Slumgullion

The CHIRP Radio Record Fair And Other Delights, possibly the coolest place for buying vinyl, CDs, and all sorts of music-related memorabilia in Chicago, will make a triumphant return to Plumbers Hall on October 22. DJs and live musicians will be on hand, as well as food and beverage vendors. General admission starts at 10:00 am for $10, and there’s an early admission option available for $25. The event is a benefit for the independent radio station CHIRP. Plumbers Hall is located at 1340 W. Washington Blvd., west of downtown.

Without specifying exactly what happened, Graham Nash acknowledged he canceled last night’s concert in Tacoma, WA due to an injury, but promised he would resume his tour tomorrow (Saturday). The Tacoma show will be rescheduled in the future. Best wishes to Graham for a full recovery.

Let’s play one and then see some live music. Chicago musician Rob Schulz has a solo acoustic performance tomorrow, October 1 at Merkle’s Bar and Grill. It’s scheduled to start after the Cubs play the Reds at Wrigley Field, which is just down the street.

Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets will be performing the early hits of his band Pink Floyd on Monday, October 3 at the Chicago Theatre.

Fingers Crossed - How Music Saved Me From Success, the memoir from Lush vocalist-guitarist Miki Berenyi, came out yesterday, and I love this quote from her on Facebook: “I’m quite blown away by the reception so far and feeling quite psychotic this morning at the thought of it finally being out there in bookshops.” Sigh. I hope I’ll able to say that some day about getting one of my books published.

The Spindles, with special guest Rob Elvis, and The Embryos will comprise a double bill of original, well-crafted power pop at Montrose Saloon on October 7. The Spindles get extra credit for including two Hollies covers in their repertoire. The music starts at 8:00 pm, admission is $10.

Bruce Springsteen has recorded an album with 15 cover versions of classic soul songs from Motown, Stax, and other legendary sources. Only The Strong Survive will be available in CD, vinyl, and digital formats on November 11. The September issue of MOJO magazine features a cover story on Springsteen, along with a CD that offers 15 original recordings of vintage rock songs that he has covered in live performances over the years. 

Phil Angotti And Friends, with special guest Joel Paterson, will perform 82 Songs For 82 Years: John Lennon Birthday Bash twice at Martyrs’ on October 8. The earlier, all ages gig starts at 3:00 pm, and the second version starts at 8:00 pm. Admission for each is $20, Martyrs’ is located at 3855 N. Lincoln Avenue.

Wicked Opossum Records, a Mishawaka, Indiana independent label, will release Starstruck: A Tribute To The Kinks on December 9 on its Bandcamp  page. I can’t say I’m familiar with any of the artists involved, but people who pre-order the album now will get a free download of The Fatal Flaw performing “Victoria,” and it’s a worthy effort. 

Long-time WXRT radio personality Tom Marker recently announced on Facebook that the final edition of his weekly Chicago’s Blues Breakers program will air on the station this Sunday night at 9:00 pm. Thank you, Mr. Marker for all those years of bringing us authentic blues music. Best of luck in your future endeavors. 

Dragon’s Dream - The Roger Dean Experience, which is being billed as “an immersive high definition 4D audio/video experience” opens on November 12 at Gray Area in San Francisco and will run through January 2023. Dean, of course, is famous for the cover art he created for Yes, Uriah Heep, Badger, and other bands.

Congo Square Theatre’s production of the Alesha Harris play What To Send Up When It Goes Down opened at Lookingglass Theatre last Saturday and will run through October 16. In other theatre news, Arsenic And Old Lace continues its run at the Court Theatre through October 2; Cabaret will run through October 23 at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights, and the Destinos International Latino Theatre Festival continues its run through October 16 at several venues around Chicago. 

The DVD of Brett Morgen’s David Bowie film Moonage Daydream will be available on November 18, but from what I’ve read, it should really be seen in a movie theater for the full effect. The official David Bowie website has t-shirts, CDs, stickers, and posters, and magnets related to Moonage Daydream for sale.

 

Minstrel Music, which has been selling musical instruments and providing lessons in Niles for 45 years,  will hold an All-Era Reunion on October 23 at the Curragh Pub on Chicago’s northwest side. There have been successful Minstrel reunions in the past, but the event has been absent recently due to the pandemic. The event will run from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.  

The Who will bring their The Who Hits Back! Tour to the United Center in Chicago on October 12. 

