Slumgullion

Graphic from the Sons Of The Silent Age Facebook page.

Please see yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post for events taking place this weekend.

First, a couple of items that should have been in yesterday’s post:

1. Pravda Recording artists and longtime Chicago club favorites The Handcuffs have a show tomorrow (Saturday) night at Mary’s Place in Rockford, IL. MonkeyMind, a band featuring veterans of the local rock scene, is also on the bill and will likely promote their recently released album Deep Red. The music starts at 8:00 pm.

2. Local singer-songwriter Rachel Drew and multi-instrumentalist-songwriter John Szymanski will offer a mix of original songs and cover versions at their performance at the Sketchbook venue in Skokie, IL this Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00 pm.

Tickets are now on sale tomorrow for the Sons of the Silent Age Best of David Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy + More event coming to Metro on January 6. The band is led by Chris Connelly and Matt Walker, and features other well-known Chicago area musicians. They’ve been impressing audiences with their David Bowie tributes for several years. A portion of the proceeds from this concert will benefit cancer patients at NorthShore University HealthSystem's Integrative Medicine Program.

Tickets are now on sale tomorrow for Stewart Copeland’s 2027 Police Deranged Tour coming to several locations in America, Canada, and Australia. The concerts will feature Copeland performing several of the band’s big hits with a full orchestra supporting him. The U.S. tour kicks off in Rancho Mirage, CA on March 13 and will wrap up in San Antonio, TX on Jun 17. Police Deranged comes to The Chicago Theatre in downtown Chicago on April 30.

Joe Walsh And Friends will present VetsAid - The Concert For Our Veterans on January 29 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Walsh, whose resume includes performing with James Gang; The Eagles; and on his solo recordings, will be joined by special guests Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Other acts helping out include The Killers; The War On Drugs; and St. Vincent.

Poi Dog Pondering, the festive, multi-member band that came together in Hawaii and later settled in Chicago, has upcoming shows in Sonoma, CA on November 20; San Francisco, CA on November 21; and Austin, TX on November 27.

The wolf has definitely survived. Los Lobos, the Grammy Award winning alt rock band from East Los Angeles, is currently celebrating their 50th anniversary. They’ll perform at City Winery Chicago on December 16 and 17; as well as at The Arcada in St. Charles, IL on December 18. The hard-hitting midwest rockers Backyard Tire Fire will be the opening act for all three of these gigs.

The band English Channels will pay tribute to The Cure at the Brewster Street Icehouse in downtown Corpus Christi, TX, on November 27. Lost Control, a band that honors Joy Division, will also perform at Brewster Street Icehouse that same evening.

The Burlington Bar on Chicago’s north side will showcase local recording acts on November 21with the triple bill of Cult Canyon, a new band led by former The M’s leader Josh Chicoine; power pop/rock quartet A.M. Slingers; and “dance music for nature walks” band Wuji Bop.

Chicago area fans of high-energy, indie rock with irresistible melodies are in for a double treat when The Handcuffs open for The Smithereens at Park West on November 21. The Smithereens call New Jersey home, but have built a loyal following throughout Illinois over numerous decades. The Handcuffs, led by Brad Elvis and Chloe F. Orwell, are long-time regulars on the local scene and have released four impressive albums.

The Smithereens’ performance at the Park West will feature John Cowsill (The Cowsills, Beach Boys, John Cowsill and Vicki Peterson) as their guest lead singer. He’s been doing a terrific job in that role for a while now. (Cowsill, Marshall Crenshaw, and Wesley Stace are taking turns in that role on the current tour.)

The FitzGerald’s night club in Berwyn, IL will continue its popular Songwriter Circle series when host Terry White welcomes guests Rick Mosher from The Service and The Imperial Sound bands, along with Al Rose, on November 24.

Cheap Trick only has six dates left on their current All Washed Up Tour before taking some time off from live performances. The upcoming locations are Davenport, IA; La Vista, NE; Milwaukee, WI; Cincinnati, OH; Northfield, OH; and Detroit, MI. As noted in a post on the band’s official Facebook page, “the guys just want a bit of time off after 50 years of performing.” It’s certainly well-deserved.

