Halloween Song: “Experiment In Terror”

A final repost from the BHT haunted vault for this year’s 31 Songs For Halloween series.

“Experiment In Terror” has a slow, ominous beat and twanging guitars that conjure images of a monster creeping along some darkened street. And we might just be its next victim. Surprisingly, this instrumental was composed by Henry Mancini for a 1962 cops and robbers movie called Experiment In Terror.

In the Chicago area, it’s much better known as the theme for Creature Features, which presented old time horror movies like House Of Dracula, Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, and The Mummy’s Ghost on WGN every Saturday night from 1970 to 1976. “Experiment In Terror” will be forever linked to that show’s signature graphic of a horrifying guy in the top hat and cloak.

But “Experiment In Terror” also brings back memories of a childhood fascination with monsters, hours spent trick or treating, and neighborhood Halloween parties in garages or basements. Plus, it’s a great song. In addition to the eerie guitars, a string arrangement adds drama and a cinematic ambience. Later, there’s even a sexy sounding saxophone that puts the vamp in vampire.

Back when I was part of the Famous In The Future comedy group, I used this song an an intro for a satirical skit I had written about the workplace called “Night Of The Living Temps.”  

Halloween Song: “This Is Halloween”

This post is a slightly rewritten rerun from the BHT haunted vault.

Danny Elfman has been a spooky performer since the 1980s when he fronted Oingo Boingo on hit songs like “Dead Man’s Party” (see my October 10 post) and “Stay.” His quirky energy and maniacal grin, along with that unique voice, made lines like “Leave your body and soul at the door” simultaneously threatening and fun. He moved on to writing scores for Tim Burton movies such as Beetlejuice, Batman, Corpse Bride and Sleepy Hollow. His best work might have been for Burton’s dual holiday feature The Nightmare Before Christmas, which gave us the angst-ridden hero Jack Skellington.

“This Is Halloween”, one of the many highlights from the soundtrack, ushers us into the holiday town via an ominous beat, full orchestra, and operatic choruses. Comic voices abound as many of the creepy residents introduce themselves: “I am the one hiding under your bed./Teeth ground sharp and eyes glowing red.” Elfman’s clever rhyming couplets and macabre humor make “This Is Halloween” an enduring classic.

By now, homeowners across America have put the final touches on their Halloween decorations, aiming to surprise trick-or-treaters when they arrive tomorrow seeking candy. Hopefully, the kids won’t encounter anything as gruesome as the everyday activities in Jack Skellington’s haunted kingdom. Have a safe and happy holiday.

Halloween Song: “Hydrogenic”

Another rerun from the BHT haunted vault. 

Back in the early 1980s, Bohemia’s high-energy approach, led by charismatic lead vocalist/keyboards player Carla Evonne, prompted a Chicago daily newspaper critic to proclaim the band was every bit as good as X from Los Angeles. Following the release of a self-titled, three-song 10 inch EP in 1980, Bohemia struck again a year later with their impressive debut LP, Deviations. Among the energetic and offbeat highlights were “Plastic Doll,” “Standard Deviations,” “Empty Room,” and “Dr. Werner.”

“Hydrogenic” was a punk rock masterpiece, offering a girl meets mutant love story with an underlying jab at the perils of nuclear energy. Bass player Zirbel’s revved-up playing leads an extended instrumental intro before Carla Evonne sets the romantic tale in motion. “Since I met you baby/I haven’t been the same/You hit me like an H-bomb and now I hardly know my name.”

Even though her boyfriend’s appearance has been drastically changed by exposure to massive doses of radiation, the woman’s devotion is unwavering. “Momma says you’re different/With your long green hair/You got webs between your fingers/But I don’t even care.” Additional lyrics such “I can see you glowing in the dark/In my life you really caused a spark” are punctuated by an overjoyed chorus of, “Ooh, our love is new/Our love is new . . . nuclear.” It’s a protest song you can pogo to.

Sadly, Bohemia never found the fame and fortune it deserved, although the band did go on to release a few more recordings on its own label. On a personal note, Bohemia was the inspiration for a novel I based on Chicago's punk scene in the 1980s. It's been through several rewrites over the decades, but I'm convinced the latest version just needs a few edits and it will be ready for another round of submissions to independent publishers and literary agents.

