Incoming

Sending out a heads up to Police fans. Message In A Bottle, Kate Prince’s dance production featuring music by Sting, will be performed at the Cadillac Palace Theater in downtown Chicago this Wednesday through Sunday. The production, which has Sting’s full blessing, has been successfully staged in Europe, Australia, and most recently, Hollywood, CA. I would have never heard of it if not for writer Lauren Warnecke’s interview with Kate Prince in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune.

March 10. That’ll be the day when Phil Angotti And Friends perform a tribute to Buddy Holly at City Winery Chicago. They’ll also tap into the early work of Elvis Presley. The music starts at noon.

The six-piece band Oh Yes! will perform at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights this Wednesday as part of a benefit for Gerry’s Cafe. Also located in Arlington Heights, the cafe operates by the motto Changing Lives One Cup At A Time, and is staffed by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Gerry’s Cafe is among the places my wife Pam and I regularly drop by for hot beverages and friendly service.

As I mentioned in last Friday’s Slumgullion post, Pravda Records was voted as Best Local Label in the Chicago Reader’s recently published annual Best Of Chicago issue. I wasn’t able to mention other winners since I subscribe to the Chicago Reader and hadn’t received my copy in the mail yet. So, congratulations are also in order for Terri Hemmert as Best Radio DJ,  The Who’s Tommy as Best Musical, Greater Chicago Food Depository as Best Charity; Reckless Records as Best Record Store; Chicago Cubs as Best Professional Men’s Sports Team; Chicago Sky as Best Professional Women’s Sports Team; My Block, My Hood, My City as Best Advocacy Organization; Local H as Best Rock Band; Salt Shed as Best Music Venue; WBEZ as Best Overall Radio Station; and Jason Hammel as Best Chef. (My nephew Joe Flamm, was First Runner-up as Best Chef.) There are far too many categories to mention them all here, but congratulations to all the winners. Be sure to pick up a copy of the Chicago Reader. They can be found around downtown and on the north side.

Also, congratulations to Ellis Clark and Ary Paloma on bringing together some of Chicago’s best musicians for another successful My Sweet George George Harrison birthday tribute this past Saturday at Martyrs’on Lincoln Avenue. Even though I was only able to stay for a few hours due to an early-morning commitment on Sunday, it was well worth attending.

A recent post on the The Wild Honey Foundation Facebook page has announced that the 50th Anniversary All-Star Celebration Of The Nuggets Compilation, which was staged at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA last May, is now available to stream for $4.99. All proceeds go to the Wild Honey Foundation for its charitable operations. On a related note, my review of the A 50th Anniversary All-Star Celebration Of The Nuggets Compilation DVD was posted here on February 15.

The Chicago-based, critically acclaimed Trinity Irish Dance Company promises Artistic Director Mark Howard will present two world premieres at its Auditorium performance this Sunday.

Slumgullion

Tickets went on sale today for the U.S. leg of Graham Nash’s More Evenings Of Songs And Stories tour. It kicks off on August 4 at Fort Collins, CO; other cities include Denver, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, and Omaha. Prior to those dates, Nash will be gigging down under throughout Australia and New Zealand. Check out his official website for the full list and ticket information.

Chicago Psych Fest takes place this weekend at The Hideout on the city’s north side. The acts for tonight are Cabeza De Chivo; Plastic Crimewave Syndicate with Mac Blackout; Satin Banshee; Free Times; and DJ Psychedalex. Tomorrow night’s showcase will feature Who Is The Witness? (Matchess/Jon Mueller/Tim Kinsella/Jenny Pulse); Joshua Abrams; Jake Acosta; Erik Kramer; Omit/Transmit Orchestra and DJ Sara Gosset. The doors open each night at 8:00 pm, with the music starting a half hour later.

One, two, three, four, can we watch The Beatles more? As noted in reporter Jack Coyle’s recent Associated Press article, director Sam Mendes has an ambitious plan to create a series of four biopics about The Beatles. One for each member. And he plans to have all four ready to screen in 2027. Coyle notes that the recent biopics about Queen, Elton John, and Elvis Presley were box office successes. No word yet on when auditions to portray John, Paul, George, and Ringo will take place.

The annual My Sweet George George Harrison birthday tribute takes place tomorrow night, at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue. The event’s organizers—Ellis Clark and Ary Paloma— have once again recruited some of Chicago’s best musicians to help celebrate, and veteran musician/media personality Ken Mottet will serve as Master Of Ceremonies. If previous years are any indication, the selection of Harrison material performed this Saturday will range from hit singles to deep tracks and rarities. My Sweet George, which once again helps the MusiCares nonprofit charity organization, starts at 7:00 pm, with doors open at 6:30 pm.

Phil Angotti and Friends will perform a George Harrison Birthday Show at their Beatles Brunch this Sunday at City Winery Chicago at noon.  

As reported by the Classic Rock Magazine page on Instagram and The Guardian website, a Gibson Garage will have its grand opening in England tomorrow. Jimmy Page and Brian May were among the special guests on hand yesterday for a preview of the American-based guitar manufacturer’s 4,500 square feet store on Eastcastle Street in London. The only other Gibson Garage is located in Nashville, TN.