It will be an eclectic evening of Chicago-based music on November 28 when veteran prog rock band McLuhan; indie rockers The 321’s; and the self-described “psychedelic country and other weirdness” duo Big Hair Big Trouble all perform at Reggie's Music Joint in Chicago.

The Hoodoo Gurus have a live album titled Silk Purse coming out on December 4 that features the Aussie indie rock band performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. For those of us familiar with The Hoodoo Gurus’s raucous and frequently funny material, this combination is intriguing. “Hearing my songs performed this way was a truly transcendent experience,” band leader Dave Faulkner states on Facebook. “I had the strange feeling of rediscovering my own music in a fresh, new way.”

Long-time Chicago country/rock band Urban Twang will likely perform selections from their modestly titled Greatest Misses album when they perform at Uncommon Ground Lakeview on November 28. Local singer-songwriter Paige Kizer, who recently released her album Unconditional, will open with an acoustic set.

As mentioned in yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post, International Pop Overthrow - Toronto runs this weekend at the Painted Lady venue. The final 2026 International Pop Overthrow showcase will take place at The Square Root venue November 18 – 21 in Boston.

Sunshine Boys, the Chicago-based indie rock trio of Dag Juhlin; Jacqueline Schimmel; and Gerald Dowd, has a gig coming up on November 22 at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, IL. Sunshine Boys have two superb albums to choose songs from, and will most likely play some new material.

Fire. Aim. Ready., the latest album from Chicago’s long-time, hard-hitting punk band The Effigies, is now available to order from local label Pravda Records on Bandcamp.

Tickets are now on sale for the alt rock showcase of hometown bands Ratboys and Friko, along with the Philadelphia-based group Florry, at the Salt Shed in Chicago on December 19.

Grammy Award winning country and western/rock singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne has a memoir titled Gunpowder due out in December. It will likely offer interesting reflections on her decades-long career.

The annual Chris & Heather's Country Calendar Show will once again feature live performances by local musicians, and take place at the FitzGerald’s venue in Berwyn, IL. Chicago-based musician/artist Heather McAdams creates calendars brimming with cool illustrations of country and rock musicians. This year’s calendar show will take place on December 12.

Theater Of The Mind, the imaginative adventure crafted by David Byrne from Talking Heads and writer Mala Gaonkar, has been extended through December at the Reid Murdoch Building at 333 N. LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago. Theater Of The Mind is a Goodman Theatre production.

Tickets are now on sale for the Richard Thompson And Band with Clayton Linthicum and Quinn Bachand concert at The Vic Theatre on Chicago’s north side on January 30.

Weekend Reminders

Weekend Reminders on 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; record release info; or concert tickets.

Happy Birthday to Neil Young, who arrived on the American music scene in the 1960s and hasn’t stopped amazing and impressing fans around the globe ever since. His most recent effort, the seven-track Second Song, came out this past September.

EXPO ’76, Chicago’s fun and unpredictable covers band, will be the opening act tomorrow night when 12-piece, self-described “RocknSoul party band” Tom Kenny And The Hi-Seas performs at Reggie’s Rock Club in Chicago’s south loop.

U2’s latest album, Carnaval De Luz, comes out tomorrow, and there will be listening events in various locations from today through Sunday. The Illinois venues include Rattleback Records in Chicago; Rediscover Records in Elgin; Val’s Halla in Oak Park; and The Records Department in Woodstock. See the official U2 Facebook page for details.

Ghost Voice, the Chicago area classical trio of Jeffrey Parker, Tom McGettrick, and Alison Hinderliter, will likely showcase songs from their upcoming album at their show at The Hideout—corner of Elston and Wabansia on the city’s north side—tomorrow night. Hinderliter is also familiar to Chicago area rock fans as the keyboards player for The Handcuffs. 

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Stewart Copeland’s 2027 Police Deranged Tour coming to several locations in America, Canada, and Australia. The concerts will feature Copeland performing several of the band’s big hits with a full orchestra supporting him. The U.S. tour kicks off in Rancho Mirage, CA on March 13 and will wrap up in San Antonio, TX on Jun 17. Police Deranged comes to The Chicago Theatre in downtown Chicago on April 30.

