Slumgullion

New York indie rock quartet The dB’s recently released their 1981 debut album Stands for deciBels on vinyl for the first time (along with CD and digital formats) and will launch a short Summer/Fall Reunion Tour in September. It starts with a concert at the Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, NC on September 7, and will continue with stops in Washington, DC; Philadelphia; Jersey City; St. Paul; and Chicago. That Chicago gig is at the Old Town School Of Folk Music October 12, with Vulgar Boatmen also on the bill.

Ravinia Festival in Highland Park will present well-known performers in its comfy outdoor setting throughout the summer. That includes upcoming concerts by Michael Franti And Spearhead + Trevor Hall tomorrow night; Violent Femmes with the Chicago Philharmonic on June 21 (I’ll bet no one predicted that combination); and Little Feat + Los Lobos on June 22.

There’s a musician loosely based on Michael Franti in my YA paranormal/romance novel, but he’ll never know unless I get it published. I’ll be pursuing that goal next Saturday at the Writing Day Workshop in Chicago by pitching to three literary agents. I’ve been going to this event for a few years now, and I highly recommend it to aspiring writers. Wish me luck.

All four members of R.E.M. surprised the audience at last night’s Songwriters Hall Of Fame ceremony by performing their hit 1991 song “Losing My Religion.” It was the first time they’d been onstage together in a number of years. CBS Mornings correspondent Anthony Mason suspected that might happen, based on an interview he did with R.E.M. in February, but reportedly was sworn to secrecy. Unfortunately, the band insists last night’s “Losing My Religion” rendition was a one-off deal, and fans shouldn’t expect to see them playing together in the future.

The release show for Steve Dawson’s impressive new album Ghosts will take place this Sunday night at SPACE in Evanston. It’s the sixth solo effort from the Chicago-based singer-songwriter who’s also drawn praise as a founding member of the Dolly Varden Americana/rock band. Ghosts once again finds Dawson delving deep into the characters he creates through descriptive lyrics and his expressive vocals. The optimistic first single “Time To Let Some Light In” and “Leadville,” a tale of a desolate southern town and its derelict citizens, are among the many highlights.

Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, a new documentary from HBO Documentary Films, recently had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Interviews with several famous musicians, including Bruce Springsteen and Paul McCartney, help create a full portrait of the the E Street Band member/Sopranos actor/Underground Garage radio host. Starting on June 22, it will be available on Max.

Jay Goeppner from the 1960s rock and roll tribute band Backdated will star in The Lennon Project at 7:00 pm tomorrow at the Raue Center For The Performing Arts in Crystal Lake, IL. The event, which is being sponsored by SoundTracks Of A Generation, promises to “present the songs and the life of John Lennon in a chronological soundscape.”

As someone who’s been a fan of The Reader for most of its 50-year existence and is currently a subscriber, I’m glad to see it’s once again coming out on a weekly basis. The paper is now a nonprofit operation, and could use some assistance keeping afloat. Donations are encouraged, and contributing $5 per month enables you to become a member.

The June 6 issue of The Reader offered its usual mix of local news, political viewpoints, and culture. Longtime followers of the Chicago music scene should enjoy journalist/artist Steve Krakow’s The Secret History Of Chicago Music profile on the The Pearl Handle Band. The southern rock group broke up in 1984, but as Krakow reports, a long-lost album has been rescued and is now available in Bandcamp.

Long-time entertainment writer Mark Caro (Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune) has interviewed several well-known musicians for his Caropop podcasts, with the most recent being guitarist-vocalist Vicki Peterson The Bangles. Their friendly and informative conversation covered the songwriting process—Peterson wrote or co-wrote a lot more of the material on Bangles albums than most people realize—internal friction that caused the band to breakup, and why they eventually reunited. Peterson also talked about being a member of Continental Drifters and Psycho Sisters, and how she toured as one of The Go-Go’s for awhile.