A new Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers album titled Live At The Fillmore 1997 is coming out on November 25. It’s being offered in five versions, from the 2-CD set for $19.99 to 6-LP Uber Deluxe set for $174.98.

Reeling2022 - The 40th Chicago LGBTQ International Film Festival continues at Chicago Filmmakers through October 2. 

The 2022 Aidan Celebration Open House Party will take place on November 19 at the Shea home at 817 S. Fairfield in Elmhurst. The Aidan Shea Foundation supports the Lurie Children’s Hospital, Northwestern Medicine’s Lefkofsky Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and the University Of Illinois Law School Aidan Shea Memorial Scholarship. Plus, two new programs will benefit from this year’s event, the Illinois-based nonprofit Foster Progress and the 2023 Celtic Irish American Academy in Galway, Ireland. The open house will feature live music by singer-guitarist Scottie Long.

Rocking Stuffers

I usually wait until the day after Thanksgiving to present my Broken Hearted Toy holiday gift guide, but this year, I’d like to start something similar much earlier. The concept involves things that would fit inside a traditional holiday stocking that could be presented to someone as a fun, entertainment-focused present. I’m starting early because some items could take a while to ship, particularly if they come from overseas. Others might only be available for a limited time that ends well before Thanksgiving.

So, first up in what will hopefully become a series is the Chicago Music Trading Cards set available from Sleeping Village for $20. It celebrates 50 different local acts via colorful baseball cards created by Chicago-based artist Mike Noren under the name Gummy Arts. The list includes Gal Gun, Melkbelly, NNAMDI, Shellac, and Sonic45. I’d love to see Gummy Arts keep making these sets because there are so many local acts worthy of being honored. Proceeds from these cards support The Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL).

Sleeping Village is a music venue located at 3734 W. Belmont on Chicago’s north side. The remarkable New Zealand band The Chills will be performing there on October 21.

Incoming

Recording star and Beatles pal Billy J. Kramer will be the special guest at a British Invasion Night at Goldyburgers in Forest Park this Friday. He’ll join Phil Angotti, Casey McDonough, Dick Schmidt, and Blair Holmes on stage. The music starts at 7:30 pm.

Phil Angotti And Friends, with special guest Joel Paterson, will perform a pair of Beatles-related shows at Martyrs’ on October 8. You could almost call them Side A and Side B, but both events are titled 82 Songs For 82 Years: John Lennon Birthday Bash. The earlier, all ages gig starts at 3:00 pm, and the musicians will come back and play all the same songs backwards at 8:00 pm. Just kidding about the backwards part. Angotti’s tribute shows usually draw a lot of local musicians, so expect to see a variety of lineups onstage. Admission is $20, Martyrs’ is located at 3855 N. Lincoln Avenue.

The Spindles, with special guest Rob Elvis, and The Embryos will comprise a double bill of original, well-crafted power pop at Montrose Saloon on October 7. The Spindles get extra credit for including two Hollies covers in their repertoire. The music starts at 8:00 pm, admission is $10.

Minstrel Music, which has been selling musical instruments and providing lessons in Niles for 45 years, will hold an All-Era Reunion on October 23 at the Curragh Pub on Chicago’s northwest side.  There have been previous Minstrel celebrations, but not in the past few years, due to the pandemic. I’ve been to a few at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine, and they drew a wide variety of area musicians. The camaraderie among the performers, co-workers, and audience members is unmistakeable. The event will run from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.

 

Graham Nash will kick off a month-long tour of Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and California this Thursday, September 29 with a concert in Tacoma, WA. As of today, ten of those dates are sold out.

Thalia Hall in Chicago has a three-act Dr. Martens Presents showcase coming up on October 8 featuring the Los Angeles alt rock band The Regrettes, experimental rock duo Finom (formerly Ohmme), and indie rock duo Child Seat. Admission is free, but since seating is limited, those interested need to RSVP in advance via eventbrite.

Long-time WXRT radio personality Tom Marker recently announced on Facebook that the final edition of his weekly Chicago’s Blues Breakers program will air on the station this Sunday night at 9:00 pm. Thank you, Mr. Marker for all those years of bringing us authentic blues music. Best of luck in your future endeavors. 

Congo Square Theatre’s production of the Alesha Harris play What To Send Up When It Goes Down opened at Lookingglass Theatre this past Saturday and will run through October 16. Lookingglass Theatre is in the WaterTower Water Works at 821 N. Michigan Avenue.

