Slumgullion

Squeeze and The Psychedelic Furs, veteran Brit bands who’ve each notched plenty of classic hit songs, are currently sharing a fall tour together. They’ll be at the Salt Shed in Chicago next Sunday, September 24. Those unable to attend can still enjoy the experience of hearing Squeeze live via the recently released digital EP Best Of Squeeze 2: Live At The Fillmore, which is available to download on Bandcamp. It includes an eight-minute version of “Black Coffee In Bed” that features audience participation and a funky instrumental break. The other four tracks  are “Pulling Mussels (From The Shell),” “Hourglass,” “Goodbye Girl,” and “Take Me, I’m Yours.”

Welcome to everyone who’s in town to experience Riot Fest 2023 in Douglass Park. It kicked off today with Foo Fighters; Tegan and Sara; The Breeders; Kim Gordon; Ani DiFranco; Parliament Funkadelic featuring George Clinton; Screaming Females and others acts. Tomorrow’s lineup includes Death Cab For Cutie; The Postal Service; White Reaper; The Exploited; and Warpaint, and Sunday brings The Cure; The Mars Volta; The Gaslight Anthem; The Dresden Dolls; and Flogging Molly.

Relentless, the latest album from The Pretenders, was released today, and it sounds like another winning effort from Chrissie Hynde and her mates. Highlights include “A Love” and “Let The Sun Come In.”

The Chicago-based Congo Square Theatre Company, now in its 25th year, is currently presenting the rolling world premiere of Inda Craig-Galván’s Welcome To Matteson. Directed by Ericka Ratcliff, the production runs through October 1. Congo Square Theatre Company is located at 1016 N. Dearborn Street in Chicago.

The Lemonheads are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their Come On Feel The Lemonheads album tonight at The House Of Blues in Boston. Juliana Hatfield, who helped out on several tracks during the recording, John P. Strohm, who founded The Blake Babies with Hatfield, and singer-songwriter Willy Mason, are helping to mark the occasion.

Phil Angotti is having a vinyl LP release show for his latest, impressive album Once Around Again on September 23 at the Blue Island Beer Company. Ralph Covert, of The Bad Examples and Ralph’s World fame, will be his special guest. Blue Island Beer Company is located at 13357 Old Western Avenue in Blue Island.

Chicago alt rock band whitewolfsonicprincess will perform with The Flying Chaucers and The Leisure Committee at the Custer Street Oasis, in the vicinity of La Principal restaurant on September 24.

Filmmaker Ethan Silverman’s Marc Bolan documentary Angelheaded Hipster had its nationwide preview across England yesterday. The film includes clips of Bolan performing and interviews with him, as well as interviews with Elton John and Ringo Starr. Silverman also filmed musical interpretations by Nick Cave, Joan Jett, Macy Gray, U2, Lucinda Williams, and other music acts. It’s not clear when or if Angelheaded Hipster will be released in America.

The Mother Z’s, a Chicago alt rock duo comprising siblings Andy and Becca Palmer, has returned to the recording studio after a lengthy hiatus and will release a new six-song album titled Rest It Straight on their Bandcamp page on October 6. The first single, “Non, Merci” shows the Palmers still have their touch for quick rhymes and clever wordplay, and will be available to download on September 22. Welcome back, guys.

The 38th Annual Riverwalk Fine Art Fair takes place tomorrow from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, at 171 Jackson Avenue in downtown Naperville, IL. The event will also feature food vendors and live music.

Congratulations to The Kinks on being inducted into The Music Walk Of Fame on Camden High Street in Camden, London last Friday. Mick Avory, who was the band’s drummer, had the honor of unveiling the commemorative stone. 

The Illinois Rock & Roll Museum On Route 66 will present its Third Annual Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony this Sunday at the Rialto Square Theatre. Jim Peterik, who was previously inducted for his work with Ides Of March and Survivor, will be on hand, along with the Plain White T’s and vocalist Lia Caton. WGN-AM Bob Sirott will be back as the evening’s MC, and to be inducted in the Radio Personality category.

There will be an Illinois Rock & Roll Museum On Route 66 Hall Of Fame VIP Pre-Party tomorrow night. Shoes will perform a 20-minute set with guests musicians Ric Menck on drums and Leroy Bocchieri on percussion and additional instrumentation. Others highlights include Phil Angotti, Casey McDonough, and Brad Elvis performing as a trio; One Of The Boyzz featuring Dirty Dan Buck; Ralph Covert with special guest Randy Riesen; and the Gen Fuze covers band. The evening will include a tribute to the late Cliff Johnson of Off Broadway fame, and DJ Louzlounge spinning power pop records.

Congratulations to L7 on already selling out four of the eight dates of their December Australia and New Zealand tour.

 

Tickets went on sale yesterday for Dhani Harrison’s concert at the Omeara venue in London on October 18.

