Ringo Starr just released an inspirational new song and video titled “Here’s To The Nights” that serves as a global holiday present with its uplifting message and impressive lineup of well-known performers helping out on vocals. Peace And Love, indeed.
CIVL - Chicago Independent Venue League wrapped up its four-part CIVLIZATION livestream concert series last night with performances by Xoe Wise, Avery R. Young, and David Boykin Expanse. The gigs were intended to draw attention to the economic hardships encountered by entertainment venues as well as musicians across the Chicago area, and donations are always welcome at the organization’s website. There’s also an CIVL online store where t-shirts, posters, a double LP, and even shower curtains sporting awesome CIVL artwork can be purchased to help the cause.
This past week brought birthday celebrations for two long-time, critically acclaimed guitarists who emerged in the original British Invasion and have been with us ever since. So cheers to Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones and Tony Hicks of The Hollies. It was great to see both gentlemen receive loads of best wishes across social media.
Tony Hicks has the last word in a new video The Hollies created to celebrate the season, as well as honor the medical workers who have helped us battle COVID-19. Opening with vocalist Peter Howarth singing “Silent Night”—I wish they’d release the entire song as a download—and shifting to the whole band performing “The Air That I Breathe” in concert footage, it’s definitely a heartfelt clip. Each band member offers a holiday message, and Hicks wraps things up with, “Merry Christmas. We miss you. And we’ll see you again soon.” The video can be viewed on the official Hollies Facebook.
Congratulations to Coco and Blu in Arlington Heights on its first anniversary. The European style cafe was fully decked out this afternoon for the celebration with ribbons and balloons. Coco and Blu also serves cocktails and occasionally brings in a DJ, so I suspect it will blossom into an even more adventurous venue once COVID-19 loosens its grip on the world.
The U.K. charitable organization Lifeshare has a livestream event coming up to help awareness of the city of Manchester’s homeless community. Put together by High Violet PR and Plugging, the five-hour presentation features Tom Hingley of Inspiral Carpets, Barry Sutton of The La’s and several other music acts. Spoken word performers Karl Hildebrandt and Leon The Pig Farmer will also be on hand, along with DJ sets and special guests. The music can be streamed for free on the Lifeshare website, but donations are encouraged.
BBC Radio 4 will be celebrating the life and work of Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and Rutles musician/Monty Python collaborator Neil Innes throughout December. The Monty Python Official Instagram page promises there will be new and archival interviews with Python members.
As noted in an Instagram post from the music venue Sleeping Village, artist-musician Steve Krakow, AKA Plastic Crimewave, has joined forces with Wake Up! Music to create a Heroes Of Chicago House Coloring Book. The 34-page effort features illustrations of house music stars from the 1980s and 90s. It’s available from Wake Up! Music for $20, and $5 of each sale will go to the Sustain Chicago Music Organization.
Metro, one of Chicago’s best-loved music venues since 1982, continues to find tempting new items from its vault to sell via its online store. This week, it’s a colorful Be Kind Be Creative 2020 silkscreen poster that features Metro’s iconic outdoor sign. Visitors to the site will find Metro and Smart Bar t-shirts, accessories, and various indie rock gig posters.
I was once 53 miles west of Venus, thanks to The B-52’s, but Jupiter and Saturn will appear to be even closer to each other than that on Monday at sunset. As explained by Chicago Tribune reporter Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas, the event is scientifically known as a conjunction, but has also been called a “Christmas Star,” due to the timing of its arrival. It will be the closest the two planets have come together in 400 years.
Rosenberg-Douglas quotes Shane Larson from Northwestern’s Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics as saying, “This is not just a once-in-a-lifetime event, this is a once-in-our-history since-we-built-the-telescope event.” The conjunction will be most visible on the horizon just as the sun is setting. So, put together a space age playlist, throw on your face mask and go out have a socially distanced cosmic bash. Now, won’t that make you feel a whole lot better?
No comments:
Post a Comment