Congratulations are in order for local musician/comic performer Dave Drazin. This Thursday, Sept. 29, his original piano soundtrack will be heard when Turner Classic Movies shows the 1919 Olive Thomas silent film Out Yonder at 8:45 am Central time. Drazin and I were both members of the Famous In The Future comedy group for a number of years.

Slumgullion

Thalia Hall in Chicago has a three-act Dr. Martens Presents showcase coming up on October 8 featuring the Los Angeles alt rock band The Regrettes, experimental rock duo Finom (formerly Ohmme), and indie rock duo Child Seat. Admission is free, but since seating is limited, those interested need to RSVP in advance via eventbrite. I’m not familiar with the other two acts, but The Regrettes are a blast in live performance and will be drawing material from three solid albums.

Depending on what time you see this, there might still be time to see musicians well known on the Chicago club scene pretending to be Los Angeles natives in a special tribute called Join Me In L.A. taking place tonight at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue. John Mead, Steve Dawson, Alton Smith, Rachel Drew, Tommi Zender, Peter Manis, and Jimmy Tomasello will perform late 60s and the 70s songs by Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Linda Rondstadt, and others. The music started at 8:00 pm.

Brett Morgen’s David Bowie film Moonage Daydream is being screened in Cinemark theaters starting today. According to Amazon, the DVD comes out on November 18 and is already available for pre-order. The official David Bowie website has t-shirts, CDs, stickers, and posters, and magnets related to Moonage Daydream for sale.

 

“The Soul Keeper” Gerald McClendon has a show tomorrow (Saturday) night at Club Arcada in St. Charles. The nostalgic restaurant/performance space is part of The Arcada Theatre at 105 E. Main street. Admission is $15, the music starts at 8:30.

A new Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers album titled Live At The Fillmore 1997 is coming out on November 25. It’s being offered in five versions, from the 2-CD set for $19.99 to 6-LP Uber Deluxe set for $174.98.

The Chicago Reader will celebrate five decades of being the city’s best-known free paper with a 50ish UnGala at Museum Of Contemporary Art on November 30. The event will take place on three floors, with four stages of live entertainment, food and beverages from the museum’s own catering service, and raffles. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase exclusive 50ish anniversary merchandise. Tickets start at $25.

Radio station WXRT, which has established a loyal following in Chicago and beyond with its adventurous song selection and personable DJs, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary by offering t-shirts, mugs, stickers, buttons, handbags, beach towels, skateboards, and other items on its website. I didn’t see any baseball caps, which is a shame because I’ve pretty much worn out the one I bought years ago.

Elvis Costello will perform 100 Songs And More Over 10 Nights at Gramercy Theater in New York, NY during the month of February, 2023.

Reeling2022 - The 40th Chicago LGBTQ International Film Festival kicked off yesterday at the Music Box Theatre and now moves on to Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema from today through September 29. The festival will wrap up at Chicago Filmmakers from September 30 through October 2. 

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 book tour in the U.K. starting September 29 to coincide with the release of her Fingers Crossed - How Music Saved Me From Success memoir. The book is available from Resident. 

Possibly the first Chicago area Halloween show listing of 2022 is The Amazing Heeby Jeebies performing as The New York Dolls at Cally’s on October 30. The band’s Facebook post promises, “a night of Halloween horror, glam, punk, psychotic inferno fire dancing and old films.” I’ve never seen “psychotic inferno fire dancing and old films” in the same sentence before. Special guests TBA. Cally’s is located at 1627 W. Howard. 

At first, I thought this next item was Halloween related but it comes 11 days too late for the holiday. Doom Flamingo, the Charleston, SC band that describes itself as “a six-headed synthwave beast with a Jekyll and Hyde element to the songwriting” will be haunting Metro with a midnight 18 and over performance on November 11.

Dag Juhlin from Sunshine Boys, The Slugs, and Sonic45 will be performing at SPACE in Evanston next Tuesday, September 27. He’s sharing a triple bill with Rob Bochnik from The Frames, and Grant Sutton.

Nick Mason’s Saucerful Of Secrets will find him performing the early hits of his band Pink Floyd on October 3 at the Chicago Theatre.

Singer-songwriter Nora O’Connor, a member of the Chicago-based super group The Flat Five, (and she toured with Iron and Wine) has released a fun video for “My Heart.”  It’s the title track on her new album, which is coming out October 7 on Pravda Records.

