeare Theater this Sunday. If you’ve been meaning to check out this critically acclaimed and thoroughly rocking production, there isn’t much time left.

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago 2025 kicks off tomorrow night at Montrose Saloon on the city's north side and will run through May 3. Check out my earlier posts this week offering previews of this weekend’s showcases. I’m hoping to continue my previews as the festival progresses.

John Cowsill, who started his career with The Cowsills (“The Rain, The Park, And Other Things”) and recently released an album with his wife Vicki Peterson of The Bangles, will be the guest lead vocalist when The Smithereens perform at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL tomorrow night. Chicago’s own and very impressive Sunshine Boys will be the opening act.

Singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks will be showcasing songs from his several critically acclaimed albums when he performs at SPACE in Evanston tomorrow night and Saturday.

EXPO Chicago, which bills itself as the city’s “premier contemporary and modern art fair,” returned to Navy Pier for its annual visit today and will run through Sunday. Visitors can spend hours admiring paintings, photographs, sculptures, books, and other creative wonders from Chicago and around the world. Single admission is $40.

The Effigies, one of Chicago’s first and best known punk bands, have an all ages show (with parent or guardian) coming up tomorrow at The Vixen venue in McHenry. The music starts at 6:30 pm, with Chicago-based punk band Sex Dream as the opening act. The Effigies have classic albums such as For Ever Grounded and Fly On A Wire to choose from, as well as their 2023 effort Burned. Unfortunately, we lost founding member John Kezdy to a fatal accident right around the time of that last effort.

The Handcuffs will likely include a few new songs they’ll be recording soon for their 5th album when they open for fellow Chicagoans The Steepwater Band at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL tomorrow. The Steepwater Band has recorded a series of albums filled with hard-hitting Americana rock.

Big Brother’s Vinyl, a Chicago area band that performs classic rock songs that haven’t been covered endlessly by numerous other local acts, has a gig at Peggy Kinnanes in Arlington Heights tomorrow night.

McLuhan, the adventurous seven-piece Chicago band inspired by philosopher Marshall McLuhan, will perform at the Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich this Saturday. Based on its recent series of shows at Montrose Saloon, it seems likely McLuhan will have vinyl copies of its ground-breaking and recently re-released album Anomaly available for sale at this show. Copper Fiddle Distillery is located at 532 W. Il. Route 22, Suite 110.

The Social Act, one of the first local bands I interviewed when I started writing for the Illinois Entertainer back in the mid-1980s, is back in action and has a 7:30 pm gig this Friday at The Liar’s Club on Chicago’s north side. Fans can expect to hear early goth-tinged gems such as “Sally-O,” “Love Hearts Open,” and maybe “Heaven Is Waiting.”

IPO Sunday WIll Never Be The Same

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago starts tomorrow night at Montrose Saloon and will continue at the north side venue through May 3. Most of the acts involved are from the Chicago area, although there are some out-of-state visitors. Traditionally, IPO - Chicago Sunday involved a six-act afternoon showcase and a five-act evening showcase, separated by a short break. But this year, there’s only one Sunday showcase—with seven acts—that starts at 2:00 pm.

The bouncy and lyrical Lance Drake (I’m quoting his Facebook page) opens Sunday’s showcase, and if my investigative skills are working, he is (was?) a member of the Deep Cricket Night band. If so, the audience will be treated to songs that evoke mystery via ornate yet energetic arrangements. Lead vocalist-guitarist Michael Mazza is a familiar face to IPO - Chicago fans, having led the band Collectors for several years before forming The Walkdown. “The Distance (Gets In The Way),” the first single from The Walkdown, finds Mazza continuing to take a guitar-driven approach. The band contributed a song to the Kool Kat Musik label’s Pop Aid 3-CD that supports World Central Kitchen’s efforts to feed people in the Ukraine. Progressive hard rock band Refrestramus will likely showcase songs from its 2024 debut Intourist, and since four vocalists joined the core musicians on that album, it will be interesting to see who handles the singing at IPO - Chicago. Derek Ferguson composes the band’s adventurous material, along with playing drums. Guitarist Zoey Witz will be a special guest at this performance. Freetoed has performed at a number of IPO - Chicago shows in the past, with an alt rock sound that’s influenced by Wilco, Pearl Jam, and Bon Iver. Their latest album, Cure For The Common Sound, is available on Bandcamp.

