Incoming

Happy Birthday to drummer Gina Schock of The Go-Go’s. I’ve been a Go-Go’s fan since I bought an import seven-inch single of “We Got The Beat” on Stiff Records at Wax Trax! in 1980. I don’t think I had even heard of them at the time, but the color-tinted sleeve was enough to win me over. Since then, I’ve enjoyed seeing The Go-Go’s live at ChicagoFest; in Grant Park as part of Taste Of Chicago; House Of Blues; and Ravinia. And I still have “We Got The Beat” in my 45s collection.

There’s a new animated video narrated by Bono on the official U2 website promoting his upcoming memoir Surrender - 40 Songs, One Story. This clip relates to a chapter describing Bono and wife Ali’s wedding on August 31, 1982. His drawings and observations are funny and heartfelt. According to an Overview on the online Barnes and Noble store, Bono created 40 original drawings for the book. It’s due out on November 1.

As noted on the Pitchfork Instagram site, former R.E.M. vocalist Michael Stipe and artist/musician Beatie Wolfe’s upcoming 12-inch single will be the first record pressed on sustainable bioplastic. It will available for preorder for only one day—this Friday—on the EarthPercent Bandcamp page. It can be purchased as part of a bundle with a full compilation album with over 120 tracks for £40; or as a standalone item for £25. All proceeds, other than Paypal’s processing fees, will go to EarthPercent’s Grantmaking Fund.

Incoming

An acoustic-based version of “Won’t Get Fooled Again” by Tammy Faye Starlite is the latest installment in the ongoing Women Sing The Who page on Bandcamp. The track costs $1 to download and became available last Friday. As with the two previous releases in this series, all proceeds will benefit The Who’s charitable organization Teen Cancer America.

So far, I like Carla Olson’s rampaging take on “I Can See For Miles” the best, and have a couple suggestions for future choices. I can picture The Bangles knocking “The Kids Are Alright” out of the park, and I would also recommend the Chicago-based indie rock band The Handcuffs. They’ve already done a killer version of Mott The Hoople’s “All The Way From Memphis.” 

Those willing to spend quite a bit more than a buck to help Teen Cancer America had an opportunity to do that by bidding on The Who’s actual Magic Bus. The brightly coloured 1965 Volkswagen has been a familiar sight at numerous classic car shows in the UK, and was offered on August 27 via Silverstone Auctions. I haven’t seen any updates on the auction, but hopefully all went well. A large donation from the sale of the bus will be made to the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The Chicago Jazz Festival, which is said to be the oldest of Chicago’s lakefront festivals, will run from September 1 through September 4. Admission is free. Another free outdoor event—Jazz In The Court—will take place on September 2 at 5235 S. Harper Court from noon to 2:30 pm. And on another jazz note, the Stanley Clarke Band will perform at SPACE in Evanston on September 16.

 

The Tony Richards Duo has an album release show coming up tomorrow, August 31 at the Fulton Street Collective, which is located at 1821 W. Hubbard in Chicago. In addition to guitarist Richards and double bass player Joe Policastro, Larry Beers will be a special guest on drums. The show starts at 7:30 pm, admission is $15.00.

Florence + The Machine, with special guest Sam Fender, will be in Chicago for a concert at Huntington Bank Pavilion on September 7.

The West Loop Art Fest returns for its fourth year this Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free and organizers promise four blocks of art in a diverse range of prices and mediums.

The 33rd Annual African Festival Of The Arts - Chicago takes place at Washington Park this weekend with hosts Pam Morris, Shelia O, and Damon Williams. Performers include P-Square, Terisa Griffin, SWV, REMA, Erica Campbell, and Johnathan Butler. 

The 8th Annual Irish American Movie Hooley festival will run Sept. 16 – 18 at Classic Cinema’s Lake Theatre in Oak Park, and then Sept. 23 – 25 at The Wilmette Theatre in Wilmette.

Tickets are now on sale for Squeeze founding member Glenn Tilbrook’s September 20 and 21 shows at City Winery Chicago.

Incoming

Happy Birthday to Debbie Peterson of The Bangles. I had the honor of doing a telephone interview with her for the Illinois Entertainer shortly after the release of the Everything album in 1988. She was extremely friendly and fun. And by the way, “Some Dreams Come True,” which Debbie Peterson cowrote with Walker Igleheart, is one of the best Bangles songs ever recorded. My wife Pam and I had our DJ play it at our wedding reception. 