Congratulations to Chrissie Hynde on selling out all six locations on a U.K. tour simply billed as Chrissie Hynde And Band Live ‘22. In an official statement released when the tickets went on sale, Hynde noted, “Finally getting to play some of my favourite Pretenders songs in my favourite type venues. Been waiting a long time for this! See you there.”

The Mercury Theatre on Chicago’s north side has kicked off its production of the mystery/comedy Clue and it will run through January 1, 2023.

Graham Nash will start a month-long tour of Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and California on September 29 with a concert in Tacoma, WA. As of today, ten of those dates are sold out.

The vintage comedy Arsenic And Old Lace continues its run at the critically acclaimed Court Theatre through October 2 on Chicago’s south side. 

The acclaimed musical Cabaret opened at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights yesterday and will run through October 23. It opens the theatre’s 2022/2023 season.

The Destinos International Latino Theatre Festival continues its run through October 16 at several venues around Chicago. 

The country/punk band The Waco Brothers will be performing songs from their latest album when they return to Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights on December 27.

Incoming

Keeping a promise made earlier this week, official Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers social media sites delivered a major announcement today. The band’s Live At The Fillmore 1997 is available for pre-sale and will be released on November 25. There will be five different versions, from the 2-CD set for $19.99 to the 6-LP Uber Deluxe set for $174.98. I landed in the middle and pre-ordered the 4-CD set for $59.98. In addition to 58 tracks on the CDs, it comes with a 32-page booklet, 3 custom guitar picks, a replica All Access laminate, and an embroidered patch. Each version includes some fascinating cover versions, along with the band’s own material.

Seven musicians who are well known on the Chicago club scene will pretend they’re Los Angeles natives in a special tribute called Join Me In L.A. taking place this Friday night at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue. John Mead, Steve Dawson, Alton Smith, Rachel Drew, Tommi Zender, Peter Manis, and Jimmy Tomasello will perform late 60s and the 70s songs by Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Warren Zevon, Linda Rondstadt, and others. The cover charge is a mere $15.

“The Soul Keeper” Gerald McClendon has a show this Saturday night at Club Arcada in St. Charles. The nostalgic venue is part of The Arcada Theatre at 105 E. Main street. Admission is $15, the music starts at 8:30.

If you have a favorite Elvis Costello song (and who doesn’t?) there’s a great chance you’ll hear it in a live setting when he performs 100 Songs And More Over 10 Nights at Gramercy Theater in New York, NY next February. Pre-sale tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10:00 am ET. 

The Chicago Reader will celebrate five decades of being the city’s best-known free paper with a 50ish UnGala at The Museum Of Contemporary Art on November 30. The event will take place on three floors, with four stages of live entertainment; food and beverages from the museum’s own catering service; and raffles. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase exclusive 50ish anniversary merchandise. Tickets start at $25. Congratulations to The Chicago Reader.

The country/punk band The Waco Brothers will be performing songs from their latest album when they return to Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights on December 27. Tickets are now on sale at the venue’s website. 

Reeling2022 - The 40th Chicago LGBTQ International Film Festival kicks off tomorrow, September 22 with a screening of The Shiny Shrimps Strike Back at the Music Box Theatre. After that, the festival moves to Landmark’s Century Centre Cinema from September 23 through September 29; and then Chicago Filmmakers from September 30 through October 2. 

Mordecai Smyth - Things Are Getting Stranger On The Shore

The name Mordecai Smyth brings to mind an eccentric English gentleman, and for over 10 years as a musician, Smyth has lived up to that image. Still, it should be noted he’s gone through some major changes in that time. Sticky Tape and Rust, his 2011 debut on the independent record label Mega Dodo was filled with offbeat gems that spoofed British pop culture and American film noir. The first single, “Georgina Jones,” along with “Mr. Hitchcock,” and “Sinister Cyclist” were just a few of the highlights. Smyth took an entirely different and more serious approach on his 2017 collection of prog rock songs The Mayor of Toytown is Dead. 

His 2022 effort Things are Getting Stranger on the Shore, despite its clever pun of a title, continues in that prog rock mode. Smyth’s knack for silly fun may still be on hold, but he’s also adept at crafting imaginative lyrics and adventurous arrangements. He gets expert help from former Renaissance member Jon Camp, as well as his Mega Dodo mates guitarist Icarus Peel and vocalist Crystal Jacqueline. The 15-minute “That Late Autumn Sun” drifts though energetic and ethereal passages, and the eight-minute “Mercy” evokes Syd Barrett with its exotic, peaceful vibes.

