Slumgullion

The Jeff Beck tribute concerts Eric Clapton is staging at the Royal Albert Hall in London on May  22 and 23 have already sold out. In addition to fellow Yardbird Clapton, Beck will be honored with performances by Ronnie Wood, Rod Stewart, Imelda May, Gary Clark Jr., Susan Tedeschi, Derek Trucks, and Joss Stone. They’ll be backed by Beck’s most recent tour musicians Rhonda Smith, Anika Nilles and Robert Stevenson. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Folly Wildlife Rescue.

WXRT radio personality Ryan Arnold will be at Beverly Records on Chicago’s far south side for a t-shirt giveaway tomorrow at noon. It will be one shirt per person, while supplies last. The store is located at 11612 S. Western Avenue. I remember shopping at Beverly Records back in the 1970s when my family lived on the southwest side.

Sonicbond Publishing Ltd, the English company that specializes in detail-oriented, fascinating books about the recording histories of major rock acts, recently released DECADES: The Bee Gees in the 1970s; and On Track . . . Eagles - Every Album, Every Song. I have the previously released DECADES: The Bee Gees in the 1960s and On Track . . . The Hollies - Every Album, Every Song. They’re quite informative and enjoyable. Sonicbond also has books in these same formats on Pink Floyd, Nektar, Green Day, Alice Cooper, Queen, Fleetwood Mac, New Order, and several other recording artists.

As much as I enjoy tribute bands that cover the biggest names in rock history, it’s always a treat when local musicians shine a spotlight on less famous but definitely worthy artists. The Chicago-based Made Of Stone honors The Stones Roses, who emerged from the fertile 1980s scene in Manchester, England. They’ll be part of Jim Ryan’s Classic Albums Night at Reggies Music Joint just south of downtown on May 25. The other acts that night are Charlie Short and Rachel Drew covering Richard and Linda Thompson, and Greg Jacks And Brother Help performing Stax Number Ones. Admission is $10.

Marshall Crenshaw discusses his impressive career with veteran journalist Mark Caro on the latest edition of the Caropop podcast. Caro is a skilled interviewer, and his previous guests have included Colin Blunstone from The Zombies and Debbi Peterson from The Bangles.

Joni Mitchell will receive this year’s Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during a tribute concert tonight in Washington, D.C. The award honors artists who have had a positive influence on music. PBS stations will air the event.

Tekki Lomnicki, a performer/writer/producer who’s well known on the Chicago entertainment scene through her Tellin’ Tales Theatre productions, is offering a free Master Class for people with a disability who’d like to create a one-person performance piece. The workshop will take place on Zoom from April 18 through May 30, and there will be a live show at the Greenhouse Theater Center in early June. Anyone interested can contact Lomnicki (a former co-worker of mine) at tekki@TellinTales.org.

Pete Townshend’s new solo single “Can’t Outrun The Truth,” is now available, and as noted on Townshend’s official Facebook page, “At least 10p from each download to go to the Teenage Cancer Trust.”

Avid fans of 21st Century Druid Music who want to support the genre should check out the whitewolfsonicprincess IndieGoGo campaign. Band members Carla Hayden and James Moeller, who always use their supernatural powers for good, promise some cool perks will be available.

Dag Juhlin and Jason Narducy, two well-known musicians on the Chicago scene, will bring their Pete Townshend’s Birthday Celebration to Hey Nonny on May 19. The Arlington Heights venue describes the evening as a “performance/party” on its website. Townshend turns 76 this year.

The Kinks The Journey Part 1 album was released last Friday, as the first event in the band’s 60th Anniversary celebration. The songs were chosen by Ray and Dave Davies and Mick Avory, and the album is available in double LP and 2-CD formats.

This weekend will be the last chance to catch Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at the James M. Nederlander Theatre in downtown Chicago. In related news, Great Moments In Vinyl, a group of Chicago area musicians who frequently stage tribute shows, will perform Tina Turner songs at The Venue in Aurora on May 19. 

The Omnivore Recordings website has a special treat for Crosby, Stills and Nash fans with its Stephen Stills Live At Berkeley 1971 album. The 15 tracks include Stills performing “You Don’t Have To Cry” and The Lee Shore” with David Crosby, as well as a “49 Bye-Byes/For What It’s Worth” mashup. It’s available in CD and 2-LP formats.