Halloween Song: “My Girlfriend Is A Witch”

October Country’s “My Girlfriend Is A Witch” sounds like it could have been the theme song for a mid-1960s sitcom. Which makes sense since it was written, performed, and recorded in 1968 by producer Michael Lloyd, who would later use an updated version for the Saturday morning cartoon series The Cattanooga Cats. He formed October Country with guitarist Marty Arsenault, keyboards player/vocalist Jimmy Greenspoon, and drummer Jim Gordon but the act never achieved a following beyond the West Coast music scene.

“My Girlfriend Is A Witch” is just one of the many audio artifacts to be found on the Rhino CD compilation, Where The Action Is! Los Angeles Nuggets: 1965-1968. The boxed set comes with a book that provides background info for each track. In addition to singing lead, Lloyd joined Arsenault on some furious garage rock guitar licks. Almost half of this catchy psychedelic gem is taken up by the band’s spirited jamming, creating a live performance at a go-go club ambience. 

Lloyd introduces the lead character with the opening lines, “Riding high/Leaving trails of smoke across the sky/On a broom,” and quickly adds “Glad that I am safe within my room.” The girlfriend’s telepathic ability and other creepy talents don’t seem to cause any harm, but they do inspire a bit of competition. “What a fate/A worshiper of magic for a date/But tonight I become a warlock just for spite.” 

Slumgullion

Madness, Noel Gallagher, Roger Daltry, Paul Weller, Chrissie Hynde, and Baxter Dury will celebrate Sir Peter Blake’s 90th Birthday with a performance at the Royal Festival Hall in London on December 2. Tickets are already sold out for the event, which in addition to honoring the noted British artist Blake, is a benefit for the Teenage Cancer Trust.

As reported by Doug George in today’s Chicago Tribune, the renowned iO Theater will spring back to life next Thursday, November 3 with the long-form improv production of Anarchy: The Improvised Rock Opera. Several other productions are on the way. iO had been closed since the summer of 2020.

Heather J. Miller (then known as Heather J. Svoboda) performed at iO and all over the Chicago improv scene some years ago. She’s now marking her 11th year at the Cat Adoption Team cat shelter in Portland, OR. CAT is holding a Whisker Wonderland virtual benefit at 7:00 pm on November 11. Miller suggests making a donation of  “$11 or $111 or $1.1M” (that third figure might be her improvising) to help the shelter continue to save cats’ lives.

Jim Babjak and Dennis Diken of The Smithereens will host an online event on TALKSHOP LIVE on November 8 at 7:00 pm EST. They’ll take questions from fans about how to purchase new releases from the band, as well as an autographed poster. Babjak posted a link to a special message on Facebook regarding the event.

Halloweekend kicked off tonight at Montrose Saloon with six local acts paying tribute to famous musicians. Depending on what time you see this, you might still be able to Dead Freddie as David Bowie and Phil Angotti, with Mike Zelenko, Todd Rusin, and Tom Ryan, as Cheap Trick. Tomorrow’s lineup is Forbidden Kingdom, featuring Eric Chial and Ellis Clark, as The Who; The 321’s as Nirvana; MetroPoly as PJ Harvey; and Rachel Drew as The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Admission for each night is $20.

In a separate event, The Amazing Heeby Jeebies will be 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.” Special guests TBA. Cally’s is located at 1627 W. Howard. 

Battersea Power Station, known to Pink Floyd fans around the globe as the four smokestack building on the band’s Animals album, is now an apartments/shopping complex thanks to a billion dollar rehab. Like they say, money, it’s a hit. No word on whether any of the shops are selling souvenir flying pigs.

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.

English band The Lightning Seeds have released their first album in 13 years. See You In The Stars features catchy techno-oriented gems such as “Sunshine,” “Emily Smiles” and “Walk Another Mile.” It’s available on Amazon and other sites.

The interactive attraction Harry Potter: Magic At Play will open on November 11 at Water Tower Place on Michigan Avenue and run through May14, 2023.

 

The English Beat’s Wine And Grind Tour 2022 will bring them to City Winery Chicago for shows on December 3 and 4. 

Steve Barton and Dave Scheff from Translator recently finished recording a two-sided holiday single with help from Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Scott McCaughey of Young Fresh Fellows. A Facebook post from Buck states the music will be available to stream soon, and will be hopefully be offered on colored vinyl in 2023.

I had a fun time last Saturday at The CHIRP Record Fair and Other Delights; picking up four picture sleeve 45 RPM records and taking in the indie rock atmosphere. It’s entirely possible I’ll be back at Plumber’s Hall in the upcoming months for an entirely different event. There are Randolph Street Holiday Markets scheduled on the weekends of November 12 and 13 and December 17 and 18.