International Pop Overthrow - Toronto will bring 20 live acts to The Painted Lady venue tomorrow through Sunday. I must confess the only one I’m familiar with is the globe-trotting, always impressive Dave Rave, who has the 9:15 pm slot on Saturday. But one of the good things about IPO gigs is they cast a spotlight on local talent in various cities, and introduce them to the rest of the world. You can find links to most of them on the official International Pop Overthrow website.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the Sons of the Silent Age Best of David Bowie’s Berlin Trilogy + More event coming to Metro on January 6. The band, led by Chris Connelly and Matt Walker, and features other well-known Chicago area musicians. They’ve been impressing audiences with their David Bowie tributes for several years. A portion of the proceeds from this concert will benefit cancer patients at NorthShore University HealthSystem's Integrative Medicine Program.

Ivy has three concerts coming up this weekend. They’ll perform at the Brooklyn Paramount in Brooklyn, NY tomorrow; at Roadrunner in Boston, MA on Saturday; and at City Winery in Philadelphia, PA on Sunday. The Ivy - Traces Of You - 2026 Tour is named after a 2025 album of previously unreleased Ivy songs recorded by band members Adam Schlesinger, Andy Chase, and Dominique Durand between 1995 and 2012. Sadly, we lost Adam Schlesinger to COVID-19 in 2020.

Today’s Weekend Reminders post is a bit late due to my monthly trek into downtown Chicago. Sandmeyer’s Bookstore at 714 S. Dearborn has become one of my regular stops due to their collection of books, greeting cards, and stickers. It also has copies of The Reader, New City, and other local free publications. 

Incoming

Joe Walsh And Friends will present VetsAid - The Concert For Our Veterans on January 29 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Walsh, whose resume includes performing with James Gang; The Eagles; and on his solo recordings, will be joined by special guests Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. Other acts helping out include The Killers; The War On Drugs; and St. Vincent.

The wolf has definitely survived. Los Lobos, the Grammy Award winning alt rock band from East Los Angeles, is currently celebrating their 50th anniversary. They’ll perform at City Winery Chicago on December 16 and 17; as well as at The Arcada in St. Charles, IL on December 18. The hard-hitting midwest rockers Backyard Tire Fire will be the opening act for all three of these gigs.

Super Creeps, the Chicago-based David Bowie tribute act, will share the bill with the Gang Of Four tribute act Damaged Gods at the Gallery Cabaret on November 21. Damaged Gods goes on at 8:30 pm, followed by Super Creeps at 10:00 pm. Gallery Cabaret is located at 2020 N. Oakley.

International Pop Overthrow - Toronto will bring 20 live acts to The Painted Lady venue this Friday through Sunday. I must confess the only one I’m familiar with is the globe-trotting, always impressive Dave Rave, who has the 9:15 pm slot on Saturday. But one of the good things about IPO gigs is they cast a spotlight on local talent in various cities, and introduce them to the rest of the world. You can find links to most of them on the official International Pop Overthrow website.

EXPO ’76, one of the most fun and unpredictable cover bands around, will be back at their beloved Simon’s Tavern on Chicago’s north side tomorrow night. The adventure starts at 8:30 pm. 

Long-time Chicago country/rock band Urban Twang will likely perform selections from their modestly titled Greatest Misses album when they perform at Uncommon Ground Lakeview on November 28. Local singer-songwriter Paige Kizer, who recently released her album Unconditional, will open with an acoustic set.

A Song For Gram Parsons - Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Celebration takes place tomorrow night at The Troubadour in West Hollywood. The performers will include Emmylou Harris; Elvis Costello; The Black Crowes; Grace Potter; Jim Lauderdale; and “Cosmic Accompaniment  by Beachwood Sparks.” In addition to celebrating Parson’s 2026 induction, the event will be a benefit for the Friendly House Foundation and Backline organizations.

Colvin House, the historic landmark on Chicago’s north side will be the scene of time travel entertainment this Thursday. That’s when it will feature the double bill of the 21st Century Druid Music/Celtic Blues of whitewolfsonicprincess and the jazz and swing from the 1930s through 1950s of Angry Ankles. The ticket price is $23.18.

