Sunday Papers

Graham Nash will wrap up his series of five sold-out concerts at The Old Town School Of Folk in Chicago tonight. When I caught his Wednesday night gig, I was glad to find him still working with guitarist-vocalist Shane Fontayne and keyboards player-vocalist Todd Caldwell. The trio has developed a great chemistry over the past few years, in the studio and on the road. Wednesday’s show included superb renditions of Nash’s own material, as well as hits from the various formations of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.

The pairing of “Find The Cost Of Freedom” with “Military Madness” was dedicated to the people of Ukraine, and “To The Last Whale: Critical Mass/Wind On The Water” was, as always, gorgeous and touching. The trio also performed “Buddy’s Back,” a fun look at the earliest days of The Hollies, and the influence Buddy Holly had on them. Nash wrote the song for his former fellow Hollie Allan Clarke’s new album I’ll Never Forget, and it's one of several tracks on which he harmonizes with Clarke. “Buddy’s Back” will also be on Nash’s upcoming Now album.  

I wasn’t able to post a Slumgullion this week due to my self-appointed task of creating previews for each night of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago. I was glad to do it since I’ve become familiar with several of the acts over the years, and I pretty much always discover new ones while researching via band websites and Bandcamp pages. Luckily, I had a light week of freelance work, or the IPO coverage might have been up for grabs as well. Congratulations to CFO/Founder David Bash and Montrose Saloon on a another successful festival. Thanks to David for mentioning me at yesterday’s afternoon showcase, and in a Facebook post today.

When I caught the first 2023 IPO - Chicago showcase a week ago Friday, I enjoyed seeing some  musicians whose work I admire, and having a chance to talk to them. Not only the ones scheduled to go on stage that night, but musicians who came out to show their support. There are several strong bonds among the bands on the local club scene, particularly those who work the north side circuit.

Go Time! and The Spindles, two of the veteran IPO - Chicago acts, will share a double bill at The Cubby Bear on May 20.

Continental Drifters, the critically acclaimed alt rock/country band whose members include Peter Holsapple, Susan Cowsill, and Vicki Peterson, will perform at The New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival on May 7. It would be nice to see a new album from these guys at some point.

Speaking of acclaimed alt rock/country bands, Dolly Varden, led by the married couple of vocalist-guitarist Steve Dawson and vocalist-artist Diane Christiansen, will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its For A While album at SPACE in Evanston on July 15.

A Malibu Barbie Cafe pop-up restaurant/store will open on June 7 at a top secret location in Chicago, and tickets ($35 for kids, $50 for adults) are now available via bucketlisters.com. The cafe will promote the Barbie film, which is coming out July 21. 

Chicago’s David Bowie tribute band Sons Of The Silent Age will celebrate a decade of performing terrific shows around town and elsewhere with a 10th Anniversary Show on May 13 at Metro. The venue recently announced a July 16 concert by Cheap Trick that’s being billed as Metro’s 40th Anniversary Finale.

Cash For Kids - Chicago’s Only Johnny Cash Festival will take place Saturday, May 6 at the Irish American Heritage Center on the northwest side. The charitable event will feature performances by Iron Horse, Hayden Thompson, The Hoyle Brothers, Eddie Clendening, The Blue Ribbon Boys, Hodie Snitch, The Amazing Heeby Jeebies, The Ramblin’ Redeemed, Stephen Davern, John Kimler, Geneieve Hayward, and Wild Earp and The OK Chorale. Admission is $20 presale, $25 at the door. The music starts at 3:00 pm. Proceeds benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

Robin Taylor Zander, son of Cheap Trick’s vocalist Robin Zander and an occasional fill-in for the band, has a new album out titled The Distance. It’s available on various streaming sites. The younger Zander cites his Dad’s group as a major influence, as well as The Who, The Beatles, David Bowie, T.Rex, and Elliot Smith.

Local alt rock/avant-garde band whitewolfsonicprincess will bring its self-described 21st Century Druid music to Montrose Saloon as part of a three-act showcase with Model-K and Justin Sconza this Friday, May 6.

Earth/Percent, whose mission is to act as “a charity providing a simple way for the music industry to support the most impactful organisations addressing the climate emergency,” has launched a major fundraiser. The Earth/Percent X Earth Day Compilation Album features new/exclusive/unreleased material from 60 artists from around the endangered globe, and is available as a digital album for £25. A vinyl version is also now available. The artists involved include Michael Stipe featuring Gaelyn Lea; Cvurches And Robert Smith; Nile Rodgers And Chic; Brian Eno; and Coldplay X Her.

