Slumgullion

As I type this blog, I’m listening to an R.E.M. concert from 1984 on WXRT radio. The show was recorded at The Aragon Ballroom and was the largest venue the band had played in Chicago at that time. XRT has an ongoing series of vintage concerts on Friday nights. Next week’s program will be a recording of Joe Jackson at The Vic. 

Later this evening, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform a song or two on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Plant and Krauss recently released Raise The Roof, the long-awaited follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2007 album Raising Sand.

Joni Mitchell will be honored as Person Of The Year at the Recording Academy MusiCares benefit gala being held on January 29. The event will feature performances by Graham Nash, Black Pumas, Brandi Carlile, Herbie Hancock, James Taylor, John Batiste, Leon Bridges, Maggie Rogers; Mickey Guyton, and Pentatonix. MusiCares supports the health and wellbeing of the music community.

I picked up a December issue of the Illinois Entertainer at The Music Room musical instruments store in Palatine earlier today. The cover story is Tom Lanham’s interview with Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, and it’s interesting that these guys have previously crossed paths. Elsewhere in the issue, long-time contributor Jeff Elbel offers his take on the 30th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition of Nirvana’s Nevermind and 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition of Tattoo You by The Rolling Stones. I remember from the days when I did freelance writing for IE, that writers get to keep the box sets they review. So, a nice haul for Mr. Elbel this month. 

  

Tickets are now on sale for Eddier Vedder And The Earthlings, along with Glen Hansard at the Auditorium Theatre on February 9; Manchester Orchestra, Foxling, and Michigander at the Riveria Theatre on March 9; Del Amitri with Kris Dollimore at The Vic on April 11; and Haim with Sasami at the Huntington Bank Pavilion on June 3. Congratulations to Alana Haim on being named Most Promising Performer at the 2021 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards for her role in the feature film Licorice Pizza. From what I’ve read, she’s likely to pick up more awards in the coming year.

The above info comes from the Early Warnings page in the December 9 issue of the Chicago Reader. That issue also has music critic Leor Galil’s extensive profile on Neo, the northside alternative dance club that closed in 2015 after an impressive run. The Chicago Reader is available in Chicago’s downtown and north side area, as well as by subscription.

There’s a triple bill of The Handcuffs, The Spindles, and Go Time! coming to Montrose Saloon tomorrow night. All three acts have garnered favorable albums reviews here on Broken Hearted Toy, and are well worth seeing in a live performance. The Handcuffs will kick things off a 8:00 pm; followed by The Spindles at 9:00 and Go Time! at 10:00. Montrose Saloon is located at 2933 W. Montrose Avenue.

Wilco founding member and solo artist Jeff Tweedy will be performing with a full band at Metro on Chicago’s north side next week on December 22 and 23. As noted on the venue’s Facebook page, tickets are almost all sold out for the first night.

Tickets are now available for the Chrissie Hynde and Co. Perform Bob Dylan (And Other Songs)  streaming event coming up on December 27. Hyde will performing songs from her Standing In The Doorway album, which was released earlier this year.

The Coco And Blu Cafe in Arlington Heights will be celebrating its second anniversary this Sunday night, December 19. Congratulations and best wishes for continued success.

There’s a Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters coming to Palatine, taking over the space Starbucks once occupied in the train station. My wife Pam and I have become regular customers for a number of cafes in our area, including the Conscious Cup in Barrington; CoCo and Blu and Around Cafe in Arlington Heights; Long Grove Coffee and Covered Bridge Creamery in Long Grove; Stomping Grounds in Lake Zurich; and Green Joe in Schaumburg. We enjoy supporting local businesses, getting to know the employees, and catching a caffeine buzz at lunch time.

Here’s hoping everyone enjoys the final weeks of the holiday season and keeps safe. Good luck finding those last-minute gifts, and don’t forget to help out a few worthy causes while you’re in the generous spirit.