Friday, June 24, 2011

Slumgullion #67

Quite A Weekend At Quenchers. Quenchers Saloon in Chicago has some fun things going on this weekend, kicking off with singer-guitarist Phil Angotti’s Birthday Bash tonight. Angotti released his latest CD, People and Places (see for my June 8th review in the Archive) a few months back. He’s performing along with The Bed Bugs and The Coma Band. Also, don’t be surprised if some local musicians turn out to celebrate with Angotti.


The freewheeling and always fun garage rock band Penthouse Sweets will be at Quenchers on Saturday, as part of a triple bill that includes melodic rockers Innkeepers and the coed acoustic-based indie band Honey & Buffalo.


It’s Baaaack! Taste Of Chicago kicks off today in Grant Park, and the previously mentioned Phil Angotti will once again be fronting Material Re-Issue, which also includes original members Mike Zelenko and Ted Ansani. The trio will be opening for The Lemonheads this coming Tuesday, and will also perform on a double bill with The Goo Goo Dolls at SummerFest in Milwaukee on July 8th.


Archie Powell & The Exports (see January 3rd in Archives, for my review) will be at the Taste on Saturday at 2:40 PM, and Marrakesh Express, a Crosby, Stills, & Nash tribute band will perform Saturday, July 2nd at 5:20 PM. The recently canceled Celtic Fest will be condensed into a single day on Wednesday, July 29th, and there will also be days for Latin, Gospel, World, and Country music. The full schedule is available at the Taste Of Chicago website.


Across The Universe. Sorry for such short notice, but tomorrow is Global Beatles Day, according to a Facebook page created by photographer Faith Cohen. In a recent post, she explains that GBD “DOES NOT require you to be anywhere or commit to doing anything in particular. Think of it as an 'International Personal Day' to acknowledge in whatever way you choose - the impact (previous & ongoing) the Beatles had on the world....as seen from your perspective.” Musicians Brad Elvis, Chloe F. Brady, Marty Scott, and the Braam brothers are among the guests ‘attending.’


Just Hart’s Imagination. Singer-songwriter/journalist Hugh Hart has found an inventive method for showcasing his ability to succeed in a variety of genres. House Of Imaginary Hits combines his original compositions with the artwork of graphics director Sean Hartter to create ‘hit’ songs from fictional albums. Just to clarify, the songs are real but the LPs are not. Thus, he presents the rural toe-tapper “I Owe Everything To You” from Steelneck Cowboys with John Rice and J.D. Dragus; the easy-going “Candy Hearts” from Work Songs Vol. 1; the techno “Reptilian Brain” from FlameWidget (which also has an animated video); the bluesy “Up To You” by The Vanessa Davis Band; the rocking title track of his own How To Be A Millionaire; and the smooth jazz of the title track of Work It Out by Lonnie Gordon and Hugh Hart. If that isn’t confusing enough, Hart has an actual CD, Idolizer, coming out in October.


Aladdin Stock. Today’s online newsletter from the eclectic folks at Lost At E Minor has a report from Paul Dempsey about a David Bowie doll that can be purchased at a store in The Drake Hotel in Toronto. It’s part of a series of pop culture figures created by artist Suzie Smith that includes John Lennon, Yoko Ono, Johnny Cash, John Waters, and Courtney “Doll Parts” Love.


Rockpile Rocks On. The Second Disc newsletter recently revealed August 22nd as the date Eagle Records will release Rockpile’s Live At Montreaux CD, which captures the short-lived supergroup fronted by Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds, in a 1980 performance. The 16 live tracks, all previously unreleased on CD, include “So It Goes,” “I Knew The Bride,” “Teacher Teacher,” “Queen Of Hearts,” and “Girls Talk.”


Son Of No Nukes. Rolling Stone online recently reported that Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, John Hall, Sweet Honey In The Rock, and Crosby, Stills And Nash will perform at a new MUSE (Musicians United for Safe Energy) concert scheduled for August 7th at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California. The event, which will also include performances by Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine and Jason Mraz, is a response to the nuclear trouble in Japan. The Shoreline Amphitheater version comes over 30 years after the last MUSE concerts were held at Madison Square Garden.


Return Of The Jangle. Power pop band The Janglemen have released the new 5 By The Janglemen EP. It’s a follow up to their highly melodic 2007 debut, Tearjerker & 9 Others.


Well Alright. Power pop veteran Gary Ritchie, who was once a member of the Chicago band Loose Lips, has a new 18-song CD titled Hum, Sing - - Repeat coming out in a few weeks. For a preview, check out “Alright,” which is currently up on YouTube.


July EXPOsure. Expo 76, the eclectic copy band that includes Dag Juhlin of The Slugs, The Greenwoods, The Goldstars, Poi Dog Pondering, and millions of other rock groups, has a full schedule in July. On the 3rd, they’ll be part of Fitzgerald’s annual American Music Fest in Berwyn; on the 9th, they’ll be at Viper Alley in Lincolnshire; on the 13th, they’re back on their home turf of Simon’s Tavern; on the 28th, they'll be at Brummel Park in Evanston; on the 29th, they’ll be entertaining tourists from around the world at Navy Pier, and on the 30th, they’ll be part of a “total blowout dance party” after the Lincoln Avenue Street Fair.

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