Incoming

Bryan Ferry, Andy Mackay, Phil Manzanera, and Paul Thompson will be onboard when Roxy Music  launches a 50th Anniversary tour that will bring them to Chicago on September 19 for concert at the United Center. St. Vincent will be their special guest for that event. Other cities on the tour include Boston, Dallas, Austin, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the Chicago version of here and there, which is being billed as “a touring festival curated by Courtney Barnett.” Several cities and acts are involved, and each location will feature Barnett and two or three other performers. The Chicago stop will take place at The Salt Shed on August 16, with Barnett, Alvvays, and The Beths. The Salt Shed is one of Chicago’s newest venues; located at the old Morton Salt factory location at 1357 N. Elston Avenue.

Americana singer-guitarist David Bromberg will bring his extensive and critically acclaimed repertoire to the Old Town School Of Folk Music this Saturday night, April 2. The show starts at 8:00 pm.

Chicago-based indie rock band The Handcuffs will play their first gig of 2022 this Friday when they share a bill with Canadian rockers The Pack A.D. at Reggies Music Joint Club. Look for The Handcuffs to showcase songs from their upcoming album Burn The Rails.

Congratulations to my nephew Joe Flamm on the first anniversary of his Croatian-Italian restaurant Rose Mary. Joe was the Season 15 winner of Top Chef on the Bravo Channel, and he’s invited some familiar names from that show to join him for a celebration at the Fulton Market area restaurant on April 20. Chefs Joe Sasto, Carrie Baird, Adrienne Cheatham, and Tyler Anderson, who’ve all gone on to great success since the competition, will be on hand. The price is $150 per person, and 20% of all tickets will be donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand in its battle against childhood cancer. On a related note, Rose Mary is one of the 23 venues recently added to the prestigious Michelin Guide Chicago.

Saturday Slumgullion

The Handcuffs. Bringing us a new album in June.

Yesterday’s Slumgullion had to be postponed due to my taking a train and a bus to see Graham Nash perform at SPACE in Evanston. He was once again joined by guitarist-vocalist Shane Fontayne and keyboards player-vocalist Todd Caldwell; superb musicians who also provided exquisite harmonies throughout the concert. The show opened with Nash dedicating a solemn performance of the Stephen Stills ballad “Find The Cost Of Freedom” to the citizens of Ukraine. That immediately led to Nash’s own “Military Madness,” creating a cathartic experience between the performers and the audience. Later, the trio closed its first set with another Stills number, the rollicking “Love The One You’re With.”

Other highlights from the first half of the show included the Crosby, Stills and Nash hits “Wasted On The Way” and “Marrakesh Express,” as well as “I Used To Be A King” from Nash’s solo debut Songs For Beginners. Prior to performing “Bus Stop,” a major hit from his days with The Hollies, Nash announced he’s been working with life-long mate and former fellow Hollies member Allan Clarke on new material. Unfortunately, my travel arrangements dictated that I had to split after the first half, but I’m sure the packed audience at SPACE was just as thrilled with the second half. Graham Nash has another sold-out show tonight at the venue.

Chicago area band The Handcuffs recently announced their fourth album Burn The Rails will be released on June 3, and they have their first live date of 2022 coming up next Friday, April 1 at Reggies Music Joint Club on State Street. They’ll be sharing the bill with Canadian rockers The Pack A.D.

Having directed the highly successful documentary Summer Of Soul ( . . . Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised), musician Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson has now joined with Mick Jagger for the production of a James Brown feature. The plan is for James Brown: Say It Loud to air on the A and E Network some time in 2023.

Chicago area power pop band The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club has recorded a string of impressive albums, and plan to release their latest effort Please Stand By sometime this summer. The catchy leadoff single “Hold You Up” is already available on Bandcamp and other streaming sites, and will no doubt be part of the show when The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club performs at Montrose Saloon on April 23 as part of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago.

Eclipse Chicago - A Pink Floyd Tribute is coming to Durty Nellie’s in Palatine on April 8.