The Annapolis Songwriters Festival runs through Sunday in Annapolis, MD. Performers include Blondie, Leann Rimes, Michelle Branch Patty Griffin, Marty Stuart, James McMurtry, and others.

Out Of Time: The Material Issue Story, director Balin Schneider’s documentary on the ill-fated Chicago-based power pop trio Material Issue, will serve as the finale for the CHIRP Music Film Festival this Sunday night at the Davis Theater on Lincoln Avenue. The screening will be followed by live performances by local bands. Out Of Time: The Material Issue Story is available to order for $25 on Blu-ray from the Factory 25 website. 

The Record Collector and Mantle Brewery sponsored Fruits de Mer and Sendelica 20th Dream Of Dr Sardonicus International Festival Of Psychedelia will take place on August 2 – 4, 2024 at The Cellar Bar in Cardigan. Man, Astralasia/Mushroom, Sendelica, Pinhdar, Custard Flux, Moon Goose, The Fertility Cult, Babal, Z-Machine, Elfin Bow, SPWCI, Reuben’s Daughters and DJ Benway will be performing. All for the mind-blowing ticket price of £75.

The Rock-Expo in Aurora takes place tomorrow from noon to 5:00 pm at Two Brothers Roundhouse. The event will offer vinyl records, memorabilia, books and magazines. Author John Lyons will be on hand to discuss and sign copies of his book Joy and Fear: The Beatles Chicago and the Sixties. Admission is free.

Shiiine On Weekender 2023, which is being billed as “An Indoor 3 Day Festival With Accommodation Included,” will be held November 17 – 19 at the Butlin’s Minehead Arena in Somerset, England. Scheduled acts include The Wonder Stuff; Inspiral Carpets; The Primitives; Martin McAloon of Prefab Sprout; Miki Berenyi Trio; and Stereo MC’s. 

Poi Dog Pondering frontman and solo artist Frank Orrall will perform with Nora O’Connor from The Flat Five at City Winery Chicago September 23.

Juliana Hatfield Sings ELO, the indie musician’s Electric Light Orchestra tribute album, is now available to pre-order on Bandcamp. It due out in November but the two songs (“I Can’t Get It Out Of My Head” and “Don’t Bring Me Down”) already available to download suggest this is going to be a fun collection.

Blues artist Calvin Jones is coming to The Wilmette Theatre in Wilmette, IL next Tuesday, September 19.

The Singers Talk, Jason Thomas Gordon’s new book honoring the essential role lead vocalists play in creating music, is now available for purchase. All royalties will benefit the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital through their Music Gives to St. Jude Kids campaign. An amazing number of well-known singers across several genres were interviewed for this work; including Tony Bennett, Roger Daltry, Willie Nelson, Mavis Staples, Bruce Springsteen, Chrissie Hynde, Smokey Robinson, Joan Jett, Emmylou Harris, Ann Wilson, Michael Stipe, Leean Rimes, Norah Jones, Aaron Neville, Rod Stewart, and Jeff Tweedy.

Congratulations to author Tommy Orange, whose crime heist novel There There has been chosen by One Book, One Chicago this year.

Chicago-based alt rock band Reaction Formation is going to have a 40th Anniversary Reunion Show at GMan Tavern near Wrigley Field on September 22. 

Chicago’s indie band Hushdrops has a gig coming up at Liar’s Club next Tuesday, September 19. Everyday Specials and Winona Driver will also be on the bill.

Carla Olson, the singer-guitarist known for fronting the Americana rock band The Textones, as well as for her successful solo career and collaborations with Mick Taylor from The Rolling Stones and Gene Clark from The Byrds, has a new album coming in October titled Have Harmony, Will Travel 3. Clark is once again onboard, along with Jonathan Lea, who performs with The Jigsaw Seen and The Dave Davies Band. Former Hollies lead vocalist/current solo artist Allan Clarke co-wrote two songs with Olson and provides guest vocals on the album. Have Harmony, Will Travel 3 is available to pre-order on Amazon. The first single “Face To Face” has been picking up airplay on independent radio stations.

The Des Plaines Theatre in downtown Des Plaines directly across from the Metra station, will present the Pink Floyd tribute Echoes Of Pompeii on September 28.

Freda Love Smith, whose rock and roll career kicked off in the mid-1980s as a member of the Boston-based Blake Babies with Juliana Hatfield and John Strohm, has a book launch for her I Quit Everything memoir coming next Tuesday, September 19 at Books And Beginnings in Evanston. I bought a copy from her last Sunday morning after she took part in the Reading From New Memoirs session at the Printers Row Lit Fest in downtown Chicago. 

Chicago-based neo-soul band The Imperial Sound has a gig at The Hideout next Thursday, September 21.

Peter Gabriel’s i/o The Tour will bring him to Chicago at the United Center on September 30.

The 10th Annual Beverly Art Walk takes place next Saturday, September 23 from noon to 5:00 pm.