Chicago-based musician Dolph Chaney is keeping busy these days. In addition to the release of the catchy “Californiagain” single from his latest album Mug, he performs on the one-off “Airwave Hello” single just released by The Electromagnates. “Californiagain” showcases Chaney’s ability to inject humor into guitar-driven pop songs. “Airwave Hello” finds him working with three other artists from the Big Stir indie label roster: Steve Stoeckel of The Spongetones, solo artist Chris Church, and Peter Watts of Spygenius. Working on an original concept by Stoeckel, the song celebrates indie radio stations and DJs.

Vicki Peterson from The Bangles and John Cowsill from The Cowsills will join in the fun tonight when Joe McGinty And The Loser’s Lounge celebrate the music of Neil Young at Joe’s Pub in New York, NY. The event will explore every aspect of Young’s solo career and his contributions to several bands. (CSNY and Buffalo Springfield being the most famous.) There’s also a Joe McGinty And The Loser’s Lounge covering Neil Young event at Joe’s Pub tomorrow night, as well as one at City Winery New York on Monday, but I couldn’t verify if Peterson and Cowsill will be performing at those.

For those of us in Chicago, the real Neil, along with Crazy Horse, will perform at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island on May 23. Other stops on the tour include San Diego, Phoenix, Atlanta, Austin, Toronto, and Queens, NY.

The David Bowie World Fan Convention 2024 will kick off on July 26, a day after the world celebrates my birthday, and run through July 28 at various venues around Liverpool. This year’s special guests are Carlos Alomar; Woody Woodmansey; Ava Cherry; Suzi Ronson; Nacho; Denis O’Regan; Dana Gillespie; Mark Wardel; Marc Riley; Ken Scott; Kevin Armstrong; Kevin Cummings; and Keanan Duffty. In addition to an opportunity to hear those guests share their insight and memories, The David Bowie World Fan Convention promises exhibitions, exclusive merchandise, and live music.  

Civl Fest 2024 wraps up this weekend. The Lagoons at Subterranean, Jamila Woods at The Vic, and Pinsqueege at Metro, all take place tonight; Paul Virzi will be at Den Theatre on Saturday; and Yakuza And Friends at will perform at Thalia Hall on Sunday. Civl Fest aims to help fund mental health, healthcare and health advocate services for 1099/gig workers from Chicago area independent venues.

A recent post on the The Wild Honey Foundation Facebook page has announced that the 50th Anniversary All-Star Celebration Of The Nuggets Compilation, which was staged at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA last May, is now available to stream for $4.99. All proceeds go to the Wild Honey Foundation for its charitable operations. On a related note, my review of the A 50th Anniversary All-Star Celebration Of The Nuggets Compilation DVD was posted here on February 15.

Congratulations to Pravda Records on being voted as Best Local Label in the Chicago Reader’s recently published annual Best Of Chicago issue. Pravda Records will celebrate its 40th anniversary later this year; its impressive roster includes The Handcuffs; Josh Caterer; The Slugs; The New Duncan Imperials; The Goldstars; Brian Krumm And His Barfly Friends; Susan Voelz; Thrift Store Halo; The Imperial Sound; The Flat Five; Steve Dawson; Nora O’Connor; Hushdrops; Nathan Graham; Sunshine Boys; Cheer-Accident; The Service and The Lilacs. Copies of the Chicago Reader can be found in newspaper boxes around The Loop, as well as in venues downtown and on the north side.

Marc Ribler, whose resume includes performing with Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, as well as Darlene Love, has released a terrific video for his new song “Dick Cavett.” Written by Ribler and Stevie VanZandt, it’s a catchy tribute to the popular talk show host, particularly his late-night run from 1969 to 1975. The clip features Cavett himself, along with Vincent Pastore and Maureen Van Zandt (Little Stevie’s wife) from The Sopranos, and countless snippets of Cavett interviewing rock and roll stars and other celebrities. “Dick Cavett” can be found on Marc Ribler Story Road’s new album Armageddon, and is available on seven-inch vinyl on the Wicked Cool Website.  

Tickets are now on sale for The Bad Examples at the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights on April 20. The Chicago band has a number of albums brimming with clever and melodic songs reminiscent of Squeeze.

Lush vocalist-guitarist Miki Berenyi recently announced on her official Facebook page that her book Fingers Crossed - How Music Saved Me From Success will soon be available in America and Canada. The Miki Berenyi Trio, which includes Siouxsie And The Banshees members Lol Tolhurst and Budgie (Tolhurst was also a member of The Cure) will perform on June 7 at Bottom Lounge in Chicago.

The Chicago-based, critically acclaimed Trinity Irish Dance Company promises Artistic Director Mark Howard will present two world premieres at its Auditorium performance on March 3.

Congratulations to the Brookfield Zoo in suburban Illinois on its 90th Anniversary. The celebration will include a 130-foot Ferris Wheel coming on March 15, with other events to be announced later.

The Kooks have announced an upcoming 16-city tour that will bring them to America for the first time in quite a while. It kicks off in Atlanta on February 29, and includes a stop at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago on March 15. The shows will celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Kooks’ debut release Inside In Inside Out, and the band will perform the entire album. A recently released deluxe, double LP edition also marks the occasion.

Vocalist-guitarist Scott Niekelski from the hard-edged power pop band Go Time! has an acoustic solo gig tomorrow night at the Buckledown Brewing venue in Lyons, IL.