The Bangles are among the music acts reissuing one of their albums on pink vinyl as part of the Ten Bands One Cause annual event staged by Red Door Community (Formerly Gilda’s Club NYC). The other participants are NAS; The Black Keys; Colter Wall; Allman Brothers Band; Judah And The Lion; Senses Fail; The Turnpike Troubadours; JUNGLE FIRE; and BADBADNOT GOOD. The Bangles are reissuing their Ladies and Gentlemen . . . The Bangles! album. All 10 albums are now available to order.

Chicago power pop bands Go Time! and The Spindles will be sharing another bill together, along with The Vin Band, at Q Bar in Darien, IL on November 4. A few weeks later (November 18), The Spindles will be part of a four-band show at Ballydoyle Irish Pub in Downers Grove, with The Embryos, Thrift Store Halo, and Phil Yates and The Affiliates.

Dream Syndicate, one of the prime members of the 1980s Paisley Underground scene in Los Angeles, has a Chicago gig coming up at Lincoln Hall on November 11.

Congratulations to Cherie Colyer on the upcoming release of her new Middle Grade novel, Atticus Overheart, Fifth Grade Tutor And Monster Hunter? It will be available to order from Amazon and other sites on October 31. Colyer is a member of the same writers group that I belong to, and has published a number of novels.

The Man Who Fell to Earth: The Official Movie Adaptation hardcover graphic novel is now available from Amazon and other sites. It’s based on the 1976 film starring David Bowie and includes several never-before-seen photos. Bowie fans can also pre-order A Divine Symmetry - An Alternative Journey Through Hunky Dory, which features 48 exclusive, previously unreleased tracks, on vinyl or as a 4-CD/Blu-ray box set from the David Bowie Official Store. It’s due out on November 26.

Peter Asher and Jeremy Clyde were each half of popular British Invasion duos (Peter and Gordon and Chad and Jeremy respectively), so it’s only natural they would be compatible as yet another duo. They done shows in the past and will be together again at the The Old Town School Of Folk Music on December 1. An email from the venue promises Asher and Clyde will present songs and stories their glory days in the 1960s.

The Dungeons And Dragons inspired play The Twenty-Sided Tavern is now running at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place just north of downtown, and will be there through January15.  The show has previously sold out previous engagements in Edinburgh, Pittsburg, and New York.

Mike Skill, a founding member of The Romantics, has recorded a 41st anniversary version of the band’s major hit “What I Like AboutYou” that features Patrick Harwood on harp and current Romantics drummer Brad Elvis. Skill didn’t sing lead when that irresistible single came out in late 1979 (that was original drummer Jimmy Marinos), but he certainly does a nice job on the update.

Congratulations to Ray Gianchetti and the staff at Kool Kat Musik on 25 years of bringing power pop and indie rock recordings to the world.

The Pino Farina Band will return to Durty Nellie’s in Palatine on November 12. The group recently released the funky, guitar-driven single “Microsun.”

The New Cue, a popular U.K. online newsletter, is holding a Read This And Party - A Celebration Of 2022’s Best Music Books event on December 1 at The Social venue in London. Lush guitarist-vocalist Miki Berenyi will be among the writers on hand, and will be signing copies of her recently released memoir Fingers Crossed - How Music Saved Me From Success. A post on the official Lush Facebook page promises DJs, reading, signing, and dancing.

Women’s Fest will take place next Saturday, November 5 from 3:00 to 9:00 pm at the Blue Island Beer Company in Blue Island. The event will be hosted by The Edna White Community Garden, The Bloom Bar, and The B*U*B Cafe. Special guests will include WXRT early morning air personality Emma Mac, The Bourbon Belts,  Beverly Phono Mart, Sharon Baker, and Bridget Cavanaugh. Proceeds will benefit the “Crui de Sheela Scholarship for a Student Who Wants to Study the Arts and Sciences” and The Edna White Community Garden. Admission is $30 pre-sale and $35 at the door; Blue Island Beer Company is located at 13357 Olde Western Avenue.

Noted photographer Lynn Goldsmith’s latest book features portraits she took during a decade that still stands out for its vibrant music and culture. Titled Music In The ‘80s, the 352-page hard-cover book offers shots of The B-52’s, Bob Marley, Adam Ant, Bo Diddley, Bananarama, Bob Dylan, Susanna Hoffs, Aretha Franklin, Bono, Debbie Harry, Ashford and Simpson, and other stars. It’s now available from Rizzoli, Amazon and other sites.