The Gene Siskel Film Center and Chicago Film Society will co-present a 35-millimeter print of the rare 1929 Ukrainian silent documentary In Spring (Vesnoy) on April 7 at 7:00 pm. Dave Drazin will provide piano accompaniment. The screening is part of their Ukrainian Cinema Series, which runs from March 25 through April 7.

Kool Kat Musik is recruiting pop bands from around the world to be part of its POP AID CD. The project will raise funds to benefit people in the Ukraine. As mentioned in a recent Facebook post from Kool Kat Musik boss Ray Gianchetti, several acts have already agreed to contribute previously unreleased tracks. 100% of the profits will go to charitable organizations, such as Amnesty International. So far, the list includes Jamie Hoover; Arvidson And Butterflies; Thrift Store Halo, Nick Frater; Lolas; The Walkdown Band; and The Sun Sawed In Half. Musicians interested in donating a track to the CD can contact Gianchetti via ray@koolkatmusik.cm 

David Bromberg has a gig at the Old Town School Of Folk Music next Saturday, April 2, and Robin Hitchcock will bring his eclectic repertoire to the venue on April 21.

Fire Shut Up In My Bones, the new opera that incorporates elements of jazz music created by Terrence Blanchard, is currently being staged at the Lyric Opera Of Chicago. This groundbreaking work is based on New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow’s memoir. If you have a copy of today’s Chicago Tribune still around, check out the fascinating and informative review by veteran theatre critic Chris Jones.

According to a recent newspaper article, officials in the city of Elgin, IL are debating whether it’s financially feasible to bring back the Nightmare On Chicago Street festival. The annual Halloween event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021, and reportedly production costs have gone up quite a bit in that time. I had fun performing in a few of the zombie-themed short comedy films created by David Metzger and Jeff Kelley for Nightmare On Chicago Street in previous years. I’d be happy to do another one if there is a fest this year.

Incoming

Dave Davies of The Kinks has given us some of rock’s best guitar riffs and no doubt has a wealth of stories to share. We’ll all get a chance to experience them when his autobiography Living On A Thin Line comes out on July 7. The Kinks broke up long ago, but like his brother Ray, Dave continues to perform and record. I saw his current band a few years back at the Lincoln Avenue Street Fair, and it was an amazing show.

Graham Nash comes to the Chicago area for two sold-out shows tomorrow and Saturday at SPACE in Evanston. On his last visit—at the Athenaeum Theatre—he performed with guitarist-vocalist Shane Fontayne and keyboards player-vocalist Todd Caldwell. The three of them crafted an impressive selection of Nash’s solo stuff, a few Hollies tunes, and several Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young gems.

Cherish The Ladies, the five-woman band that’s been playing Irish music since 1985, has a gig this Saturday, March 26 at the Irish American Heritage Center on Chicago’s northwest side. Flute and whistle player Joanie Madden leads the festivities with a quick sense of humor, and the group’s mix of traditional and original songs is always engaging. Saturday’s show starts at 7:00 pm; ticket prices range from $30 to $50.

Put a smile on the world's face. The World Comedy Expo will offer 27 shows this weekend at The Annoyance Theatre, Den Theatre, Laugh Factory and The Second City. In addition to comedic performances, the event include panels and workshops. Tomorrow’s Touring Internationally panel at The Den Theatre is free, but the other shows run $20 each. See the website for the full listing. 

Slumgullion

Congratulations to Graham Nash on selling out both of his shows next weekend at SPACE in Evanston. If you live in the Chicago area and missed out on tickets for these shows, he’ll be at the Blizzard Theatre in Elgin, IL on March 30. Judging from his recent Instagram posts, he’s been having a great time on this current tour.

 

U.K. hitmakers Sparks will be performing at 8:00 pm tomorrow night at the Copernicus Center on Chicago’s northwest side. As mentioned in The Mix column in yesterday’s Chicago Sun-Times, the duo of Ron and Russell Mael was the subject of a 2021 documentary The Sparks Brothers. The Copernicus Center is within walking distance of the Blue Line, Metra, and bus terminal in Jefferson Park.