The slow, ornate “Fear Of Flying” sounds similar to Barrett era Pink Floyd, while “Out Of Thin Air,” matches Crystal Jacqueline’s soaring vocals with classical instrumentation. The more hard-hitting and psychedelic “In Your Dark Space” deals with emotional issues, as Smyth sings, “Each day, you question why you try.” It’s tempting to think the clever and quick rhymes in the delicate “The Love That We Found” and the very short vignette “The Upholsterer’s Wife” are a nod to Smyth’s Sticky Tape and Rust days. “High Once More,” with its boundless psychedelic energy, gives Things Are Getting Stranger On The Shore a triumphant finale.

Slumgullion

Chicago area fans looking to view the iMax version of director Brett Morgen’s new David Bowie immersive film Moonage Daydream can catch it today at AMC Streets of Woodfield in Schaumburg, Regal City North in Chicago, and a number of area locations. The full list for this one-day run in theaters is available online. The film looks like quite an experience; New York Times writer A.O. Scott notes “it’s less a biography than a séance.” According to Amazon, the DVD comes out on November 18 and is already available for pre-order.

Those of us who subscribe to the revived version of Creem received a bonus magazine devoted entirely to David Bowie. I haven’t finished looking through the first issue of Creem (I’m savoring it, not avoiding it) but so far, its photography and graphics are impressive. A two-page vintage color photo of The Who is pretty much worth the price of the magazine alone.

As I mentioned in a recent post, I’ve been collecting mini ‘zines for several years and keep them in a decorative box. Two recent additions came from a trek to see YippieFest on Milwaukee Avenue last month. Their lower case names are arts and culture and flyer and both have this explanation the inside front cover: “We assemble flyers from your favorite music and entertainment venues and present to you in a monthly pocket-sized book.” They’re in full color, and the flyers are well chosen. Check out record stores and venues on the north side if you want a copy. I got mine at Reckless Records and The Den Theatre. 

Singer-songwriter Nora O’Connor, a member of the Chicago-based super group The Flat Five, (and she toured with Iron and Wine) has released a fun video for “My Heart.”   It’s the title track on her new album, which is coming out October 7 on Pravda Records.

The list for this year’s Black Friday Record Store Day is now available on the official website, and as usual, there are limited-edition vinyl treasures to please fans of just about every genre. Releases that caught my eye include the 2 LP 40th Anniversary Edition of Marshall Crenshaw’s self-titled debut; the 2 LP 30th Anniversary of The Cure’s Wish album; the seven-inch single “21st Century” by Dave Davies; the LP Traffic And Weather by Fountains Of Wayne; the Juliana Hatfield/Emma Swift seven-inch split single of Neil Young covers; the LP Jefferson Airplane Live At The International Monterey Pop Festival; the LP 55th Anniversary Mono Edition More Of The Monkees; and the LP self-titled debut from Salvation Army (precursor of The Three O’Clock).

The Destinos International Latino Theatre Festival opened on this past Wednesday and will run through October 16 at several venues around Chicago.

 

Congratulations to Chrissie Hynde on selling out all six locations on a U.K. tour simply billed as Chrissie Hynde And Band Live ‘22. In an official statement released when the tickets went on sale, Hynde noted, “Finally getting to play some of my favourite Pretenders songs in my favourite type venues. Been waiting a long time for this! See you there.”

The Mercury Theatre on Chicago’s north side kicked off its run of the mystery/comedy Clue with a feature presentation and cocktail hour last night. The show will run through January 1, 2023.

The Wild Honey Foundation has put together a stellar lineup for its latest concert. The house band for A 50th Anniversary All-Star Celebration Of Big Star’s #1 Record! includes Big Star musician Jody Stephens; Mike Mills from R.E.M.; Chris Stamey from The dB’s; and Pat Sansone from Wilco. The Lemon Twigs, Jon Auer from The Posies and Susanna Hoffs from The Bangles are listed as special guests. The event will benefit The Autism Healthcare Collaborative, and takes place at Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA on November 5.

The Chicago biweekly free paper The Reader came came out with its 80-page Fall Theater And Arts Preview edition yesterday. If you don’t subscribe, it’s available in newspaper boxes downtown and in various venues on the north side.

The vintage comedy Arsenic And Old Lace continues its run at the critically acclaimed Court Theatre through October 2 on Chicago’s south side. 