Outdoor rock and roll tribute shows blossom like flowers throughout the summer months, but one of the best you’re likely to see in the Chicago area this year will be Tributosaurus Becomes The Kinks at The Skokie Backlot Bash. The Kinks have so many terrific hits and deep album tracks, and Tributosaurus has been honoring pop music’s best acts for years now. The Kinks tribute takes place at 6:30 on Sunday (August 28) evening. Tributosaurus recent sold out its tribute to The Who at Theater On The Lake. Other highlights of the Skokie Backlot Bash are Decoy Prayer Meeting at 3:30 on Saturday; Scott Lucas And The Married Men at 5:30 on Saturday; and Michael McDermott at 7:00 Saturday. See the website for the full schedule.

Celebrating David Bowie, featuring Adrian Belew, Todd Rundgren, Scrote, Royston Langdon, Angelo Moore, and Jeffrey Gaines, comes to The Copernicus Center in Chicago’s Jefferson Park neighborhood on October 14. The Copernicus Center is just a short walk from the CTA and Metra transportation center.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the Nancy Wilson’s Heart show coming to the Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL on October 20.

Hats Off Department I: Congratulations to Frank Carr of the Famous In The Future comedy group and James Moeller of the alt rock band whitewolfsonicprincess on their joint effort to bring the annual YippieFest back to its live and in-person format this past weekend. I was at the Den Theatre on Milwaukee Avenue for much of the Friday and Saturday events (it also ran Sunday) and the overall happy and supportive vibes were impressive. Lots of good music, film, and comedy, too. YippieFest is a direct descendant of the freewheeling Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Festival which was staged by the Mary-Arrchie Theatre for several years.

Hats Off Department II: Congratulations to Fest For Beatles Fans on its triumphant return to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare a week ago. The Apple Jam stage was particularly rocking, with sets by Laurence Juber, My Sweet George, and Phil Angotti And Friends. For those few joyous hours, it actually felt like everybody in the world loves each other.

Slumgullion

The Chicago-based power pop bands The Spindles and Go Time! will combine with Americana/pop band Falling Stars for a potent triple bill at Montrose Saloon tomorrow night, Saturday, August 20.

Happy Birthday to radio personality and my Best Friend In The Whole World Lin Brehmer. He’s currently on a medical leave from his daily show, and I wish him all the best. WXRT, the progressive rock station he’s called home for several years, is dedicating songs to him on the air today to celebrate his birthday.

 

Upcoming gigs at SPACE in Evanston include Phil Angotti with Katie Todd on September 14; the Tom Petty tribute band The Heartwreckers on September 15; and Frank Orrall of Poi Dog Pondering with special guests on October 1.

The West Loop Art Fest returns for its fourth year on the first weekend of September. Admission is free and organizers promise four blocks of art in a diverse range of mediums.

Tickets went on sale today for legendary guitarist Jeff Beck’s October 23 concert at the Chicago Theatre. 

Fans of The Smithereens are in for a pleasant surprise. A 12-song album of previously unreleased material recorded in 1993 will finally see the light of day. The Lost Album is available for preorder on Amazon.

Nancy Wilson’s Heart will be performing at the Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL on October 20. Tickets go on sale August 23. I’m thinking Heart fans won’t hear a lot of the band’s hits, based on the following message on the Nancy Wilson’s Heart Facebook page: “This group was formed to usher in a new era in Nancy Wilson's career with a focus on the future with the band members of her current project.” Still, we’re talking about an awesome guitarist, so it sounds promising.

Performances of the Tony-nominated comedy CLYDE’S start on September 10 at the Goodman Theatre in downtown Chicago. The play was written by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage and is being directed by Kate Whoriskey.

And now for something completely British. If you fancy a trip across the pond for some theatre, a new production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Into The Woods has just opened at Theatre Royal Bath in Sawclose Bath BA. The production is being co-directed by Terry Gilliam of Monty Python fame and choreographer Leah Hausman. 

Illinois Vintage Fest will present a Vintage Market at the renowned music venue Thalia Hall in the Pilsen neighborhood this Sunday, August 21. The event is free, and will run from 10 am to 4:00 pm.

Fans of the Ugly Things magazine, which covers “wild sounds from past dimensions,” will be glad to hear an Ugly Things podcast will be coming soon.