Out Of Space, the summer music festival created by the City of Evanston, WXRT, the SPACE music venue, and Canal Shores Golf Course, has announced its schedule for this year’s event. Dawes and Lucius will get the long weekend of live entertainment started on July 27. Lord Huron, whose “Mine Forever” was one of the best singles of the past few years, will perform on July 28 with Alice Crow Buckley as their opening act. The quirky and always engaging Regina Spektor plays July 29, along with opener Allison Russell; and the multi-faceted Andrew Bird wraps things up on Sunday, July 30, with Uwade as his opening act. Tickets are available through the official website.

Susanna Hoffs has announced the dates for her upcoming This Bird Has Flown book tour. Some are virtual, such as April 4 via Premiere Collectibles, April 18 via Indigo, and April 26 via Crowdcast. The in-person stops include New York, San Diego, Los Angeles, and an April 13 event at the Chicago Humanities Festival. 

Leroy Bocchieri, a local musician with a history of working with Shoes, enlisted the power pop band’s members to add backing vocals to his new single “Last First Kiss.” Bocchieri currently performs under the name Joywire, and previously recorded as Day One. "Last First Kiss,” an acoustic ballad about the pitfalls of romance, will be available on all streaming platforms on April 28.

Chicago area power pop musician Herb Eimerman once recorded an album with Shoes member Jeff Murphy under the Beatles-flavored moniker Nerk Twins. Gavin Eimerman, Herb’s teenage grandson, recently released his fourth single, “No Reason To Feel.” It packs a harder punch than his previous efforts, with a driving beat carrying troubling lyrics such as “I can’t look at you the same way/Defaced, disgraced, beliefs to defy.” He offers a bit of consolation with “I’ll sing a prayer to the human kind/I’m just an archangel in disguise like a signal.” The single is available on Australian rocker/producer Joe Algeri’s Egomaniac Music Bandcamp page. Algeri and Herb Eimerman, who are members of the international power pop band The Britannicas, help out on drums and bass respectively, but this is definitely Gavin’s showcase.

Paul Rock’s Wild Honey Foundation has staged several multi-artists concerts that benefit worthy causes, and on May 19, the Foundation will join forces with writer/producer Lenny Kaye and Rhino Records to present Nuggets - 1965 – 68 The Autism Benefit at Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA. Kaye, the force behind the iconic Nuggets various artists garage rock album, Rob Laufer, and Andrew Sandoval will lead the Wild Honey Orchestra. As with past Wild Honey events, well-known musicians are lining up to help out; with the most recent being the 1960s garage rock band Count Five with three original members. Other participants include Elliot Easton, Darian Sahanaja, Debbie Shair, Evie Sands, Daryl Hooper, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, and Peter Case.

The recently formed power pop trio Triple features musicians who formerly performed with Tarpit and SpeedDuster on the indie Crank Records label. Their debut double single of “You’re A Star” and “No” impresses with sparse but energetic arrangements that showcase vocalist-guitarist Tiffany Seybert, bassist-vocalist Chris LeSeueur, and drummer Jackson Wilson. They had a few gigs on the Chicago club scene, so here’s hoping they have more in the near future.

Tickets will go on sale soon for the Chicago Critic Film Festival being held May 5 – 11 at the Music Box Theatre on the city’s north side. In related news, Chicago-based filmmaker Michael Smith’s short film Paper Planes will have its premiere on the weekend of April 15 and 16 at the After Image Film Festival in St. Charles, IL.

Describe The Night, a new time traveling thriller written by Rajiv Joseph continues its run at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago and will run through April 9. It’s being directed by Austin Pendleton, who like Joseph, is a Steppenwolf ensemble member.

Incoming

Out Of Space, the annual festival created by the City of Evanston, WXRT, the SPACE music venue, and Canal Shores Golf Course, has announced the lineup for this summer’s event. Dawes and Lucius will get the long weekend of live entertainment started on July 27. Lord Huron, whose “Mine Forever” was one of the best new songs of the past few years, will perform on July 28 with Alice Crow Buckley as their opening act. The quirky and always engaging Regina Spektor plays July 29, along with opener Allison Russell; and the multi-faceted Andrew Bird wraps things up on Sunday, July 30, with Uwade as his opening act. Tickets are available through the official website.