The Zombies are working on a documentary titled Hung Up On A Dream that will cover their entire career. Director/musician Robert Schwartzman (Dreamland) has been shooting the iconic British Invasion band’s current live performances, and the film will also include archival footage. It’s scheduled to be released in the summer of 2023. A recent official email from The Zombies includes a link to a recent article by Manori Ravindran for Variety. 

Riot Fest kicked off today and will run through Sunday in Douglas Park. Performers includes My Chemical Romance; The Original Misfits; Alkaline Trio; and Portugal The Man. On Monday, September 19, there’s a Riot Fest sponsored concert by The Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Metro. It’s another gig to help celebrate Metro’s 40th Anniversary.

It looks like The Lost Album, a collection of tracks The Smithereens recorded but failed to release back in 1993, is actually due out on October 13. It’s available to pre-order on Amazon. The 12 previously unreleased songs include “Stop Bringing Me Down,” “Pretty Little Lies,” “Out Of This World,” and “I’m Sexy.”

The Beverly Art Walk takes place tomorrow, September 17, from 12:00 to 5:00 pm in Chicago’s south side Beverly and Morgan Park neighborhoods. The event will feature over 100 artists; the Uprising Craft market with over 30 artisans; live music, and a food court. Best wishes to my niece Allison Flamm, who’ll be showcasing some of her work at the Heritage Art Gallery.

Graham Nash will kick off a month-long tour of Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and California on September 29 with a concert in Tacoma, WA. Five of the dates are already sold out. Also, Nash mentioned in an Instagram post yesterday that he’s just finished a project that we’ll hear about in January 2023.

Buffalo Creek Brewing, located in the Long Grove Shopping district, will offer an evening of Americana songs with its Pint Of Music - The Rusken Bros. tomorrow night, September 17, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm.  

It seems like only yesterday when he graduated from the cast of Beatlemania to creating irresistible original pop songs, but Marshall Crenshaw has been performing for 40 years. He’ll mark that anniversary with a tour that starts on September 22 in Manchester, NH before moving on to Boston, New York, Philadelphia and a few other cities. Derrick Anderson, Mark Ortmann, and Fernando Perdomo will be joining him.

The acclaimed musical Cabaret opened at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights yesterday and will run through October 23. It kicks off the theatre’s 2022/2023 season.

The B-52’s are calling it quits after 45 years of fun and otherworldly recordings and performances. Their farewell tour will bring them to Chicago for concerts on October 7 and 8 at The Chicago Theater.

Tickets are now on sale for An Acoustic Christmas by Over The Rhine at The Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago on December 4 and Joel Paterson’s Hi-Fi Christmas at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights on November 30. 

Incoming

Luckily, I picked Saturday to drop by the Printer’s Row Lit Fest this past weekend. There was a torrential downpour on Sunday, which seemed to help the Chicago Bears, but wouldn’t have been good for an outdoor festival featuring publications. I could have bought any number of the vintage or new books being offered by vendors, but being on a budget and having a fascination for small-scale zines, I bought a copy of Space Is Sexy, which is part of the Rabbit Hole Of Research series. The idea is to make science fun, and this particular example, written by Jotham Austin II, PhD and illustrated by Georgia Lynn Geis, accomplished that well. I picked up promo materials for W. Brand Publishing; Love Smiles, which encourages authors and illustrators to share their work with pediatric cancer patients; Chicago Writers Association; Shy City House Publishing; and had a friendly talk with local author Joseph Anthony Rulli. I ran into a former member of the writers group I belong to and we spent some time catching up on what we’ve been doing. Hopefully, we’ll each have best-selling books in the near future.

It’s no surprise The Wild Honey Foundation, a California-based 501(c)(3)non-profit known for bringing musicians together for fundraising events, has put together a stellar lineup for its latest concert. The house band for A 50th Anniversary All-Star Celebration Of Big Star’s #1 Record! includes Big Star musician Jody Stephens; Mike Mills from R.E.M.; Chris Stamey from The dB’s; and Pat Sansone from Wilco. The Lemon Twigs, Jon Auer from The Posies and Susanna Hoffs from The Bangles are listed as special guests. The event will benefit The Autism Healthcare Collaborative, and takes place at Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA on November 5.

Riot Fest takes place this weekend in Douglas Park, and as usual with major festivals, I leave the recommendations to the experts. The always reliable columnist Britt Julius offers several top picks in the Arts And Living section of today’s Chicago Tribune. 