The Handcuffs, a Chicago area band that has been influenced by The Sparks, as well as other glam rock acts, will release Burn The Rails on June 3. The new album features Mott The Hoople keyboards player Morgan Fisher on a few tracks and will be available on CD and in digital format. A 12-inch vinyl version will be released later this year.

Singer-songwriter Heidi Serwer will be performing at 12:30 pm tomorrow as part of the Blue And Yellow Lifeline For Ukraine fundraiser tomorrow at City News Cafe. In addition to live music, there will be art and truffles. City News Cafe is located at 4018 N. Cicero.

Veteran media journalist Mark Caro recently posted a 90-minute interview with Colin Blunstone on his Caropop website. Caro is an obvious fan of The Zombies, and his well-informed questions inspire the band’s lead vocalist to share several fascinating and fun anecdotes and inside information. I was reminded of my own interview with Blunstone for the Illinois Entertainer a number of years back, and how he comes across as such a gentleman.

 

The Gene Siskel Film Center and Chicago Film Society will co-present a 35-millimeter print of the rare 1929 Ukrainian silent documentary In Spring (Vesnoy) on April 7 at 7:00 pm. Dave Drazin will provide piano accompaniment. The screening is part of their Ukrainian Cinema Series, which runs from March 25 through April 7.

The Boston-based band Kid Gulliver will be performing in New York City for the first time next Saturday night, at the Rockwood Music Hall. Kid Gulliver released the fun and upbeat “Susie Survived Chemotherapy” in 2020 and they do a cool, revved up cover of “I Started A Joke” by The Bee Gees.

Congratulations to Uncut Magazine on reaching the 300 issue mark. The cover features Paul McCartney, and there are also articles on Ringo Starr, Wilco, David Bowie, Jimmy Page, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Paul Weller, and other musicians. 

The Rolling Stones will spend June and July celebrating their 60th Anniversary with concert dates across Europe. The schedule includes Madrid, Munich, Liverpool, Amsterdam, London, Brussels, Vienna, Paris, and Stockholm.

Wolf Alice has announced the cities and dates for their N. American Fall Tour 2022, and it’s nice to see them coming back to Chicago less than a year after rocking the Vic Theatre. This time around, the U.K. band will be at The Riviera for a WXRT show on October 6.

Chicago’s vocal supergroup The Flat Five will be joined by The Total Pro Horns tonight and tomorrow night at City Winery Chicago. They’ll likely be showcasing songs from their two lively and inventive albums.

Chicago area musician Gavin Eimerman’s third single “Hail To The Magnetic Moon” became available as a free download this Friday on the Australian indie label Egomaniac Music website. 

Kool Kat Musik is recruiting pop bands from around the world to be part of its POP AID CD. The project will raise funds to benefit people in the Ukraine. As mentioned in a recent Facebook post from Kool Kat Musik boss Ray Gianchetti, several acts have already agreed to contribute previously unreleased tracks. 100% of the profits will go to charitable organizations, such as Amnesty International. So far, the list includes Jamie Hoover; Arvidson And Butterflies; Thrift Store Halo, Nick Frater; Lolas; The Walkdown Band; and The Sun Sawed In Half. Musicians interested in donating a track to the CD can contact Gianchetti via ray@koolkatmusik.cm 

The Cure’s upcoming European tour will stretch from early October to the middle of December. The iconic U.K. band recently announced is now offering a Ukraine Charity Tee on its official website. The black shirt says The Cure in yellow and blue on one side and the message HOWEVER FAR AWAY I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU on the other. The price for the shirt, which comes with a matching button is $25. Net proceeds will be donated to UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency).

Incoming

The Rolling Stones will spend June and July celebrating their 60th Anniversary with concert dates across Europe. The schedule includes Madrid, Munich, Liverpool, Amsterdam, London, Brussels, Vienna, Paris, and Stockholm. I don’t see anything scheduled for July 25, which must mean they’ll be making a quick overseas flight to Chicago to celebrate my birthday with me.