An army of well-respected musicians calling themselves Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes have recorded a new version of  “Going Home (Theme From Local Hero)” from the Dire Straits guitarist’s 1983 soundtrack album. The song will be available on March 15 and will benefit The Who’s Teenage Cancer Fund. Pre-order from Mark Knopfler’s official online store.

The six-piece band Oh Yes! will perform at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights on February 28 as part of benefit for the Gerry’s Cafe. The cafe’s motto is Changing Lives One Cup At A Time and is staffed by adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

FitzGerald’s has released the schedule for this year’s American Music Festival, which runs July 3 – 6, and as usual, there’s an amazing variety of acts. Nikki Lane and Sierra Hull; The Jayhawks; Old 97’s; Robert Randolph Band; Marcia Ball; Joe Pug; Rhett Miller; Ike Reilly Assassination; Tributaurus; Anna Fermin’s Trigger Gospel; C.J. Chenier And The Red Hot Louisiana Band; Joel Paterson; The Waco Brothers; and Michael McDermott are among the headline acts.

Plans for a stage version of Prince’s film/album Purple Rain are moving along; according to a recent story the Chicago Tribune. The premiere, with a story by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and direction by Lileana Blain-Cruz, will take place at the State Theatre in Minneapolis Broadway in the spring of 2025.

Chicago-based singer-guitarist Steve Dawson, who’s equally at home with solo efforts or as part of the bands Dolly Varden and Funeral Bonsai Wedding, has a new album titled Ghosts coming out on June 10. Although it’s technically another solo effort, he worked with familiar faces, such as Alton Smith, Gerald Dowd, Brian Wilke, Nora O'Connor, John Abbey, Tommi Zender, Chris Greene, and Dawson’s wife and Dolly Varden co-founder Diane Christiansen.

Incoming

Vicki Peterson from The Bangles and John Cowsill from The Cowsills will join in the fun tomorrow and Friday night when Joe McGinty And The Loser’s Lounge celebrate the music of Neil Young at Joe’s Pub in New York, NY. The event will explore every aspect of Young’s solo career and his contributions to several bands. (CSNY and Buffalo Springfield being the most famous.) There’s also a Joe McGinty And The Loser’s Lounge covering Neil Young event at Joe’s Pub on Saturday night, as well as one at City Winery New York on Monday, but I couldn’t verify if Peterson and Cowsill will be performing at those.

For those of us in Chicago, the real Neil, along with Crazy Horse, will perform at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island on May 23. Other stops on his 2024 tour include San Diego, Phoenix, Atlanta, Austin, Toronto, and Queens, NY.

Civl Fest 2024 continues through this Saturday, with Nathan Graham at Color Club tonight; Barns Courtney at Cubby Bear tomorrow; The Lagoons at Subterranean, Jamila Woods at The Vic, and Pinsqueege at Metro, all on Friday; Paul Virzi at Den Theatre on Saturday; and Yakuza And Friends at Thalia Hall on Sunday. Civl Fest aims to help fund mental health, healthcare and health advocate services for 1099/gig workers from Chicago area independent venues.

The David Bowie World Fan Convention 2024 will kick off on July 26, a day after the world celebrates my birthday, and run through July 28 at various venues around Liverpool. The goal is for fans from various countries to join together in their love of Bowie. This year’s special guests are Carlos Alomar; Woody Woodmansey; Ava Cherry; Suzi Ronson; Nacho; Denis O’Regan; Dana Gillespie; Mark Wardel; Marc Riley; Ken Scott; Kevin Armstrong; Kevin Cummings; and Keanan Duffty. In addition to an opportunity to hear those guests share their insight and memories, The David Bowie World Fan Convention promises exhibitions, exclusive merchandise, and live music.  

 

The Jazz Institute Of Chicago will present the Chicago Winter Jazz Fair 2024 this Friday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm at Chicago Cultural Center at 78 E. Washington Street. The event will feature live performances, lectures, and numerous vendors. Performances include Marques Carroll’s Trumpet Summit; Windy City Jazz Electric; Bethany Pickens Soulful Coalition; and Darwin Noguera. Admission is free.

 

A recent post on the The Wild Honey Foundation Facebook page has announced that the 50th Anniversary All-Star Celebration Of The Nuggets Compilation, which was staged at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA last May, is now available to stream for $4.99. All proceeds will go to the Wild Honey Foundation for its charity work. On a related note, my review of the 50th Anniversary All-Star Celebration Of The Nuggets Compilation DVD was posted here on February 15.

The annual My Sweet George George Harrison birthday tribute takes place this Saturday, at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue. The event’s organizers—Ellis Clark and Ary Paloma— have once again recruited some of Chicago’s best musicians to help celebrate, and veteran musician/media personality Ken Mottet will serve as Master Of Ceremonies. If previous years are any indication, the selection of Harrison material performed this Saturday will range from hit singles to deep tracks and rarities. My Sweet George, which once again helps the MusiCares nonprofit charity organization, starts at 7:00 pm, with doors open at 6:30 pm.

Phil Angotti and Friends will perform a George Harrison Birthday Show at their Beatles Brunch this Sunday at City Winery Chicago at noon.  