 

You really got me on the bus. As part their 60th Anniversary celebration, The Kinks are offering 

The Journey bus tour, which takes passengers “back to the Davies’ home turf; the parks they played on, the houses they lived in, the school they attended and the pub where they played their first ever gig.” The 90-minute tour ends with a visit to the location of the band’s Muswell Hillbillies album photo session. This is reason number 4,653 why I want to visit England again.

Susanna Hoffs’ The Deep End is now available on CD and streaming sites. The album finds her covering “Under My Thumb” by The Rolling Stones, “Black Coffee In Bed” by Squeeze, and other other hit songs.

Natalie Merchant will be showcasing songs from her album Keep Your Courage when she performs at The Chicago Theatre on May 19. 

Last Night And The Night Before, written by Donnetta Lavinia Grays and directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton, opened yesterday at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago and will run through May 14.

The Chicago Critic Film Festival opens this Friday, May 5, and will run through May 11 at the Music Box Theatre on the city’s north side.

Also, just a quick note about leaving Comments for posts on Broken Hearted Toy. I greatly appreciate people taking the time to make a Comment, and I apologize for not noticing them for quite a long while. This was an oversight on my part and not intentional. 

IPO - Chicago 2023: The Finale

It seems like only a week ago I was hanging out at Montrose Saloon on the north side watching the first four acts of the opening night of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago showcase. And now it’s coming to an end. Actually, is was a week ago, since IPO - Chicago is a nine-day festival. It’s going to wrap up with a six-act showcase Saturday night at Montrose Saloon, just an hour after the afternoon showcase is finished. All the acts for the final showcase are from Chicago.

North Of Stuntman kicks things off at 7:30. The indie rock quintet sets satiric lyrics to bare bones arrangements on songs such as “Let The Sin Shine In,” but its ballad “Whether You Know It Or Not (Being Five)” seems to seriously offer an encouraging message. Paul Coady And The Edsel Brothers recorded an album titled Sixty Cycle Hum - Live At Montrose Saloon so it’s more than fitting for them to perform songs from it at the venue. The quartet offers guitar-driven rock tunes such as “Before The Blood Runs Out” and “Time Rolls On.” The Band Calderisi’s 2018 album Songs For The Years Gone By is especially impressive on the tracks “Nothing Left To Save” and “Pent Up Frustrations,” which feature chiming guitars and fetching melodies. Lead vocalist-guitarist Anthony Calderisi performed with The Critics at the very first International Pop Overthrow festival in Los Angeles. Michael Galassini from Magnaphonic was also at the very first IPO with the band 92 Degrees. He’ll be filling in on bass guitar for The Band Calderisi Saturday night at Montrose Saloon.

Forbidden Kingdom has been around for about a year now, and is very much a family affair. The band features Eric Chial from Bon Mots on guitar and his son Gustaf on drums; Ellis Clark from Social Act on keyboards and his son Andrew on bass; and Jared Chase Eisenmann on guitar. All five members sing. Hopefully, these guys will be performing songs from an upcoming debut album, although I wasn’t able to find anything online to confirm this. The Locals have been performing on the local club scene for 26 years, and released a Best of compilation titled 1997 – 2022 - The Retelling Of A Dream last month. The hard-edged trio, led by vocalist-guitarist Yvonne Doll, specializes in aggressive tracks such as “Eyes Wide Open” and “The Willful Suspension Of Disbelief.” Rent Party bills themselves as “a feminist garage folk power trio,” and their 2019 album Burn It Down includes the melodic folk of “Welcome To Catastrophe” and the slinky “Toledo,” as well as a faithful though foreign language (sorry, I don’t know which one) take on The Byrds’ “I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better.” 

Congratulations to International Pop Overthrow CFO/Founder David Bash for another successful run in the Windy City. And hats off to the 60+ acts that performed at Montrose Saloon this year. Most of them were local, but there were some very welcome out-of-state visitors as well. Check the official website for the full schedule, and you’ll find links for just about all the acts who participated in Chicago this year. Many have Bandcamp pages, so even if you weren’t able to attend in person, you can still use the site as a  to discover new music.

IPO - Chicago: The Penultimate 2023 Showcase

Michael Steven Cohen

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago will wrap up its 2023 run at Montrose Saloon with a pair of showcases on Saturday; one in the afternoon, and then the finale at night. Here’s a look at the Saturday afternoon showcase. These acts are from the Chicago area unless noted otherwise.