Wolf Alice has announced the cities and dates for their N. American Fall Tour 2022, and it’s nice to see them coming back to Chicago less than a year after rocking the Vic Theatre. This time around, the U.K. band will be at The Riviera for a WXRT show on October 6. Now if only XRT would start playing tracks from Wolf Alice’s superb new album Blue Weekend.

 

The Dropkick Murphys will bring their St. Patrick’s Day celebration to the world tomorrow via a free live stream performance at the House Of Blues Boston. The concert starts at 9:00 pm EST and will find the band entertaining the hometown crowd with songs from their latest album, Turn Up That Dial. My all-time favorite Dropkick Murphys song is the revved up and hilarious “Mick Jones Nicked My Pudding,” a tale involving The Clash vocalist-guitarist.

Chicago’s vocal supergroup The Flat Five will be joined by The Total Pro Horns for two nights of fun at City Winery Chicago this Friday and Friday and Saturday, March 18 and 19. They’ll likely be showcasing songs from their two lively and inventive albums.

Chicago area musician Gavin Eimerman’s third single “Hail To The Magnetic Moon” will be available as a free download this Friday on the Australian indie label Egomaniac Music website. That’s not such an odd combination considering Gavin’s grandfather Herb Eimerman and Egomaniac founder Joe Algeri have recorded lots of songs together as members of the international power pop band The Britannicas and on other projects over the years. The melodic “Hail To The Magnetic Moon” is an easygoing, romantic song on which Gavin plays guitar and piano while combining his singing with Bianca Algeri’s backing vocals. Herb and Joe also help out. Somehow it’s reassuring to see generations of Yanks and Aussies recording music through the magic of technology.

Helping In A Crisis

Kool Kat Musik is recruiting pop bands from around the world to be part of its POP AID CD. The project will raise funds to benefit people in the Ukraine. As mentioned in a recent Facebook post from Kool Kat Musik boss Ray Gianchetti, several acts have already agreed to contribute previously unreleased tracks. 100% of the profits will go to charitable organizations, such as Amnesty International. So far, the list of participants includes Jamie Hoover; Arvidson And Butterflies; Thrift Store Halo; Nick Frater; Lolas; The Walkdown Band; and The Sun Sawed In Half. Musicians interested in donating a track to the CD can contact Gianchetti via ray@koolkatmusik.cm 

Also, as a reminder: Several of Chicago’s best-known chefs will join together for the Chicago Chefs Cook For Ukraine fundraiser tomorrow, March 16 at the Navy Pier Ballroom from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Sponsored by Lifeway Foods, the charity event will benefit World Central Kitchen and be hosted by Chef Tony Priolo, Chef Sarah Stegner, Darren Gest, Eda Davidman, and Green City Market. The list of chefs includes Guiseppe Tentori, Jason Hammel, Joe Flamm, Lee Wolen, and Erick Williams. Tickets range from $150 to $50,000.

The Cure’s upcoming European tour will stretch from early October to the middle of December. The iconic U.K. band recently announced it is offering a Ukraine Charity Tee on its official website. The black shirt says THE CURE in yellow and blue on one side and the message HOWEVER FAR AWAY I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU on the other. The price for the shirt, which comes with a matching button is $25. Net proceeds will be donated to UNHCR (UN Refugee Agency). 

Slumgullion

Several of Chicago’s best-known chefs will join together for the Chicago Chefs Cook For Ukraine fundraiser next Wednesday, March 16 at the Navy Pier Ballroom from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Sponsored by Lifeway Foods, the charity event will benefit the World Central Kitchen and be hosted by Chef Tony Priolo, Chef Sarah Stegner, Darren Gest, Eda Davidman, and Green City Market. The list of chefs includes Guiseppe Tentori, Jason Hammel, Joe Flamm, Lee Wolen, and Erick Williams. Tickets range from $150 to $50,000.