Incoming

As an update on my journey through Eric M. Shade’s new book All Over The Place - The Rise Of The Bangles from the L.A. Underground, I’ve enjoyed the early chapters covering the pre-Bangles lives of Debbi and Vicki Peterson, Susanna Hoffs, and Michael Steele. This was likely the most challenging part of the book, but Shade does a good job of covering the numerous bands they each were in, while keeping the narrative interesting. And it’s clear all four women were focused on creating music from their childhood days. Next up, Shade takes us through their days as The Bangs.

Civl Fest 2024 started last Thursday and will run through this Saturday at music venues around Chicago. This week’s shows include Nathan Graham at Color Club on Wednesday; Barns Courtney at Cubby Bear on Thursday; The Lagoons at Subterranean, Jamila Woods at The Vic, and Pinsqueege at Metro, all on Friday; Paul Virzi at Den Theatre on Saturday; and Yakuza And Friends at Thalia Hall on Sunday. Civl Fest aims to help fund mental health, healthcare and health advocate services for 1099/gig workers from Chicago area independent venues.

Congratulations to all involved with the short but successful Michael Shannon and Jason Narducy And Friends Play R.E.M.’s Murmur tour, which recently finished its run. Narducy posted a group photo (including bandmates Jon Wurster; Dag Juhlin; Nick Macri; and Vijay Tellis-Nayak) and promised, “I will post more from the tour in days ahead.”

 

The Opening Gala for the Chicago Irish Film Festival 25th Anniversary - Films From The Land Of Storytelling takes place on February 29 with a screening of VERDIGRIS at Theater On The Lake. Most of the other feature films will be screened at AMC New City Theater Screen #1 or the Society For The Arts: Gallery Theatre. Several shorts will be available in virtual format. From a rock and roll perspective, Dublin Crust, a comedy/drama about a band reuniting after several years, looks really interesting. The Chicago Irish Film Festival runs through March 10. 

The Jazz Institute Of Chicago will present the Chicago Winter Jazz Fair 2024 this Friday from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm at Chicago Cultural Center at 78 E. Washington Street. The event will feature live performances, lectures, and numerous vendors. Performances include Marques Carroll’s Trumpet Summit; Windy City Jazz Electric; Bethany Pickens Soulful Coalition; and Darwin Noguera. Admission is free.

 

The annual My Sweet George George Harrison birthday tribute takes place this Saturday, at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue. The event’s organizers—Ellis Clark and Ary Paloma— have once again recruited some of Chicago’s best musicians to help celebrate, and veteran musician/media personality Ken Mottet will serve as Master Of Ceremonies. If previous years are any indication, the selection of Harrison material performed this Saturday will range from hit singles to deep tracks and rarities. My Sweet George, which once again helps the MusiCares nonprofit charity organization, starts at 7:00 pm, with doors open at 6:30 pm.

Phil Angotti and Friends will perform a George Harrison Birthday Show at their next Beatles Brunch next Sunday, April 25.  

A toast to that Whiskey appearance. It’s not unusual to find pictures of The Hollies on social media; ranging from the English band’s earliest days in the 1960s to the current version that actively tours across Europe. But I was particularly struck by a black and white photo posted on Facebook yesterday showing The Hollies performing at the Whiskey A Go Go club on Valentine’s Day in 1968.

I’ve been aware of that legendary event for some time but didn’t know any photos existed. (Apparently, there have been eight on the Elevated Observations website since 2018.) As noted in drummer Bobby Elliott’s autobiography It Ain’t Heavy, It’s My Story - My Life In The Hollies, it was quite a bittersweet experience. The Hollies thoroughly impressed an audience packed with well-known rock stars, two of which would soon steal Graham Nash away for their own new band.

Elliott included a snippet from a west coast music publication: “The Hollies opened their only Los Angeles live appearance EVER at the Whisky A Go Go and EVERYONE in Hollywood was there—all The Monkees  . . . David Crosby, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Jackie DeShannon, Mama Cass . . .” Elliott offers his own observation: “It turned out that the event had become a showcase not only for The Hollies, but for Graham, who was already planning his exodus from our ranks.”

 

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the show changed the history of rock and roll, considering how influential Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young would become. I doubt any promo material ever existed since The Hollies’ Whiskey A Go Go gig was a last-minute effort suggested by Cass Elliott and pulled together by the band’s manager. So, here’s an appeal to all the graphic artists out there to create some facsimile posters and t-shirts. Or even a graphic novel illustrating how members of three well-known bands came together to create a supergroup. 

Saturday Slumgullion 2-17-24

The annual My Sweet George George Harrison birthday tribute takes place next Saturday, February 24 at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue. The event’s organizers—Ellis Clark and Ary Paloma— have once again recruited some of Chicago’s best musicians to help celebrate, and veteran musician/media personality Ken Mottet will serve as Master Of Ceremonies. If previous years are any indication, the selection of Harrison material performed next Saturday will range from hit singles to deep tracks and rarities.

Clark and Paloma have also brought their My Sweet George show to Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago a number of times.Clark has been a member of local bands such as Epicycle, Social Act, and The Handcuffs; and also works as a solo recording artist and producer. Paloma is lead vocalist for the rockabilly/garage rock band Amazing Heeby Jeebies. The pair also performs as the vintage psychedelic country duo Big Hair Big Trouble.