Leroy Bocchieri, a local musician with a history of working with Shoes, enlisted the power pop band’s members to add some backing vocals to his new single “Last First Kiss.” Bocchieri currently performs under the name Joywire, and previously recorded as Day One. “Last First Kiss,” a melodic acoustic ballad about the pitfalls of romance, will be available on all streaming platforms on April 28. 

Chicago area power pop musician Herb Eimerman once recorded an album with Shoes member Jeff Murphy under the Beatles-flavored moniker Nerk Twins. Gavin Eimerman, Herb’s teenage grandson, recently released his fourth single, “No Reason To Feel.” It packs a harder punch than his previous efforts, with a driving beat carrying troubling lyrics such as “I can’t look at you the same way/Defaced, disgraced, beliefs to defy.” He offers a bit of consolation with “I’ll sing a prayer to the human kind/I’m just an archangel in disguise like a signal.” The single is available on Australian rocker/producer Joe Algeri’s Egomaniac Music Bandcamp page. Algeri and Herb Eimerman, who are members of the international power pop band The Britannicas, help out on drums and bass respectively, but this is definitely Gavin’s showcase.

Waco Brothers will be celebrating the release of their latest album The Men That God Forgot tomorrow and Thursday at The Hideout on Chicago’s north side. A recent review in the online No Depression Journal Of Roots Music noted, “this noble sextet draws on a wicked sense of humor, passion for the struggle against the establishment, and boundless empathy for the underdog, creating a big ruckus guaranteed to lift the soul.”

The recently formed power pop trio Triple features musicians who formerly performed with Tarpit and SpeedDuster on the indie Crank Records label. Their debut double single of “You’re A Star” and “No” impresses with sparse but energetic arrangements that showcase vocalist-guitarist Tiffany Seybert, bassist-vocalist Chris LeSueur, and drummer Jackson Wilson. They had a few gigs on the Chicago club scene in March, so here’s hoping they have more in the near future.

The Omnivore Recordings website has a special treat for Crosby, Stills and Nash fans with its Stephen Stills Live At Berkeley 1971 album. The 15 tracks include Stills performing “You Don’t Have To Cry” and The Lee Shore” with David Crosby, as well as a “49 Bye-Byes/For What It’s Worth” mashup. It’s available in CD and 2-LP formats.

This weekend will be the last chance to catch Tina: The Tina Turner Musical at the James M. Nederlander Theatre in downtown Chicago. In related news, Great Moments In Vinyl, a group of Chicago area musicians who frequently stage tribute shows, will perform Tina Turner songs at The Venue in Aurora on May 19. 

Slumgullion

A well respected achievement. Congratulations to The Kinks on their 60th Anniversary. You can  celebrate by purchasing the Kinks The Journey Part 1 album, which came out today. The songs were chosen by Ray and Dave Davies and Mick Avory, and the album is available in double LP and 2-CD formats. Really ambitious Kinks fans can submit their own version of “You Really Got Me” via social media with the hashtag #thekinksthecovers.

Depending on what time you read this, you can catch Michael Steven Cohen performing selections from the Vintage Songs And Stories From The American Songbook this evening at the Tuscan Market and Wine Shop in Arlington Heights.

Congratulations to Yo Lo Tengo on their sold out show at Metro tonight. No doubt they’ll showcasing songs from their latest album This Stupid World.

 

Who’s doing what? A Special Gala Evening Of Music With Roger Daltry, will take place at Royal Albert Hall in London this Sunday, March 26. Richard Ashcroft, the Far From Saints band and Joan Armatrading will also perform, and surprise guests are expected. The charity event will benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust. Pete Townshend’s new solo single “Can’t Outrun The Truth,” became available today, and as noted on Townshend’s official Facebook page, “At least 10p from each download to go to the Teenage Cancer Trust.”

Tickets for The Who’s Tommy at the Goodman Theatre in downtown Chicago went on sale today. The musical, with book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, and directed by McAnuff, will run from June 13 to July 23.

