Slumgullion

Postcard with vintage photos of The Three O’Clock and The Bangles from The Three O’Clock’s Live At The Waldorf LP.

The M Word. EXPO ‘76, the eclectic and fun covers band comprised of musicians from various Chicago area indie rock groups, is promising, “Music, Madness, Memories and something else beginning with M” at its gig tonight at Mickey Finn’s Brewery in Libertyville. Once again, EXPO ‘76 will be backed by The Total Pro Horns. Showtime is 9:00 PM.

Paisley Deja Vu. You don’t have to live in Los Angeles to know there was a retro/psychedelic music scene there back in the early 1980s called The Paisley Underground. But you will have to be a resident (or travel to L.A.) to catch a Paisley Underground reunion featuring The Three O’Clock, The Bangles, Rain Parade, and Dream Syndicate on December 6th at Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, CA. Lead singer-guitarist Michael Quercio of The Three O’Clock and singer-guitarist Vicki Peterson of The Bangles have mentioned on their respective Facebook pages how much they’re looking forward to the concert. It would be nice to see this line-up hit the road and visit some other cities, like Chicago.

A Book About Truthful Boys. It should be interesting to see how many people from Chicago’s power pop and indie rock community show up at the Book Cellar on Lincoln Avenue at 7:00 PM next Saturday night. That’s when authors Mary E. Donnelly and Moira McCormick will be promoting their biography, Boys Don’t Lie: A History Of Shoes. There’s also a chance members of Shoes will be on hand as Donnelly and McCormick read from the book and sign copies. I’m currently about halfway through Boys Don’t Lie, and will post a review next week.

In other book store related news, Linda Bubon and Ann Christophersen, owners of Women and Children First on Clark Street are looking for someone to take the reins after they retire. The goal is to find new owners who would continue the store’s mission of supporting women writers. Congratulations to Bubon and Christophersen on their 34 years of making Women And Children First an essential part of the Chicago literary scene.

The Smithereens have already announced they’ll be guests at Fest For Beatles Fans - New York in February, 2014. They’re going to recreate the entire concert The Beatles played in Washington, DC in 1964, to commemorate the the arrival of the Fab Four in America 50 years ago. The Smithereens will also be performing songs from their own impressive repertoire as well. The line-up for each year’s Fest For Beatles Fans changes a bit at the different cities it visits, so here’s hoping The Smithereens will also be part of the Chicago version.

  

Chloe F. Orwell and Brad Elvis from The Handcuffs have been named honorary chairpersons for the 7th Annual School Rocks Benefit Concert Supporting Inner City-Students Of San Miguel School Chicago at The House Of Blues on October 29th. Two genuine musical legends, Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys and guitarist Jeff Beck, will be performing this year. The general admission price is pretty steep (and there are even higher-priced packages available) but as Orwell noted on her Facebook page, “If you can swing it, this benefit is worth your support.” 

Actress Karen Gillian, formerly on Doctor Who, stars in Not Another Happy Ending, which is opens in the UK this weekend. Fans won’t have to worry about her getting close to any statues, since the Weeping Angels (the villains who exiled her Amy Pond character to a previous era on Doctor Who) aren’t in this flick. No word yet on whether Not Another Happy Ending is coming to the States.

Pezband, one of Chicago’s best-loved power pop acts, has reunited and is leaving for a tour of Japan. The group has just dropped its Dangerous People CD, a collection of songs originally intended to be released a few decades ago. Lead vocalist-guitarist Mimi Betinis continues to simultaneously pursue a solo career, and has just released the song “Is It Real Love” as a digital single. It’s a breezy romantic song done in a 1960s lounge style and finds Betinis doing a romantic duet with a female vocalist. 

Heart recently posted on Facebook that Ann and Nancy Wilson are among the nominees for the Songwriters Hall Of Fame 2014 induction ceremony. Their fellow nominees include Jimmy Page and Robert Plant, Madonna, John Mellencamp, Cat Stevens and Donovan. The Songwriters Hall of Fame ceremony is scheduled for next June 12 in New York.

You Could Be Seeing Red. They’re being a bit secretive about it, but neo-psychedelic band The Red Plastic Buddha are planning to record a live set in a recording studio, and want their fans to attend.

Their Facebook page notes that an announcement will be made soon.