Chicago music scene veterans Phil Yates and The Affiliates have four albums worth of catchy, guitar-driven pop to draw from for their IPO - Chicago performance. The band moved here from Burlington, VT a while back, and its 2022 effort A Thin Thread is the first to feature the Chicago lineup. Modern Daybreak hopes to have copies of a new live performance CD  available to sell at its IPO - Chicago performance this Sunday. The quartet has created catchy rock with a supportive vibe on its 2024 full-length debut Sound Of Nothing, as well as on single releases and an EP since forming in 2017. Singer-songwriter Joe Wylie’s latest album, Frontal Lobe Development, dropped last October and features melodic acoustic-based songs. He released four singles prior to that, including a Christmas song. He probably won’t include the Christmas song when he wraps up IPO - Chicago Sunday.

Incoming

Check out the IPO - Chicago Saturday Preview in my earlier post today.

Just like watching his very first shows. The Radio Soul!: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello Tour, featuring Costello and The Imposters, is coming to the Chicago Theatre on October 16. The 22-date tour kicks off on September 18 in Bethelem, PA—with American singer-songwriter Charlie Sexton as a special guest—and wraps up in Omaha, NE on October 22.

John Cowsill, who started his career with The Cowsills (“The Rain, The Park, And Other Things”) and recently released an album with his wife Vicki Peterson of The Bangles, will be the guest lead vocalist when The Smithereens perform at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL this Friday. Chicago’s own Sunshine Boys will be the opening act.

The Social Act, one of the first local bands I interviewed when I started writing for the Illinois Entertainer back in the mid-1980s, is back in action and has a 7:30 pm gig this Friday at The Liar’s Club on Chicago’s north side. Fans can expect to hear early goth-tinged gems such as “Sally-O,” “Love Hearts Open,” and maybe “Heaven Is Waiting.”

Singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks will be showcasing songs from his several critically acclaimed albums when he performs at SPACE in Evanston this Friday and Saturday.

Tickets are now on sale for June 7 concert by Robin Hitchcock at The Old Town School Of Folk Music.

The Handcuffs will likely include a few new songs they’ll be recording soon for their 5th album when they open for for fellow Chicagoans The Steepwater Band at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL this Friday. The Steepwater Band has recorded a series of albums filled with hard-hitting Americana rock.

The Effigies, one of Chicago’s first and best known punk bands, have an all ages show (with parent or guardian) coming up this Friday at The Vixen venue in McHenry. The music starts at 6:30 pm, with Chicago-based punk band Sex Dream as the opening act. The Effigies have classic albums such as For Ever Grounded and Fly On A Wire to choose from, as well as their 2023 effort Burned. Unfortunately, we lost founding member John Kezdy to a fatal accident right around the time of that last effort.

McLuhan, the adventurous seven-piece Chicago band inspired by philosopher Marshall McLuhan, will perform at the Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich this Saturday. Based on its recent series of shows at Montrose Saloon, it seems likely McLuhan will have vinyl copies of its ground-breaking and recently re-released album Anomaly available for sale at this show. Copper Fiddle Distillery is located at 532 W. Il. Route 22, Suite 110.

Big Brother’s Vinyl, a Chicago area band that performs classic rock songs that haven’t been covered endlessly by numerous other local acts, has a gig at Peggy Kinnanes in Arlington Heights on April 25.

A Double Dose Of IPO - Chicago This Saturday

Really cool art by The Sonnets from their Facebook page.

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago will have its first 2025 showcase this Friday night at Montrose Saloon (see yesterday's post), and will follow that Bash (pun intended) with two separate lineups on Saturday. IPO Founder/CFO David Bash has shows scheduled at Montrose Saloon through May 3. Most of the acts involved are from the Chicago area, although there are some out-of-state visitors.

