Slumgullion

Welcome to our writers group, Ms. Hynde. Photo from Chrissie Hynde’s Facebook page.

The forecast calls for a chance of some hefty freelance work this weekend, so I’m doing Slumgullion a day early this week.

A few years ago while I was watching a performance by The Pretenders in Chicago, a woman in the audience yelled, “I’d love to be you for just one day” to Chrissie Hynde. Looking none too flattered, the ever unpredictable Hynde shot back, “Yeah, what you think that would be like?” Now we’ll know. According to the Associated Press, Hynde has signed a deal with Penguin Random House to tell her life story. She joins Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth (Girl In A Band) and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart (Kicking And Dreaming) as legendary women rockers looking back at their careers in a male-dominated occupation.

According to the blurb in the Chicago Tribune, Hynde has benevolent aspirations for her book and hopes people will find it fun and inspiring. There’s no doubt it will be both of those things, but here’s betting it also packs a few mean punches. At any rate, Ms. Hynde is welcome to drop in on the writers group I belong to if she wants to run a few chapters by us.

The congregation will now sing “Under The Milky Way.” Broken Hearted Toy welcomes The Church back to Chicago and offers congratulations on selling out its gig tomorrow night at Double Door on Damen Avenue. The Australian band recently released Further/Deeper, its 25th album, but the first without guitarist Martin Wilson-Piper, and is embarking on an American tour. “Pride Before A Fall” is the first single from the new CD. The Sharp Things will be the opening act Double Door.

Garage rockers The Telepaths will be part of a triple bill at Phyliss' Musical Inn tomorrow night, along with The Rut and The Teskederos.

Wizard World Fan Fest - Chicago takes place this Saturday and Sunday at the Donald E. Stephens Center in suburban Rosemont. The guests include Karen Gillan from Doctor Who and Guardians Of Galaxy; Lee Arenberg from the Once Upon A Time and The Pirates Of The Caribbean; Caity Lotz from Arrow; and Norman Reedus and Andrew J. West from The Walking Dead.

The British Invasion 2015 Tour, featuring Peter Asher from Peter and Gordon; Chad and Jeremy; Billy J. Kramer; Mike Pender’s Searchers; Denny Laine from Wings and The Moody Blues; and Terry Sylvester from The Hollies, has sold out its show at City Winery this Saturday night. It could be because of the preview I wrote for the online Illinois Entertainer but I doubt it.

All of the acts on the British Invasion Tour have also been guests at Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago in recent years. And I’m pretty sure that most, if not all of them have performed at The Fest, backed by the first-rate Beatles tribute band Liverpool. Two of the members of Liverpool—vocalist-bassist Glen Burtnik and vocalist guitarist John Merjave—have formed a new band called The Weeklings with veteran musicians Bob Burger and David Anthony. Their debut album, Meet The Weeklings, is a mix of Beatles songs that were never officially released and original compositions. There will be an official release party on March 13th at The Wonder Bar in New Jersey. Hopefully, The Weeklings and Liverpool will be at this year’s Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago.

Self-proclaimed psychobilly performer Reverend Horton Heat will be burning down the house at  Durty Nellie’s in Palatine on Saturday, March 7th, backed by Jimbo Wallace and Scott Churilla. Indie rock stars Ha Ha Tonka will be his special guests.

Pssst! This will be last weekend for Music On Stage’s staging of the musical Hairspray at Cutting Hall in Palatine. 

Chicago native Linda Marie Smith’s recent performance of her musical tale Mearra - Selkie from the Sea at the Irish American Heritage Center can be seen this Saturday night, March 7th on the local PBS station WYCC at 7:00 PM.

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

The fun garage rock band Summer Cannibals released their second full length album Show Us Your Mind earlier this week. It’s available on iTunes.