As an avid reader and supporter of daily newspapers (despite the rising subscription rate) I often get a kick out of cartoonist Jerry Scott and illustrator Jim Borgman’s Zits comic strip. The main character Jeremy is a teenage aspiring rock star who also loves going to concerts on his parents’ dime. The current storyline concerns him going to Chicago on a train with his buddies to catch a daytime concert. It could be Lollapalooza, Pitchfork, or the recently relocated and upgraded Riot Fest; I just like the Chicago reference.

Let ‘Er Rip, the second solo album from Alaskan singer-songwriter Mark Ward, is now available in CD and digital formats on his Bandcamp page. It comes recommended by Paul Collins of The Nerves and Paul Collins Beat fame, and offers power pop gems such as the first single “I’ve Been Around,” as well as “Pixie Girl” and “Love Me Once Again.” Ward also serves up a few ballads, and there’s some fun country twang on “Villain” and “The River.” 

Phil Angotti And Friends (Casey McDonough, John San Juan, Tom Ryan and Blair Holmes) will return to City Winery Chicago for another installment of their popular Beatle Brunch series this Sunday. They’ll play the Beatles ‘65 album (plus other songs from 1965) and a mini set of McCartney songs to honor Paul’s upcoming birthday. About a month later, on July 14, Phil Angotti And Friends will perform a tribute to The Bee Gees as part of the City Winery Chicago Brunch Series.

 

The Hopscotch Music Festival will take place on September 5-7 in Raleigh, NC. The extensive list of scheduled performers include St. Vincent; The dB’s; Ducks Ltd.; Guided By Voices; Chicano Batman; and Ty Segall (solo acoustic). The event will also feature comedy acts, local vendors, and VIP parties.

The guitar-powered instrumental band OUTRONAUT will be whipping up a frenzy on the Patio Stage at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn tomorrow night.

The Police will offer what the burning shed run by artists for artists website calls archival reissues of the band’s 1983 album Synchronicity in 6-CD and 4-LP editions on July 26. Those options include a 64-page books and four art print photographs; a double CD, and a limited 'Alternate Order' picture disc are also available.

Chicago musician Steven Delisi, formerly with the band Phenomenal Cat and a recent performer at International Pop Overthrow - Chicago, is working on a solo effort with a tentative release date of October 18. In the meantime, the first single, a catchy power pop tune titled “Will We Run” became available today.

As noted on The Second Disc website, Rhino and Avenue Records will release the 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition of  The World Is a Ghetto - The Complete Sessions on July 19. The classic album by War will be remastered and include previously unreleased tracks and other bonus material. It will be available in 4 CD, 5LP box and digital formats.

Rebel Girl: My Life As A Feminist Punk, a memoir from riot-grrrl band Bikini Kill vocalist Kathleen Hanna is now available from HarperCollins Publishers on various websites and book stores.

The Beaches, Friko, Local H, School Of Rock, and Lucky Boys Confusion are among the numerous acts that will perform at the Taste Of Randolph festival tonight through Sunday. The event is being held on Randolph Street, between Peoria and Racine. 

The Zombies’ second annual Begin Here Festival will take place in St. Albans, UK on the weekend of November 10 – 12. The event will feature The Zombies Art Gallery; Record Signing; Drum Workshop; The Zombies Tour Of St. Albans; Sunday Music Brunch; a screening of the Hung Up On A Dream documentary; Colin Blunstone: One Year Show; The Zombies Show; Battle Of The Bands: Finale Show; and Question And Answer panels at the St. Albans Museum.

Chicago-based indie rock band whitewolfsonicprincess has a gig at Cary’s Lounge 2251 W. Devon tomorrow from 4:00 to 7:00 pm.

Feathers McGraw, one of cinema’s most devious villains, will return to his wicked ways in the upcoming film Wallace And Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. The official Wallace And Gromit social media sites promise it’s coming to the BBC and Netflix sometime this winter.