Susanna Hoffs has announced the dates for her upcoming This Bird Has Flown book tour. Some are virtual, such as April 4 via Premiere Collectibles, April 18 via Indigo, and April 26 via Crowdcast. The in-person stops include New York, San Diego, Los Angeles, and an April 13 event at the Chicago Humanities Festival. 

POP Cats Chicago will take place next weekend (March 25 and 26) at Artifact Events, 4325 N. Ravenswood Avenue. The event promises “a fun-packed festival fueled by the spirit of cats, pop, and art!” Some of profits will benefit cat organizations taking part in the event.

Congratulations to The Zombies on being awarded the Career Act Grulke Prize at this year’s SXSW Film & Music Festival in Austin, TX. A recent Facebook post noted this is their 10th anniversary of performing at the festival. The band donated their prize to the OxFam Foundation in support of the fight against world poverty & injustice. SXSW 2023 also featured the premiere of Hung Up On A Dream, director/musician Robert Schwartzman’s documentary about The Zombies. On March 31, They‘ll release a new album titled Different Game.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo has a concert on March 25 at The Old Town School Of Folk Music.

Tickets will go on sale soon for the Chicago Critic Film Festival being held May 5 – 11 at the Music Box Theatre on the city’s north side. In related news, Chicago-based filmmaker Michael Smith’s short film Paper Planes will have its premiere on the weekend of April 15 and 16 at the After Image Film Festival in St. Charles, IL.

Graham Nash will have a Question and Answer session regarding his new album Now on the Talk Shop Live’s Rock And Roll channel  on April 4 at 7:00 pm EST. He’ll be selling autographed copies of his album as part of the event. 

Allan Clarke’s upcoming album I’ll Never Forget has been getting airplay on Little Steven’s Underground Garage and other independent rock stations. The former Hollies lead vocalist has also been racking up interviews on podcasts about this latest solo effort, which finds Clarke’s former fellow Hollie Graham Nash contributing songs and helping out on vocals. I’ll Never Forget is due on April 7.

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical runs through April 2 at the James M. Nederlander Theatre in downtown Chicago.

Personality Crisis: One Night Only, Martin Scorsese’s new documentary about David Johansen’s tenure with The New York Dolls, will have its premiere on Showtime on April 14.

The music venue Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights will present The Cellar - Cultural Zenith Of Arlington Heights on April 25. The Cellar, a teen club back in the 1960s, booked the best local rock bands, as well as The Who, The Yardbirds, Cream, The Byrds, MC5, Buffalo Springfield, and other world-famous acts. “This show will tell the story of the rise and fall of the Cellar,” the website explains. “with pictures, witnesses, recordings made live at the Cellar, and a group of great young musicians playing live many of the songs that rocked The Cellar in its heyday.” Tickets range from $40 to $15, and Hey Nonny has already slapped a Low Ticket Alert! on the Cabaret and Premier options.

Songs Of Surrender - The Reimagined Album, arrived last Friday, offering 40 previously released U2 songs presented in new, more intimate settings. U2 hooked up with 40 filmmakers, described as ‘creators’ on the website, to visualize the message of their chosen songs via short, imaginative clips.

KB Productions’ two-week run of Samuel Beckett’s absurdist play Happy Days runs through April 2 at City Lit Theater on Chicago’s north side. Jon Dambacher is the director and Kayla Boye is its star.

Paul Rock’s Wild Honey Foundation has staged several multi-artists concerts that benefit worthy causes, and on May 19, the Foundation will join forces with writer/producer Lenny Kaye and Rhino Records to present Nuggets - 1965 – 68 The Autism Benefit at Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA. Kaye, the force behind the iconic Nuggets various artists garage rock album, Rob Laufer, and Andrew Sandoval will lead the Wild Honey Orchestra. As with past Wild Honey events, well-known musicians are lining up to help out; including Peter Wolf, Elliot Easton, Darian Sahanaja, Debbie Shair, Evie Sands, Daryl Hooper, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, and Peter Case. 

Describe The Night, a new time traveling thriller written by Rajiv Joseph continues its run at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago and will run through April 9. It’s being directed by Austin Pendleton, who like Joseph, is a Steppenwolf ensemble member.

