Incoming

You can hear songs from this and other R.E.M. albums tomorrow night.

R.E.M.: The IRS Years - It Crawled From The South, a tribute show featuring several Chicago area musicians, returns to Montrose Saloon tomorrow night. Brian Krumm, J. Niimi, Mike Conroy, Niko Twistaction, Tony Long, Brian Krumm, Brian Stout, Erica Loftus, Pierce Crask, Phil Yates, Danny Higgins, Eric Chial, Rick Nitz, Jason Wade, Carey Anne Farrell, Chris Dorff, Scott and Odie, Vini Bruckert and Taylor Morse will provide hours of mysterious jangling. The event starts at 7:00 pm; Montrose Saloon is located at 2933 W. Montrose on Chicago’s north side.

If you’re ready for another R.E.M. tribute next month (and who wouldn’t be?) Dead Letter Office will share an evening with The B-52’s tribute act Planet Claire at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue on April 5.

Chicago FM station WXRT surprised its loyal fans today by announcing via social media and its XRT VIP Mail email that veteran radio personality Andy Chanley will take over its 3:00 to 7:00 pm slot. Chanley was well known in Los Angeles for his work as Music Director and Afternoon Drive host at KCSN. His arrival at WXRT pushes Ryan Arnold to 7:00 pm to midnight; and as far as I can tell, sends Emma Mac to weekends. Chanley certainly seems qualified and I wish him the best, but I’ll miss Emma Mac. I first discovered her during the pre-pandemic days when I got up at 4:45 am to get ready for work and caught the last 45 minutes of her overnight show. (My best friend in the whole world Lin Brehmer took over at 5:30 am.) Mac more recently worked the 8:00 pm to midnight shift, with Don Davis and Lara Mondae covering the overnight hours, and she comes across as friendly, hip, and knowledgeable. 

WXRT’s other weekend personalities are Terri Hemmert, Frank E. Lee, Don Davis, and Johnny Mars, all of whom have been known to fill in when the one of the weekday hosts goes on vacation. Along with Mac, they give WXRT just about the strongest bench in radio.

Chicago’s only performers of 21st Century Druid Music, whitewolfsonicprincess, will have guitarist Rich Poston as their special guest when they headline a triple bill with The Lady Parts and John Ballantyne’s Crazy Heart this Friday evening at Montrose Saloon.

The combination Trouser Press 50th Birthday Party And Zip It Up! The Best of Trouser Press Magazine 1974-1984 Book Launch takes place this Saturday at the Bowery Electric venue in New York. 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. The event is two days after Zip It Up! becomes available on Trouser Press Books website.

Scott Ligon and Casey McDonough from The Flat Five, a Chicago-based super group that describes its music as “twisted sunshine pop,” will perform as a duo this Friday nigh at Goldy’s in Forest Park. Each of these guys has a long history of performing with several well-known bands.