The annual YippieFest has returned to its live and in-person format for 2022, with a three-day run this weekend at the Den Theatre on Milwaukee Avenue. YippieFest is a direct descendant of the freewheeling Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Festival which was staged by the Mary-Arrchie Theatre for several years. Abbie Fest veterans the Famous In The Future comedy group and the whitewolfsonicprincess alt rock band are among the performers.

Nouvelle Vague, the French band that transforms punk classics in various fun and imaginative ways, will be at the Empty Bottle in Chicago next Tuesday, August 23. Marc Collin and Chrystabell from Strange As Angels are also on the bill that night.

Vocalist-guitarist Jim Peterik of Ides Of March and Survivor fame, has a special event titled Jim Peterik’s Guitar Madness - Songs And Stories coming up on August 24 at City Winery Chicago. As the City Winery website notes, Peterik is a Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter.

Corky Siegel, a founding member of the Chicago-based The Siegel-Schwall Band (along with the late Jim Schwall) a new album on the way from his Chamber Blues project, and it’s titled MORE Different Voices. It features several musicians who recorded themselves at home and then sent their contributions to Siegel’s producer to work his magic. It’s being funded through a Kickstarter campaign.

Incoming

If you’re inclined toward seeing guitarists who are widely considered to be among the best in the entire history of rock and roll, tickets go on sale tomorrow for Jeff Beck’s October 23 concert at the Chicago Theatre. 

Chicago-based power pop bands The Spindles and Go Time! will combine with Americana/pop band Falling Stars for a potent triple bill at Montrose Saloon this Saturday, August 20.

A previously unreleased album by The Smithereens is available for pre-order on Amazon. Now titled The Lost Album, it was recorded in 1993 when the iconic power pop band was between major label contracts and decided to create their own label. Somehow, the project fell through, and according to a Smithereens social media post, these 12 songs “have been unheard by the outside world until now.”

Illinois Vintage Fest will present a Vintage Market at the renowned music venue Thalia Hall in the Pilsen neighborhood this Sunday, August 21. The event is free, and will run from 10 am to 4:00 pm.

The next release in the Women Sing The Who series on Bandcamp  hasn’t been revealed yet but we do know it will arrive next Friday, August 26. The series is two for two so far with Carla Olson sounding ferocious on “I Can See For Miles” and Christy McWilson and The Picketts imaginatively reinventing “Baba O’Reilly.”

As noted in my post yesterday, the annual YippieFest is back to an in-person format, and will run tomorrow through Sunday at the Den Theatre on Milwaukee Avenue. YippieFest is a direct descendant of the freewheeling Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Festival which was staged by the Mary-Arrchie Theatre for several years.

Nouvelle Vague, the French band that transformed punk classics by The Cure, Dead Kennedys, The Buzzcocks, and others into irresistible lounge songs on their 2004 debut, will be at the Empty Bottle in Chicago next Tuesday, August 23. Later efforts found the group transforming Devo’s “Just The Girl” into a rockabilly rave up and giving The English Beat’s “Mirror In The Bathroom” a bump and grind treatment. Marc Collin and Chrystabell from Strange As Angels are also on the bill that night.

Yippie! It’s Back!

YippieFest, the three-day celebration of offbeat entertainment, returns in its original live format this weekend at The Den Theatre. The annual event took place in virtual form in 2020 and 2021. Modeled after the late Mary-Arrchie Theatre’s long-running Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Festival, YippieFest has done a good job of carrying on that tie-dyed tradition.

The people behind it—Frank Carr from the Famous In The Future comedy group, and James Moeller from the whitewolfsonicprincess alt rock band—are Abbie Fest veterans. (Full disclosure: I was a member of Famous In The Future for several years.) So they’re well-schooled in the rebellious but often funny spirit Mary-Arrchie Artistic Director Rich Cotovsky, channeling Abbie Hoffman, brought to his annual events. Tickets are $15 for each night, $25 for the entire weekend. The Den Theatre is located at 1333 N. Milwaukee Avenue.

After an opening ceremony at 6:45, this Friday will offer an all-music lineup that includes whitewolfsonicprincess; The Rut; The Telepaths; Destina; Chris Bock; Dark Room Men; Parallelicopter; and The Mike Felton Band. Saturday and Sunday will bring a variety of entertainment, including film; storytelling; clowning around; a radio adventure; theater; standup comedy; and modern dance. See the YippieFest website for the full schedule and a thumbnail description of each act. 