The acts scheduled to perform include Phil Angotti; Jay Goeppner; “Soul Keeper” Gerald McClendon; The 321’s; Clar Monaco’s Sandalwood Sitar; The New Heartaches; Pierce Crask; Phoenix; Frankie; The Secret 4; The Gigi & Donna Frost All George Ukulele Set; Twisted Rootz, The Barb & Barrett Show, and The New Heartaches. In addition to offering all those musicians, there will be Harrison-related art for sale, created by Paloma, Alejandro Pucheta, and Frank Corpus. My Sweet George, which once again helps the MusiCares nonprofit charity organization, starts at 7:00 pm, with doors open at 6:30 pm.

Phil Angotti and Friends will perform a George Harrison Birthday Show at their Beatles Brunch next Sunday, April 25.

 

The list of limited edition vinyl releases coming on this year’s Record Store Day is now available on the official RSD website. The global event takes place on April 20, and once again features artists across numerous genres and decades. See yesterday’s post for more information.

It’s a pre-sale and a party. Tickets for the FitzGerald’s 41st Annual American Music Festival coming this summer in Berwyn will be available at an In-Person Pre-Sale Party taking place tomorrow at a FitzGerald’s Sidebar event with The Shaun Gotti Showtime Band.

FitzGerald’s has released the schedule for this year’s American Music Festival, which runs July 3 – 6, and as usual, there’s an amazing variety of acts. Nikki Lane and Sierra Hull; The Jayhawks; Old 97’s; Robert Randolph Band; Marcia Ball; Joe Pug; Rhett Miller; Ike Reilly Assassination; Tributaurus; Anna Fermin’s Trigger Gospel; C.J. Chenier And The Red Hot Louisiana Band; Joel Paterson; The Waco Brothers; and Michael McDermott are among the headline acts.

Chicago-based singer-guitarist Steve Dawson, who’s equally at home with solo efforts or as part of the bands Dolly Varden and Funeral Bonsai Wedding, has a new album titled Ghosts coming out on June 10. Although it’s technically another solo effort, he worked with familiar faces, such as Alton Smith, Gerald Dowd, Brian Wilke, Nora O’Connor, John Abbey, Tommi Zender, Chris Greene, and Dawson’s wife and Dolly Varden co-founder Diane Christiansen.

Girl From The North Country, playwright Conor McPherson’s musical built around 20 songs by Bob Dylan, opened at the CIBC Theatre in downtown Chicago earlier this week and was met with rave reviews in the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times. The show runs through February 25.

The Rock and Roll Playhouse’s show Plays Music Of David Bowie and More For Kids is coming to SPACE in Evanston tomorrow. The music starts at 2:00 pm.

Marc Ribler, whose resume includes performing with Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul, as well as Darlene Love, has released a terrific video for his new song “Dick Cavett.” Written by Ribler and Stevie VanZandt, it’s a catchy tribute to the popular talk show host, particularly his late-night run from 1969 to 1975. The clip features Cavett himself, along with Vincent Pastore and Maureen Van Zandt (Little Stevie’s wife) from The Sopranos, and countless snippets of Cavett interviewing rock and roll stars and other celebrities. “Dick Cavett” can be found on Marc Ribler Story Road’s new album Armageddon, and is available on seven-inch vinyl on the Wicked Cool website. 

Lush vocalist-guitarist Miki Berenyi recently announced on her official Facebook page that her book Fingers Crossed - How Music Saved Me From Success will soon be available in America and Canada. The Miki Berenyi Trio, which includes Siouxsie And The Banshees members Lol Tolhurst and Budgie (Tolhurst was also a member of The Cure) will perform on June 7 at Bottom Lounge in Chicago.

The Kooks have announced an upcoming 16-city tour that will bring them to America for the first time in quite a while. It kicks off in Atlanta on February 29, and includes a stop at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago on March 15. The shows will celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Kooks’ debut release Inside In Inside Out, and the band will perform the entire album. A recently released deluxe, double LP edition also marks the occasion.

The Jazz Institute Of Chicago will present the Chicago Winter Jazz Fair 2024 on February 23 from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm at Chicago Cultural Center at 78 E. Washington Street. The event will feature live performances, lectures, and numerous vendors. Performances include Marques Carroll’s Trumpet Summit; Windy City Jazz Electric; Bethany Pickens Soulful Coalition; and Darwin Noguera. Admission is free.  

An army of well-respected musicians calling themselves Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes have recorded a new version of  “Going Home (Theme From Local Hero)” from the Dire Straits guitarist’s 1983 soundtrack album. The song will be available on March 15 and will benefit The Who’s Teenage Cancer Fund. Pre-order from Mark Knopfler’s official online store.

 

Tickets are now on sale for The Bad Examples at the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights on April 20. The Chicago band has a number of albums brimming with clever and melodic songs reminiscent of Squeeze. 

The Unswept, a Chicago power pop band that brings catchy songs and a bit if British humor to each performance, has just released a nine-track live album. Highlights include a cover of Marshall Crenshaw’s “Cynical Girl” and originals such as “Got Lucky” and “Try To Forget You.”

Plans for a stage version of Prince’s film/album Purple Rain are moving along; according to a recent story in the Chicago Tribune. The premiere, with a story by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and direction by Lileana Blain-Cruz, will take place at the State Theatre in Minneapolis Broadway in the spring of 2025.

