Box sets are often filled with audio, visual, and literary treasures, but for some, they’re eclipsed by the Moon. The 50th Anniversary box set of Pink Floyd’s imaginative and ageless Dark Side Of The Moon album is due out on March 24, and along with a CD and a gatefold vinyl record, it will include a 76-page book, two seven-inch singles, posters, and other memorabilia. Fans can check out the full description, as well as info about a video competition, on Pink Floyd’s official Facebook page.
The 5th Chicago International Puppet Theater Festival will run through January 29. Featuring over 100 shows and covering a variety of subject matter, the festival will take place in venues throughout the Chicago area.
The first record I ever put on a turntable was a “Mr. Tambourine Man” 45 rpm single that belonged to one of my older brothers. I was so enchanted by The Byrds' singing and playing, I played the song over and over. Four years later, I bought a copy of the Crosby, Stills and Nash debut album with money from my paper route. I have a long history of listening to David Crosby, and saw him perform with the full CSNY lineup of Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young, and later as a duo with Nash.
The news of David Crosby’s passing yesterday came as a shock even though he thrived as a musician much longer than anyone would have guessed. As with Jeff Beck, social media sites have overflowed with tributes to Crosby, but the ones from Nash, noted photographer Henry Diltz, and English rocker Robin Hitchcock were among my favorites. Locally, a post from vocalist-bassist Herb Eimerman from the Byrds-influenced power pop band The Britannicas, also resonated. Resting In Peace is not something David Crosby seems likely to do, so I’ll go with the more appropriate wish that he stay Rowdy In Paradise. In the best way.
It was fun listening to DJ Frank E. Lee playing lots of new wave music earlier today as he featured the year 1982 on WXRT’s weekly Saturday Morning Flashback program. I’m sure it brought back memories of Lee spinning new wave vinyl at the Erik The Red’s bar for those of us who hung out on Chicago’s southwest side. I believe he was there on Wednesday nights for a while back then.
Ian Hunter, a founding member of glam rock pioneers Mott The Hooper, as well as a successful solo artist, has a new album titled Defiance Part 1 coming out on April 21. “Bed Of Roses,” the first single, is said to be a fantasy about “the greatest concert Hunter’s ever witnessed” and features guest musicians Mike Campbell from Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers and Ringo Starr. Other well-known musicians, including the late Jeff Beck and Taylor Hawkins, were involved with recording the album.
The Michael Cohen Trio will be performing from 10:30 am to 2:00 pm for customers enjoying the Jazz Brunch at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights next Sunday, January 29. Cohen has extensive experience with power pop and rockabilly bands, but for this type of gig, he taps into his expertise in playing vintage love songs.
Tickets go on sale January 26 for The Official Freddie Mercury 77th Birthday Party taking place at Casino Barriere, Montreux on September 2nd. I’m guessing that’s in France. The band Live Killers will perform songs by Queen. The event will celebrate the golden anniversary of the band’s debut album and benefit The Mercury Phoenix Trust - Fighting AIDS Worldwide.
SPACE in Evanston has announced a batch of upcoming shows, including Ivan Julian backed by Nick Tremulis and his band on February 22, The Ides Of March - Jim Peterik Stories And Songs Show on April 12, and Over The Rhine on April 28.
I wasn’t aware that Bristol has hosted an annual Slapstick Festival since 2005, but then my knowledge of U.K. cities is limited. A mission statement on the official website proclaims the festival’s dedication to building modern audiences for silent comedy from 1895 – 1930, but these guys also fancy Monty Python. Which is very silly and sensible. Michael Palin is a guest curator this year, and he’ll be on hand for two Monty Python film screenings. There will also be screenings of Spinal Tap, A Hard Day’s Night, and Some Like It Hot, along with several vintage comedies. It looks like those of us unable to attend might be able to buy merchandise from the Slapstick Festival via the website at some point.
Bad Examples members Ralph Covert and Steve Gerlach, along with Michael Hartigan, will be backed by a string quartet at The Venue in Aurora on February 25 at 8:00 pm.
Audience members will all sing, dance and clap their hands when Tributosaurus becomes Stevie Wonder on two successive nights (February 9 and 10) at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue.
Wilco promises “Three Nights, No Repeats!” for a trio of concerts at The Riviera Theatre, that kicks off on March 23. From there, the band’s spring tour will move on to three gigs in Port Chester, NY; and three gigs (all sold out) in Reykjavik, Iceland. Other stops on the tour include North Charleston, SC; Orlando, FL; Asheville, NC; and The Moseley Folk Festival in Birmingham, UK.
At the start of my Holiday Dinner post back on December 23, I mentioned having spent four days in the Glenbrook Hospital for a hernia-related complication called a small bowel obstruction. It triggered convulsive vomiting and could have caused internal organ damage if it hadn’t been caught in time. I explained that I was treated for that issue but would still need the actual hernia surgery in the near future.
That surgery took place this past Monday (January 16) and everything went well. Once again, the staff at Glenbrook Hospital was terrific. As one of the employees transported me via wheelchair to the front door so my wife Pam could pick me up, I mentioned that everyone at Glenbrook was super nice. “It makes such a big difference,” I added.
“Yes, it does,” she agreed. “Thank you.”
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