Best wishes to music publicist Cary Baker, who recently shut down his Conqueroo PR firm and embraced retirement. I don’t know how many people dream of a career pitching recording artists to the media, but Baker’s decades-long career in the field was truly special. He arrived at IRS Records just in time to introduce R.E.M. and other cutting-edge bands to the world. Before that, he was a midwestern journalist who championed Shoes and Cheap Trick. He probably wouldn’t remember, but I met him once when we were both involved with a NARAS (Grammy Awards) newsletter published by the Chicago chapter. A feature story in Variety online noted that he’s thinking of writing books now that he’s retired. As one rock critic to another, I heartily welcome him to the aspiring author club. 

The Official Online Tom Petty Shop goes well beyond the usual t-shirts/CDs/vinyl merchandise you’ll find on a lot of musicians’ websites, with glassware, prints, ornaments, dinner plates, and even a bamboo water bottle. My favorite though is the Limited Edition Boombox + Cassette with Vintage Stickers set. The Crosley boombox has the band’s heart and flying V guitar logo on it and the blue cassette is a Greatest Hits release.

Lee Ketch from the Chicago alt rock band Mooner is showcasing songs from his debut solo album Someone/Anyone tonight at the Golden Dagger (2447 N. Halsted) venue. The nine-song Someone/Anyone is available on Bandcamp and also features former and current members of Mooner.

By the way, Golden Dagger was the Runner-up in The Best New Bar category in The Reader’s Best Of Chicago 2021 edition. Nobody’s Darling was the winner.

Midge Ure and Howard Jones will bring their All Hail The Science Tour to the Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL on July 2. Jones is best known for the hit singles “What Is Love?” and “New Song” in the 1980s; Ure was the lead vocalist for Ultravox on magnificent tech songs like “Reap The  Wild Wind” and also performed with Visage. Ure was also a key figure behind the fundraising song “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” recorded by the supergroup Band Aid.

Chicago’s vocal supergroup The Flat Five will be joined by The Total Pro Horns for two nights at City Winery Chicago on March 18 and 19. They’ll likely be showcasing songs from their two lively and inventive albums.

Congratulation to Durty Nellies in Palatine on its 50th Anniversary. The venue’s original location was closer to my house, but the second—a much more modern building—is still a quick walk away. These days, the venue more often goes by Nellie’s, particularly in regard to the entertainment scheduled there. The venue also has a tradition of celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, so there should be a lot fun going there tomorrow.

Tap House Grill in Palatine also has a lot of St. Patrick’s Day activities planned for tomorrow.

The Dropkick Murphys will bring their St. Patrick’s Day celebration to the world via a free live stream performance at the House Of Blues Boston. The concert starts at 9:00 pm EST on March 17, and will find the band entertaining the hometown crowd with songs from their latest album, Turn Up That Dial.

 

For those who celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, be sure to stay safe on whatever day you pick to party.

Expo Chicago - The International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art returns to Navy Pier for a long weekend of April 7 through 10. It wasn’t able to attract an in-person audience in 2020 and 2021, but there will over 140 galleries taking part this year.

 

Todd Snider has a gig coming up at the Old Town School Of Folk Music next Saturday, March 19; and Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform on the following night. Other upcoming shows include David Bromberg on April 2 and Robin Hitchcock April 21.

There’s a Chicago Soul Doubleheader featuring vocalists Gerald McClendon and Theo Huff scheduled for March 18 at SPACE in Evanston.

Fire Shut Up In My Bones, a new opera that incorporates elements of jazz music created by Terrence Blanchard, will have its Chicago premiere on March 24 at the Lyric Opera Of Chicago. The work is based on New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow’s memoir.

Chicago-based alt-rock/Americana band Dolly Varden will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its Forgiven Now album on May 6 at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn. Singer-songwriter Heidi Serwer, who just released a new album titled Palm Tree On The Drywall, will be the opening act.