Congratulations to Elton John and Bernie Taupin on being awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. They’ll be honored during a tribute concert being held in Washington, D.C. on March 20.

Heart will be in good company on both sides of the Atlantic during their Royal Flush Tour 2024. Cheap Trick will be the special guest for the North American concerts and Squeeze will be the special guest for the European concerts. Heart and Cheap Trick have justifiably been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and Squeeze jolly well should be. 

RSD 2024 Offers Something For Every Musical Taste

The alt rock band Paramore has been chosen to serve as Ambassador for this year’s Record Store Day, which takes place on April 20. The list of limited-edition vinyl releases, now available on the official RSD website, once again reaches across numerous genres and decades. This year’s offerings include 10,000 Maniacs; Cannonball Adderley; Air; Chet Baker; The Beatles; Blur; David Bowie; Jeff Buckley and Gary Lucas; Captain Beefheart; Alex Chilton; Gene Clark; Nat King Cole; The Cure; The Dandy Warhols; De La Soul; Death Cab For Cutie; The English Beat; Faces; The Flying Burrito Brothers; Fun Boy Three; Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds; Garbage; Lowell George; Bebel Gilberto; Golden Earring; George Harrison; Howlin’ Wolf; Ian Hunter; Iggy And The Stooges; Chris Isaak; Elton John; Noah Kahan; Ladytron; John Lennon, Little Richard; Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman and Marty Stuart; Willie Nelson; Nico; Delores O’Riordan; OMD; Paramore; Charlie Parker; Parliament; Pearl Jam; Pixies; Prince Buster; Public Enemy; Queen; Queen Latifah; Ramones; The Replacements; The Roches; The Rolling Stones; Sonny Rollins; Linda Ronstadt; Pharoah Sanders; Gil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson; Siouxsie And The Banshees; Sleater-Kinney; The Slits; Soft Cell; Sonic Youth; Sparks; Ringo Starr; Donna Summer; Sun Ra; Supergrass; Talking Heads; Thin Lizzy; T. Rex; U2, The Who; Wilco; The Yardbirds; Yes and Frank Zappa. There are tons more I didn’t mention, as well as a number of interesting various artists compilations.

Nuggets Celebration DVD Is G-L-O-R-I-O-U-S

Paul Rock’s Wild Honey Foundation has been organizing charity concerts at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, CA for a number a number of years. The format usually combines a tribute to a famous band (Big Star, for example) with an all-star cast of musicians. At this point, Rock has several regulars he can call upon, so he’s pretty much guaranteed a success every time out.

Last May, the Wild Honey Foundation joined forces with Lenny Kaye and Rhino Records to stage A 50th Anniversary All-Star Celebration Of The Nuggets Compilation benefit concert for The Autism Healthcare Collaborative. This time, the gathering brought together members of 1960s garage rock bands such as The Count Five, Chocolate Watchband, The Seeds, MC5, Love, and The Electric Prunes, along with an army of current performers that included Susanna Hoffs, Elliot Easton, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Kathy Valentine, Darian Sahanaja, Carla Olson, Debbie Shair, Evie Sands, Daryl Hooper, Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey, and Peter Case.

The concert is now available from the Wild Honey Foundation on DVD and Blu-ray, and while the packaging consists simply of a small white label on clear plastic, the film quality is well worth the $30 donation. The editing occasionally results in some performers not being identified, but the DVD aces its mission to provide a front row view of a Wild Honey Foundation event for those who’ve never experienced one. Journalist/producer/musician Lenny Kaye, who’s the long-time guitarist for the Patti Smith Group, served as a low-key but cool host, consistently drawing on his extensive knowledge of everyone involved.

Unfortunately, we lost Wayne Kramer from MC5 since the concert took place, but his incendiary guitar playing on the blues standard “Baby, Please Don’t Go” certainly adds to his legacy. Other fun highlights included Susanna Hoffs covering The Strangeloves’ “I Want Candy,” The Paley Brothers covering The Music Explosion’s “Little Bit Of Soul,” Cindy Lee Berryhill’s cover of The Barbarians’ “Are You Boy Or Are You A Girl?” and The Three O’Clock’s take on The Nazz’s “Open My Eyes.” A 50th Anniversary All-Star Celebration Of The Nuggets Compilation also offered rollicking versions of “Tobacco Road,” “I Had Too Much To Dream,” “Talk Talk,” “Pushing Too Hard,” “96 Tears,” “Liar, Liar,” and other garage rock hits from the 1960s.

As the members of the backup band rotated in and out, well-informed fans in the audience surely recognized some of their favorites. While the musicians were obviously having fun throughout the event, the finale was one of overwhelming joy. With virtually every performer coming onstage and the audience standing and clapping, Kaye ignited an extended take on the Them/Shadows Of Knight garage rock classic “G-l-o-r-i-a.” I wanna tell you they make us feel alright.

Incoming

Love your sweetheart, love The Beatles. Phil Angotti and Friends (John San Juan, Carolyn Engelmann, Tom Ryan and Blair Holmes) will perform Beatles Love Songs tomorrow night at SPACE in Evanston. Your Valentine will be very impressed with your taste in live music.