Slumgullion

Susanna Hoffs. The Girl With A Guitar. And an idea for a novel.

Newcity, the Chicago free monthly magazine has come out with its annual LIT50 issue, which celebrates the powerful and benevolent among the city’s literature scene. The honorees are divided into four categories: Booksellers And Allies; Advocates, Educators, And Changemakers; Publishers, Services And Other Media; and Institutions And Programmers. It’s definitely a helpful resource for those of us with dreams of someday getting a novel on the bestseller list.

In keeping with that spirit, I’ve included a few publishing-related bits in this week’s Slumgullion.

As reported exclusively via Entertainment Weekly, Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles has written a novel titled This Bird Has Flown, and it’s due out April 4, 2023. In the article, Hoffs revealed that her main character is a musician and songwriter. 

Fest For Beatles Fans is back at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont this weekend. This year’s featured guests are Gregg Bissonette; Peter Asher; Billy J. Kramer; Chris O’Dell; Laurence Juber; the Beatles Tribute band Liverpool; and The Weeklings, which is an offshoot of Liverpool. Hometown favorites Phil Angotti And Friends will be performing on the Main Stage tonight.

The four-part documentary series My Life As A Rolling Stone is now halfway through its run on the EPIX  entertainment network, having posted hour-long episodes on Mick Jagger and Keith Richards. Still to come are episodes on Ronnie Wood and the late and terribly missed Charlie Watts. The series was created to mark The Rolling Stones’ 60th anniversary.

Vocalist-guitarist Miki Berenyi from Lush, the alternative English band that gave us gems such as “Sweetness And Light,” “Ladykillers,” and “Single Girl,” has a memoir coming out on September 29 titled Fingers Crossed - How Music Saved Me From Success. It’s available for pre-order now from the Resident website.

Mike Skill, a founding and still active member of The Romantics, has a solo gig coming up at Liar’s Club in Chicago tomorrow night, August 13. He’ll be joined by fellow Romantics member Brad Elvis (who also drums for The Handcuffs); Ricky Rat of Trash Brats; The Tall Doug band and The Alright Maybes. Matt Dudzik from Poison Boys will start things off with an acoustic covers set and DJ Chainblaster will be spinning records between sets.

If you’re looking forward to the triumphant return of Creem, you’ll need to subscribe through its website because the iconic rock magazine won’t be sold via retail locations. Creem promises “128+ pages packed with stories, interviews, comics, and more.” Sounds fun.

Tickets are now on sale for French rockers Phoenix of “Lisztomania” fame at The Riviera on September 7. Porches will be their special guests. Phoenix has a new single out titled “Alpha Zulu” and have created a very artsy, imaginative video to go with it.

The Printers Row Art Festival will take place tomorrow and Sunday, August 13 and 14, at 701 S. Dearborn Street in Chicago. The official website promises there will be 80 juried artists and artisans, while area restaurants and bars serves food and beverages. The Printers Row Lit Fest is coming in September.

Blondie will be performing at The Chicago Theatre on Saturday, August 27, with their special guest The Damned. Debbie Harry and company have an archival box set coming out on August 26 that will include extensive liner notes, a complete discography, a hard cover book, and unreleased bonus material. That’s also when the Z2 Comics Against The Odds Blondie graphic novel is scheduled to make its long-delayed arrival.

The Ripleys will be playing songs by The Beatles, Tom Petty, Rolling Stones, U2, and others at The Curragh in Chicago’s Edison Park neighborhood tomorrow night, August 13. The music starts at 9:00 pm, the venue is located at 6705 Northwest Highway. 

 

R.E.M. will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the release of Chronic Town  on August 19 by releasing its groundbreaking EP in CD, picture disc, cassette, and digital formats. A limited edition cassette player will also be available, along with t-shirts, hoodies, an enamel pin and a skateboard.

Kevin Lee And The Kings will return to the Madcats venue in Palatine for a 9:00 pm gig tomorrow night. The veteran Chicago band recently released the Lightning Strikes EP, which features four new examples of its melodic hard rock.

UK publisher SonicBond’s fascinating on track . . . series of books has given us extensive discographies of several major recording acts. I’ve already finished the one on The Bee Gees, and I’m enjoying every listing in The Hollies version. SonicBond’s new spotlight on Stackridge covers an act a lot of yanks might not be familiar with, but these guys had a cult following in England.