Tickets are now on sale for the North American dates of Peter Gabriel’s i/o The Tour. He’ll be in Chicago at the United Center on September 30, and other stops include Toronto, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Power pop legends Power pop favs The Spongetones will be performing tomorrow night at Smokey Joe’s in their hometown of Charlotte, NC.

Joni Mitchell will receive this year’s Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during a tribute concert in Washington, D.C. on March 31. The award honors artists who have had a positive influence on music. PBS stations will air the event.

The No Ones will release My Best Evil Friend, their first album in quite a while, on March 31.

Debbie Peterson of The Bangles is featured on the catchy, Paisley Underground sounding single “Phil Ochs Is Dead.” 

Those photo-snapping McCartneys. The Mary McCartney: Can We Have A Moment? photography exhibition runs through April 2 at Sotheby’s London. The Linda Retrospective, an exhibit of Linda McCartney’s photography, runs through August 5 at The Center For Creative Photography in Tucson, AZ. Paul McCartney’s 1964: Eyes Of The Storm book of photographs comes out in June, and will be featured at an exhibit running from June 28 through October 1 at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

The Cure’s 2023 tour will bring them to the United Center in Chicago on June 10. Other dates include New Orleans, Houston, Phoenix, San Diego, Cleveland and Philadelphia.

Michael Rikfors, former lead vocalist for the late 1960s Swedish band Bamboo, and for a short time, The Hollies, has a live CD with some new songs coming out in April.

John Blaney, boss of the adventurous U.K. indie label Mega Dodo, is also an author and has a book titled A Howlin' Wind - Pub Rock And The Birth Of New Wave coming out on the label’s book imprint Paper Jukebox.

Paisley Underground pioneers The Three O’Clock are releasing a 40th Anniversary remastered, expanded edition of its debut EP Baroque Hoedown on May 12. It features the five original songs and four bonus tracks.

Incoming

Fans of Chicago’s north side live music scene will see familiar faces and hear familiar tunes at tonight’s Cover Roulette event at the Outta Space Art Music Bar in Berwyn. Phil Angotti, Rachel Drew, Casey McDonough, Tim Menard, John Szymanski  and Linda Weseman. There is a $10 cover.

Congratulations to The Zombies on being awarded the Career Act Grulke Prize at this year’s SXSW Film & Music Festival in Austin, TX. A recent Facebook post noted this is their 10th anniversary performing at the festival. The band donated their prize to the OxFam Foundation in support of the fight against world poverty & injustice. SXSW 2023 also featured the premiere of Hung Up On A Dream, director/musician Robert Schwartzman’s documentary about The Zombies. On March 31, They‘ll release a new album titled Different Game.

As noted on The Smithereens’ official social media sites, Green Thoughts, their terrific collection of power pop songs (“Only A Memory,” “House We Used To Live In,” etc.) was released on this day 35 years ago.

And, it was on this day 60 years ago that Please Please Me, the debut album from The Beatles—a band that absolutely influenced The Smithereens and every other power pop act—was released in England.

In a sure sign that summer isn’t too far off in the distant future, Ravinia, Lollapalooza, and Pitchfork recently announced the lineups for their upcoming festivals. All three have become have become essential events for thousands of music fans in Chicago. A limited number of 4-day Lollapalooza tickets go on sale tomorrow, with general ticket info to come soon. Tickets for Ravinia and Pitchfork are already on sale.

I bought my ticket this morning for the April 13 Susanna Hoffs event at the Chicago Humanities Festival. Mark Bazer of The Interview Show will be talking with Hoffs about her debut novel This Bird Has Flown, and most likely, her music career. Hoffa will sign copies of her novel afterward.

Happy birthday to Frank Gradishar, bassist/vocalist/songwriter/nice guy to talk to in clubs from Chicago’s long-time power pop band Thrift Store Halo.

Tickets will go on sale soon for the Chicago Critic Film Festival being held May 5 – 11 at the Music Box Theatre on the city’s north side.

In related news, Chicago-based filmmaker Michael Smith is following the success of his 2022 full-length feature Relative with the short film Paper Planes. It will have its premiere on the weekend of April 15 and 16 at the After Image Film Festival in St. Charles, IL.

Michael Steven Cohen will return to the Tuscan Market and Wine Shop in Arlington Heights with his Vintage Songs And Stories From The American Songbook from 7:00 to 9:00 pm this Friday evening. 