Solo jazz guitarist Tony Richards will perform at the Basil Leaf Cafe on Chicago’s north side this Thursday night from 6:30-8:30 PM.

Keyboards player Alison Hinderliter, a longtime member of Chicago indie rockers The Handcuffs, also performs with the classical trio Ghost Voice with Jeffrey Parker and Tom McGettrick. They have an album coming out soon, along with a live shows at The Hideout this Friday.

Slumgullion

Please see yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post for events taking place this weekend.

Cheap Trick has nine dates left on their current All Washed Up Tour before taking some time off from live performances. The upcoming locations include Nashville, TN; Milwaukee, WI; and Detroit, MI. As noted in a recent post on the band’s official Facebook page, “the guys just want a bit of time off after 50 years of performing.” It’s certainly well-deserved. I still cherish the time I saw Cheap Trick perform at the Harlow’s venue in Burbank, IL, possibly 47 years ago.

Long-time entertainment journalist Mark Caro (Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, etc.) has a knack for creating in-depth, fascinating interviews with rock musicians on his Caropop podcast. Recent guests include Jim Babjak from The Smithereens; musician/DJ Palmyra Delran; and John Murphy from Shoes. For the latest edition, Caro recruited Chicago musician/recording artist Phil Angotti to discuss the recently released Rubber Soul box set. Angotti has performed at Beatles buffet events around the city for years, and he organizes the annual John Lennon birthday bash at the Martyrs’ venue in Lincoln Park. Caropop is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Caro’s YouTube channel.

As mentioned in yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post, The 25th Annual International Pop Overthrow - New York runs this weekend at the Parkside Lounge in New York City. The final 2026 International Pop Overthrow showcases will take place November 13 – 15 in Toronto, and November 18 – 21 in Boston.

Tickets went on sale today for the Berlin; Lisbon; Paris; and London concerts U2 recently added to their 2027 The Greatest Show On Earth European Tour. The English alt-rock band Wolf Alice, whose latest album The Clearing has done really well, will be the supporting act.

Here in the United States, U2 will perform during halftime at the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams football game on November 25 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Fans not at the stadium will be able to watch U2 on Netflix. U2’s latest album, Carnaval De Luz, is due out next Friday, and the numerous listening events scheduled in various locations from November 12 through 15 include Illinois venues such as Rattleback Records in Chicago; Rediscover Records in Elgin; Val’s Halla in Oak Park; and The Records Department in Woodstock. See the official U2 Facebook page for details on all of the above.

Tony Richards, whose solo jazz guitar performances have gained a loyal following on the Chicago club scene, has a gig coming up on Nov 12 at Basil Leaf Cafe. The music starts at 6:30 pm; Basil Leaf Cafe is located at 2465 N. Clark Street.

The Hoodoo Gurus have a live album titled Silk Purse coming out on December 4 that features the Aussie indie rock band performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. For those of us familiar with The Hoodoo Gurus’s raucous and frequently funny material, this combination is intriguing. “Hearing my songs performed this way was a truly transcendent experience,” band leader Dave Faulkner states on Facebook. “I had the strange feeling of rediscovering my own music in a fresh, new way.”

Sunshine Boys, the Chicago-based indie rock trio of Dag Juhlin; Jacqueline Schimmel; and Gerald Dowd, has a gig coming up on November 22 at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, IL. Sunshine Boys have two superb albums to choose songs from, and will most likely play some new material.

Keyboards player Alison Hinderliter, a longtime member of Chicago indie rockers The Handcuffs, also performs with the classical trio Ghost Voice with Jeffrey Parker and Tom McGettrick. They have an album coming out soon, along with a live shows at The Hideout on November 13.

The November issue of MOJO includes writer Andy Fyfe’s full-page article on the recent 80th Birthday celebration organized by Mark Guarino for the late John Prine at the Chicago Theatre. Later in that same issue, there’s a profile on Irving Place Records in Milwaukee, WI, which is managed by Terry Hackbarth, the bass player-vocalist for the power pop band Trolley.