The EXTC - XTC’s Terry Chambers And Friends show takes place on March 30 at City Winery Chicago. Chambers was a founding member of the eccentric and beloved British band, and he’s backed by veteran rockers Steve Tilling, Steve Hampton, and Matt Hughes.

Duke Fakir, the last surviving member of The Four Tops, has written a memoir titled I’ll Be There: My Life In The Four Tops. The legendary vocal group scored major hits with “I Can’t Help Myself,”  “Bernadette” and others in the 1960s, and were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1990.

Chicago’s sometimes-rampaging, always-interesting instrumental rock band Outronaut has a gig scheduled for April 30 at FitzFerald’s in Berwyn. 

Wife Of A Salesman runs through April 3 at the Writers Theatre in Glencoe. As noted by long-time staff writer Mary Houlihan recently in the Chicago Sun-Times, the Eleanor Burgess play was inspired by Arthur Miller’s classic drama Death Of A Salesman and mixes in conversation between two women concerning marriage and infidelity.

The JCC Chicago Jewish Spring Hybrid Film Festival opened yesterday and will present 18 movies over the course of three weekends. Some of the events will be available via streaming, while other will be screened at the Illinois Holocaust Museum, Music Box Theatre, Landmark’s Renaissance Place Cinema, and the Willamette Theatre.

Tickets are now available for Blondie’s August 27 at Chicago Theatre. The iconic new wave band’s special guests will be English punk rockers The Damned.

Brothers’ Field in Love Grove, IL will present Fire And Ice, a choreographed music event featuring the Lake County Symphony Orchestra String Quartet and professional dancers, tomorrow, Saturday, March 12. The 90-minute show will be held in the main ballroom at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Tickets are available at the Brothers’s Field website. 

Incoming

The Regrettes’ third album Further Joy is coming out April 8, and a few weeks later, the Los Angeles band will embark on a tour that includes a stop at Metro in Chicago on May 13. Alex Lahey will be the opening act. The first two albums from The Regrettes offered an irresistible mix of punk energy and alienation, flavored with bits of Motown and the 1960s girl groups sound. There’s good reason to believe Further Joy will be another gem.

Singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn of “If I Had A Rocket Launcher” fame will bring his 50th Anniversary Tour to the Old Town School Of Folk Music tomorrow night and Friday.

Expo Chicago - The International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art returns to Navy Pier for a long weekend of April 7 through 10. It wasn’t able to attract an in-person audience in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, but there will over 140 galleries taking part this year.

 

Congratulations to Lin Brehmer, everyone’s best friend in the whole world, on being named Best Radio DJ in The Reader’s Best Of Chicago 2021 Poll. The ability to listen to his 10:00 am – 2:00 pm shift was a definite perk for long-time fans working from home during these difficult past few years. Brehmer’s station, WXRT, came in second in the poll, behind WBEZ as Best Radio Station. You can see all the results in the latest issue of The Reader. It’s available at locations around downtown Chicago and on the north side.

The JCC Chicago Jewish Spring Hybrid Film Festival opens tomorrow and will present 18 movies over the course of three weekends. Some of the events will be available via streaming, while other will be screened at the Illinois Holocaust Museum, Music Box Theatre, Landmark’s Renaissance Place Cinema, and the Willamette Theatre.

Tickets are now available for Blondie’s August 27 concert at the Chicago Theatre. The iconic new wave band’s special guests will be vintage English punk rockers The Damned.

Brothers’ Field in Love Grove, IL will present Fire And Ice, a choreographed music event featuring the Lake County Symphony Orchestra String Quartet and professional dancers, this Saturday, March 12. The 90-minute show will be held in the main ballroom at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio. Tickets are available at the Brothers’s Field website. 

Chariot Of The Gods, the 10th full-length album Australian garage rock/power pop masters Hoodoo Gurus comes out this Friday. There will be a global e-stream preview tomorrow night (Thursday) at 8:00 pm AEDT / WST / PST / EST / GMT that will also allow fans to talk to band members online. Tickets for the preview event are $8 in American money and can be purchased from the emusic website.