Lush vocalist-guitarist Miki Berenyi announced on her official Facebook page today that her book Fingers Crossed - How Music Saved Me From Success will soon be available in America and Canada. The Miki Berenyi Trio, which includes Siouxsie And The Banshees members Lol Tolhurst and Budgie (Tolhurst was also a member of The Cure) will perform on June 7 at Bottom Lounge in Chicago.

Girl From The North Country, playwright Conor McPherson’s musical built around 20 songs by Bob Dylan, opened tonight at the CIBC Theatre in downtown Chicago, and will run through February 25.

Paramore, the alt rock Tennessee band led by Hayley Williams, has been selected as this year’s Record Store Day Ambassador. The big day for vinyl collectors arrives this year on April 20, and the limited editions will include a special eye-popping colored vinyl version of the new Pearl Jam album Dark Matter. The regular version of Dark Matter comes out on CD, Deluxe CD, BluRay and black vinyl on April 19. The full list of all this year’s RSD releases has not been revealed yet.

 

10,000 Maniacs, with lead vocalist and violinist Mary Ramsey back onboard, have shows coming up at City Winery Chicago this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The Kooks have an upcoming 16-city tour that will bring them to America for the first time in quite a while. It kicks off in Atlanta on February 29, and includes a stop at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago on March 15. The shows will celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Kooks’ debut release Inside In Inside Out, and the band will perform the entire album.

The Rock and Roll Playhouse’s show Plays Music Of David Bowie and More For Kids is coming to SPACE in Evanston this Sunday, February 18. The music starts at 2:00 pm.

The Jazz Institute Of Chicago will present the Chicago Winter Jazz Fair 2024 on February 23 from 11:30 am to 10:00 pm at Chicago Cultural Center at 78 E. Washington Street. The event will feature live performances, lectures, and numerous vendors. Performances include Marques Carroll’s Trumpet Summit; Windy City Jazz Electric; Bethany Pickens Soulful Coalition; and Darwin Noguera. Admission is free.   

Incoming: All Four Guys From R.E.M.

Photo from Dag Juhlin Facebook page.

I’m particularly fond of upbeat news on social media, particularly when it celebrates events or people in my hometown. Or rescued kittens. Recent posts regarding all four members of R.E.M. getting together for the first time in 17 years at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA have delighted the band’s loyal followers. And there’s an additional kick for those of us in Chicago.

The gentleman to the left of Michael Stipe in the photo above is Dag Juhlin. I've seen his bands several times in local clubs over the years, and talked to him on a few occasions. Along with fellow Chicagoans Vijay Tellis-Nayak, and Nick Macri, plus Harleysville, PA native John Wurster, he’s part of The Michael Shannon And Jason Narducy And Friends Play R.E.M.’s Murmur tour. Evanston, IL native Narducy has performed and recorded with Bob Mould as well with his own band Split Single, and Shannon is an Oscar-nominated actor-musician who’s earned critical acclaim in several theatre productions in Chicago.

Athens, GA, the third city on the tour, is the birthplace of  R.E.M., so it was destined to be a special occasion. But it’s likely the arrival of Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills and Michael Stipe came as a surprise, especially when they joined the band onstage. In a Facebook post, Narducy thanked R.E.M., their staff, and manager Bertis Downs for being so welcoming. The official R.E.M. Facebook page is currently showing a number of photos from the event.

Slumgullion

An army of well-respected musicians calling themselves Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes have recorded a new version of  “Going Home (Theme From Local Hero)” from the Dire Straits guitarist’s 1983 soundtrack album. The song will be available on March 15 and will benefit The Who’s Teenage Cancer Fund. Participants include Jeff Beck (his last recording); Roger Daltry (playing harmonica) and Pete Townshend; Sheryl Crow; Ry Cooder; drummers Ringo Starr and Zak Starkey; Sting; David Gilmour; Joan Armatrading; Peter Frampton; Buddy Guy; John Sebastian; Keith Urban; Steve Cropper; Ronnie Wood; Joan Jett; Nile Rodgers; Albert Lee; Dave Mason; Rick Nielsen; Orianthi; Bruce Springsteen; Susan Tedeschi and Dereck Trucks; Joe Walsh; and Mike Ruthereford. Noted artist Peter Blake’s awe-inspiring cover portrait (similar to the masterpiece he created for The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’ Lonely Hearts Club Band) can best be appreciated on the vinyl version, but “Going Home (Theme From Local Hero)” is also available as a CD and on streaming sites. Pre-order from Mark Knopfler’s official online store.

Tickets are now on sale for The Bad Examples at the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights on April 20. The Chicago band has a number of albums brimming with clever and melodic songs reminiscent of Squeeze.

The Michael Shannon And Jason Narducy And Friends Play R.E.M.’s Murmur tour paid a visit to the city where it all began last night with a performance at the 40 Watt Club in Athens, GA. Having members of R.E.M. in the audience made the event even more special, as Narducy noted in a Facebook post: “The band members, their staff, their family, and in particular their manager Bertis Downs made us feel incredibly welcome.” Guitarist Dag Juhlin, who along with John Wurster, Vijay Tellis-Nayak, and Nick Macri comprise Shannon and Narducy backing band, posted a great photo of himself with Michael Stipe (they look like brothers) and noted: “A beautiful night. Our band was on fire.”