Chicago area fans of high-energy, indie rock with irresistible melodies are in for a double treat when The Handcuffs open for The Smithereens at Park West on November 21. The Smithereens call New Jersey home, but have built a loyal following throughout Illinois over numerous decades. The Handcuffs, led by Brad Elvis and Chloe F. Orwell, are long-time regulars on the local scene and have released four impressive albums.

The Smithereens’ performance at the Park West will feature John Cowsill (The Cowsills, Beach Boys, John Cowsill and Vicki Peterson) as their guest lead singer. He’s been doing a terrific job in that role for a while now. (Cowsill, Marshall Crenshaw, and Wesley Stace are taking turns in that role on the current tour.)

The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL has an ambitious event coming up on November 19 that involves recreating The Band’s 1976 iconic farewell concert The Last Waltz. Several modern-day musicians will take on the roles of original performers Emmylou Harris; Bob Dylan; Muddy Waters; Neil Young and Joni Mitchell; Eric Clapton; members of The Band; and various other stars. Tickets are now available from the venue.   

As noted in Jennifer Day’s What To Do In Chicago article in today’s edition of the Chicago Tribune, The 32nd Annual Black Harvest Film Festival opened today at the Gene Siskel Film Center in downtown Chicago, and will run through November 15.

Fire. Aim. Ready., the latest album from Chicago’s long-time, hard-hitting punk band The Effigies, is now available to order from local label Pravda Records on Bandcamp.

Tickets are now on sale for the alt rock showcase of hometown bands Ratboys and Friko, along with the Philadelphia-based group Florry, at the Salt Shed in Chicago on December 19.

The annual Chris & Heather's Country Calendar Show will once again feature live performances by local musicians, and take place at the FitzGerald’s venue in Berwyn, IL. Chicago-based musician/artist Heather McAdams creates calendars brimming with cool illustrations of country and rock musicians. This year’s calendar show will take place on December 12.

Grammy Award winning country and western/rock singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne has a memoir titled Gunpowder due out in December. It will likely offer interesting reflections on her decades-long career.

The Split Squad, an all-star indie rock band whose members have found considerable success with other indie rock bands, has a new album coming out next year on Pravda Records. In the meantime, they’ve released the catchy single “Spanish Hospital Food” and a truly fun animation video to go with it. Chicago fans will get a kick out of seeing drummer Brad Elvis of The Handcuffs in cartoon mode.

Theater Of The Mind, the imaginative adventure crafted by David Byrne from Talking Heads and writer Mala Gaonkar, has been extended through December at the Reid Murdoch Building at 333 N. LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago. Theater Of The Mind is a Goodman Theatre production.

Tickets are now on sale for the Richard Thompson And Band with Clayton Linthicum and Quinn Bachand concert at The Vic Theatre on Chicago’s north side on January 30.

Colvin House, the historic landmark on Chicago’s north side will be the scene of time travel entertainment on November 12. That’s when it will feature the double bill of the 21st Century Druid Music/Celtic Blues of whitewolfsonicprincess and the jazz and swing from the 1930s through 1950s of Angry Ankles. The ticket price is $23.18.

 

Weekend Reminders

The Grip Weeds will perform this Saturday night at IPO - New York.

Weekend Reminders on 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; record release info; or concert tickets.

The 25th Annual International Pop Overthrow - New York runs tonight through Sunday at the Parkside Lounge in New York City. Over 35 acts are scheduled to perform, including Wednesday Week; The Grip Weeds; Allie Kenny; The Wag; and Zombies Of The Stratosphere.

Long-time entertainment journalist Mark Caro (Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, etc.) has a knack for creating in-depth, fascinating interviews with rock musicians on his Caropop podcast. Recent guests include Jim Babjak from The Smithereens; musician/DJ Palmyra Delran; and John Murphy from Shoes. For the latest edition, Caro recruited Chicago musician Phil Angotti to discuss the recently released Rubber Soul box set. Angotti has performed at Beatles buffet events around the city for years, and he organizes the annual John Lennon birthday bash at the Martyrs’ venue in Lincoln Park. Caropop is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Caro’s YouTube channel.

