Incoming

Tickets go on sale this Friday morning for a special presentation of High Fidelity on November 1 at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. John Cusack, who starred in the film and co-wrote the screenplay with Nick Hornby based on Hornby’s popular novel High Fidelity, will be in person at the Auditorium Theatre for the screening and a Question and Answer session. As someone who has always loved record stores, and worked in one from 1981 to 1984, I found the book and movie fascinating. The record store I worked in was light years less cool than the one Hornby and Cusack created. 

The Minus Five and The No Ones, both of which feature Scott McCaughey and Peter Buck, will kick off a U.S./Europe tour this Friday with a gig at Mississippi Studios in Portland, OR. Bangles drummer Debbie Peterson helped each band on recent recordings, and will be a special guest at Mississippi Studios.

It was great to see a packed house for the Frisbie and Material Reissue show at Schubas on the north side this past Saturday night. Both of these legendary Chicago bands were in top form. On a related note, director Balin Scheider posted on Facebook today that his Out Of Time - The Material Issue Story documentary is now streaming on Night Flight Plus. 

Ellis Clark, another well-known figure on the local music scene, will be performing a solo acoustic set of original songs and cover tunes this Thursday night at the Montrose Saloon. Clark’s musical history includes performing with Epicycle, The Social Act, and The Handcuffs. The music starts at 9:00 pm.

Based on reviews in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times, The Cure sounded fantastic during its concert at the United Center this past Saturday night. It was part of their 2023 Shows Of A Lost World Tour.

Michael Steven Cohen will be singing and strumming vintage love songs on at Tuscan Market in Arlington Heights this Friday at 7:00 pm.

The Bric A Brac Record store has fully recovered from the busted pipe damage it experienced a while back and is holding an outdoor 10th Year Anniversary Party this Sunday from noon to 7:00 pm. Bric A Brac, located at 2845 N. Milwaukee, is a really fun destination for vinyl records, cassette tapes, VHS tapes, and pop culture artifacts. The anniversary party is being held at 2800 N. Dawson, and will have live music. 

Ken Sharp, a gentleman with expertise in performing and writing about power pop music, recently posted on Facebook that he contributed the song “Just A Chance” to an upcoming two-CD release titled Shine On: A Peter Ham Tribute. It will be available on various streaming sites as of June 23. Other artists covering Ham songs on Shine On include Shelby Lynne, Stan Lynch, Dan Baird, Dennis Diken, Melanie, Reckless Eric and Amy Rigby, and Mary Lou Lord.

The Northman Riverwalk Beer And Cider Garden, located at 233 E. Riverwalk in downtown Chicago, has a full schedule of late afternoon and early evening live music planned for this summer. The June schedule includes The Kabir Dalawari Quintet at 3:00 pm and The Fran Banish Trio at 6:00 pm this Friday. Looking down the road, or river actually, The Northman Riverwalk will feature Magnaphonic on July 15, The Handcuffs on July 20, and The Spindles on July 21.

 

Rob Schulz, who’s performed at International Pop Overthrow - Chicago numerous times, has a solo acoustic show coming up this Saturday, June 17 at 4:00 pm at Merkle’s Bar And Grill.  game 4 at Located at 3516 N. Clark Street, the venue would be a convenient stop for fans following the Cubs vs. Orioles game at Wrigley Field.

The Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights is offering a series of free concerts this summer, and this week’s events are Stefan Hillesheim on Friday and Ginger Road on Saturday. Show time for both days is 8:30; reservations are recommended.