Vocalist-guitarist Vee Sonnet, who’s been at the helm of The Sonnets for over 20 years, will provide a rocking start for the afternoon showcase at 2:00 pm. He wrote all the songs on the band’s three hard-edged and melodic albums. Michael Steven Cohen has explored a variety of musical styles throughout his performing career; including power pop with The Abbeys, harder-edged pop with Pop Dollys, and Phil and Don covers with the Everly Hillbillies. His IPO - Chicago gig will feature material from those bands, as well as from his current solo project—covering vintage love songs and standards. Kerosene Stars have been releasing albums since their self-titled 2014 effort, and their brand new single “A Pretty Good Year” puts optimistic sentiment to a guitar-driven, power pop arrangement.

Rollo Time is equally adept at the psychedelic rock of “12-17” and “Spider In The Hole,” which draws inspiration from The Who. Their most recent single, “One Thing,” came out just about a year ago. Otter Petter has been crafting guitar-driven pop for 15 years, with their latest recording being the single “Movies.” Psychedelic guitar slinger Jeremy Morris is from Kalamazoo, MI, and he’s traveled to a lot of IPO showcases well beyond Chicago. The Jeremy Band traditionally closes out a Saturday afternoon showcase when he’s here, and his high-powered, melodic rock will do just that on Saturday. His latest album, Emerald Vision, is available from the Jam Records website.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. A number of the acts have a Bandcamp page, so it’s possible to have a few favorite songs before you even see the band.

IPO - Chicago - Friday On My Mind

Singer-guitarist Nikki O’Neill

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago will wrap up its 2023 run at Montrose Saloon this weekend, with a six-band showcase on Friday night, and a pair of six-packs (afternoon, and evening) on Saturday. The acts scheduled for Friday are from Chicago unless otherwise noted.

Friday night kicks off with the Nikki O’Neill Band, veterans of indoor and outdoor gigs around Chicago. O’Neill sounds equally at home singing and playing guitar on straight-up country tunes, as well as on more soulful and bluesy numbers. Dolph Chaney And The Phins have chosen their IPO - Chicago gig as the time and place to reveal the title of their next album on the Big Stir label. They’ll also perform a few songs from it. Chaney’s previous power pop releases have done well on best-of-year lists, and he’s brought his band to several venues around town. Detroit-based band The Incurables have released three double-sided singles of catchy power pop on the Big Stir label since 2016,  and will bring their When I Grow Up Tour to IPO - Chicago Friday night. They’ve also made recent stops in North Carolina and West Virginia. 

Too Much Saturn have been releasing catchy singles since their debut album Moving Forward Sideways came out in 2013. Their 2022 single “STOP Thief,” which grooves with jangling guitars and harmony vocals, is a prime example of the Too Much Saturn approach to power pop. This will mark their 10th straight year of performing at IPO - Chicago. If you follow the north side club scene, you’ve probably seen the name Gal Gun listed on quite a few schedules. Critical Hit, the power pop band’s latest recording, offers catchy, guitar-driven songs, and if you go back to their 2016 debut EP, you’ll find a revved-up take on Simon And Garfunkel’s “El Condor Pasa.” Friday night’s showcase will end on an energetic note as Go Time! unleashes its repertoire of hard-hitting power pop songs. Lead vocalist-guitarist Scott Niekelski writes most of  the band’s material, and he’s not much of a moon and June guy. Anything Could Happen, the brand new release from Go Time!, offers high-speed, melodic tracks with provocative lyrics such as “Destination Failure,” “Sensibility Withdrew,” and “Apparent Disaster.”

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. A number of the acts have a Bandcamp page, so it’s possible to have a few favorite songs before you even see the band.

Incoming

First, an official welcome to Graham Nash, who’s coming to Chicago for a series of four sold-out concerts at the Old Town School Of Folk Music. Starting tonight. I’ve seen Nash perform several times in several formats—solo, with David Crosby, with CSNY, with the reunited Hollies in 1983—but I’ve never met him in person. I did a telephone interview with him for the Illinois Entertainer back when his Reflections box set came out. He was very friendly and informative.

Along with his best-known material, Nash will likely perform songs from his upcoming album Now. I’m thinking that with a May 19 release date, it won’t be on the merch table yet. I’d love to buy a “Buddy’s Back” t-shirt to celebrate the song Nash recently wrote and sang with fellow former Hollie Allan Clarke, but I don’t think such a garment exists.

