Saturday Slumgullion

Todd Rundgren is coming to Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago.

Slumgullion is late and once again it’s due to a Friday night booking at the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights. Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen from the Chicago-based alt-rock/roots rock band Dolly Varden offered a rare duo performance that was funny, entertaining, and showcased their amazing harmony vocals. Singer-songwriter Chris Rawlins opened with a set of off-kilter but engaging love songs sung with Gordon Lightfoot type vocals. His new album Bring On The Rain was produced by Steve Dawson.

Tickets are now on sale for Todd Rundgren at Athenaeum Theatre on May 10 and 11; Graham Parker at Old Town School Of Folk Music on April 10; Jeff Lescher with Green and Joy Poppers at GMan Tavern on March 7; J. Davis Trio and Prismatic at Chop Shop on January 25; Brit Floyd at Chicago Theatre on March 28; and Alejandro Escobedo with Antonio Gramentieri and Alex Ruiz at City Winery on March 18 and 19.

WXRT has shown an affection for bringing events to the Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove over the years, and they’ll be back there on February 20. This time out, the station is co-sponsoring (with Classic Cinemas) a Poi Dog Pondering concert. Tickets went on sale yesterday at 9:00 a.m.

Chrissie Hynde performs as a guest vocalist on the track “You Can’t Let Go” on the upcoming The Hands Of Time album by The Picturebooks. It’s a slow, bluesy number in line with her work on the Valve Bone Woe album with The Valve Bone Bone Woe. “You Can’t Let Go” should not be confused with The Hollies’ “I Can’t Let Go” although I’d love to hear Hynde perform that as well.

The House Theater Of Chicago’s production of Verboten continues its run at the Chopin Theatre through March 8. Written by Brett Neveu with original songs by Jason Narducy, Verboten is set in 1983 and concerns a teenage punk band aiming to rock out the Cubby Bear venue. Nathan Allen is the director.

The Spy Who Loves Indie. Singer-songwriter Billie Eilish, who’s generated quite a buzz in recent years, composed and recorded the title song of the next James Bond movie No Time To Die.

Mark your calendar and start saving your money. This year’s Record Store Day is coming on April 18, although it will be a while before we learn which vinyl treasures will be available. I’m also looking forward to the in-store performances by local bands that usually take place on RSD.

The Regrettes will kick off their 2020 European tour with a gig in Dublin on March 12 and move on Glasgow, Liverpool, London, Hamburg, and Paris. On How Do You Love?, the full-length follow-up to their well-received debut Feel Your Feelings Fool, the Los Angeles-based quartet continues to mix authentic punk with the 1960s girl group sound. Lead vocalist/chief songwriter Lydia Night come across a bit more introspective this time out, but she can still spit venom when the occasion calls for it.

The Social Act will be performing with Nicholas Baron and The Hurtin' Kind at the Live Wire Lounge on Milwaukee Avenue on February 7. The band is led by singer-guitarist Ellis Clark, and it looks like vocalist Ary Paloma Jeeby from The Amazing Heeby Jeebies joins in sometimes, judging from the photos I’ve seen on social media.

Speaking of Live Wire, it will be the home of International Pop Overthrow – Chicago again this year. David Bash’s annual festival of power pop and indie rock will run at the venue from April 17 through 25. The full schedule of performers will be available on the IPO website at some point in the future.

The Taste section in this past Wednesday’s Chicago Sun-Times includes the article 2020’s New Chicago Hot Spots. My nephew and Top Chef winner Joe Flamm’s soon-to-be-named debut restaurant in the Fulton Market area is included on the list, and the Sun-Times notes “Flamm, a South Side native, is eager to show off more of what he did at Spiaggia, along with some Croatian influences.” Best of luck, Joe. Hope to see you at the grand opening later this year.