Incoming

Poster art by Phil Angotti.

First of all, I’d like to extend a Broken Hearted Toy welcome to three well-known musicians who happen to be in town this week: Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band will perform at the Chicago Theatre tomorrow night; Bob Dylan has concerts at the Cadillac Palace Theatre on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; and Brian Setzer will bring his Rockabilly Riot! show to The Genesee Theatre in Waukegan on Saturday. 

This Saturday at Martyrs’ on Chicago’s north side might remind some long-time Beatles fans of those double-sided singles the band used to release in the 1960s. Phil Angotti and Friends will perform two separate John Lennon tribute shows (one at 3:00 pm and one at 8:00 pm) to celebrate what would have been Lennon’s 83rd birthday. The two shows combined will add up to 83 songs, with Angotti being joined by Casey McDonough, John San Juan, John Perrin, Carolyn Englemann, Tom Ryan, Blair Holmes, Eric Howell, Ellis Clark and Tony Richards and Rich Parenti. Admission for each show is $20.

Juniper, the L.A.-based, single-named vocalist with exquisite taste in the power pop/vintage material she covers (including songs by her radio DJ father Michael Shelley), has a new single coming out on November 7. Juniper’s truly fun second album, She Steals Candy, was released this past February.

The official Record Store Day website has released the list of limited-edition vinyl treasures that will be available on Black Friday in November. As usual, the offerings cover just about every genre and era you can imagine. A quick glance reveals records by The Beach Boys; Jeff Beck; Chet Baker Trio; The English Beat; Cypress Hill; De La Soul; Bo Diddley; Micky Dolenz; The Doors; Bill Evans; The Flaming Lips; Grateful Dead; Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson; INXS; John Lee Hooker; Joan Jett And The Blackhearts; The Knack; Los Lobos; Aimee Mann; Charles Mingus; Missing Persons; Joni Mitchell; Willie Nelson; Phoenix; Prince; Ravi Shankar and Ali Akbar Khan; Sparks; Sweet; Ultravox; War; and X.

The mysterious and funny magicians Penn And Teller will perform at the Chicago Theatre this Friday night. My wife Pam and I have enjoyed their shows on a number of occasions and were able to talk to them afterward. Very friendly guys. And yes, Teller does speak when he’s not on stage.

The 12-act, two-day celebration Halloweekend presents local bands honoring famous ones, and will return to Montrose Saloon on October 27 and 28. Both nights look like winners, with sets such as Made of Stone as The Stone Roses; Phil Angotti as Lovin' Spoonful; Amazing Heeby Jeebies as The Cramps; Androgynous Mustache as Madness; and Metropolly as X. Admission for each night is $20.

Chicago-based singer-guitarist Pierce Crask has a celebration coming up at Montrose Saloon on this Friday night to mark the release of the vinyl version of his Rising River album. Ellis Clark from The Social Act served as producer, and helped out with keyboards and backup vocals. The irresistibly melodic and romantic single “Sparkle And Shine” has been generating a lot of interest.

Get Smart!, a trio that worked the Chicago club scene back in the mid-1980s, have reunited and will be performing with special guest Jeff Lescher from Green this Saturday, at Liar’s Club on Fullerton in Chicago. The surf and instrumental band 13 Tikis will also perform that night.