The Who - Concert Memories from the Classic Years 1964 to 1976 by author Edoardo Genzolini with help from editor and contributor Jeremy Goodwin, is now available. The listing on Amazon promises “untold stories, hundreds of previously unpublished photographs, and uncirculated recordings clarifying the misinformation, myths, and legends.” 

Sons Of The Silent Age, the dynamic Chicago-based David Bowie tribute band will be traveling to New York City next June to take part in the second annual David Bowie World Fan Convention. Other performers involve include Bowie collaborators Carlos Alomar, Tony Visconti, Mike Garson, George Murray and Carmine Rojas.

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 with 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.

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 those who pre-order the album now get a free download of The Fatal Flaw performing “Victoria,” and it’s a worthy effort.

 

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. 

Penn Gillette’s promotional tour for his new novel Random will bring him to the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library on November 10.

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.

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. https://scottielong.wixsite.com/scottielong

You Be Me For A While

Just a reminder that Halloweekend, the annual two-day event featuring local musicians masquerading as famous musicians, returns to Montrose Saloon tomorrow night and Saturday. It’s a Chicago tradition, having been staged at several venues on the north side over the years. Some performers mimic the appearance of the acts they’re covering, which adds to the fun, especially when there’s a good dose of humor involved.

Plus, it’s a kick to see some of your favorite bands joyously honoring their heroes. This year’s lineup includes Dead Freddies as David Bowie; Forbidden Kingdom, featuring Ellis Clark and Eric Chial, as The Who; Phil Angotti as Cheap Trick; The 321’s as Nirvana; The Hurtin’ Kind as Wilco; MetroPoly as PJ Harvey; and Rachel Drew as The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Admission for each night is $20. Montrose Saloon is located at 2933 W. Montrose Avenue.

In a separate event, local rockabilly/garage rock band The Amazing Heeby Jeebies will be performing as The New York Dolls at Cally’s on Sunday. The band’s Facebook post promises, “a night of Halloween horror, glam, punk, psychotic inferno fire dancing and old films.” Guests can also enjoy caricatures by Silver Phoenix Art; Firedancing by Valerie, and Windy City Stitch Witch. Admission is $10; Cally’s is located at 1627 W. Howard. 

Halloween Song: “Neon” (Last Night In Soho Soundtrack)

A brand new Halloween Song Profile.

If you’re creating a Halloween song playlist for a party or event, you might want an appropriate intro before delving into the actual scary material. Maybe an instrumental track that establishes the mood, either in a dramatic or ironic manner. Classic TV show themes like The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Star Trek, Doctor Who or Alfred Hitchcock Presents would work, and there are plenty of film soundtracks to explore. For example, I picked the song “Neon” from the 2021 thriller Last Night In Soho to kick off one of my Halloween playlists.

The track opens with a simple but haunting piano solo before a full orchestra conjures an invading army of zombies or some other evil force. With an instrumental, you’re free to craft your own nightmarish scenario; a flock of crows or bats swirling around in tune with the string section? Why not? Last Night In Soho doesn’t have those things, but there are plenty of ghosts. Slowly building its massive arrangement, “Neon” effectively conveys a sense of danger that might be inescapable.

In addition to an intense storyline and plot twists, Last Night In Soho uses several classic hits to establish an authentic 1960s setting for when the heroine drifts back to that decade in a series of frightening dreams. I highly recommend the soundtrack. I was fascinated by the reviews of Last Night In Soho, as well as the trailer, and its impressive cast, but I never went to see it. A few critics referred to it as a slasher flick, which is something I usually avoid.

Back in February, when my wife Pam and I were on a flight to Hawaii (not something we do on a regular basis) I noticed a gentleman a few rows up to my left was watching Last Night In Soho on the small screen in front of him. I spent a good deal of time watching his screen, figuring I could always look away if things turned violent. I wouldn’t call it a slasher film, but it does have some disturbing scenes. Actually, it would be a good choice to watch on Halloween night.

Halloween Song: “The Man Who’s Afraid Of Everything”

In a recent post about Little Steven Van Zandt’s Halloween A Go-Go compilation, I noted that a few tracks weren’t really that frightening. Which proves (at least in my opinion and obviously Little Steven’s) that it’s okay to finesse your Halloween party playlist as long you have enough ghosts, witches, monsters, and other paranormal creatures lurking throughout most of it. Just make sure your occasional non-creepy tune relates to the playlist in a clever sort of way.