And as a reminder, EXTC, which features XTC drummer Terry Chambers backed by veteran musicians vocalist-guitarist Steve Hampton and bass player-vocalist Matt Hughes, will performs at City Winery on Thursday, March 23.

Sunday Papers

Allan Clarke’s upcoming album I’ll Never Forget has been getting airplay on Little Steven’s Underground Garage and other independent rock stations. The former Hollies lead vocalist has also been racking up interviews on podcasts about this latest solo effort, which finds Clarke’s former fellow Hollie Graham Nash contributing songs and helping out on vocals. I’ll Never Forget is due on April 7.

Graham Nash will have a Question and Answer session regarding his new album Now on the Talk Shop Live’s Rock And Roll channel on April 4 at 7:00 pm EST. He’ll be selling autographed copies of his album as part of the event. In other Nash news, he delivered a heartfelt performance of The Beatles’ “For No One” at the Michael Dorf Presents The Music Of Paul McCartney at Carnegie Hall this past Wednesday. Patti Smith’s poignant “She’s Leaving Home” was another highlight. Check out YouTube for clips of these and other performances from the show.

Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, which runs through April 2 at the James M. Nederlander Theatre in downtown Chicago, recently received positive reviews in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. 

Personality Crisis: One Night Only, Martin Scorsese’s new documentary about David Johansen’s tenure with The New York Dolls, will have its premiere on Showtime on April 14.

EXTC, which features XTC drummer Terry Chambers backed by veteran musicians vocalist-guitarist Steve Hampton and bass player-vocalist Matt Hughes, will perform at City Winery on Thursday, March 23.

Susanna Hoffs has a launch event for her debut novel This Bird Has Flown coming up on April 3 at the Strand Book Store in New York. “There will be books, music, and much fun,” Hoffs promised in a post on social media. Further details on her book tour will hopefully come soon. Hoffs also has a new album of cover versions titled The Deep End coming out in April. Her fun take on The Rolling Stones’ “Under My Thumb” is already available on various streaming sites. 

The music venue Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights will present The Cellar - Cultural Zenith Of Arlington Heights on April 25. The Cellar, a teen club back in the 1960s, booked the best local rock bands, as well as The Who, The Yardbirds, Cream, The Byrds, MC5, Buffalo Springfield, and other world-famous acts. “This show will tell the story of the rise and fall of the Cellar,” the website explains. “with pictures, witnesses, recordings made live at the Cellar, and a group of great young musicians playing live many of the songs that rocked the Cellar in its heyday.” Tickets range from $40 to $15, and Hey Nonny has already slapped a Low Ticket Alert! on the Cabaret and Premier options.

Old 97’s embarked on their 30th Anniversary tour with a concert at the Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff, AZ this past Wednesday. So far, the other stops are in Arizona, California, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and Washington.

POP Cats Chicago will take place next weekend (March 25 and 26) at Artifact Events, 4325 N. Ravenswood Avenue. The event promises “a fun-packed festival fueled by the spirit of cats, pop, and art!” Some of profits will benefit cat organizations taking part in the event.

Hung Up On A Dream, director/musician Robert Schwartzman’s documentary covering the history of British Invasion standouts The Zombies, recently had its world premiere at the SXSW Film and Music Festival in Austin, TX. The band, featuring original members Colin Blunstone, Rod Argent, Hugh Grundy, and Chris White, performed an acoustic set after the film was screened. The Zombies have a new album titled Different Game coming out March 31.

A Special Gala Evening Of Music With Roger Daltry, will take place at Royal Albert Hall in London next Sunday, March 26. Richard Ashcroft, the Far From Saints band and Joan Armatrading will also perform, and surprise guests are expected. The charity event will benefit the Teenage Cancer Trust.

The Who regularly help out above-mentioned charity via events and merchandise available on their official website. Pete Townshend’s “Can’t Outrun The Truth,” his first solo single in years, will be available on March 24, and as noted on Townshend’s official Facebook page, “At least 10p from each download to go to the Teenage Cancer Trust.”

Tickets for The Who’s Tommy at the Goodman Theatre in downtown Chicago go on sale March 24. The musical, with book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, and directed by McAnuff, will run from June 13 to July 23.