Outronaut will be cranking out original, fun, and adventurous instrumental rock free of charge at Elmhurst Hall in suburban Elmhurst tomorrow night, August 13. The Chicago-based band led by guitarist Steve Gerlach has a brand new EP titled Godfinger available on Bandcamp.

Chicago-based power pop bands The Spindles and Go Time! will combine with Americana/pop band Falling Stars for a potent triple bill next Saturday, August 20, at Montrose Saloon. Go Time! lead vocalist Scott Niekelski will also be at Montrose Saloon this Sunday at 8:00 pm as the bassist for the Sonny Veneer band.

The Chicago version of here and there, which is being billed as “a touring festival curated by Courtney Barnett” will take place at The Salt Shed next Tuesday, August 16. Joining Barnett will be 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.

The critically acclaimed Americana/alt rock band Dolly Varden has a 1:00 pm gig on the Bud Light Stage at Ribfest Chicago next Sunday, August 21 on the city’s north side.

As someone who’s been picking up a copy of the Chicago Reader every week (more recently bi-weekly) for decades, I want to extend best wishes to Tracy Baim as she steps away from her role 

of president and publisher. Baim was instrumental in keeping the Chicago Reader in business, particularly in the past year. She explained in a recent LinkedIn post that she wants to concentrate on writing and journalism in particular. Baim also noted that a “big ungala” to support the Chicago Reader will take place on November 30.

WNUR, the Power Pop Shoppe Show, and AK Productions are presenting the I-94 Rock Fest at Montrose Saloon on Saturday, September 10. Nick Piunti And The Complicated Men, Thrift Store Halo, and Golden Richards will be performing. The rocking starts at 8:00 pm.

Vocalist-guitarist Jim Peterik of Ides Of March and Survivor fame, has a special event titled Jim Peterik’s Guitar Madness - Songs And Stories coming up on August 24 at City Winery Chicago. As the City Winery website notes, Peterik is a Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated singer-songwriter.

Illinois Vintage Fest will present a Vintage Market at the renowned music venue Thalia Hall in the Pilsen neighborhood on August 21. The event is free, and will run from 10 am to 4:00 pm.

As reported by BrooklynVegan via its Instagram page, there is now a 120 Minutes YouTube channel that claims to have 2512 videos that were originally shown on the MTV series. Which should guarantee hours of fun for those of us who used to watch that show religiously on Sunday nights. 

Best of luck to Rivellino Boutique, the handmade jewelry and gifts store that recently opened in the Long Grove shopping district. My wife Pam and I were enjoying our weekly stop at the Long Grove Coffee cafe (we also frequent the Covered Bridge cafe) when a friendly looking woman approached and handed us a promo postcard for the store. It’s located at 350 Old McHenry Road, just across the street from Enzo and Lucia Ristorante. 

Congratulations to my nephew Joe Flamm on his new role as Culinary Director at the BLVD restaurant. This will be in addition to his current duties at the Rose Mary Restaurant. Both venues are located in Chicago’s trendy near west neighborhood.

Phil Angotti - Once Around Again

Singer-guitarist Phil Angotti is known around Chicago for his various tribute shows honoring iconic 1960s pop acts such as The Zombies, Bee Gees, and The Monkees, as well as The Beatles as a group and solo artists. This year’s Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago event will feature him performing in the main ballroom. But it would be a shame to overlook the original material Angotti’s delivered on his solo albums over the years.

The recently released Once Around Again is certainly one of his best. Listening to these 10 tracks, it’s obvious Angotti has learned a trick or two while honoring his heroes in all those tribute shows. Nearly all the songs on Once Around Again clock in with a mid-1960s hit single length, and there’s a noticeable emphasis on craftsmanship. Producer J.K. Harrison, who helped out on backing vocals and instrumentation, also deserves credit. 

“Mr. Harris Tweed,” with its clever rhymes and fun arrangement, is a very mid-1960s satirical character study worthy of The Bee Gees, The Beatles, or The Zombies.`“You’re like a guy in a Python skit,” Angotti notes at one point, and the song fades out with funny Monty Python style grumbling. The sarcastically titled “You Say The Funniest Things” bristles with quick-rhyme observations such as “The affection you fake on the phone/Won’t help me when I’m all alone.” From what I understand, it’s a reworking of a song Angotti did with his first band The Idea years ago.

