Incoming

Los Straitjackets, that Nashville-based, masked posse of guitar slingers, will be the main attraction when the Third Coast Surf Fest is held at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine this Saturday. These guys have backed Nick Lowe on tour, and have recorded their own twangy gems, as well as revved-up covers such as “Funk 49” by The James Gang, “Time Is On My Side” by The Rolling Stones, “Venus” by The Shocking Blue, and “Bus Stop” by The Hollies. Los Straitjackets will be preceded by six bands: The Breakers, 13 Tikis, Total Beaches, The Moonrays, OUTRONAUT and Roger That. I’m not familiar with five of the supporting acts, but I have downloaded songs by Chicago’s own OUTRONAUT, and they’re a blast. Third Coast Surf Fest promises a celebration of surf and ‘60s rock. The doors open at 1:00 pm; Los Straitjackets go on at 8:00 pm.

In what’s surely one of the least expected entertainment developments of 2023, all four members of Talking Heads will get together on September 11 at The Toronto International Film Festival. Noted director Spike Lee will conduct an interview with David Byrne, Tina Weymouth, Chris Frantz, and Jerry Harrison regarding the newly restored in 4K, 40th Anniversary edition of Jonathan Demme’s amazing Talking Heads concert film Stop Making Sense. So far, it seems the four band members will not be performing at this event. The new Stop Making Sense film will be shown in theaters at the end of September. 

Dan Navarro, the well-known singer-songwriter (and half of the duo Lowen and Navarro) has gigs coming up this Thursday and Friday at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights.

As noted by music writer Moira McCormick in a recent edition of the Chicago Sun-Times, the Hip Hop genre celebrated its 50th anniversary with LL Cool J’s The F.O.R.C.E. Live performance at the United Center in Chicago. A fitting location since Chicago is widely considered the birthplace of Hip Hop.

Chicago-based musician/playwright Matt Tiegler recently returned to the recording studio for the first time in a while, and has a new album on the way. Hands Free Down Hill, produced by singer-songwriter Tommi Zender, will be released on October 6. The catchy and emotionally complex first single “Dream (Reason For Living)” is currently available to download on Tiegler’s Bandcamp page.

 

The pioneering L.A. punk band X, featuring all four original members, will perform on August 27 and 28 at The Old Town School Of Folk Music.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the Goodman Theatre’s production of The Who’s Tommy has notched several nominations for this year’s Jeff Awards. Other nominees include Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s The Comedy Of Errors; Mercury Theater’s Clue; American Blues Theater’s Fences; Paramount Theatre’s Into The Woods; and Shattered Globe’s London Road.

CHIRP Radio 107.FM, Delmark Records, Burning Bush Brewery, and WDCB Public Radio 90.9 FM are among the sponsors of this Saturday’s Rockwell Blues And Jazz Street Stroll from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm at 4014 N. Rockwell Street in Chicago.

The Smoking Popes are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their impressive debut Get Fired with a special vinyl reissue that dropped last Thursday. They’ll have a brand new album in 2024, but the Chicago alt-rock band has already released a revved-up cover of The Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me” and a new single of their own titled “Madison.” The Smoking Pope’s current tour brings them to Riot Fest in Chicago this September.

The Beggars Banquet Rolling Stones tribute band will perform this Saturday night at 8:00 pm at  the Draft Picks venue at 912 S. Busse Road in Mt. Prospect.

Hats off to WXRT on its A Celebration Of Lin Brehmer doubleheader this past Saturday. I was at the daytime half that kicked off at 10:20 am just outside Wrigley Field and the Gallagher Way venue, and the positive vibe was amazing. It certainly didn’t hurt having access to watch Brehmer’s beloved Cubs triumph over the Royals. The night-time event featured WXRT DJs Terri Hemmert, Marty Lennartz, Annalisa, Ryan Arnold, Johnny Mars, and Frank E. Lee as hosts, and judging from social media posts, it was also fantastic. What a great way to honor the man who truly was our best friend in the whole world. Proceeds from the event will benefit the charity organizations Intonation and Nourishing Hope.