Slumgullion

Van Go will be bringing hard-edged and bitingly clever power pop songs like “Invisible Girls” and “Your Three Minutes Are Up” to Silvie’s Lounge in Chicago tonight. The band will also be at Red Line Tap on April 24th as part of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago.

Pssst! Music On Stage will be performing the musical Hairspray this weekend and next weekend at Cutting Hall in Palatine.

When I did my April, Rock She Will post the other day, I should have also mentioned the massive CHIRP Record Fair, (April 11th) which offers vinyl, CDs, and DVDs, along with food vendors and live entertainment; and CIMMFest, (April 16th through 19th) a four-day celebration of music and film. There will be more on those events here on BHT in the near future.

The Beatles Magazine is sponsoring a concert tomorrow night at the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool to help place a statue honoring Brian Epstein in his hometown. The campaign’s organizers are also seeking help from fans around the world, and they now have a theme song composed by Bob Pitt and produced by Billy Kinsley of The Merseybeats. Several musicians, including Billy J. Kramer, have signed on to help with the recording of “Our Friend.” See the Statue For Eppy website for information on how to donate.

Singer-guitarist Laura Joy has released a video for “Takes A While,” a track from her second EP Between Or Words. There will be a release party at The Hideout next Thursday, March 5th.

Alt rock/avant garde band Whitewolfsonicprinces will be performing songs from their two CDs next Wednesday night at The Underground Wonder Bar at 710 N. Clark Street.

Purple Dog Records, a store in Naperville that carries new and used vinyl, CDs, and vintage magazines, is looking for local bands to take part in a special Record Store Day event that will be staged at the nearby Orazio Pub on April 18th. The idea is to have a number of performers do short sets. Musicians who are interested can contact the Purple Dog people at purpledogrecords@gmail.com 

French garage rockers The Plastiscines started out as teenagers in 2007 and quickly released two albums brimming with catchy and fun tunes. Their more techno-oriented approach in recent years has yielded uneven results, so it’s good to hear them authentically covering The Kinks on a new TV ad for Yves San Laurent’s Touche Eclat makeup that alsofeatures model Cara Delevigne. Of course, there are purists who believe using classic rock songs to sell products is blasphemous, but I’m willing to embrace the Touche Eclat ad if it puts The Plastiscines back on the right track. 

Selkies Rule! As director Tomm Moore’s animated film Song Of The Sea rakes in positive reviews, Chicago native Linda Marie Smith’s musical tale Mearra - Selkie from the Sea is scheduled to air on local PBS station WYCC at 7:00 PM next Saturday, March 7th. Both efforts are based on traditional Irish tales of magical creatures that have a dual existence as humans and as seals. Smith’s live performance of her album was recorded at the Irish American Heritage Center.

There will a free evening of Chicago rock at Cole’s Bar on Milwaukee Avenue on March 20 featuring singer-songwriter Dann Morr, Post Child, and indie rock band Mooner.