Slumgullion

James Moeller and Carla Hayden, the creative force behind Black Forest Theatre, as well as the alt rock band Whitewolfsonicprincess, will be performing as a duo for an acoustic show tomorrow night at The Tonic Room on Halsted in Chicago. The show starts at 9:00PM.

The Spongetones will be celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the release of their rollicking power pop debut, Beat Music, with a show at the Double Door Inn on July 28th in their hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. The band will play the album from start to finish, along with other songs they’ve recorded over the years. Beat Music has several standout tracks that tap into the 1960s, particularly the sad, clever, and impossibly catchy “She Goes Out With Everybody” and the peppy “Here I Go Again.” Hopefully, The Spongetones will bring this show to other cities.

Just looking at the LP (which I still have) brings back memories of hanging out at the Harlow’s bar on Chicago’s southwest side back in the early 1980s, comparing notes on power pop bands with “Boris” and some of the other regulars. This was also where I learned about The Smithereens, Paul Collins Beat, and 20/20. “Boris” now shares his passion for power pop via The Secret Weapon show on Woody Radio.

Little Steven Van Zandt will be spinning some of his favorite records on Monday, July 16th at possibly the last Tower Records in the universe  - - the one in Dublin, Ireland.

Vocalist-guitarist Rick Hromadka of the power pop/prog band Maple Mars has a side project called Ruby Free with his wife, singer Lisa Cavaliere. The debut CD, Introducing Ruby Free, is set to drop on July 31st on SodaStar Music.

Russian metal band Grenouer is hoping to appeal to headbangers around the globe with its new five-song EP, Computer Crime. The disc is being distributed by the UK-based Copro Records.

Entrepreneur Chris Engle is seeking funding on Kickstarter for a new card game he’s created for people who want to relive the late 1960s. Judging from Engle’s short video, Snapshot: 1969 challenges players to use their imagination while engaging in some fun role playing and story telling.

Sonja Moser’s adaptation of Electra by Euripides opens at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre next Friday and runs through July 29th. The show is being presented in association with the Illinois State University School of Theatre.

Hugh Hart’s “Idolizer,” a melodic satire on being infatuated with gorgeous models, will be featured on a new four-song EP that’s due out soon.