You have to love the headline Chicago music venue Metro used for an email today announcing a July 16 appearance by Cheap Trick: They just seem a little weird. The concert is being billed as Metro’s 40th Anniversary Finale, with pre-sale tickets going on sale tomorrow at 11:00 am.

 

Author Jen B. Larson will read from her new book Hit Girls: Women Of Punk In The USA at the GMan Tavern tomorrow, April 27. Jill Hopkins, Media and Civic Events Producer at Metro, will host at Question and Answer session with Larson afterward.

Over The Rhine, the Cincinnati-based, critically acclaimed alt rock/Americana band founded by Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist, will be at SPACE in Evanston this Friday, April 28. They also have gigs in, Kalamazoo, MI tomorrow, Stoughton, WI on Saturday, and Minneapolis, MN on Sunday. 

Speaking of widely acclaimed alt rock/Americana bands, Chicago’s own Dolly Varden will celebrate the 10th anniversary of its For A While album at SPACE in Evanston on July 15. Pre-sale tickets are available now. “This was an attempt to make more of a rock record,” vocalist-guitarist Steve Dawson explained during an interview I did with him for the Illinois Entertainer when For A While came out. “That was the plan. I don’t know if we carried it out because I think the songs I like best on For A While are the ones that aren’t big rock songs.” Dawson and his wife, vocalist-artist Diane Christiansen, are co-founders of Dolly Varden.

Forty local retailers will celebrate Independent Bookstore Day by holding a Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm this Saturday. Afterwords Bookstore, 57th Street Books, The Bookstore Of Glen Ellyn, Bucket O’ Blood Books And Records, Newberry Bookshop, Quimby’s Bookstore, Sandmeyer’s Bookstore, and Women And Children First are among the participants.

Cash For Kids - Chicago’s Only Johnny Cash Festival will take place Saturday, May 6 at the Irish American Heritage Center on the northwest side. The charitable event will feature performances by Iron Horse, Hayden Thompson, The Hoyle Brothers, Eddie Clendening, The Blue Ribbon Boys, Hodie Snitch, The Amazing Heeby Jeebies, The Ramblin’ Redeemed, Stephen Davern, John Kimler, Geneieve Hayward, and Wild Earp and The OK Chorale. Admission is $20 presale, $25 at the door. The music starts at 3:00 pm. Proceeds benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

Author Michael Witwer, whose books on Dungeons And Dragons have become best sellers, will be at Chicago Comics, at 3244 N. Clark Street this Sunday to discuss his latest work, Dungeons And Dragons” The Legend Drizzt Visual Dictionary. I didn’t see a start time on the store’s Facebook post.

Leroy Bocchieri, a local musician currently performs under the name Joywire, enlisted members  of the power pop band Shoes to add some backing vocals to his new single "Last First Kiss.” The acoustic ballad about the pitfalls of romance, will be available on all streaming platforms this Friday.

Thursday IPO - Chicago

We’re closing in on the final weekend of this year’s International Pop Overthrow - Chicago festival at Montrose Saloon. Thursday night’s showcase once again reflects CFO/Founder David Bash’s goal of booking various rock and roll genres. Except where noted, these acts are from the Chicago area. On a serious note, Bash posted on Facebook that this year’s festival is dedicated to Drew Neeley, a long-time IPO - Chicago participant who passed away last year.

Johnny Stanec, a self-described musical lone wolf, kicks off Thursday night’s showcase at 7:30 pm. His engaging style of Americana rock takes him to venues around the midwest, so I wasn’t able to discern his home town. The recently released single “A Simple Solid State” sets dark and thought-provoking sentiments to an energetic arrangement, and he’s also covered Rancid’s bristling “Omaha, WA.” Old Joy is a singer-songwriter who sets off-kilter observations to bare-bones acoustic arrangements. He keeps busy in the studio; having released a mix of 15 singles and albums in recent years. Blind Trust has played several gigs in the Chicago area, including previous IPO festivals. Their 14-track album The Top End is an almost 50/50 mix of catchy, guitar-driven rockers and more introspective ballads. 