In related news, Phil Angotti will perform the music of Squeeze at Friendly Tap (6733 W. Roosevelt Rd. In Forest Park, IL) starting at 5:35 pm. this Sunday.

Happy Birthday to Peter Noone, the lead vocalist for Herman’s Hermits who had millions of people singing along to “I’m Henery The Eighth, I Am” back in 1965. The band recorded several other hits after that, including “No Milk Today,” “I’m Into Something Good,” and “There’s A Kind Of Hush.”

Also, Happy Birthday to Eric Chial, long-time Chicago musician and boss at the always rocking Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side. His bands have included the rowdy Penthouse Sweets; country-flavored Decoy Prayer Meeting, and the exquisite pop band The Bon Mots.

U2 has added four new dates to its 2027 The Greatest Show On Earth European Tour. Tickets go on sale tomorrow for concerts in Berlin; Lisbon; Paris; and London.

Temp Wishes, a new band led by the perpetually busy Josh Chicoine of The M’s, have a vinyl release show for their self-titled debut record coming up tomorrow at the Constellation venue on Chicago’s north side. They’ll share the bill with folk singer The Singleton Affair. 

Bandcamp Friday returns tomorrow, which means the downloading site waives its share of sales on music purchases for 24 hours. As noted in a Bandcamp email, it “sends even more money directly to the artists and labels you support.”

Josh Caterer from The Smoking Popes has an in-store performance coming up at the Rediscover Records store in Elgin, IL this Saturday. Admission is $15 at the door, the music starts at at 7:00 pm.

As noted on page 10 of the November issue of the Illinois Entertainer, tomorrow will bring several album releases. The list includes Alanis Morissette; Bryan Adams; Django Django; Kings Of Leon; Naked Raygun; and Sufjan Stevens. That same issue has a Black Friday Record Store Day Preview and Local Store Directory. (Once again, thanks to The Music Room in Palatine, IL for not complaining when I come in for my IE copy even though I’ve never taken guitar lessons there.)

Incoming

Chicago area fans of high-energy, indie rock with irresistible melodies are in for a double treat when The Handcuffs open for The Smithereens at Park West on November 21. The Smithereens call New Jersey home, but have built a loyal following throughout Illinois over numerous decades. The Handcuffs, led by Brad Elvis and Chloe F. Orwell, are long-time regulars on the local scene and have released four impressive albums. The Park West website notes tickets are going fast for this event.

The Smithereens’ performance at the Park West will feature John Cowsill (The Cowsills, Beach Boys, John Cowsill and Vicki Peterson) as their guest lead singer. He’s been doing a terrific job in that role for a while now. (Cowsill, Marshall Crenshaw, and Wesley Stace are taking turns in that role on the current tour.)

The 25th Annual International Pop Overthrow - New York will run this Thursday through Sunday at the Parkside Lounge in New York City. Over 35 acts are scheduled to perform, including Wednesday Week; The Grip Weeds; Allie Kenny; The Wag; and Zombies Of The Stratosphere. International Pop Overthrow has two more showcases left for this year; November 13 – 15 in Toronto, and November 18 – 21 in Boston.

Temp Wishes, a new band led by the perpetually busy Josh Chicoine of The M’s, have a vinyl release show for their self-titled debut record coming up this Friday at the Constellation venue on Chicago’s north side. They’ll share the bill with folk singer The Singleton Affair. 

Josh Caterer from The Smoking Popes has an in-store performance coming up at the Rediscover Records store in Elgin, IL this Saturday. Admission is $15 at the door, the music starts at at 7:00 pm.

Read ‘em and keep Part One: I’m an avid collector of rock and roll publications, including those that are based in the UK, and show up in larger American bookstores such as Barnes And Noble. Or you can subscribe to them, which is what I do with MOJO and Shindig. It’s always interesting when they cover events here in the American midwest. The November issue of MOJO includes writer Andy Fyfe’s full-page article on the recent 80th Birthday celebration organized by Mark Guarino for the late John Prine at the Chicago Theatre. Later in that same issue, there’s a profile on Irving Place Records in Milwaukee, WI, which is managed by Terry Hackbarth, the bass player-vocalist for the power pop band Trolley.