“The Man Who’s Afraid Of Everything,” by ANC4, is a good example. Like the other 15 tracks on the Swedish band’s recent Strange Tide album, this is supremely done power pop. It’s similar to XTC’s “I’m The Man Who Murdered Love,” not only in its title but also with its catchy arrangement. As for lyrics, “The Man Who’s Afraid Of Everything,” brings to mind that classic bit in A Charlie Brown Christmas when Lucy Van Pelt suggests Charlie Brown might have pantophobia.

“I need to know what’s wrong with me,” the title character admits at the start of this guitar-driven song, adding, “I’m always scared of something.” He doesn’t offer specifics, other than his constant fear is embarrassing. Think about dropping this tune between Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear The Reaper” and Henry Mancini’s “Experiment In Terror,” and you’re sure to impress your party guests with your eclectic taste in music.  

Halloween Song: “The Mummy”

Another rerun from the BHT haunted vault.

You’d expect a band named Amazing Heeby Jeebies to throw a few chills your way, and the Chicago-based quintet came through on its 2018 Bad Feeling album. Led by vocalist Ary Jeeby and propelled by guitarists Bob Hyatt and Tom “Boss X” Klein, Amazing Heeby Jeebies combine garage rock and rockabilly while spinning tales of werewolves, mummies, and cannibals. They don’t always aim for the dark side, but when they do, listeners are more likely to dance than cringe.

In fact, “The Mummy” suggests the legendary monster prefers sipping martinis in a 1960s discotheque to trudging after anthropologists in pyramids. Ary Jeebie belts out quick rhymes like “King Tut’s got nothing on this guy/When he left, Cleopatra cried.” This mummy’s a recording artist with a least one album under his bandages and hosts a television show. With bassist Earl “Wolfdaddy” Carter and drummer Jerry King adding to the mayhem, “The Mummy” proves to be a rollicking Halloween treat. 

The Amazing Heeby Jeebies will be performing a tribute to 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.” Cally’s is located at 1627 W. Howard on Chicago’s far north side.

Incoming

Tickets are now on sale for blues legend Buddy Guy’s 2023 Damn Right Farewell Tour. It kicks off on February 17 in Rockford, IL, and includes stops in Texas, Indiana, Michigan, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina, as well as two gigs in Toronto, Ontario. Guy will most likely be performing a number of songs from top-selling, brand new album The Blues Don’t Lie.

Yeah, I’ll Get Everything That I Want. Steve Barton and Dave Scheff from Translator recently finished recording a two-sided holiday single with help from Peter Buck of R.E.M. and Scott McCaughey of Young Fresh Fellows. A Facebook post from Buck states the music will be available to stream soon, and hopefully be offered on colored vinyl in 2023.

The Man Who Fell to Earth: The Official Movie Adaptation hardcover graphic novel is now available from Amazon and other sites. It’s based on the 1976 film starring David Bowie and includes several never-before-seen photos. In other Bowie news, fans can pre-order A Divine Symmetry - An Alternative Journey Through Hunky Dory, which features 48 exclusive, previously unreleased tracks, on vinyl or as a 4-CD/Blu-ray box set from the David Bowie Official Website. It’s due out on November 26.

Chicago power pop bands Go Time! and The Spindles will be sharing another bill together, along with The Vin Band, at Q Bar in Darien, IL on November 4. A few weeks later (November 18), The Spindles will be part of a four-band show at Ballydoyle Irish Pub in Downers Grove, with The Embryos, Thrift Store Halo, and Phil Yates and The Affiliates.

Peter Asher and Jeremy Clyde were each half of popular British Invasion duos (Peter and Gordon and Chad and Jeremy respectively), so it’s only natural they would be compatible as yet another duo. They’ve done shows in the past and will be together again at the The Old Town School Of Folk Music on December 1. An email from the venue promises Asher and Clyde will present songs and stories their glory days in the 1960s.

A Dungeons And Dragons inspired play titled The Twenty-Sided Tavern will run from October 27 through January15 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place just north of downtown.  Previous engagements have sold out at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and in Pittsburg and New York.

Halloween Song: “Lullaby To Tim”

The Hollies surrounded by spooky stage props. Photo from The Hollies Official Facebook page.  

Hey, here’s a brand new Halloween Song Profile.