Chicago: Home Of House, an exhibit honoring the city’s pivotal role in widespread success of house music, will run at Navy Pier through the end of October. As noted by Chicago Sun-Times reporter Erica Thompson, this year brings the 40th anniversary of the genre.

Blondie founding member Chris Stein’s memoir titled Under A Rock came out on June 11, and it’s available to order from various sites. The book, which features a forward by Debbie Harry, is described by MacMillan Publishers as a “a plunge into the moments that made a giant 1980’s artistic sensation.”

The B-52’s Day of The Dead Dance Party will be taking place November 2 at Riviera Theatre on Chicago’s north side. The band also has shows coming up in Las Vegas November 13 – 16.

Wolf Alice will celebrate 10th anniversary of its Creature Songs EP with a ten-inch, pink and blue vinyl rerelease next Friday, June 21. I’ve already pre-ordered a copy on the band’s official online store.

There will be a Catfight 20th Anniversary Reunion featuring band members Julie, Rose, Lori, and Lisa at the Backlot Bash being held June 30 on Chicago’s (5248 N. Clark Street) north side.

Have You Got It Yet? - The Story Of Syd Barrett And Pink Floyd will be available in DVD and Rlu-ray formats from Mercury Studios on July 19. The documentary was directed by filmmaker Roddy Bogawa and album cover artist Storm Thorgerson, and features interviews with Barrett’s bandmates David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Roger Waters, along with musicians Pete Townshend and Graham Coxon.

The Marky Ramone Plays The Ramones Classics show is coming to Bottom Lounge in Chicago’s West Loop on September 27. Musician/author/media personality Marky Ramone played drums with The Ramones for 15 years after replacing original member Tommy Ramone, so he definitely knows their stuff.

Steve Wynn from The Dream Syndicate has accomplished a long-time goal of writing a book, and it’s due out from Jawbone Press around August 25. Wynn describes I Wouldn't Say It If It Wasn't True as “a memoir of a life of music that begins on the streets of LA and continues along the highways and byways of rock recording and touring with The Dream Syndicate.” Autographed copies are available for pre-order on Wynn’s Bandcamp page, which also mentions he has a new solo album title Make It Right coming out around the same time as his book.

The Imperial Sound has a gig at Hey Nonny’s in Arlington Heights on August 2.

An original concept recording of Ladyship The Musical has an official release date of July 12. It’s based on the true story of how England shipped women convicts to Australia from 1789 to 1841. The music and lyrics were composed by Linda Good and Laura Good. The sisters first started performing as The Good Twins on the Chicago club scene, and later formed the alt rock band The Twigs.

Rhino Fest 2024 will continue through the end of June with several performances. Most will be at Facility Theatre and Chicago Dramatists, but check out the official Rhino Fest website for the full schedule.

The Beaches, Friko, Local H, School Of Rock, and Lucky Boys Confusion are among the numerous acts that will perform at the Taste Of Randolph festival next weekend, June 14 –16. The event will be held on Randolph Street, between Peoria and Racine. 

English musician Matt Johnson will bring his band The The to North America for the first time 25 years to perform several of concerts. An October 25 show at The Salt Shed in Chicago will be part of radio station WXRT’s Fall Jam Series. The The was particularly noteworthy for the singles “This Is The Day” and “Uncertain Smile.”

Tickets are now on sale for the double bill of Material Issue and Tamar Berk with a special appearance by Starball at the Chicago north side venue Lincoln Hall on September 28. 

The Sons Of The Silent Age - The Cracked Actor Cabaret is coming to City Winery Chicago on July 29. Sons Of The Silent Age also have a June 22 concert coming up at SummerFest in Milwaukee, WI.

The Nelikona Cafe in downtown Palatine, IL will present live folk, rock. pop and jazz via Acoustic Guitar And Vocals by Rick And Friends from 2:00 to 4:00 on the first and third Sundays of the month. Admission is free, the venue is located at 45 N. Bothwell Street.