Slumgullion

The England-based SonicBond Publishing Ltd has added two entries to its well-researched and entertaining on track . . . every album, every song series. The U.S. release date for The Jam by Stan Jeffries and Linda Ronstadt by Daryl Richard Lawrence is December 15. Each book has 160 pages, including several color photos.

Depending on when you see this, you might be able to catch the potent triple bill of Dead Freddie, The Spindles, and Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club at Outta Space in Berwyn tonight. It will be a Record Release Event for Dead Freddie, who will get things rocking at 8:00 pm.

Keep in mind that as the first Friday of the month, today is Bandcamp Friday, when Bandcamp waives its revenue share to help support the recording artists who use the site. If you have any music fans on your holiday gift list, this is a great way to pick up presents and reward musicians.

The cutting-edge rock genre lost one of its most inspired and popular practitioners yesterday with the passing of Shane MacGowan from The Pogues. He had been receiving treatment for encephalitis in Ireland for the past year. The Pogues might be best known for their holiday song “Christmas In New York,” but the rollicking “Tuesday Morning” is a better example of their expertise. Here in Chicago, singer-guitarist John A. Beavers from the local band The Last Great Riot will perform a solo set to honor MacGowan tonight at Montrose Saloon. 

Guitarist Joel Paterson will perform songs from his new The More The Merrier Christmas album from 7:30 to 9:30 at a Hi-Fi Christmas solo engagement at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights tonight. The Joel Paterson Quartet has a gig on Monday at The Green Mill in Chicago. Hey Nonny will keep the holiday spirit going over the weekend with performances of A Charlie Brown Christmas by The Chris White Trio tomorrow and Sunday nights. 

Stephane Schuck & Fred Quentin of the Paris-based band The Salt will tour the east coast of America in January with special guests Matthew Caws from Nada Surf; Mitch Easter from Let's Active; Chris Stamey and Gene Holder from The dB’s; Lynn Blakey from Tres Chicas; and Rob Ladd from The Connells. Their opening act will be the reunited Sneakers, a precursor of The dB’s that featured Mitch Easter and Chris Stamey. 

Remembering Elliott Smith, a tribute to the indie rock singer-songwriter we lost 20 years ago,  will take place this Sunday, December 3 at Montrose Saloon. It kicks off at 6:00 pm and will feature Lydia Cash Music, Hoover and Harley and The Boys; Niko Twist Action and some of the venue’s regular performers. 

If you drop by Nelikona Cafe in downtown Palatine around 7:00 pm tonight, you’ll probably encounter various performers taking part in an Open Mic event. The recently opened venue plans on hosting one every Friday. There’s a piano on the premises and participants are welcome to bring their own instruments. Those interested in performing at Nelikona Cafe’s Open Mic can 773-319-9437 or pop in for a visit at 45 N. Bothwell Street.

Graham Nash will receive the John Lennon Real Love Award from the nonprofit organization Theatre Within at a presentation taking place tomorrow night at the John Lennon Tribute at Town Hall in New York. This is the 43rd year Theatre Within has staged the tribute, and Yoko Ono has been involved for much of that time. Her cooperation resulted with the Real Love Award being established in 2014. According to the official website, the award acknowledges performers for “for their creative excellence, positive social impact and support of charitable causes.”

The high energy and always melodic Kevin Lee And The Kings will perform a holiday show tomorrow night at the Madcaps venue in my hometown of Palatine.

Eric M. Shade’s unauthorized biography All Over The Place - The Rise Of The Bangles From The L.A. Underground is now available for pre-order from the Chicago-based Hozac Records And Books website. Due out in a limited run of 600 copies on January 24, the softcover, 438-page book will include a thorough discography, as well as previously unseen photos.

Next Thursday’s Ron’s Very Special Christmas Special! at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn has sold out. The 14th annual event, hosted by Ron Lazzetti, offers an evening of music and comedy with Lazzetti, his house band, and special guests Dag Juhlin, Cayne Collier, Michelle Billingsley and Wild Earp, Christine Melody, Famous Brothers, Laura Lopardo, Jodi Walker and Jenny Bienemann, and the Children’s School Singers.

The Songwriters Hall Of Fame has announced its nominees for 2024, and the Performing Songwriters category includes Debbie Harry, Chris Stein and Clem Burke from Blondie; Tracy Chapman; George Clinton; Ann and Nancy Wilson from Heart; Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe from R.E.M.; and Donald Fagen and Walter Becker from Steely Dan.

Scott Niekelski, lead vocalist-guitarist for the hard-edged power pop band Go Time!, has also been doing well as a solo performer on the Chicago area club scene. His latest gig is at Rosie O’hare’s at 3 Michigan Avenue in East Dundee tomorrow night.

The Glioblastoma Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization that provides support and promotes awareness for the aggressive form of brain cancer, will present its first annual music festival at Cat's Cradle in Carrborro, NC on December 2nd. Rock Against Glioblastoma - In Memory Of Sara Romweber will honor the Let’s Active drummer. What Peggy Wants, The Popes, Bad Checks, Dexter Romweber, and Snatches Of Pink will perform.