Songs Of Surrender - The Reimagined Album, arrived this past Friday, offering 40 previously released U2 songs presented in new, more intimate settings. It’s a risky effort since so many of the band’s songs have become classics due to their unbridled energy. U2 also hooked up with 40 filmmakers, described as ‘creators’ on the website, to visualize the message of their chosen songs via short, imaginative clips.

Tickets are now on sale for the North American dates of Peter Gabriel’s i/o The Tour. He’ll be in Chicago at the United Center on September 30, and other stops include Toronto, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Paul Rock’s Wild Honey Foundation has staged several multi-artists concerts that benefit worthy causes, and on May 19, the Foundation will join forces with writer/producer Lenny Kaye and Rhino Records to present Nuggets - 1965 – 68 The Autism Benefit at Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA. Kaye, the force behind the iconic Nuggets various artists garage rock album, Rob Laufer, and Andrew Sandoval will lead the Wild Honey Orchestra. As with past Wild Honey events, well-known musicians are lining up to help out; including Peter Wolf, Elliot Easton, Darian Sahanaja, Debbie Shair, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, and Peter Case. 

Power pop legends Power pop favs The Spongetones will be performing at Smokey Joe’s in their hometown of Charlotte, NC next Saturday, March 25.

Joni Mitchell will receive this year’s Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during a tribute concert in Washington, D.C. on March 31. The award honors artists who have had a positive influence on music. PBS stations will air the event.

The No Ones will release My Best Evil Friend, their first album in quite a while, on March 31.

Debbie Peterson of The Bangles is featured on the catchy, Paisley Underground sounding single “Phil Ochs Is Dead.”  

Following on the heels of her well-received If These Walls Could Sing documentary about Abbey Road Studios, Paul and Linda McCartney’s daughter has a photography exhibition titled Mary McCartney: Can We Have A Moment? at Sotheby’s London. It runs through April 2. 

The Linda Retrospective, an exhibit of Linda McCartney’s photography, opened at The Center For Creative Photography in Tucson, AZ this past Saturday and will run through August 5.

Paul McCartney’s 1964: Eyes Of The Storm book of photographs is coming out in June. Its publication coincides with an exhibit running from June 28 through October 1 at the National Portrait Gallery in London.

The Cure’s 2023 tour will bring them to the United Center in Chicago on June 10. Other dates include New Orleans, Houston, Phoenix, San Diego, Cleveland and Philadelphia.

A Bit Of The Irish For You

Photo from the official U2 Facebook page.

On St. Patrick’s Day eve, here are a few observations about U2 and the Irish band’s current flurry of activity. But first, a quick mention about a gig coming tomorrow night.

Metro, the renowned venue located just down the street from Wrigley Field, is staging a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with The Tossers as the headliners. The Chicago-based sextet pumps a Celtic atmosphere into its hard-edged music. Scott Lucas and The Married Men, The Avondales, and The Handcuffs are also on the bill. The music starts with The Handcuffs at 8:00 pm.

Songs Of Surrender - The Reimagined Album, which arrives tomorrow, is an ambitious effort that takes 40 previously released U2 songs and presents them in new, more intimate settings. It’s also risky because so many of the band’s songs have become classics due to their unbridled energy. U2 also hooked up with 40 filmmakers, described as ‘creators’ on the website, to visualize the message of their chosen songs via short, imaginative clips. Fans have a chance to access special merchandise by taking part in the U2 Songs Of Surrender 40 Songs, 40 Cities online event from tomorrow through Sunday. The instructions are a bit complicated, so I recommend that anyone who’s interested check out the link I’ve posted above.

On the TV scene, Bono And The Edge: A Sort Of Homecoming will be available to view on the Disney+ Channel tomorrow. The documentary features the pair of U2 band members hanging out with David Letterman in Dublin. 

The Songs Of Surrender recordings are directly related to lead vocalist Bono’s SURRENDER: 40 Songs, One Story memoir. The book finds him taking a soul-searching journey from his childhood days amidst the troubles in Ireland to his current status as one of rock’s biggest stars and most fervent activists. At times, it’s reminiscent of Woody Allen’s pseudo documentary Zelig, as Bono rises from his humble beginnings to confer with global leaders, and party with legendary performers from Frank Sinatra to Paul McCartney. 