This Saturday afternoon’s showcase starts with a 2:00 pm set by LaRue DeVille. The band includes four members of The Red Wigglers, who ended their 25-year run a few years back. It will interesting to see if they carry on the original band’s emphasis on adventurous and often funny rock and roll with coed vocals and horn accompaniment. Montrose Saloon regulars Brother Derek are back at IPO - Chicago for the third time. Their latest album Parade Rest features them taking a satirical point of view while exploring various genres. San Marcos, CA singer-guitarist Scott Samuels must have enjoyed performing at the 2024 IPO - Chicago so much he’s back again this year. The former Chicagoan reunited with some local musicians at his previous IPO appearance, and seeing as he’s billed as Scott Samuels And Friends this time out, he’ll likely take the same approach this Saturday. His recent recording Sunshine And Starlight offers a selection of melodic pop songs.

The Einstein’s Sister band has previously performed at IPO Chicago and IPO - Los Angeles. They released their Exit Strategies EP in November, 2023, and this year, they’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of their Humble Creatures album. Barry And The Fountains, featuring The Voice contestant vocalist-guitarist Barry Fontenot, will perform their new single “The Flow” and other soulful tunes. It looks like this might be their IPO- Chicago debut. The Jeremy Band, led by Kalamazoo, MI vocalist-guitarist Jeremy Morris, traditionally closes out a Saturday afternoon showcase with high-powered, melodic rock, and that’s exactly what will take place this Saturday. His latest album, Opener Of Eyes, once again finds Morris collaborating with Ken Stringfellow of The Posies.

The Saturday evening showcase kicks off with former Grand Prairie, TX native/current Chicago resident Monte Carload. He offers catchy, guitar-driven songs with frequently off-kilter lyrics on his November, 2024 album Hit The Max. David Bash likes to throw the occasional curveball into the IPO - Chicago mix, which is certainly the case with The Emily Chloe Quinn Ensemble. On songs such as “My Own Mountain” and “Belonging,” vocalist-keyboards player Quinn delivers ethereal vocals while she and her fellow musicians embellish well-crafted arrangements with elements of classical music. The Band Calderisi offered 11 tracks of catchy power pop music on its most recent album Years Gone By. Highlights from that effort include “Nothing Left To Save” and “Pent Up Frustrations.” They’ll likely perform tracks from Years Gone By, as well as some new music this Saturday.

Things That Fly is a Chicago-based indie rock band led by Heidi Serwer and Karen Salmon. They served up clever and catchy tunes such as “Lucky Ones” and “Crunch Went The Snow” on their 2023 self-titled EP. Chicago band Night Baby will offer a mix of original songs and covers, with the promise to perform “old songs that sound new again and new songs that you think you’ve heard.” The Sonnets are veterans of the local club scene and specialize in an intriguing mix of glam, mod, power pop, garage, surf, and blues.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

IPO - Chicago Kicks Off This Friday

The 22nd Annual International Pop Overthrow - Chicago festival kicks off this Friday for a nine-day run at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side. IPO Founder David Bash has several acts lined up, many of which fans have enjoyed at previous IPO - Chicago shows. There are also a fair amount of first-timers. Named after Material Issue’s stellar debut album, the festival was born in Los Angeles back in 1997. Bash has added IPO festivals around the globe over the years, with 2025 featuring stops in Chicago, Liverpool, Stockholm, Los Angeles, San Diego, Vancouver, New York, Boston, and Toronto.

There are no newcomers among the six acts performing this Friday night. In fact, Alpine Subs will be IPO - Chicago’s opening act for at the third straight year. The six-member band has released four albums of easy-going melodic pop since 2019, with this year’s double album Up With Geese being the latest. The Queue have been bringing their melodic Brit pop style tunes to International Pop Overthrow - Chicago for quite a few years now, and their latest single is “Love Save Us All.” Earlier efforts include the hard-edged 2018 EP Fire And Lies. Indie rockers The Pickpockets are also IPO - Chicago vets, and their webpage shows they pursue a variety of approaches and instrumentation on their songs.

The group Bur released Snowy Chloe, its latest full-length album, this past January, and it’s a strong follow-up to their impressive 2022 album We Are Bur. They’ve also dropped a few singles and EPs along the way, all with an emphasis on engaging harmonies on ornate pop and guitar-driven rock. The 321’s are a newer arrival on the Chicago music scene, but have already notched several gigs while delivering what they describe as “a sonic experience that is captivating and revolutionary.” Custard Flux, AKA The Luck Of Eden Hall founding member Gregory Curvey, is another IPO - Chicago veteran. The adventurous prog rock musician has a new album titled Enter Xenon coming out on June 1.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.