Slumgullion

I took a break while preparing this week’s Slumgullion tonight to catch the 7:00 pm Backdated performance at Taste Of Des Plaines. It was a quick Metra ride to and from a neighboring town. If only all my musical adventures were that easy. Backdated performed several Beatles songs tonight, as well as John Lennon’s “Imagine” and “Instant Karma.” Lead vocalist Jay Goeppner mentioned Paul McCartney will turn 80 tomorrow and wished him a happy birthday.

Pravdafest, a two-day event aimed at celebrating the 38th year of Chicago’s renowned indie label Pravda Records, will take place next weekend (June 24 and 25) at Sketchbook Brewing Company in Skokie. Eight top-notch Pravda recording acts—Josh Caterer, Steve Dawson, Hushdrops, Boom Hank, The Slugs, The Service, Diplomats Of Sound, The Handcuffs—are scheduled to perform. Veteran alt rock DJ VanOsdol will serve as MC. Sketchbook Brewing Company is located at 4901 Main Street in Skokie. Tickets range from $30 to $75.

“Baba O’Riley” by Christy McWilson and The Picketts is the second entry on the Women Sing The Who Bandcamp page. Carla Olson, whose rampaging take on “I Can See For Miles” was the first choice, produced this new effort. Christy McWilson and The Picketts give their version of “Baba O’Riley” a slower, more haunted arrangement that showcases the band’s vocalists. Downloading the track only costs a buck, and sales benefit The Who’s charitable organization Teen Cancer America.

The Gold Coast Art Fair, a long-time summer tradition for creative-minded Chicago residents, takes place tomorrow and Sunday in Grant Park.

Hey Doll Baby Festival, a multi-act, virtual concert to honor The Everly Brothers, will be available to stream this Sunday, June 19 at The Everly Brothers website, their official You Tube and Facebook pages, and on SiriusXM’s Tom Petty Radio show at 4:00 pm Eastern time. Presented by Gibson Guitars, the event will feature performances by Albert Lee; Bob Weir and Chris Robinson; Carly Simon and Ben Taylor; Chris Isaak and Nicole Atkins; Dave Stewart and Amy Lee from Evanescence; Graham Nash and Chris Stills; Jakob Dylan; Lady Blackbird; Mike Campbell and Stan Lynch; Susanna Hoffs and Dan Wilson; Paul Simon and Edie Brickell; Waddy Watchell and Steve Postell; and other acts.

There’s also a new album titled Hey Doll Baby that came out yesterday. It will be available in CD, vinyl, and digital formats, and feature 17 remastered Everly Brothers rarities. Adria Petty, daughter of Tom Petty, chose the songs with help from Phil Everly’s widow Patti and his son Jason.

Prince: The Immersive Experience, is now open at The Shops At North Bridge In Chicago. The official website promises 10 multidimensional spaces, and an opportunity to “step inside the iconic Purple Rain album cover.” All ages are welcome.

There’s an RSD Drop coming tomorrow, June 18. The number of vinyl treasures being offered will be considerably lower than when the main Record Store Day was held in April, but as with every RSD event, a wide range of genres will be represented. Collectors will find limited editions from Miles Davis; Be Bop Deluxe; Billy Bragg; Ray Charles; Fats Domino; Peter Gabriel; the Jerry Garcia Acoustic Band; Steve Hackett; Madness; Paul McCartney and St. Vincent; Pearl Jam; Prince; Keith Richards; The Sweet; Tangerine Dream; Wailing Souls; The Who; Wilco; World Party; Young-Holt Unlimited; and several various artists compilations. I’m looking to pick up the Creedence Clear Water Revival “Travelin’ Band - Live At Royal Albert Hall” 7-inch vinyl, The Kinks Waterloo Sunset six-song EP; and Supergrass Moving six-song EP.

The first annual Third Coast Surf Fest, a benefit for the Alliance for the Great Lakes, will take place at Waukegan Harbor on July 9. The event kicks off at 11:00 am and promises “summer and surf music all day.” Headline act, the extremely fun Los Straightjackets, will perform at 8:00 pm, and the other acts participating are Total Beaches, Outronaut, Tikis, The Breakers, The Moonrays, The Exotics. and Roger That. Tickets range from $25 to $35.

Tickets are now on sale for Adrian Belew at City Winery Chicago on July 18 and 19; Chris And Heather’s 16mm Film Festival featuring Scott Ligon and Sharon Rutledge at FitzGerald’s on July 7; Flat Five at Hideout on July 17; and Nouvelle Vague and Strange As Angels at Empty Bottle on August 23. These and several other gig listings can be found on the Early Warnings page in the June 9 edition of the Chicago Reader.

Brothers Field in Long Grove, IL continues its series of live music events with tomorrow’s 10-hour Blues Fest. The Mike Wheeler Band and Jamiah Rogers Band are the headliners, and six other acts are scheduled. There will be a Tiki bar, and food vendors; admission is free. There will be more live rock in Long Grove next weekend, June 24 – 26, when several bands perform as part of the annual Strawberry Fest. Parking can be difficult for these more popular Long Grove events, so organizers have set up a shuttle service from the Buffalo Grove Park District parking lot, at 530 Bernard Drive in Buffalo Grove.

The Eclectic Full Contact Theatre Company is performing Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit on Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons through June 26 at the Skokie Theatre.

If you missed XTC’s Terry Chambers And Friends at City Winery in March, you’ll have another opportunity to see the band when it comes to SPACE in Evanston on October 28. Fans can already buy tickets using the presale code of DEARGOD. If you think of all the incredible songs XTC recorded, it feels like this concert will be well worth attending even if Andy Partridge and Colin Moulding aren’t involved. Chambers was a long-time member, and his mates for this tour are veteran musicians.

The Shakespeare Project Of Chicago will offer a special presentation titled 50-Minute Hamlet at the Library Plaza outside the Des Plaines Public Library on June 27 at 7:00 pm. The event, sponsored by Friends of the Library, was adapted and directed by Jeff Christian and stars Kayla Carter and Shane Kenyon. Seating is limited, so those interested in attending need to register via the Des Plaines Library website.

 

Blues great Mavis Staples will headline this year’s Hot Stove Cool Music benefit concert event at Metro on July 1. Other performers scheduled include Juliana Hatfield; Ted Leo; Scott Lucas from Local H; baseball star/guitarist Bernie Williams; broadcaster Peter Gammons; Will Dailey; the Chicago and Boston Hot Stove All Stars; Red Sox organist Josh Kantor; and the Chicago Children’s Choir. WXRT air personality Lin Brehmer will once again serve as MC, along with Joel Murray. 100% of the proceeds will go to The Foundation To Be named Later College Scholarships.

There was no Slumgullion last weekend because I was busy preparing for the Writing Workshop Of Chicago virtual event. I pitched my YA/Paranormal Romance novel to three literary agents. Two were interested and asked me to send them pages. I should know in a few weeks if they’ll want to see more. Wish me luck.