“Shy Violet” is another look at a troubled relationship and its psychedelic arrangement conjures colorful images of the Yellow Submarine flick. “Mystery Street” sets critical observations regarding middle-class neighbors “feeling insecure in their old brick houses” to an appealing acoustic and electric guitars arrangement. “Eye For An Eye” is the album’s only track longer than four minutes, and its introspective mood is reminiscent of the fine work Steve Dawson crafted on his At The Bottom Of A Canyon In The Branches Of A Tree album. The thought-provoking “Masked Men And April Fools” offers a child’s look at the pandemic, while “Priscilla” is a high-speed fun rocker with clever rhymes that imagines the early days of  Elvis and Priscilla’s courtship.

Incoming

I know they’re showing rock and roll and I like it. EPIX has already given us the inspiring Women Who Rock documentary series, and now the entertainment website has kicked off the four-part My Life As A Rolling Stone. This series was created to mark the iconic band’s 60th anniversary, with Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ronnie Wood each getting their own episode. The first installment casts the spotlight on Mick, and throughout the series, we’ll see commentary from Tina Turner, Chrissie Hynde, Rod Stewart, Dan Aykroyd, Lars Ulrich, Bonnie Raitt, Jon Bon Jovi, Sheryl Crow, T-Bone Burnett, and Tom Waits.

Mike Skill, a founding and still active member of The Romantics, has a solo gig coming up at Liar’s Club in Chicago this Saturday, August 13. He’ll be joined by fellow Romantics member Brad Elvis (who also drums for The Handcuffs); Ricky Rat of Trash Brats; The Tall Doug band and The Alright Maybes. Matt Dudzik from Poison Boys will start things off with an acoustic covers set and DJ Chainblaster will be spinning records between sets.

Tickets are now on sale for Cheap Trick’s September 10 concert at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan, IL. Tickets are also available for the Berwyn Blues Festival at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn on the weekend of September 23 – 25; Stanley Clarke Band at SPACE in Evanston on September 16; Leo Kottke at The Old Town School Of Folk Music on August 28; Joan Osborne at SPACE in Evanston on September 25; Reggies 15th Anniversary featuring Ready Freddies and Tony Cazeau’s New Black Renaissance at Reggies on September 8; and Todd Snider at Park West on November 3. These listings are taken from the Early Warnings page in the most recent issue of the Chicago Reader.

As someone who’s been picking up a copy of the Chicago Reader every week (more recently bi-weekly) for decades, I want to extend best wishes to Tracy Baim as she steps away from her role 

of president and publisher. Baim was instrumental in keeping the Chicago Reader in business, particularly in the past year. She explained in a recent LinkedIn post that she wants to concentrate on writing, and journalism in particular. Baim also noted that a “big ungala” to support the Chicago Reader will take place on November 30.

If you’re looking forward to the triumphant return of Creem, you’ll need to subscribe before the upcoming deadline through its website because the iconic rock magazine won’t be sold via retail locations. Creem promises “128+ pages packed with stories, interviews, comics, and more.” Sounds fun.

The Ripleys will be playing songs by The Beatles, Tom Petty, Rolling Stones, U2, and others at The Curragh in Chicago’s Edison Park neighborhood this Saturday, August 13. The music starts at 9:00 pm, the venue is located at 6705 Northwest Highway.

 

Fest For Beatles Fans returns to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont this weekend, August 12 – 14. This year’s featured guests are Gregg Bissonette; Peter Asher; Billy J. Kramer; Chris O’Dell; Laurence Juber; the Beatles Tribute band Liverpool; and The Weeklings, which is an offshoot of Liverpool. Hometown favorites Phil Angotti And Friends will be performing on the Main Stage on Friday night.

Outronaut will be cranking out original, fun, and adventurous instrumental rock free of charge at Elmhurst Hall in suburban Elmhurst this Saturday, August 13. The Chicago-based band led by guitarist Steve Gerlach has a brand new EP titled Godfinger available on Bandcamp.

The Printers Row Art Festival will take place next Saturday and Sunday, August 13 and 14, at 701 S. Dearborn Street in Chicago. The official website promises there will be 80 juried artists and artisans, while area restaurants and bars serves food and beverages. 