The Hollies are often regarded as “a singles band” and while they did notch a number of Top 40 hits (more so in England than America), some of my all-time favorite songs by them are deep cuts from their albums. “Lullaby To Tim” isn’t one of my top favorites, but it’s certainly pleasant and just barely qualifies as a Halloween song. It appeared on the group’s surprisingly psychedelic 1967 album Evolution, which was sandwiched between two other excellent LPs, Stop Stop Stop and Dear Eloise/King Midas In Reverse (For Certain Because and Butterfly respectively in the U.K.). If you want proof that The Hollies are capable of creating superb album material, check out these three releases.

The magical imagery on “Lullaby To Tim” kicks off with the very first lines, “Would you like to slide down a rainbow?/Catch a falling star in your hand?/Chase a moonbeam, ride by your window?” The secret to attaining these adventures couldn’t be more simple: go to sleep. And that’s just the start of the fun things to entice a child to hit the sack “while the moon is peeping.” We hear about dragons, castles, and kisses changing frogs into princes. The kid can also see “witches fly on their broomsticks, stirring cauldrons, casting their spells,” which strays somewhat into nightmare territory.

“Lullaby To Tim” has a slow, almost acoustic arrangement that blooms into a full orchestra at the midway point. But its most noticeable aspect is that Graham Nash seems to be singing in a bath tub. Beneath the water. In his fascinating book on track . . . The Hollies every album, every song, Andrew Darlington describes this vocal approach as phasing. “It is achieved by running two identical tapes together, but slightly out of synch, or in-and-out-of-synch to create a fuzzy distortion.” I thought the effect was cool when I first bought Evolution in 1967 and I’m still okay with it, but some critics have found it over-the-top.

Darlington suspects “Lullaby To Tim” is an homage to “LSD-guru” Timothy Leary. However, in an interview with The Strange Brew website in 2014, Hollies lead vocalist Allan Clarke told writer Jason Barnard that he (Clarke) wrote the song for his son. See the confusion that can happen when you start messing with psychedelia?  

Halloween Song: “Rhiannon”

Another repost from the Broken Hearted Toy haunted vault.

Stevie Nicks has explained that her melodic and haunting composition “Rhiannon,” a Top 40 hit from Fleetwood Mac’s 1975 self-titled LP, was about a Welsh witch. Rhiannon was also a goddess in Welsh mythology who wore a gold dress and rode a white horse. Some sources claim Nicks based her “Rhiannon” on Mary Leader’s supernatural novel Triad, and discovered the mythological connection later.

Actually, the song’s mysterious lyrics such as, “Would you stay if she promised you heaven” and “She is like a cat in the dark/And then she is the darkness,” could refer to either the deity or the sorceress. Fleetwood Mac, having already recorded scary songs like “Hypnotized” and “Black Magic Woman,” knew how to bring “Rhiannon” to life with a classic rock arrangement. And Nicks was certainly able to make it mesmerizing in live performances.

Halloween Song: “Heaven Is Waiting”

The Social Act just might have been the first local band I interviewed when I started writing for the Illinois Entertainer back in the 1980s. We gathered in an upstairs room following an impressive show they did at Park West. Lead vocalist Ellis Clark was already a veteran of Chicago’s alt-rock scene by that time, having been a founding member of Epicycle. After The Social Act broke up, he went on to various projects, including solo efforts and a stint with The Handcuffs. These days, The Social Act is back in action, and Clark performs with Ary Paloma from Amazing Heeby Jeebies as a psychedelic country duo called Big Hair Big Trouble. They also front the George Harrison tribute act My Sweet George, which has performed on the Apple Jam Stage at Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago.

“Heaven Is Waiting” was on Social Act’s Uber Der Berlin Wall, a 1990 ambitious 17-track album that came with an illustrated lyric booklet. Its seemingly benign sentiments are set to an incongruous and haunting arrangement that suggests God and Goth are closely related. At the very least, He has a deep voice with an ominous echo. “Heaven is waiting,” Clark/The Almighty beckons as the percolating beat continues. “All aboard the train/Heaven is waiting/No time for delay.” When He specifically invites a Mrs. Jones to hop on, we picture an old lady who—like most of us—would rather postpone the trip indefinitely. Maybe the final line is what’s meant to scare us the most: “We all got to go sometime.”   

Halloween Song: “Don’t Fear The Reaper”

Another post from the BHT haunted vault.

Hair-raising scenarios come naturally to hard rock and heavy metal bands, but Blue Oyster Cult’s variety of approaches was impressive. “Nosferatu” was a majestic and brooding meditation on the original vampire tale, while the thundering “Godzilla,” with lines like, “Oh no, there goes Tokyo! Go, Go, Godzilla!” was unabashed fun. The band struck gold in 1976 with “Don’t Fear The Reaper” from its Agents Of Fortune album.

