Cauldron

Best wishes to everyone for a safe, healthy, and fun Halloween weekend.

If you’re trying to think of songs to put on a Halloween party playlist, be sure to check my archives, which can be accessed a little further down, along the right-hand side. I’ve spotlighted a different spooky song each day so far this month.

I’m not sure how many people have a tradition of going out to see a scary flick around Halloween, but for those who do, the recently released Last Night In Soho should do the trick. Especially anyone who enjoys a horror story set in 1960s London, with a soundtrack featuring The Kinks and Petula Clark. It picked up a rave review from Richard Roeper in the Chicago Sun-Times and a mostly positive review from Katie Walsh in the Chicago Tribune.

Both describe Last Night In Soho as well-acted and imaginatively filmed. Anya Taylor-Joy from The Queen’s Gambit and Thomasin McKenzie from Leave No Trace and JoJo Rabbit are the stars, and the cast includes the late Diana Rigg from the 1960s TV series The Avengers and Matt Smith from Doctor Who. So, some excellent reasons for me to see it except that I’m a big crybaby when it comes to bloody violence. Maybe if I just sit in the theater with my eyes closed and listen to Last Night In Soho.

Congratulations to drummer Bobby Elliott from The Hollies on selling out his November 13 event to benefit the Pendle Heritage Centre in England. A remarkable feat considering that, as far as I know, he’s never explained what he’s going to be doing there. Elliott recently released his entertaining and informative autobiography It Ain’t Heavy, It’s My Story - My Life In The Hollies, so maybe he’ll be discussing that. Wine and cheese will be served and there will be a cash bar. 

The Martyrs’ club on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago kicks off three nights of Halloween festivities tonight with the highly eclectic marching band Mucca Paza’s Sleepover Band Camp. Tomorrow brings an all-ages four-band costume party at 5:00 pm, and Marcus Rezak’s Shred Is Dead and K-Nein later in the evening. The Haus Of Everything’s Pride Takeover happens Sunday night with host Ressie G.

Fans of The Pretenders can find a treasure chest of upgraded official rock videos on the band’s YouTube Channel. Starting in an era when so many successful music acts stumbled with over-dramatic or amateurish clips, Chrissie Hynde and her mates rarely went wrong.

The annual two-night, multi-act tribute festival Halloweekend is being held this year at Montrose Saloon tonight and tomorrow night. This event has always featured local musicians delving into a variety of genres, but for 2021, the emphasis is on covering counter-culture acts. Tickets are $20 at the door. Montrose Saloon is located at 2933 W. Montrose Avenue on Chicago’s north side.

Like many people who’ve come downtown to enjoy live theater, I’ve eaten at the Petterino’s restaurant either before or after the show. (In my case, usually when my wife Pam and I came to see A Christmas Carol at the Goodman Theatre.) So, it’s interesting to learn there’s a stage production now running in the lower level of Petterino’s. As explained in an article by Mary Houlihan in this past Sunday’s Chicago Sun-Times, Windy City Playhouse is using that space to perform an immersive farce titled A Recipe For Disaster. The 90-minute play/dinner spoofs the high-end restaurant biz, as well as social media influencers. Tickets range from $90 to $130; Petterino’s is located at 150 N. Dearborn.

On a related note, Goodman Theatre’s 44th annual production of A Christmas Carol will run from November 20 through December 31.

The Chicago Theatre celebrated its 100th Birthday this week. It is said to have been the first large scale movie theatre in America.

The Footlight District has a special Halloween show at Carol’s Pub at 4659 N Clark Street on Chicago’s north side this Sunday. The four-sisters-one-brother band has a new spooky song titled “War Paint” and can also draw from its 2019 album Fairytales For The Dark Age. The bands Fluorescents and Black Bolts will also be performing; the music starts at 8:00 pm.

Gina Schock is the latest member from The Go-Go’s to weave her life story into a book. Her Made In Hollywood: All Access With The Go-Go’s is now available on Amazon. Kathy Valentine (All I Ever Wanted: A Rock ’N’ Roll Memoir) and Belinda Carlisle (Lips Unsealed: A Memoir) are also authors. The Go-Go’s are among the 2021 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees.

Durty Nellie’s in Palatine is holding a Halloween Prom Night on Saturday with live music by the popular cover bands Modern Day Romeos and There Goes The Neighborhood. Guests can attend in costumes or formal wear, and there will be two separate costume contests

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The 27th Annual Black Harvest Film Festival will run from November 5 to December 2 at the Gene Siskel Film Center. 28 feature films and documentaries will be features, along with six short film programs.

A new season of Doctor Who (and the last for Jodie Whittaker in the title role) kicks off at 2:25 pm Halloween with an episode called Flux. Judging from the teaser ads, The Doctor has a few new companions to travel with.