Read ‘em and keep Part Two: I also received the latest issue of the British ‘zine Dedicated Follower. I’d never heard of until I saw it mentioned on a Facebook post (possibly related to The Kinks) and decided to order copy from their website.  (www.dedicated-follower.co.uk) Dedicated Follower had a successful run in the 1980s, and has published 17 issues since making a comeback in a few years ago. It’s much smaller than MOJO, with less pages, but still a worthy purchase. David Bowie is the cover story, and there are also pieces on producer Mike Vernon; The Kinks; Keith Moon; Patti Boyd; and Marianne Faithful.

Sunday Papers

Long-time Irish rockers U2 have recently announced so many events, it’s a challenge to keep up with everything they have planned for the immediate future. The UK and Europe leg of their 2027 Greatest Show On Earth World Tour will run from the end of April through the beginning of July, with concerts in Stockholm; Paris; Lisbon; Amsterdam; London; Berlin; and Milan. The English alt-rock band Wolf Alice, whose latest album The Clearing has done really well, will be the supporting act. This tour comes after the previously announced Mexico City and South America concerts starting in late February.

As for the United States, U2 will perform during halftime at the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams football game on November 25 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. Fans not at the stadium will be able to watch U2 on Netflix. U2’s latest album, Carnaval De Luz, is due out on November 13, and the numerous listening events scheduled in various locations from November 12 through 15 include Illinois venues such as Rattleback Records in Chicago; Rediscover Records in Elgin; Val’s Halla in Oak Park; and The Records Department in Woodstock. See the official U2 Facebook page for details on all of the above.

As noted in recent post on the band’s official Facebook page, Cheap Trick is taking a break from live concerts. Fans were assured we have no cause to worry; the guys just want a bit of time off after 50 years of performing. It’s certainly well-deserved. I still cherish the time I saw Cheap Trick perform at the Harlow’s venue in Burbank, IL, possibly 47 years ago.

The North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL has an ambitious event coming up on November 19 that involves recreating The Band’s 1976 iconic farewell concert The Last Waltz. Several modern-day musicians will take on the roles of original performers Emmylou Harris; Bob Dylan; Muddy Waters; Neil Young and Joni Mitchell; Eric Clapton; members of The Band; and various other stars. Tickets are now available from the venue.   

Josh Caterer from The Smoking Popes has an in-store performance coming up at the Rediscover Records store in Elgin, IL on November 7. Admission is $15 at the door, the music starts at at 7:00 pm.

Stop Making Sense, director Jonathan Demme’s 1984 ground-breaking film featuring Talking Heads is being released as a 40th Anniversary Collector's Edition that includes the newly restored and remixed theatrical cut, a 64-page booklet with previously unseen photography, Demme’s commentary, and David Byrne’ rehearsal tape. And, as noted on the SPIN Magazine Facebook page, all four members of Talking Heads have collaborated on a book titled Talking Heads: New Feeling. It’s scheduled for May 2027, and is said to include all kinds of cool stuff that only the band members could have put together.

Fire. Aim. Ready., the latest album from Chicago’s long-time, hard-hitting punk band The Effigies, is now available to order from local label Pravda Records on Bandcamp.

Tickets are now on sale for the alt rock showcase of hometown bands Ratboys and Friko, along with the Philadelphia-based group Florry, at the Salt Shed in Chicago on December 19.

Tickets are now on sale for Nick Heyward’s 2027 acoustic shows in Atlanta; Nashville; St Louis; Chicago; Pittsburgh; Washington, DC; Philadelphia; Boston; and New York. All of the dates except Washington, DC (at Union Stage) will be at City Winery locations. Heyward is best known as the vocalist-guitarist for Haircut 100 of “Favourite Shirts” and “Love Plus One” fame. The City Winery Chicago show takes place on March 8. 

A Song For Gram Parsons - Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction Celebration is taking place November 11 at The Troubadour in West Hollywood. The performers will include Emmylou Harris; Elvis Costello; The Black Crowes; Grace Potter; Jim Lauderdale; and “Cosmic Accompaniment  by Beachwood Sparks.” In addition to celebrating Parson’s 2026 induction, the event will be a benefit for the Friendly House Foundation and Backline organizations.