 
The opening guitar riff and progressive arrangement are pure classic rock, but the song spread across genres and retains its massive popularity to this day. Which is strange, because the lyrics appear to advocate suicide as the ultimate expression of love. “Seasons don’t fear the reaper/Nor do the wind, the sun or the rain... we can be like they are.” They also promise “We’ll be able to fly” and point out, “Romeo and Juliet are together in eternity.”

Blue Oyster Cult effectively sells these sentiments through a strong melody and intricate harmony vocals. There’s even a “La la la la la la” and “Come on, baby.” It’s almost like The Beach Boys inviting a girl to the sock hop. The last verse describes a despondent woman whose lover has already died. “And it was clear she couldn’t go on.” The final image is of the reunited couple looking back and saying goodbye to the living. Or is she flying off with the Reaper himself? Either way, “Don’t Fear The Reaper” is a love song that probably hasn’t been played played at many wedding receptions.

Slumgullion

Depending on what time you see this, you might still be able to catch whitewolfsonicprincess at Montrose Saloon (2933 W. Montrose Avenue) tonight. The Chicago-based band, which describes its approach to alternative rock as “21st Century Druid Music,” went on at 8:30.

And we still like it. Mike Skill, a founding member of The Romantics, has recorded a 41st anniversary version of the band’s major hit “What I Like AboutYou” that features Patrick Harwood on harp and current Romantics drummer Brad Elvis. Skill didn’t sing lead when that irresistible single came out in late 1979 (that was original drummer Jimmy Marinos), but he certainly does a nice job on the update.

Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick will be at Antioch Fine Wine & Liquors in the northern Illinois village of Antioch tomorrow (October 22) from noon to 3:00 pm for a Rock-N Vodka Bottle signing.

The Bangles are among the music acts reissuing one of their albums on pink vinyl as part of the upcoming Ten Bands One Cause annual event staged by Red Door Community (formerly Gilda’s Club NYC). The other participants are NAS; The Black Keys; Colter Wall; Allman Brothers Band; Judah And The Lion; Senses Fail; The Turnpike Troubadours; JUNGLE FIRE; and BADBADNOT GOOD. The Bangles are reissuing their Ladies and Gentlemen . . . The Bangles! album. All 10 albums are now available for pre-order from Amazon and Record Store Day.

The CHIRP Radio Record Fair And Other Delights returns to Plumbers Hall tomorrow, October 22. All sorts of vendors will be offering vinyl, CDs, posters, buttons, and all sorts of music-related memorabilia. Live music will be provided by Neptune’s Core; Axons; 8-bit crEEps; The Purcells; Gal Gun; Bloodhype; and Judson Claiborne. CHIRP radio DJs will be spinning records from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, followed by Konstantin Jace; DJ Scary Lady Sarah; DJ Form; Suzanne Shelton; and Miss Alex White. The glam street marching band Clamor and Lace Noise Brigade, as well as Blue Ribbon Glee Club, will stage pop-up performances throughout the event. Food and beverage vendors will also be on hand. General admission at 10:00 am cost $10, and there’s an 8:00 am 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.

Congratulations to Ray Gianchetti and the staff at Kool Kat Musik on 25 years of bringing power pop and indie rock recordings to the world. The label has a batch of new releases for sale on its website this week, including the first album from England’s The Lightning Seeds in 13 years, Boston’s soul/garage rockers The Gypsy Moths, and vintage garage rock practitioners (also from Boston) The Dogmatics.

Nightmare On Chicago Street is taking place from 6:00 to 11:00 pm tomorrow, October 22 in Elgin, so watch out for hordes of zombies staggering around the city’s downtown area. Live bands, including Chicago Loud 9, Too Hype Crew, Kashmir and Hi Infidelity will be rocking out among the chaos, and special guest Svengoolie will be there hosting a costume contest. Check the website for a number of other activities that will be taking place.

Indie rock label Yep Roc Records will mark 25 years of bringing unique artists to the world with a concert at The Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC tomorrow, October 22. The event starts at 5:00 pm CDT and will feature Caitlin Cary, The Old Ceremony, Chris Stamey, Dawn Landes and others. Admission is $15.

Congratulations to Cherie Colyer on the upcoming release of her new Middle Grade novel, Atticus Overheart, Fifth Grade Tutor And Monster Hunter? It will be available to order from Amazon and other sites on October 31. Colyer is a member of the same writers group that I belong to, and has published a number of novels.

