Incoming

The four-part docuseries Women Who Rock is now available to view on the Epix entertainment website. As noted in Mark Kennedy’s recent Associated Press article (picked up by the Chicago Tribune), director Jessica Hopper brought together an impressive list of musicians to share their stories of succeeding in the male-dominated music industry. Those interviewed include Sheila E.; Chaka Khan; Nancy Wilson from Heart; Shania Twain; St. Vincent; Mavis Staples; Joan Jett; Rickie Lee Jones; Pat Benatar; Norah Jones; Kate Pierson from The B-52’s; Susanna Hoffs from The Bangles; Nona Hendryx; Tina Weymouth from Talking Heads; Aimee Mann; Tori Amos; Jody Whatley; Kathleen Hanna from Bikini Kill; Kim Gordon from Sonic Youth; and Macy Gray. Footage of several other performers is featured in the series as well.

The above-mentioned Norah Jones is currently celebrating the 20th Anniversary of her best-selling album Come Away With Me, and will perform this Friday, July 15 at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago.

The Handcuffs and Poison Boys are throwing a record release show and party at Liar’s Club on Chicago’s north side next Saturday, July 23. The Artist Formally Known As Vince band is also on the bill. I haven’t heard the Poison Boys’ effort yet, but Burn The Rails by The Handcuffs is definitely worth picking up. Liar’s Club is located at 1665 W. Fullerton.

Psychedelic Furs, who gave us new wave classics such as “Love My Way” and “Heartbreak Beat,” have a gig coming up next Saturday, July 23 at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, as part of their Made Of Rain tour. Los Angeles punk pioneers X will be the opening act.

Rob Schulz, a veteran of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago, has a solo acoustic gig coming this Saturday at Merkle’s Bar And Grill. The venue is located within walking distance of Wrigley Field, and Schulz is scheduled to start his show soon after the Cubs vs Mets game wraps up.

If you’re looking to put an artistic, impressive event on your social calendar, the Louvre Fantastique Opening Night Soirée takes place tomorrow, July 14, at the Oakbrook Center in Oak Brook, IL. Opening night admission is $69.00. The exhibition officially opens on July 17, and promises to bring 70 of the iconic Paris museum’s masterpieces to life “in an enchanting, 360-degree experience.”  Regular admission will be $32.90 for adults; $22.90 for children, and $25.40 for senior, student or military.

The Goodman Theatre in downtown Chicago will present its Playwrights Unit Readings this Friday through Sunday in the Healy Rehearsal Room. The featured new works are Masks Off by Susan H. Pak, directed by Helen Young; A Darkling At Nightfall by Mallory-Raven Backstrom, directed by Ken-Matt Martin; and Modern Women by Omer Abbas Salem, directed by Sophiyaa Nayar. Free tickets can be reserved at the Goodman website.

And continuing in a cultural vein, congratulations to Southern California native Ada Limon on being chosen as America’s next poet laureate. She’ll begin her year-long reign on September 29.

 

Speaking of class acts, long-time WXRT radio personality Lin Brehmer shocked his many fans yesterday with an on-air announcement that he has been fighting prostate cancer and will need to take an extended break from his daily shift to undergo chemotherapy. He also posted the news on social media, as did WXRT. One of my earliest Broken Hearted Toy posts, back on August 24, 2009, covered a Brehmer birthday bash at the Arlington Park racetrack.

That was the first of a number of times I would have a chance to speak to him. He was down-to-earth and friendly through all of our meetings, definitely living up to his slogan that he is his listeners’ Best Friend In The Whole World. So, this Friday will be Brehmer’s last broadcast for a while. With morning DJ Richard Milne already on leave (to deal with his wife’s illness), WXRT is now without two of its most popular air personalities. Best wishes to both of them for making their way back to their many fans in the near future.