Human Errors have released three albums since 2016, which will give them a lot of material to choose from at their IPO gig. Some of the earlier songs, such as “I’m No Good/Heartbreaker” and “I Can’t Let Go” (not a Hollies cover) have intense punk energy, while “Harolds #13” and “Childhood Home” from their 2022 effort Super Hits lean more toward rockabilly. As the title of their 2021 album National Absurdatory suggests, The Embryos view life through satiric glasses. Highlights include the self-reflecting “Twisted In My Game” and the soulful “Morning Birds.” Plus, you can practice your dance moves to “The Funky Embryo.”

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. A number of the acts have a Bandcamp page, so it’s possible to have a few favorite songs before you even see the band.

Wednesday IPO - Chicago

We’re past the midway point for this year’s International Pop Overthrow - Chicago festival. It runs through Saturday at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side. Wednesday night’s showcase reflects CFO/Founder David Bash’s goal of booking various rock and roll genres. All five acts are from the Chicago area.

Singer-guitarist Billy Nixon aimed for the days of sock hops and malt shoppes on his 2021 album C’mon Let’s Rattle, and hit the mark with catchy songs such as “I Remember Jenny” and “Bi Bim Bop.” I don’t think I’ve ever seen patrons dance at an IPO gig, but Nixon’s performance could start a new trend. Golden Richards has notched its share of IPO gigs, and the power pop group’s brand new single “Take A Chance” gives a good indication why. As with previous single releases in recent years, it’s a catchy, guitar-driven effort that sounds custom made for parties. Rolling Numbers will offer a preview of songs from its upcoming album, as well as tunes from previous releases. The band’s harmony vocals played a major role on country-flavored, melodic songs such as “Muse” and “Memories Of You” on its self-titled 2022 full-length debut.

 

The Joey Acopiado Band’s melodic indie rock songs “You’ll Be Fine”and “Let It Sing” showcase Acopiado’s strong lead vocal and guitar playing abilities. The group has played gigs in Chicago and Mt. Prospect. Judging from the photos on Facebook, this might be IPO’s youngest act this year. Corduroy Cat has a vinyl record release party for 10% Hopeful coming up in a few weeks, so it’s likely the quartet will play songs from that album at its Wednesday IPO gig. 10% Hopeful covers a lot of ground, from the straight-up rock of “Deception Pass” to the country and western lilt of “When The Lilacs Bloom Again.” There are also some engaging forays into rhythm and blues, as well as exotic percussion.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. A number of the acts have a Bandcamp page, so it’s possible to have a few favorite songs before you even see the band.

IPO - Chicago Tuesday Night

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago started last Friday night with a packed house at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side. CFO/Founder David Bash, who introduces each each act, looked thrilled. The festival continues there through April 29, with more 60 acts scheduled to perform. Here’s a look at the Tuesday night showcase, which means this is a proper preview, and not one posted mere hours before it starts. All of the Tuesday night acts are from Chicago.

Singer-guitarist Christopher Elam kicks off the showcase at 7:30. His 2018 album Notes From The Borderline leaned toward easy-going, melodic tunes such as “Madeline” and “Hello Reality,” and in 2020, Elam channeled Jeff Beck on the rousing instrumental “Cliffs Of Dover.” French Casino recently noted on Facebook that their IPO gig will be their first performance as a trio. Their 2017 EP Tricky Tiger finds them working in low-key indie rock mode on tracks such as “Physics” and “Tiger Park.” Matt Derda And The High Watts (pictured above) are a folk rock band that draws inspiration from Johnny Cash and The Replacements. The combination makes sense on the rollicking songs “Betsy Layne” and “Doing Time.”

The Artist Formally Known As Vince is actually a quintet that describes its freewheeling performances as “glam trash rock n roll.” Vocalist-guitarist TAFKAVince and vocalist Lauren Kurtz make for a flamboyant Rocky Horror Picture Show style duo, rising above the energetic arrangements. Country and Western duo The Anna Maze captures the heartache of broken relationships and lonely barflies via Anna Maze’s emotionally charged vocals. She and Jim Licka are supported by various musicians on their recordings, the latest of which is That’s What I Want ‘Em To Say.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. A number of the acts have a Bandcamp page, so it’s possible to have a few favorite songs before you even see the band.

Start The Week Rocking

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago started this past Friday night at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side and will continue at that venue through April 29. Most of the 60+ acts involved are local, although there are some out-of-state visitors. All five acts on Monday night’s showcase are from the Chicago area.