Christmas Time Is Here Again. Phil Angotti and Friends will present a Beatle Brunch Xmas Spectacular at their monthly Beatles Brunch this Sunday at noon at City Winery Chicago. These guys always do a brilliant job of covering the lads, so you know their holiday version will be really special.

Peter Gabriel’s long-anticipated i/o album came out today. Some of the songs will be familiar to those who attended Gabriel’s critically acclaimed concerts earlier this year.

The Faithful - A Tribute To Marianne Faithful double album is due to be released next Friday by In The Q record label. The album aims to help Faithful deal with complications from Long COVID, and several noted artists have donated their time to the project.

Mark Roberts, the creative force behind the Mike & Molly TV sitcom, will celebrate one of his other projects with a recording event on December 8 at VSOP Studios in Chicago. Bad Mule, Inc., billed as an all-ages multi-media playground, will present Bad Mule Rag Live with poetry by Roberts and music by drummer Gina Schock from The Go-Go’s. Proceeds from the release of the Bad Mule Rag Volume 2 Live album will be donated to Literacy Chicago. VSOP Studios is located at 1552 W. Chicago Avenue; RSVP via Info@BADMULEINC.COM

Tickets are now on sale for the 2024 Joey’s Song Benefit Concert being held at The Sylvee venue in Madison, Wisconsin on January 6. This year’s format involves a Battle Of The Bands pitting The Know-It-All Boyfriends against The Know-It-All Girlfriends. Participating musicians include Butch Vig and Duke Erikson from Garbage (and as any rock-savvy Wisconsin fan knows, Spooner), Chris Collingwood from Fountains Of Wayne and Freedy Johnson; and Gail Greenwood from Belly, Debbi and Vicki Peterson from The Bangles, and Linda Pitmon from The Minus Five. Joey’s Song is a charity devoted to raising money for epilepsy research and to provide services for children with special needs.

 

The English Beat will bring its irresistible ska tunes to City Winery Chicago this Sunday and Monday.

The Regrettes will perform their last ever show on December 21 at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles. A post on the band’s social media explained it’s a friendly decision that will allow the members to pursue other projects. Still, it’s sad to see a band so adept at combining punk with the 1960s girl group sound, breaking up after a relatively short run. 

The Holiday Edition of the Chicago Artisan Market takes place this Sunday at 401 N. Morgan Street from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Over 100 artisans will be on hand, offering a variety of food, fashion, art, and gift items. Admission is $8 for one person, $20 for four people.

Neil Young’s Before And After album, which is being described as a collection of re-recordings, is due out next Friday, December 8.

Thrift Store Halo has a release party for their Live And Unlearn EP coming up next Thursday, December 7, at Ballydoyle in Downers Grove. Special guests will be Dolph Chaney and Black Cat Heart Attack. “Back To Good,” a song from Thrift Store Halo’s new release, has been racking up airplay on various indie rock stations in America and the UK.

If all this talk of The Rolling Stones’ new album and 2024 tour has you pining for some local talent covering the band’s material, two upcoming shows should do the trick. Great Moments In Vinyl, a rotating collection of Chicago area musicians, will honor The Rolling Stones with a Hits And Highlights From The Past 20 Years show at the Lincoln Avenue venue Martyrs’ on December 14. Rolling Stones fans can celebrate Keith Richards’ birthday a few days early when Androgynous Mustache presents Keith Richards 80th BDay Bash at Reggies with Phil Angotti And The Naughty Neighbors on December 15. The guitarist’s birthday is actually December 18, but I’m sure Keith would prefer people party in his honor during the weekend.

Sons Of The Silent Age will bring their always impressive David Bowie tribute show to the Marion Cultural And Civic Center in Marion IL next Friday, December 8, along with garage rockers Acumen, the band. Looking forward, Sons Of The Silent Age have a benefit on January 13 at Metro. It’s titled David Bowie: Future Legend, and a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the NorthShore HealthSystem Foundation to help people overcome cancer. Actor-musician Michael Shannon will also take part, playing the songs of Brian Eno.

Rattleback Records on Chicago’s north side will present the Pravda Records Holiday Showcase on December 10 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm. The Sunshine Boys Reunion Show would be reason enough to check out this event, and it will also feature Nathan Graham, Chloe F. Orwell From The Handcuffs, and Steve Dawson from Dolly Varden (he’s successful a solo artist.)

Have yourself a funny little Christmas. Cast member Desiree Burcum’s Judy Garland inspired title character will once again host Famous In The Future’s A Judy Christmas holiday revue on the weekend of December 15 – 17 at The Den Theatre. The comedy group, which I was a member of for several years, will likely offer a mix of skits and songs.

Tickets are now on sale for the Jim Peterik And Friends Nights 1 and 2 on February 15 and 16 at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights.