Slumgullion

Now that the holiday season is over, there may be a temptation to hibernate through the winter months. But for those not afraid to brave the freezing weather, there are plenty of things going on in Chicago and around the world.

The always fascinating Whitewolfsonicprincess is headlining a four-band lineup that also includes The Stalin Brothers, Thick And Thin, and Acoustic Rescue Unit at Red Line Tap tonight.

Thin White Duke doings. If you never made it to the David Bowie Is exhibition, which closes this Sunday at the Museum Of Contemporary Art, there’s the Tributosaurus Becomes David Bowie show at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue tomorrow night, January 3rd, and The Sons Of The Silent Age Bowie Birthday Bash next Friday, January 9th at Metro.

There will be an interesting doubleheader this Sunday night on WXRT when the Chicago FM radio station airs Richard Milne’s Local Anesthetic Best Of 2014 retrospective at 7:00 PM, followed at 8:00 PM by a classic R.E.M. concert that was recorded at the Aragon Ballroom in 1984.

All the world’s a stage, and forsooth, some of us hath the beat. A number of songs by The Go-Go’s are being woven into Jeff Whitty’s Elizabethan style musical Head Over Heels at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, from June 3rd through October 10th.

Love their way—someday someway. The Psychedelic Furs will be performing at City Winery this coming Monday, January 5th, and Marshall Crenshaw, with The Bottle Rockets, will be there on the 8th.

Go Time! has a release party for its new Ratsel CD coming up at Sylvie’s on January 17th. Ratsel came in at number 29 on the Broken Hearted Toy Favorite Releases Of 2014 List, (see December 31st post) where I described it as, “An ambitious 19-track effort from this prolific Chicago band that explores the harder edges of power pop with inventive, energetic arrangements.”

The 1968 Exhibit at the Chicago History Museum ends this Sunday January 4th. The multi-media exhibit explores the social, political, and scientific events of that explosive year, along with fashion, music, and other forms of popular entertainment.

It was sad to read media journalist Robert Feder’s report that Today’s Chicago Woman will cease publication after 32 years. The January issue will be its last. In other local publications news, the Chicago Sun-Times’ trendy insert Splash will reinvent itself as a glossy magazine. According to editor Susanna Negovan, the new and improved Splash will be still be available in the Sun-Times, and at over 100 free locations. 

Chad and Jeremy recently extended congratulations to Peter Asher of Peter and Gordon fame on their Facebook page for being recognized as a Commander Of The Most Excellent Order Of The British Empire (CBE). Asher, who is also an acclaimed producer, will be joining Chad and Jeremy and other 1960s acts on the British Invitation Tour, which comes to Chicago on March.

Journalist Johnny Oleksinski recently wrote a piece in the Chicago Tribune about this year’s Chicago Humanities Festival. One of the highlights will come on February 26th, when Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth will be discussing her book Girl In A Band at the Music Box Theatre. Her talk will be preceded by a performance by Girls Rock! Chicago.

Singer-guitarist Dann Morr, a veteran of bands like Wells-next-the-Sea and Mooner is going to have a residency at The Hideout in January. He’ll be performing every Tuesday night. Shouting Into The Wind, his well-crafted CD of melodic rock came in at Number 36 on the Broken Hearted Toy Favorite Releases Of 2014 List.

The Chicago Rock Rock Concerts Of The 1960s and 1970s Facebook page has been heralding the Chicago Old Town 50 Year Reunion, which will take place August 8 and 9. So far, I haven’t seen any info on where it will be held. The date is interesting, because that would be right around the time the Mary Arrchie Theatre Company holds its annual Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Festival.

Singer-guitarist Paul Collins, a definite member of power pop royalty, has scheduled a whole bunch of gigs for his Garageland Tour coming up later this month. He’ll likely be playing songs from his 2014 release Feel The Noise (number 13 on BHT Favorites List), along with his other solo material and possibly songs from his days with The Paul Collins Beat and The Nerves.

There’s a Susanna Hoffs And Friends gig taking place January 29th at Largo at The Coronet in Los Angeles. The Facebook page promises “Singing, swinging, comedy and a slew of special somebodies stopping by to rock, pop and folk your mind into the next dimension.” It’s not clear who the ‘somebodies’ are, but if Ms. Hoffs is looking for comedy, I have a whole bunch of skits she could use.

When I mentioned Jeff Kelley in my Big Ideas blog yesterday, I surmised that he would bring his Coffee With Jeff internet show back some time soon in 2015. It returns this Sunday, according to a  promo clip he posted on Facebook today. Some of the work I’ve done for Coffee in the past is featured in that clip.

The official David Tennant blog site is reporting that Patti Smith told the audience at her December 29th Webster Hall concert that she has a major crush on the former Doctor Who star. “Waiting for you, David Tennant,” the iconic singer-songwriter is quoted as saying. “Because no one plays Doctor Who like you. I would gladly face all those robots with your screwdriver.” Smith noted that she’s older than Tennant, but if he really is The Doctor, he’s been around a lot longer.