The Monday evening showcase starts with IPO veteran singer-guitarist Hannah Frank. Her repertoire includes original acoustic compositions such as “Mad Girl’s Diary” and “Is You Mine,” along with unexpected covers  such as the 1939 tune “Comes Love.” The singer-songwriter vibe continues with Andrew Robert Palmer, or ARP, as he often bills himself. His 2022 album  Heaven And Earth includes the wry “Sour Cherry Citrus Sky” (about having a cocktail in heaven) and the more rocking “Eagle Harbor.” We Are Bur, the 2022 album from the quartet Bur features impressive harmonies from lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist Jeremy Kush and bassist/backing vocalist Colin Burns on a variety of catchy songs. The title track is gorgeous pop, while the guitar-driven “Kush Burns” is more energetic.

The six-piece band Local Forest Service’s numerous club appearances include previous gigs at Montrose Saloon. They’ll likely perform songs from their upcoming album, along with a few cover tunes. Punk rock quartet Modern Crooks will close out the Monday night showcase on a high energy note. Although they’re based in Chicago, it looks like they’re also no strangers to out-of state gigs. 

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Several acts have Bandcamp sites, so you can already have a few favorite songs before you even see the band.

An IPO - Chicago Sunday Doubleheader

 

The Unswept in action.

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago started this past Friday night with a packed house at Montrose Saloon and will continue at the north side venue through April 29. Most of the 60+ acts involved are from the Chicago area, although there are some out-of-state visitors. Sunday brings a six-act afternoon showcase and a five-act evening showcase, separated by a short break.

The first set kicks off at 2:00 pm with All City Affairs, which sounds like a government agency but is actually a solo project from Peter Andreadis, drummer for the band Baby Teeth. His latest album, Dough Nation, mixes satirical observations with catchy techno arrangements. IPO veterans Freetoed have been releasing albums since 2002, with Cure For The Common Sound dropping exactly a year ago. It’s a mix of acoustic-based tracks such as “Down Here” and the hard-hitting “TIABASA.” The Omaha-based Le Bon Ton are a recently formed band and will be making their IPO Chicago debut. Judging from the video clip of “Running Late” on Facebook, they bring a punk edge to their material.

The Alright Maybes formed in 2020 and released their debut EP Always Almost a year later. Led by charismatic vocalist Angela Reinhart, the quartet crafts melodic pop songs with strong harmonies. The second EP, Blue Sky Thinking, arrived last October. The Unswept’s 2022 album, Fast Casual was more adventurous than previous efforts, adding new approaches to their consistently fun vintage British Invasion sound. Particularly recommended for those who enjoy music with a wry sense of humor. Phil Yates and The Affiliates also take a humorous approach with their lyrics, and have three albums worth of catchy, guitar-driven pop to prove it. They’ll wrap up the afternoon showcase with their 5:45 pm set. 

Sunday’s evening showcase kicks off at 7:30 with Einstein’s Sister, a band with previous experience performing  at IPO showcases in Chicago and Los Angeles. They’ve been recording power pop songs influenced by Squeeze, XTC, Oasis, and Beatles for over 20 years. The Thin Cherries were founded about five years ago by Steven Delisi from the punk/avant-garde band Phenomenal Cat and Mark Lofgren from psychedelic scene veterans The Luck Of Eden Hall. Their self-titled debut album featured the clever and melodic “Dorian Gray” as well as the more progressive “Oven Mitt.” Baby Money and The Down Payments, led by vocalist/guitarist/filmmaker Pamela Maurer, create off kilter but engaging tunes with provocative lyrics, such as “You Are A Flower” and “Oh I Know.”

Wheel Of Giants have played Montrose Saloon before, but it looks like Sunday night’s gig will be their introduction to IPO Chicago. The quartet strives to create melodic and thought-provoking rock. Kobanes will wrap up Sunday night’s showcase, and while the band name might suggest a Nirvana influence, this trio bills itself as “Chicago Style Ramones Core.” Kobanes live performances apparently don’t happen on a frequent basis, as the official Facebook page notes, “I am not sure when we will play again so if you can make it out on a school night, this will earn you some serious punk rock street cred!”

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you've even seen the band play.

Slumgullion

Earth/Percent, which describes itself as “a charity providing a simple way for the music industry to support the most impactful organisations addressing the climate emergency,” has launched a major fundraiser. The Earth/Percent X Earth Day Compilation Album features new/exclusive/unreleased material from 60 artists from around the endangered globe, and is available as a digital album for £25. A vinyl version is coming out tomorrow. The artists involved include Nick Carlise; Michael Stipe featuring Gaelyn Lea; Julia Holter; Cvurches And Robert Smith; Nile Rodgers And Chic; Manzanera Mackay; Brian Eno; Lime Garden; Coldplay X Her; and Lanterns On The Lake. Most of the tracks are techno-oriented, with occasional acoustic songs, and some live performances. I only know this because I did my part and bought the digital album.

