Slumgullion

Tomorrow night (February 22), several Chicago area musicians will gather at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue for the annual George Harrison Birthday Tribute Concert. The event will once again be hosted by Ellis Clark and Ary Paloma Jeebie, with bluegrass impresario Ken Mottet serving as MC. Clark was a founding member of Epicycle, one of Chicago’s first punk acts, as well as Social Act. He’s also a successful solo recording artist and producer. Ary Paloma Jeebie is the lead vocalist for Amazing Heeby Jeebies, a garage/rockabilly band.

Returning performers include Sandalwood Sitar; singer-guitarist Phil Angotti; singer-guitarist Chloe F. Orwell from The Handcuffs; Phoenix; Frankie B; and Soulkeeper Gerald McClendon. If previous years are any indication, the selection of Harrison material performed will range from hit singles to deep tracks and rarities. It’s also fun seeing musicians from different groups join together on stage. The music starts at 8:00 p.m. The George Harrison Birthday Tribute Concert will benefit uninsured musicians and the MusiCares nonprofit charity organization.

Depending on when you read this, you could still catch an evening of local power pop tonight at Montrose Saloon with Phil Yates and The Affiliates, whose name alone will tell you they approach the genre with humor and wordplay. The Spindles and singer-songwriter Brother Derek are also on the bill. I haven’t seen the latter, but I know The Spindles have performed “Look Through Any Window” and “Bus Stop” by The Hollies at their live shows. Their latest album Past and Present includes “Look Through Any Window,” along with a batch of catchy originals.

Temple Of Geekdom – An Improvised Adventure opens on February 24 at The Second City and will run on Monday nights.

Tickets went on sale today for Nielsen Trust featuring Rick Nielsen and Scott Lucas at Chop Shop on April 3; Al Jardine at City Winery Chicago on March 31; Flat Five at FitzGerald’s on March 27; Shellac and Loki’s Folly at Lincoln Hall on March 10 and 11; Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues featuring Ernie Watts and Goran Ivanovic at City Winery on March 1; Bad Examples at FitzGerald’s on May 29; and Jeff Tweedy at The Vic on May 15 and 16.

Last Friday night’s double bill of Tommi Zender and The 45 at Hey Nonny was another example of how the Arlington Heights venue is bringing acts normally associated with Chicago’s north side music scene to the usually tribute-band-obsessed northwest suburbs. Each of the artists I’ve seen perform at Hey Nonny has made a point to thank the owners and the audience for supporting original music. Zender, backed by a talented band performed songs from his impressive latest album More Songs About Time and earlier releases. The 45, led by Chicago Cubs broadcaster Len Kasper on bass (he also composed all the songs), is a new band on the local scene. Kasper’s bandmates—Dag Juhlin, Matt Spiegel, Liam Davis, and Gerald Dowd—have extensive experience in other groups. Like Juhlin’s Sunshine Boys, the songs by The 45 resonate musically and emotionally even when heard for the first time. I'm looking forward to when their debut album comes out later this year.

The Chicago premiere of director Danielle Beverly’s film Dusty Groove: The Sound Of Transition takes place at the Chicago Cultural Center next Friday, February 28 at 7:00 p.m. Described as “a documentary about love, loss, and our deep personal connection,” it will be available for streaming and on DVD in June.

Be a celluloid hero. The Chicago International Film Festival is accepting entries for its 2020 event, which runs from October 14 through 25. The Early Bird Deadline is April 6; Regular Deadline is June 15; and the Late Deadline is July 6. Best of luck to all the aspiring filmmakers out there.

Music Box Theatre on Southport is hosting its annual Cat Video Fest tomorrow and Sunday. In addition to celebrating the endless ways cats find to amuse, challenge, and astound their humans, another benefit is that the festival supports local animal shelters. Chicago Tribune columnist Nina Metz has a full article about it in today’s edition. The Cat Video Fest admission price ranges from $8 to $12.

You can sense the winter season is in its death throes when info on Record Store Day and International Pop Overthrow – Chicago starts trickling out in emails and on social media.

The Second Disc website—always an essential resource for keeping up on upcoming album releases—recently posted writer Sam Stone’s preview of the David Bowie I’m Only Dancing double live album that will be part of this year’s RSD vinyl treasures. It features songs recorded at concerts in Detroit and Nashville in 1974. This year’s Record Store Day is on April 18.

As for IPO - Chicago, singer-guitarist Michael Mazza’s band The Walkdown has announced it will be offering free CDs of a new single titled “The Distance (Gets In The Way)” at its performance at the annual festival in April. The song is on the upcoming EP Future Tense. This year’s International Pop Overthrow - Chicago takes place at the Live Wire venue on Milwaukee Avenue from April 17 through April 25.