Slumgullion

Photo of Graham Nash and Shane Fontayne from Graham Nash Facebook page.

May has been named British Invasion Month here at Broken Hearted Toy in honor of shows by Graham Nash at City Winery Chicago on May 11 and 12, and The Zombies on May 29 at The Arcada in St. Charles. Both of the Graham Nash shows have sold out; it looks like Zombies tickets are still available. Nash’s new solo effort This Path Tonight, which was co-written with veteran musician Shane Fontayne, is an introspective work that feels more powerful with each listening. I’m hoping to post a review in the near future.

Gary Numan, another Brit, although from a different era, will hit town next week for a trio of shows starting on Sunday, May 15. He’ll perform a different album in its entirety each night; Replicas on Sunday, The Pleasure Principle on Monday, and Telekon on Tuesday. I Speak Machine will be the opening act on all three nights.

As reported by Anthony Todd on the Chicagoist website, local publisher Curbside Splendor will open a record and book store within a major new venue called Revival Food Hall, scheduled to open at 125 S. Clark Street. The retail and the restaurants involved will be indie-centric, which means this will undoubtably be the hippest spot in downtown Chicago when it opens some time this summer. I’m already fantasizing about all my novels being on sale there.

Aimee Mann will perform next Tuesday night at The Old Town School Of Folk Music, and Patti Smith will headline Spring Awakening II, A Celebration of Poetry and Song Saturday, May 14 and Sunday, May 15. Jackson Smith, Jesse Smith, and Tony Shanahan will be joining her.

Here’s another item for British Invasion Month. All of the original members of The Beatle Bros. (Jay Goeppner, Phil Angotti, Casey McDonough, Dick Schmidt, Rich Geist, and George Krajl) will be performing their 30th Anniversary Show next Saturday, May 14 at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn. Founding members Goeppner and Angotti will open with an acoustic set. Earlier in the week, Goeppner will sit down for an interview with musician/journalist Mike Vanderbilt as part of The Drinks On Monday With The Strike Team Interview series.

The Fest For Beatles Fans could be announcing the guest list and special events for its Chicago visit on the weekend of August 12 through 14 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare any day now. The website promises the details will be revealed in May.

Rick Springfield, Loverboy, and The Romantics will share the bill on July 3 at Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin, as part of the venue’s Summer Concert Series.