The nine-day International Pop Overthrow - Chicago festival starts tonight at Montrose Saloon and Record Store Day arrives Saturday. See my previous four posts for more information on these delightful annual events.

This just in. Actually, you won’t see this in my IPO previews because I just saw it posted now on Facebook. Brad Elvis from The Handcuffs and The Romantics will be the guest drummer when Phil Angotti performs tonight. Tom Ryan and Todd Rusin will also be assisting Angotti.

WXRT has a Vintage XRT Studio Vinyl promotion coming up for Record Store Day that will delight fans of classic albums as well as help a worthy charity. The rock station will place limited amounts vinyl records that have been played on the air and have DJ notes on them in selected Chicago area stores. People can search for them in the bins tomorrow and if they find one, buy it for a $20 donation to The Foundation To Be Named Later. Check the official WXRT website for details.

You really got me on the bus. As part their 60th Anniversary celebration, The Kinks are offering 

The Journey bus tour, which takes passengers “back to the Davies’ home turf; the parks they played on, the houses they lived in, the school they attended and the pub where they played their first ever gig.” The 90-minute tour ends with a visit to the location of the band’s Muswell Hillbillies photo session. This is reason number 4,653 why I want to visit England again.

Singer-guitarist Evan Dando from The Lemonheads will perform at City Winery this coming Monday, April 24.   

Susanna Hoffs’ The Deep End is now available on CD and on streaming sites. The album finds her covering “Under My Thumb” by The Rolling Stones, “Black Coffee In Bed” by Squeeze, and other hit songs.

Cash For Kids - Chicago’s Only Johnny Cash Festival will take place on May 6 at the Irish American Heritage Center on the northwest side. The charitable event will feature performances by Iron Horse, Hayden Thompson, The Hoyle Brothers, Eddie Clendening, The Blue Ribbon Boys, Hodie Snitch, The Amazing Heeby Jeebies, The Ramblin’ Redeemed, Stephen Davern, John Kimler, Geneieve Hayward, and Wild Earp and The OK Chorale. Admission is $20 presale, $25 at the door. The music starts at 3:00 pm. Proceeds benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

Legendary composer-musician Taj Majal will release a new album titled Savoy next Friday, April 28.

The punk band X, with all four original members still on board, has a show coming up on July 6 at Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago. Tickets went on sale today.

Defiance Part 1, a brand new album by Ian Hunter, came out today. In addition to being a founding member of glam rock pioneers Mott The Hoople, Hunter has been a successful solo artist. Special guest musicians on Defiance Part 1 include Ringo Starr, Mike Campbell, Dennis Dibrizzi, Jeff Beck and Taylor Hawkins.

The music venue Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights will present The Cellar - Cultural Zenith Of Arlington Heights next Tuesday, 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. Tickets range from $40 to $15. 

Chicago’s only druid alt rock band, whitewolfsonicprincess has a gig coming up on May 6 at Montrose Saloon.

Natalie Merchant will be showcasing songs from her album Keep Your Courage when she performs at The Chicago Theatre on May 19.

Congratulations to my nephew Joe Flamm on the second anniversary of his Fulton Market area restaurant Rose Mary.

Author Jen B. Larson will read from her new book Hit Girls: Women Of Punk In The USA at the GMan Tavern next Thursday, April 27. Jill Hopkins, Media and Civic Events Producer at Metro, will host at Question and Answer session with Larson afterward.

Jagged Little Pill – The Musical, which is based on the Alanis Morissette album, opened to positive reviews last week at the James M. Nederlander Theatre in downtown Chicago. 

Three separate dance troupes—two local, one from New York–will join forces in the Rhythms Of Resistance: Dorrance Dance, The Trinity Irish Dancers, and M.A.D.D. Rhythms show is coming to the Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago on April 22. Posts on social media regarding this event promise a “never before seen evening of percussive dance.”

The 95th Academy Award Best Picture winner Everything Everywhere All At Once will be shown on August 29 as part of the Millennium Park Summer Film Series. The concert film Summer Of Soul (. . . Or When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised will be shown on August 1.

