Welcome to 2022. I didn’t plan on waiting this long to do my first post of the year/month, and there weren’t any major issues causing this to happen. I’ve had bits of copy sitting around since late December that didn’t jell into something more substantial.
That said, there are other things on my plate. In addition to a full-time, work-from-home job, I’m still waiting to hear back from the two literary agents I sent chapters to from my YA romance/paranormal/rock and roll novel. This was after having Zoom meetings with them during the virtual Writing Day Workshop Conference in mid-November. In the meantime, I’ve been going through the entire manuscript, hoping to bring it as close to perfection as possible.
I’ve also been overwhelmed—in a good way—with ideas for a sequel and have created an outline so I won’t forget any major plot points or snippets of dialogue. It’s a little darker this time around, but I’m striving to flow in the elements of humor and positive vibes I think are abundant in the first book.
David Bowie and Elvis Presley, both rock and roll pioneers in their own ways, have a birthday tomorrow. The WXRT radio station in Chicago used to have an annual celebration featuring their music throughout January 8, but I haven’t heard about that happening this year.
Chicago area Bowie fans are no doubt disappointed that The Sons Of The Silent Age tribute band’s Birthday Bash scheduled at Metro has been postponed due to the current surge of the Omicron variant. The good news is the event has already rescheduled for May 28.
Bowie fans around the globe can hold their own celebrations tomorrow by checking out The Bowie 24-Hour Takeover on Apple Music Hits. Also, the Bowie 75 social media site has created an Official Playlist that offers “75 top tracks.” Let the dancing begin.
Cheap Trick will be performing at half time in Baltimore this Sunday when the Ravens host the Pittsburg Steelers.
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 Pentatonic. MusiCares supports the health and well being of the music community.
The Smithereens, with guest vocalist Marshall Crenshaw, will be performing at the Northern Lights Theater at the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino in Milwaukee, WI on March 3. Tickets are now on sale.
Beatles fans have a couple of Get Back related events to look forward to this winter. As noted in social media posts by The Fest For Beatles Fans, the full Get Back documentary series will become available on Blu-Ray and DVD on February 8, and the iconic Rooftop Concert will shown on IMAX on January 30. The hour-long concert will also have a February 11 – 13 theatrical release.
The Hot Stove Cool Music Boston charity event scheduled for February 4 has been postponed until a yet-to-be-chosen date in spring, according to an email from its sponsor The Foundation To Be Named Later. The reason, of course, is “due to the uncertainty of the months ahead” AKA the Omicron variant. So far, the Chicago version is still set for July 1 and 2, most likely at a couple of venues within a fastball’s throw of Wrigley Field. Here’s hoping both versions of this truly fun and beneficial baseball/music mashup can be staged in person in 2022.
The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights will present a Van Morrison Party with The Soul Commitments on January 14. Marrakesh Express will play the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young on January 15 at The Metropolis, and Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar And Grill, a tribute to Billie Holiday, opens on January 27 and will run through March 12.
The Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago will present Too Hot To Handel - The Jazz-Gospel Messiah on January 15 and 16. It’s an original concept by Marin Alsop, arranged by Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson.
This year’s My Sweet George George Harrison Birthday Tribute will be held on February 25 at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue. Once again organized and hosted by Ellis Clark and Ary Paloma, the multi-act event will feature them, as well as other local performers. These guys always do an amazing job of honoring the quiet Beatle.
Buddy Guy has kicked off his 16 live performances scheduled for this month at his Legends Blues Club. I had the pleasure of seeing Guy perform as a surprise guest at the Chicago Hot Stove Cool Music event at Metro a few years back.
Tickets are on sale for the Chicago alt rock band whitewolfsonicprincess performance at SPACE in Evanston on January 19.
The always cool though occasionally hard-edged Chrissie Hynde took a mostly optimistic view of current events on a recent Facebook post. While acknowledging, “There seems to be an increase of criticism regarding the flaws of us humans,” she added, “but overlooking the possibilities and heights we can reach would be missing the point of life.” In addition to praising the Get Back Beatles documentary as “a reminder of the value of human excellence,” Hynde noted she was looking forward to the new album coming out coming out by Urge Overkill. “One of the great bands of the ‘90s.”
Oui, the first album from the Chicago-based Urge Overkill in 12 years, is due out on CD, LP, and digital on February 12. It features the single “How Sweet The Light.”
The 32nd Annual Onion City Experimental Film + Video Festival in Chicago will be accepting submissions through January 13.
It’s nice when something you buy online turns out to be even better than you thought it was. Such is the case with the 2022 Heather’s L’il Country Calendar created by Chicago-based comic artist Heather McAdams. When I saw an Instagram post from Squeezebox Books And Music stating they had a few copies left for sale, I emailed the Evanston, IL store to ask if I could order one. We conducted business via PayPal and a few days later, my calendar arrived in the mail.
Despite the calendar’s name, it honors several music genres. I already knew that, but the pleasant surprise was that instead just one illustration per month, there’s one for nearly every day of the year. McAdams’ fun caricatures include world famous and local musicians, celebrities, relatives, personal friends, and her cats. I’m not sure if McAdams still has copies available, but anyone interested can contact her at HEATHERMCADAMS85@GMAIL.COM
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