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.