With the Barbie film coming out July 21, it’s not surprising to discover a Malibu Barbie Cafe pop-up restaurant/store will be opening on June 7 at a top secret location in Chicago. Tickets are $35 for kids, and $50 for adults, and as recently reported in the Chicago Sun-Times, they will be available starting April 19 at bucketlisters.com. 

A new exhibit titled Dark Testament: A Century Of Black Writers On Justice is now open at the American Writers Museum in downtown Chicago. In addition to highlighting the work of Black American writers, the exhibit will feature original artwork by Chicago artists.

Last Night And The Night Before, written by Donnetta Lavinia Grays and directed by Valerie Curtis-Newton, opened yesterday at Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago and will run through May 14.

Tickets are now on sale soon for the Chicago Critic Film Festival https://musicboxtheatre.com/series-and-festivals/the-chicago-critics-film-festival being held May 5 – 11 at the Music Box Theatre on the city’s north side. 

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.

The Long Grove Craft Beer fest will be held from noon to 4:00 pm next Saturday, directly in front of the Buffalo Creek Brewing venue.

The Chicago Toy Show’s 50th Anniversary season takes place this Sunday, April 23 at the Kane County Fairgrounds in St. Charles, IL. It’s a fun place to browse a wide range of toys from antique to brand new, and come across the occasional rock and roll collectible.

A Double Dose Of IPO This Saturday

 

Penthouse Sweets in action.

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago has its first 2023 showcase this Friday night at Montrose Saloon (see my 4/17 post), and will follow that Bash (pun intended) with two separate lineups on Saturday. IPO Founder/CFO David Bash has additional shows scheduled at Montrose Saloon through April 29. Most of the 60+ acts involved are from the Chicago area, although there are some out-of-state visitors.

This Saturday’s first showcase starts with a 2:00 pm set by Brother Derek, who are no strangers to Montrose Saloon, but will be making their IPO debut. Their 2022 album Parade Rest finds them taking a satirical point of view while exploring various genres. IPO regulars The Red Wigglers have 25 years of experience on the Chicago club scene, and have released four albums. They take an adventurous and often funny approach to rock via coed vocals and horn accompaniment. The Shake Ups highlight acoustic guitars and vocals in their live sets in Chicago clubs, and are IPO veterans.

Mammals are self-described creators of “garagey power pop,” and that’s exactly what you’ll hear on the assorted singles on their Bandcamp page. “In The Darkness” sounds like a Halloween song by The Ramones, and the rollicking “Expanding Heart” features impressive vocals. Your Academy brought about “the resurrection of Memphis power pop” by featuring members of The Scruffs, The Dwight Twilley Band, and Crash Into June on its self-titled 2022 album. The collection offers guitar-driven melodic songs, with an occasional dose of beguiling piano accompaniment. When The Larvettes wrap up the afternoon showcase, they’ll probably play songs from the Happy Go Lucky Times EP they released almost a year ago. Don’t let the title fool you, these guys love to spike their energetic rock tunes with bitter observations.

The Saturday evening showcase will start just a few hours later with Jesse Vaz And The Velvet Reign. Vaz is an IPO vet with this group, as well as with The Craze and with Tramps In Stereo. From what I can tell, Velvet Reign is more elaborate than his previous groups. The Queue released a six-song EP titled Get Out Of Now last year and quickly followed that with the single “Love Save Us All.” These IPO vets pursue an easygoing melodic style of pop. The Mark Watson Band have done well on the club scene with an energetic power pop approach that draws on Cheap Trick and Fountains Of Wayne. Their song “When Two Still Feels Alone” was included on the impressive 2021 Big Blast Records compilation The Big Singles Vol.1.

The three-piece band 6Kitty was formed in 2018 and released its debut album Tux last year. Members cite Courtney Barnett and The Beths as being major influences. “Tidal Wave” and “Starfish’r” are good examples of their hard-edged but melodic approach. The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club were also on that Big Blast compilation (with the Rolling Stones flavored “X Play”) and have released a number of their own recordings over the past 10 years. Their 2022 EP Vanishing Point, with its Halloween theme, was particularly impressive. Penthouse Sweets have been offering fun and occasionally wild performances on the Chicago rock scene for over 20 years. They’ve released a number of impressive recordings of indie rock in that time, and have performed at IPO several times.

Check out the International Pop Overthrow website for the festival’s full schedule. Also, quite a few of this acts are on Bandcamp, so might even have a few favorite songs before you see them live.