Sunday Papers

I wasn’t able to do a Slumgullion on Friday because my wife Pam and I were out making merry with some friends at the classy and fun River North Design District Walk. So here’s a Sunday look at what’g going on in the entertainment world.

Welcome to all the musicians who have traveled here for our annual World Music Festival Chicago, and to all the fans who’ve come to watch them perform. The festival opened this past Friday and will run through September 23 at various locations around the city.

And so this is what you put on your Christmas cards when you mail them this year. The U.S. commemorative stamp for John Lennon was unveiled on Friday at a ceremony in New York attended by Yoko Ono. The stamp uses the cover of Lennon’s Walls and Bridges LP.

Tickets are now on sale for Peter Asher and Jeremy Clyde at City Winery Chicago on November 6; Vanessa Davis Band at FitzGerald’s on November 16; Little Steven and The Disciples Of Soul at Copernicus Center on November 5; Nick Lowe at SPACE on December 29 and 30, and Nick Lowe’s New Year’s Eve bash with Los Straitjackets at SPACE.

Michael Nesmith and The First National Band have a gig coming up next Thursday, September 13 at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

Congratulations to Imogene Bebb, who does a fine job managing the former Hollies lead vocalist Allan Clarke Appreciation Society Facebook page, on embarking on a music career of her own. A video of her performing a demo version of her original song “(H)ours” with bassist Jim Preece can be seen on YouTube.

That special version of Sunshine Boys’ stellar debut Blue Music in a limited-edition (250) blue vinyl package is now available via Cheap Kiss Records.

Scott Ligon will host an All-Star Freakout next Wednesday, September 12, at FitzGerald’s. Four days later, on Sunday, September 16, WXRT air personality Terri Hemmert, Phil Angotti, EXPO ’76, Live To Sing Choir, and other guests will gather at Fitzgerald’s to celebrate the life of Val’s Halla record store owner Val Camilletti.

Paul McCartney’s latest album, Egypt Station is now available, and some critics are calling it his best effort in years. I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet, but “Come On To Me” was certainly a promising start.

Riot Fest returns to Douglas Park next Friday, September 14, and will run throughout the weekend. Chicago Innerview, a local publication that specializes in covering the city’s mega music festivals, has released a Know Before The Show guide to Riot Fest. A dapper looking Elvis Costello is on the cover, and there are 30 pages profiles on Beck; Blondie; Cypress Hill; Twin Peaks; Liz Phair; Cat Power; The Exploited and other participating acts. You can pick up a free copy at Reckless Records stores.

Minstrel Palooza Live returns to Durty Nellie’s in Palatine on September 22 for another gathering of musicians related in various way to the Minstrels Music Store in Niles. Scheduled acts include Gus Adonis; Kevin Lee and The Kings, Cracked Actor; Van Go; Todd Money Experience; Larry Mitchell and Dave Ulrich; Charlie Victor; and Tiger Bite. Admission is free, and the show starts at 1:00 p.m.

We’re just about a month away from Jodie Whittaker’s debut as the title character in the long-running British sci-fi series Doctor Who. She’ll be the first actress to take on the traditionally male role of a time lord capable of creating an entirely new appearance and personality via regeneration. Whittaker previously starred in the British series Broadchurch with David Tennant following his stint as The Doctor, so it seems likely the two of them occasionally discussed his time on Doctor Who. At any rate, best wishes to Whittaker on her new adventures through time and space.

I finally watched Twice Upon A Time, Peter Capaldi’s farewell episode of Doctor Who via a DVD from the Palatine library, and now intend to buy my own copy. It initially took a while for me to warm up to his version of The Doctor (particularly following Tennant and Matt Smith) but he fully embodied the character by the end of his tenure. On Twice Upon A Time, he’s funny, compassionate, clever, and very wise. Actress Pearl Mackie does a stellar job of helping with Capaldi’s sendoff, and it was nice to see the show give her character an imaginative and heartfelt exit.

Pearl Mackie will be one of the guests at Chicago TARDIS when it comes to the Westin Lombard Yorktown Center on the weekend of November 23 – 25.

In other convention news, ACE Comic Con Midwest comes to Navy Pier in Chicago on the weekend of October 12 – 14. Scheduled guests include Chris Evans, Josh Brolin, Elizabeth Olsen, Lee Pace and Zazie Beetz. There will also be over 60 comic writers, artists, and creators, as well as several vendors.