Incoming

You could listen to this box set for the next 50 years. The Who have announced a special 50th anniversary edition of their Who’s Next album that will also include songs from Pete Townshend’s ill-fated Life House project. The Second Disc website, pretty much my favorite source for news on upcoming releases, has an informative piece by Joe Marchese that describes all the variations that will be available. They range from a 10 CD set that also includes a Blu-ray, posters, a t-shirt and two books for $305.98 to a single CD with a 12-page booklet for $13.98. All of the versions are now available for pre-order, with the actual release date being September 14.

Chicago’s freewheeling rockabilly/garage rock band Amazing Heeby Jeebies will return to Montrose Saloon tomorrow (Wednesday) night.

The Bluedot Festival, billed as an “Intergalactic festival of music, science, art, technology and the exploration of space” takes place this Friday through Sunday at the Jodrell Bank Observatory in Cheshire, U.K. Pavement and Grace Jones are among the headline acts, and the featured events include 60 Years Of Doctor Who: A Celebration and An Afternoon Of White Rabbit Books Featuring Miki Berenyi In Conversion. Berenyi, the vocalist-guitarist for Lush, recently released a memoir titled Fingers Crossed - How Music Saved Me From Success.

 

Based on Bob Gendron’s review in today’s Chicago Tribune and various Facebook posts, it appears Cheap Trick gave Metro’s 40th Anniversary Celebration a rousing finale this past Sunday night. Congratulations to the venue and the band on their many years of bringing amazing rock and roll to the Chicago area.

I had a great time dropping by The Northman Riverwalk Beer And Cider Garden with a few friends this past Saturday for an early evening gig by Magnaphonic. The veteran Chicago area band played more covers than they normally do, but their choices were inspired and well rendered. Singer-guitarist Eric Chial made a few appearances as a guest vocalist. With the weather cooperating after an earlier spot of rain, the atmosphere at this outdoor venue was perfect for a summer evening. The Handcuffs will perform at The Northman Riverwalk Beer And Cider Garden this Thursday and The Spindles will perform on Friday.

YippieFest, the annual three-day celebration of offbeat entertainment, returns on the weekend of August 4 – 6 at PrideArtsChicago. Modeled after the late Mary-Arrchie Theatre’s long-running Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins Festival, YippieFest has done a good job of carrying on that tie-dyed tradition. The people behind it—Frank Carr from the Famous In The Future comedy group, and James Moeller from the whitewolfsonicprincess alt rock band—are Abbie Fest veterans. (Full disclosure: I was a member of Famous In The Future for several years.) Ticket prices $15 for a day pass and $25 for a weekend pass; proceeds will benefit Howard Brown Health, Brave Space Alliance, and Greater Chicago Food Depository. PrideArtChicago is located at 4139 N. Broadway.

Mount Prospect’s annual Downtown Block Party takes place at Emerson and Busse Avenue this Friday and Saturday. Big Brother’s Vinyl, a band that performs vintage hits that most other covers bands neglect, will kick things off at 4:30 on Friday.

The Factory Theater’s Lane Call: A Night Of Closing, a workplace comedy set at a department store in the 1970s, continues its run through this Sunday at The Factory Theater.