Slumgullion #32

Black Forest Theatre has been busy lining up talent for the October 9th John Lennon Birthday Bash at its space in Evanston. WhiteWolfSonicPrincess, the alt rock band formed by BFT founders James Moeller and Carla Hayden, are slated to perform “I Found Out,” “Working Class Hero,” “Come Together,” and “God.” Carlo Lorenzo Garcia, an actor/director at Mary-Arrchie Theatre, will play “Jealous Guy,” and Heather Svoboda from The Fling improv group, will read poems written by and about Lennon. Garage rock band The Telepaths will cover “She Said, She Said,” “Nobody Told Me,” and “Not A Second Time.” Frank Carr and Desiree Burcum from the Famous In The Future comedy group will do a duet on “Day Tripper,” and their fellow FIF cast member Tina Teske will perform “Imagine.” The John Lennon Birthday Bash will run from 8:00PM to 10:30PM. Black Forest Theatre is located at 512 Kedzie in Evanston. Contact James Moeller at jamesblackforest@yahoo.com for more information.

Beyond the Coyote kicks off its weekend festival tonight with an opening reception at 6:00PM at the Flat Iron Building on North Milwaukee Avenue in the Wicker Park ‘hood. The event features paintings, photography, musicians, and a variety of other performers.

The Next Wave Art Salon, which aims to encourage artists to exchange ideas and encourage each other’s creativity, will hold its latest event tomorrow night at 166 Symphony Way in Elgin. Organizer Carl Brahms states in the online invitation, “With the salon, we’re building a community of creative-minded folk to share ideas on a local level.” In addition to food, drink, and hopefully lots of inspiring conversation, there will be three $1,000 cash prizes given out at the end of the evening.

Go Time will be performing at Phyllis’s Musical Inn in Chicago on September 25th, along with Paul Coady and the Edsel Brothers, Creekmur, Kearney, Kierans, and Martellotta. Doors open at 9:00PM.

The Wells Street Fall Festival has over 20 bands lined up for its bash this weekend, including Cowboy Mouth, 7th Heaven, American English, Dan & The Humidors, Lounge Puppets, Modern Day Romeos, and Kashmir. On Saturday, American Idol finalist Gina Glocksen precedes synth rockers Dot Dot Dot. Once upon a time, Glocksen and Dot Dot Dot members Little Lisa and Rose were part of the four-woman cover band Catfight. Also on Saturday, the Modfathers, a covers band that includes Ellis Clark from The Handcuffs and Phil Angotti, will be playing classic songs from the 1960s, starting at 2:00PM. Now in its eighth year, the Wells Street Fall Festival will also feature food vendors, a midway with games, plus the work of 60 artists.

Local comedy group 4 Days Late will perform their satiric production Americans In Peril at the multi-faceted performance space Studio BE on Sheffield Avenue in Chicago every Friday from September 24th through November 12th. Showtime is 10:00PM and admission is $12.

Fitzgerald’s in Berwyn will offer an impressive power pop double bill tomorrow night when The Romeros open for Cliff Johnson & The Happy Jacks. The Romeros, who recently released the Cooler Than Your Boyfriend EP, were very impressive at International Pop Overthrow in Chicago earlier this year, and Cliff Johnson of Off Broadway fame is sure to come up with some exciting new material with his new band, The Happy Jacks. The Romeros have announced that all profits made from the sale of their merchandise tomorrow night will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Admission is $12 in advance and $15 at the door.

The Beatlemark Concert Series will honor musician Mark Eskin with Markapalooza tomorrow night at the Morton Grove Civic Center in Morton Grove. Eskin was a familiar face to those of us who attended Fest For Beatles Fans, and he worked with various bands in the area. The New Colony Six will headline the event, and other acts involved include BYTE, The StingRays, The Chauffers, and Instant Karma. In addition to this Saturday’s tribute, donations can be made at the online Mark Eskin Memorial Fund.

The sonic screwdriver has been a part of Doctor Who lore from at least the Tom Baker days, and coming this October, fans will be able to use a sonic screwdriver remote co-designed by the BBC and a company called Blue Ocean on Wii and DS. The Doctor Who: Return To Earth game will be released on Wii next winter, around the same time Doctor Who: Evavuation will come out on DS.

Singer-guitarist Rick Hromadka from the L.A.-based power pop band Maple Mars will be on the Alan K. Lohr Show this Saturday from 8-9 Pacific Standard Time. Hromadka will be interviewed by radio veteran Lohr (AKA BuddhaMan) and perform songs from the Maple Mars CD Galaxyland. Fans can catch the program at www.errorfm.com Channel 1 Error FM Live.

It was nice to see the article by Hedy Weiss in Wednesday’s Chicago Sun-Times about the Black Ensemble Theater breaking ground for its move to a larger venue on north Clark Street. I had the privilege of interviewing BET founder Jackie Taylor back in the days when the Illinois Entertainer did its annual theater issue. She’s a dynamic director whose dedication has resulted in several commercially successful and critically acclaimed productions that honor famous black musicians. The theater’s latest hit is Those Sensational Soulful 60’s, which can be seen at the theater’s current venue at 4520 N. Beacon in Chicago.