The Man Who Fell to Earth: The Official Movie Adaptation hardcover graphic novel is due out on October 25. It’s based on the 1976 film starring David Bowie and includes several never-before-seen photos. You can find it on Amazon.

The Pino Farina Band will return to Durty Nellie’s in Palatine on November 12. The group recently released the funky, guitar-driven single “Microsun.”

Here’s a splendid idea for promoting authors. The New Cue, a popular U.K. online newsletter, is holding a Read This And Party - A Celebration Of 2022’s Best Music Books event on December 1 at The Social venue in London. Lush guitarist-vocalist Miki Berenyi will be among the writers on hand, and will be signing copies of her recently released memoir Fingers Crossed - How Music Saved Me From Success. A post on the official Lush Facebook page promises DJs, reading, signing, and dancing.

Halloweekend returns to Montrose Saloon next Friday and Saturday, October 28 and 29. The annual two-day event featuring local musicians masquerading as famous musicians has haunted a number of venues on Chicago’s north side for a number of years. Some performers mimic the appearance of the acts they’re covering, which adds to the fun, especially when there’s a good dose of humor involved. This year’s lineup includes Dead Freddies as David Bowie; Forbidden Kingdom as The Who; Phil Angotti as Cheap Trick; The 321’s as Nirvana; The Hurtin’ Kind as Wilco; MetroPoly as PJ Harvey; and Rachel Drew as The Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Admission for each night is $20.

In a separate event, local rockabilly/garage rock band The Amazing Heeby Jeebies will be 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.” Special guests TBA. Cally’s is located at 1627 W. Howard.

 

Noted photographer Lynn Goldsmith’s latest book features portraits she took during a decade that still stands out for its vibrant music and culture. Titled Music In The ‘80s, the 352-page hard-cover book offers shots of The B-52’s, Bob Marley, Adam Ant, Bo Diddley, Bananarama, Bob Dylan, Susanna Hoffs, Aretha Franklin, Bono, Debbie Harry, Ashford and Simpson, and other stars. It’s now available from Rizzoli, Amazon and other sites.

Women’s Fest will take place on November 5 from 3:00 to 9:00 pm at the Blue Island Beer Company in Blue Island. The event will be hosted by The Edna White Community Garden, The Bloom Bar, and The B*U*B Cafe. Special guests will include WXRT early morning air personality Emma Mac, The Bourbon Belts,  Beverly Phono Mart, Sharon Baker, and Bridget Cavanaugh. Proceeds will benefit the “Crui de Sheela Scholarship for a Student Who Wants to Study the Arts and Sciences” and The Edna White Community Garden. Admission is $30 pre-sale and $35 at the door; Blue Island Beer Company is located at 13357 Olde Western Avenue.

A new book The Who - Concert Memories from the Classic Years 1964 to 1976 by author Edoardo Genzolini with help from editor and contributor Jeremy Goodwin, is now available. The listing on Amazon promises, “untold stories, hundreds of previously unpublished photographs, and uncirculated recordings clarifying the misinformation, myths, and legends.” 

Heather J. Miller, who was known on the Chicago improv scene as Heather J. Svoboda for quite a while, is marking her 11th year at the Cat Adoption Team cat shelter in Portland, OR. CAT is holding a Whisker Wonderland virtual benefit at 7:00 pm on November 11. Miller suggests making a donation of  “$11 or $111 or $1.1M” (that third figure might be her improvising) to help the shelter continue to save cats’ lives.

Sons Of The Silent Age, the dynamic Chicago-based David Bowie tribute band will be traveling to New York City next June to take part in the second annual David Bowie World Fan Convention.  Other performers involve include Bowie collaborators Carlos Alomar, Tony Visconti, Mike Garson, George Murray and Carmine Rojas.

Dream Syndicate, one of the prime members of the 1980s Paisley Underground scene in Los Angeles, have a Chicago gig coming up at Lincoln Hall on November 11.

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 with 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.

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 those who pre-order the album now get a free download of The Fatal Flaw performing “Victoria,” and it’s a worthy effort.

 

Minstrel Music, which has been selling musical instruments and providing lessons in Niles for 45 years, will hold an All-Era Reunion this Sunday, October 23 at the Curragh Pub on Chicago’s northwest side. It will run from 2:00 to 5:00 pm. 

 

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.

 

Penn Gillette’s promotional tour for his new novel Random will bring him to the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library on November 10.

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.