The Unswept, a Chicago power pop band that brings fun, as well as catchy songs to each performance, has just released a nine-track live album. Highlights include a cover of Marshall Crenshaw’s “Cynical Girl” and originals such as “Got Lucky” and “Try To Forget You.”

Best wishes for a fab time to all attending Fest For Beatles Fans - New York this weekend. The event, which takes place at the TWA Hotel, marks The Fest’s 50th Anniversary. The TWA Hotel is located at the JFK Airport, which is where The Beatles first touched down in America back in 1964. Special Guests for this year's festivities include Patti Boyd; Billy J. Kramer; Laurence Juber; Gregg Bissonette; and Steve Holley. 

Several Chicago area musicians will gather at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue on February 24 for the annual My Sweet George George Harrison birthday tribute concert. The event will start at 7:00 pm, with Ellis Clark (Epicycle, Social Act) and Ary Paloma (Amazing Heeby Jeebies) serving as hosts. Clark and Paloma have also brought their My Sweet George show to Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago a number of times. If previous years are any indication, the selection of Harrison material performed will range from hit singles to deep tracks and rarities. It’s also fun seeing musicians from different groups join together on stage. The event will help the MusiCares nonprofit charity organization.

Plans for a stage version of Prince’s film/album Purple Rain are moving along; according to the lead story in the CELEBRITIES column in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune. The premiere, with a story by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and direction by Lileana Blain-Cruz, will take place at the State Theatre in Minneapolis Broadway in the spring of 2025.

The Rock and Roll Playhouse’s show Plays Music Of David Bowie and More For Kids is coming to SPACE in Evanston on Sunday, February 18. The music starts at 2:00 pm.

Be sure to bring roses. They’ll be a bit early, but the highly regarded Americana band Over the Rhine, led by Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler, has two performances of Infamous Love Songs: An Over the Rhine Valentine’s Concert coming up in its home state of Ohio. The first is tonight at the Lincoln Theatre in Columbus and the second is tomorrow at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton.

With Valentine’s Day coming up next week, the Chicago Artisan Market, taking place tomorrow and Sunday, seems like a good site to find that special gift. It’s taking place from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at 4325 N. Ravenswood Avenue in Chicago. The event’s Facebook post promises over 100 of the city’s best artisans in food, fashion, home, and art will be on hand, along with wine and beer vendors.

In other Valentine’s Day news, Phil Angotti and Friends will perform Beatles Love Songs at SPACE in Evanston on February 14.

Tickets are now on sale for folk-rock icon Judy Collins’ May 5 concert at Old Town School Of Folk Music.

Congratulations to Elton John and Bernie Taupin on being awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. They’ll be honored during a tribute concert being held in Washington, D.C. on March 20.

 Richard Milne is once again booking the performers for the annual Lakeview East Festival, after taking a year off. He can be contacted at rankentertainment@gmail.com. Many of us know Milne as the long-time WXRT air personality who hosted Local Anesthetic, the station’s weekly showcase of Chicago area talent. He also did a fine job as XRT’s early morning DJ.

Heart will be in good company on both sides of the Atlantic during their Royal Flush Tour 2024.  Cheap Trick will be the special guest for the North American concerts and Squeeze will be the special guest for the European concerts. Heart and Cheap Trick have justifiably been inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and Squeeze jolly well should be.

10,000 Maniacs, with lead vocalist and violinist Mary Ramsey back onboard, have shows coming up at City Winery Chicago on February 15, 16, and 17.

Chicago-based entertainment writer Mark Caro’s two-part interview with XTC bassist-vocalist Colin Moulding is now available on the Caropop podcast site.

The Kooks have announced an upcoming 16-city tour that will bring them to America for the first time in quite a while. It kicks off in Atlanta on February 29, and includes a stop at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago on March 15. The shows will celebrate the 15th anniversary of The Kooks’ debut release Inside In Inside Out, and the band will perform the entire album. A recently released deluxe, double LP edition also marks the occasion.

It’s a pre-sale and a party. Tickets for the FitzGerald’s 41st Annual American Music Festival coming this summer in Berwyn will be available at an In-Person Pre-Sale Party taking place at a FitzGerald’s Sidebar event with The Shaun Gotti Showtime Band on February 18.

The Trouser Press 50th Birthday Party is coming to the Bowery Electric venue in New York on March 16. Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey from The dB’s will be on hand to perform, along with The Shirt Event featuring Dennis Diken from The Smithereens; the Washington, DC alt rock band Dot Dash; and DJ Steve Reynolds. Trouser Press Books will publish a book titled Zip It Up!: The Best of Trouser Press Magazine 1974-1984 in March of 2024.

 

As noted in recent Early Warnings pages in the Chicago Reader, major concerts coming to Chicago this year include Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Old Town School Of Folk Music on April 4; Louise Post at Empty Bottle on April 23; Robyn Hitchcock at Old Town School Of Folk Music on May 3 and 4; Ladytron and DJ Hiroko Yamamura at Thalia Hall on May 29; Miki Berenyi Trio, Lol Tolhurst and Budgie at Bottom Lounge on June 7; Raveonettes at Bottom Lounge on June 10; Pixies, Modest Mouse, and Cat Power at Huntington Bank Pavilion on June 19; Green Day, Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, and Linda Lindas at Wrigley Field on August 13; and Doobie Brothers and Steve Winwood at Credit Union Amphitheater on August 25.