Saturday Slumgullion

The New Jersey-based independent label Jem Records recently released a various artists tribute to one of rock’s all-time best guitarist/songwriters. Titled Jem Celebrates Pete Townshend, the collection includes covers by The Weeklings; The Grip Weeds; The Anderson Council; Richard Barone, Lisa Michols and Super 8; and The Airport 77s.

The next release in the Women Sing The Who series on Bandcamp hasn’t been revealed yet but we do know it will arrive on August 26. The series is two for two so far with Carla Olson sounding ferocious on “I Can See For Miles” and Christy McWilson and The Picketts imaginatively reinventing “Baba O’Reilly.”

The Handcuffs and The Amazing Heeby Jeebies, two of Chicago’s best indie rock bands, will join forces for some guaranteed rock and roll fun at the OuttaSpace venue in Berwyn tonight. The Handcuffs’ recently released fourth album Burn The Rails has been garnering favorable reviews, as well as heavy airplay on indie rock stations. The Amazing Heeby Jeebies’ 2018 album Bad Feeling is packed with rockabilly/garage rock gems like “Cannibal Beasts,” “The Mummy,” and “Loup Garou.” The music starts at 8:00 pm.

Mike Skill, a founding and still active member of The Romantics, has a solo gig coming up at Liar’s Club in Chicago on August 13 but he definitely won’t be the only one onstage that night. He’ll be joined by fellow Romantics member Brad Elvis (who also drums for The Handcuffs); Ricky Rat of Trash Brats; the Tall Doug band and The Alright Maybes. Matt Dudzik from Poison Boys will start things off with an acoustic covers set and DJ Chainblaster will be spinning records between sets.

The kids are all right. Fourteen-year-old vocalist-guitarist Gavin Eimerman has recorded a new single titled “Déjà Vu” with help from 16-year-old Bianca Algeri on drums and backing vocals. Eimerman lives in the Chicago area while Algeri resides in Australia. There’s an additional sense of déjà vu here since Gavin’s grandfather Herb Eimerman and Bianca’s father Joe Algeri have recorded music together as part of the international power pop act The Britannicas and on  several other projects. The appealing and off-kilter “Déjà Vu” is available for free download on Joe Algeri’s Bandcamp page. 

Mark Lofgren, who’s performed with The Luck Of Eden Hall and The Thin Cherries, recently released a sequel to his mysterious 2020 release Black Moon Book. Titled Black Moon Book 2, the album sets haunting imagery like, “There are ghosts in the museum this summertime” and “Strangers pass us like storms” to stately arrangements. Lofgren is particularly effective on the more energetic tracks “We Don’t Leave The Yard” and “Proceed Home.” 

Fest For Beatles Fans returns to the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont next weekend, August 12 – 14. Special guests include Gregg Bissonette from Ringo’s All- Star Band; Peter Asher; Billy J. Kramer; Wings guitarist Laurence Juber, and Ava Cherry (who sang with David Bowie). There will be performances by Liverpool, The Weeklings, Phil Angotti, Cellophane Flowers, My Sweet George, and Jay Goeppner. Hometown DJ Terri Hemmert from WXRT is once again Master Of Ceremonies. 

Outronaut will be cranking out original, fun, and adventurous instrumental rock free of charge at Elmhurst Hall in suburban Elmhurst on August 13. The Chicago-based band led by guitarist Steve Gerlach has a brand new EP titled Godfinger available on Bandcamp. 

The Printers Row Art Festival will take place next Saturday and Sunday, August 13 and 14, at 701 S. Dearborn Street in Chicago.

YippieFest is back in person this year, bringing three days of theatre, comedy, music, short films, and all sorts of off-kilter entertainment to The Den Theatre August 19 – 21. The freewheeling event can be considered an offspring of the beloved Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins festivals once held at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre since organizers Frank Carr of the Famous In The Future comedy group and James Moeller of the alt rock band whitewolfsonicprincess were Abbie Fest regulars. Even the pricing evokes Abbie Fest; with day passes going for $15, and weekend passes for $25. See the website for the full schedule of performers.

Nouvelle Vague, the French band that transformed punk classics by The Cure, Dead Kennedys, The Buzzcocks, and others into irresistible lounge songs on their 2004 debut, will be at he Empty Bottle in Chicago on August 23. Later efforts found the group transforming Devo’s “Just The Girl” into a rockabilly rave up and giving The English Beat’s “Mirror In The Bathroom” a bump and grind treatment. Marc Collin and Chrystabell from Strange As Angels are also on the bill that night.