The Hoodoo Gurus have a live album titled Silk Purse coming out on December 4 that features the Aussie indie rock band performing with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. For those of us familiar with The Hoodoo Gurus’s raucous and frequently funny material, this combination is intriguing. “Hearing my songs performed this way was a truly transcendent experience,” band leader Dave Faulkner states on Facebook. “I had the strange feeling of rediscovering my own music in a fresh, new way.” Fans can get a preview by checking out the song “My Caravan” on YouTube.

The annual Chris & Heather's Country Calendar Show will once again feature live performances by local musicians, and take place at the FitzGerald’s venue in Berwyn, IL. Chicago-based musician/artist Heather McAdams creates calendars brimming with cool illustrations of country and rock musicians. This year’s calendar show will take place on December 12.

Grammy Award winning country and western/rock singer-songwriter Shelby Lynne has a memoir titled Gunpowder due out in December. It will likely offer interesting reflections on her decades-long career.

The Split Squad, an all-star indie rock band whose members have found considerable success with other indie rock bands, has a new album coming out next year on Pravda Records. In the meantime, they’ve released the catchy single “Spanish Hospital Food” and a truly fun animation video to go with it. Chicago fans will get a kick out of seeing drummer Brad Elvis of The Handcuffs in cartoon mode.

Long-time entertainment journalist Mark Caro has a knack for creating in-depth, fascinating interviews with rock musicians on his Caropop podcast. Two recent examples are Jim Babjak from The Smithereens, and Palmyra Delran, who recorded with The Friggs and is now a deejay on Little Steven’s Underground Garage Sirius XM channel. Caro’s current podcast features John Murphy, the third member of Shoes (after Jeff Murphy and Gary Klebe) Caro has interviewed. Caropop is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Caro’s YouTube channel.

Tommi Zender and Alton Smith, both well-known musicians on the Chicago scene, promise they’ll “make pleasant sounds” when they perform at Madame Zuzu’s in Highland Park tomorrow night. That’s the combination teahouse and record store run by Billy (Smashing Pumpkins) and Chloe Corgan.

Chris Isaak’s 15-date On Tour For The Holidays will start in Atlantic City, NJ on November 27 and wrap up in Shipshewana, IN on December 19. The seasonal music tour includes a stop in Milwaukee, WI on December 16 and at the Hard Rock Live Rockford venue in Rockford, IL on December 18.

The Uncommon Ground venue on Chicago’s north side has announced the second night of its November 16 and 17 Jeff Buckley Tributes is sold out and there are only a few tickets left for the first night.

The Smithereens will perform at the Park West venue in Chicago on November 21. John Cowsill (The Cowsills, Beach Boys, John Cowsill and Vicki Peterson) will be their guest lead singer, and he’s been doing a terrific job in that role for a while now. (Cowsill, Marshall Crenshaw, and Wesley Stace are taking turns in that role on the current tour.)

Tickets are now on sale for the Richard Thompson And Band with Clayton Linthicum and Quinn Bachand concert at The Vic Theatre on Chicago’s north side on January 30.

The Third Eye, a book of personal photographs George Harrison took of his fellow Beatles in the years 1963 – 1969, is now on sale. It features over 200 photographs compiled and curated by Olivia Harrison, along with her essays, and comments from George.

Temp Wishes, a new band led by the perpetually busy Josh Chicoine of The M’s, have a vinyl release show for their self-titled debut record coming up on November 6 at the Constellation venue on Chicago’s north side. They’ll share the bill with folk singer The Singleton Affair. 

The 49th Anniversary Edition of Elvis Costello’s My Aim Is True five-CD box set, with 104 tracks—half of them being previously unreleased—is now available. Costello’s groundbreaking debut featured songs such as “Watching The Detectives,” “Miracle Man,” “Alison,” “Less Than Zero,” and “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes.”

Theater Of The Mind, the imaginative adventure crafted by David Byrne from Talking Heads and writer Mala Gaonkar, has been extended through December at the Reid Murdoch Building at 333 N. LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago. Theater Of The Mind is a Goodman Theatre production.