While there will always be those who view Bono’s save-the-world proclamations as self-serving, he comes across as genuine and over the years, he and his wife Ali have placed themselves in extremely dangerous situations. Bono frequently acknowledges his ego can be expansive, and he offers several examples of his violent temper. Unlike countless other rock and roll memoirs, Surrender is devoid of backstage and hotel room sexual escapades. That’s probably due to the religious faith that has guided Bono through the years, as well as his choice to honor the power of women.

The book is an extended love letter to his wife Ali, whom he first met when they were teenagers. I can’t claim to have followed every philosophical twist and turn Bono explores, but he’s never boring. And maybe the best thing about SURRENDER: 40 Songs, One Story is discovering the origins of all those terrific U2 songs.

Incoming

Priority tickets are now on sale for The Who’s Tommy, which will run at the Goodman Theatre in downtown Chicago from June 13 to July 23. This is the genuine article; book by Pete Townshend and Des McAnuff, directed by Des McAnuff. It looks like ‘priority’ means buying a package deal of three or five plays; tickets for The Who’s Tommy will become available to the general public March 24.

Graham Nash, Nancy Wilson from Heart, Lyle Lovett, Bettye LaVette, Bruce Hornsby, Natalie Merchant, Glen Hansard, Ingrid Michaelson, and Peter Asher will perform at the Michael Dorf Presents The Music Of Paul McCartney at Carnegie Hall this Wednesday, March 15.

A Night For Tina, a benefit to help Tina Juhlin cope with costs while she undergoes cancer treatment, will be held at Simon’s Tavern on Chicago’s north side this Wednesday, March 15. The evening will feature performances by EXPO ’76, The Webstirs, Gerald Dowd, Phil Angotti, and Sunshine Boys (featuring Gerald Dowd). The event will run from 7:30 to 10:00 pm.  

Shemekia Copeland, definitely a member of blues royalty, has sold out her show this Thursday at SPACE in Evanston.

Tickets are now on sale for the North American dates of Peter Gabriel’s i/o The Tour. He’ll be in Chicago at the United Center on September 30, and other stops include Toronto, Montreal, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

Stompin’ Grounds Cafe in Lake Zurich has a St. Patty’s Day Music Night coming tomorrow with live music by the Face N Time band. The performance will take place from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Tickets are available on the cafe’s website.

Paul Rock has an impressive track record of staging multi-artists concerts through his Wild Honey Foundation that benefit worthy causes. On May 19, the Foundation will combine with writer/producer Lenny Kaye and Rhino Records to present Nuggets - 1965 – 68, an Autism Benefit at Alex Theatre in in Glendale, CA. Kaye, Rob Laufer, and Andrew Sandoval will lead the Wild Honey Orchestra; and if past events are any indication, other well-known musicians will be recruited as the date gets closer. Elliot Easton, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, and Peter Case among the musicians already involved. 

With St. Patrick’s Day coming this weekend, tomorrow would be a good time to catch the Classical Blast In Kilts show to Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights.

NRBQ will R-O-C-K this Thursday, March 16, at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn.

And you thought having a Bears stadium would be cool. Although I’m currently a Palatine resident, I grew up on Chicago’s southwest side. Back in the mid-1960s, I had no idea there was a teen club called The Cellar in Arlington Heights (right next to Palatine) that booked the best local rock bands, as well as The Who, The Yardbirds, Cream, The Byrds, MC5, Buffalo Springfield, and other world-famous acts. Sure, I collected WLS and WCFL surveys, but I was a timid child that might not have even gone to see The Who if they were performing in my grammar school’s basement.

Now, thanks to Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, I can get an idea of what I missed. The music venue, which does a nice job of booking bands in the current day, will present The Cellar - Cultural Zenith Of Arlington Heights on April 25. “This show will tell the story of the rise and fall of the Cellar,” the website explains. “with pictures, witnesses, recordings made live at The Cellar, and a group of great young musicians playing live many of the songs that rocked the Cellar in its heyday.” Tickets range from $40 to $15, and Hey Nonny has already slapped a Low Ticket Alert! on the Cabaret and Premier options.