And in Riot Fest related news, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have a gig at Metro on Monday, September 19. It’s another way to help celebrate Metro’s 40th Anniversary.

There’s a nice surprise in the Fall 2022/Winter 2023 issue of Michigan Avenue. The magazine is devoted to Chicago area fashion and high society, but there’s a 12-page tribute to Metro’s legacy featuring copy by J.P. Anderson and photographs by Gene Ambo. It includes portraits of Brian Setzer; Dave Grohl; Shirley Manson; Iggy Pop; Jane’s Addiction; Living Colour; Nick Cave; Nirvana; Joey Ramone; Billy Corgan; and Jimmy Chamberlin. Michigan Avenue is kind of hard to find, but there are some newspaper boxes around the downtown area that have free copies. I picked one up in the south Loop, just off Dearborn on my way from the Printer’s Row Lit Fest.

Author/musician Ken Sharp recently released a double single on his Bandcamp page, featuring covers of two camp and catchy Rick Springfield songs. Springfield himself added background vocals to Sharp’s efforts,and Fernando Perdomo played drums. “Comic Book Heroes” and  “I’m Your Superman” are available for the single price of $1.

The Beverly Art Walk takes place next Saturday, September 17, from 12:00 to 5:00 pm in Chicago’s south side Beverly and Morgan Park neighborhoods. The event will feature over 100 artists; the Uprising Craft market with over 30 artisans; live music, and a food court. Best wishes to my niece Allison Flamm, who’ll be showcasing some of her work at the Heritage Art Gallery.

The Destinos International Latino Theatre Festival returns for its fifth year on September 14 and will run through October 16 at several venues around Chicago.

Buffalo Creek Brewing, located in the Long Grove Shopping district, will offer an evening of Americana songs with its Pint Of Music - The Rusken Bros. this Saturday night, September 17, from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. 

 

The acclaimed musical Cabaret will open at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights this Thursday, September 15. The production, which kicks off the venue’s 2022/2023 season, will run through October 23.

The Randolph Street Market, billed as “Chicago’s World-Famous Art, Antiques and Vintage Event,” takes place the weekend of September 24/25. Numerous independent vendors offering vintage and rare items will gather at 1341 W. Randolph from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on both days. There will also be food vendors and live music. General admission tickets—which cover Saturday and Sunday, are $10. 

Slumgullion

The Zombies are working on a documentary titled Hung Up On A Dream that will cover their entire career. Director/musician Robert Schwartzman (Dreamland) has been shooting the iconic British Invasion band’s current live performances, and the film will also include archival footage. It’s scheduled to be released in the summer of 2023. A recent official email from The Zombies includes a link to a recent article by Manori Ravindran for Variety. The article mentions that fans will soon be able to get special benefits by pre-ordering Hung Up On A Dream at ALTAVOD.com. 

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

Expect to hear plenty of well-written songs this Sunday night during a double bill at the Hideout on the north side. Chicago singer-guitarist Andy Pratt will be celebrating his birthday, as well as the release of his latest album Sweeter Than The Wine. It follows his 2017 effort Horizon Disrupted, which was engineered by famed producer and poker champion Steve Albini. Steve Dawson, joined by Diane Christiansen, Alton Smith, and John Abbey, will perform a set prior to Pratt’s show. Dawson and Christiansen front the critically acclaimed alt rock/Americana band Dolly Varden, and Dawson’s 2021 sole effort At The Bottom Of A Canyon In The Branches Of A Tree garnered several rave reviews.

Now, this don’t make me feel a whole better. The B-52’s are calling it quits after 45 years of fun and otherworldly recordings and performances. Their farewell tour will bring them to Chicago for concerts on October 7 and 8 at The Chicago Theater.

The 17th Annual Lakeview East Festival Of The Arts takes place tomorrow and Sunday (September 10 and 11) and will have 135 juried artists. Along with paintings, sculpture, photography, furniture, and food vendors, the event will feature two stages of live music. And not acts one typically finds at these outdoor festivals. The schedule features Suenos, Outronaut, EXPO ’76, Mooner, The Joel Paterson Band, Gerald Dowd, Elaine Dame, and a number of other interesting choices. A donation of $5 is suggested. The Lakeview East Festival Of The Arts runs along Broadway, from Belmont to Hawthorne.

The Lost Album, a collection of tracks The Smithereens recorded but failed to release back in 1993, is due out on September 23, and is available to pre-order on Amazon. The 12 previously unreleased songs include “Stop Bringing Me Down,” “Pretty Little Lies,” “Out Of This World,” and “I’m Sexy.”

The LiveWire Lounge on Milwaukee Avenue has a triple lineup coming tomorrow night featuring the Chicago acts BambiRaptor and The Handcuffs, along with Vera Bloom from Nashville. The music starts at 8:00 pm. Vera Bloom will be opening for L7 in Nashville on October 3.

Graham Nash will kick off a month-long tour of Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and California on September 29 with a concert in Tacoma, WA. Five of the dates are already sold out.

The 37th Annual Printer’s Row Fest takes place tomorrow and Sunday, September 10 and 11, from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm. There will be several speakers and events held on six stages, and throughout the fair, visitors will find publishers, book stores, literary agencies, authors, and food vendors. It’s a great opportunity to communicate with people involved in all areas of the publishing universe, and absorb all that creative energy. The Fest takes place on South Dearborn Street, from Ida B. Wells to Polk Street, admission is free.

It seems like only yesterday when he graduated from the cast of Beatlemania to creating irresistible original pop songs, but Marshall Crenshaw has been performing for 40 years. He’ll mark that anniversary with a tour that so far brings him to Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and a few other cities. Derrick Anderson, Mark Ortmann, and Fernando Perdomo will be joining him.

The Beverly Art Walk takes place next Saturday, September 17, from 12:00 to 5:00 pm in Chicago’s south side Beverly and Morgan Park neighborhoods. The event will feature over 100 artists; the Uprising Craft Market with over 30 artisans; live music, and a food court. Best wishes to my niece Allison Flamm, who’ll be showcasing some of her work at the Heritage Art Gallery.

Tickets are now on sale for the Wild Honey Foundation And Jody Stephens Presents Big Star #1 show at Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA on November 5. The Wild Honey Foundation is a 501(c)(3)non-profit that brings well-known musicians together for events that raise funds for worth charities.

The Destinos International Latino Theatre Festival returns for its fifth year on September 14 and will run through October 16 at several venues around Chicago.

Congratulations to former R.E.M. vocalist Michael Stipe and artist/musician Beatie Wolfe on the success of their limited-edition, sustainable bioplastic 12-inch single. Side A is Stipe’s “Future If Future” and Side B is Wolfe’s “Oh My Heart.” All 500 copies quickly sold out on the EarthPercent Bandcamp page. Both songs can still be purchased in digital format as part of the EarthPercent X Earth Day Compilation album, which has over 120 tracks. All proceeds, other than Paypal’s processing fees, will go to EarthPercent’s Grantmaking Fund. 

The Renegade Craft Fair returns to Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm tomorrow and Sunday. The outdoor event brings together several unique vendors offering clothing, jewelry, art, pottery, and other creatively fashioned items. There will also be food vendors. The fair is located on Division Street, between and Ashland Avenue and Damen Avenue.

Fans of mystery author Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious series will be glad to learn that Stevie Bell, the young and brilliant sleuth of those books, will return in a new novel titled Nine Liars. This time out, she’ll be investigating a murder in England. It’s due out on December 27. 

Tellin’ Tales Theatre is presenting a trio of solo performances in its production of Auditioning For Life this weekend at the Greenhouse Theater Center. Tekkie Lomnicki, Alison Pohn, and R.C. Riley will each do a piece, and there will be an additional guest performer each night of the run. Green Theater Center is located at 2257 N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. 

U2 lead vocalist Bono has a memoir titled Surrender - 40 Songs, One Story coming out at the beginning of November. In addition to his written observations, Bono created 40 original drawings for the book.

We won’t know for a while if the Chicago Bears will move to Arlington Heights, but the acclaimed musical Cabaret will open at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in the northwest suburb on September 15. The production, which kicks off the venue’s 2022/2023 season, will run through October 23. 

Riot Fest Chicago takes place on the weekend of September 16 – 18 in DouglasPark. The headline acts include My Chemical Romance, the original lineup of The Misfits, Alkaline Trio, Portugal The Man, Bauhaus, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Ice Cube, and Sleater-Kinney.

The Randolph Street Market, billed as “Chicago’s World-Famous Art, Antiques and Vintage Event,” returns after an absence of three years, on the weekend of September 24 and 25. It will be held at 1341 W. Randolph from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm on both days. In addition to independent vendors offering vintage and rare items, there will be food vendors and live music. General admission tickets are $10, and can be used on both days.