Slumgullion

Note: Check out yesterday’s post for events taking place this weekend.

PRAVDAFEST, a 40th anniversary celebration for Pravda Records, will take place a week from tomorrow at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL. Considering Pravda Records is Chicago’s longest running independent label, it’s no surprise the lineup for this event is so impressive. The performers include Nathan Graham; Steve Dawson; The Handcuffs; Ivan Julian with Nick Tremulis; Sunshine Boys; The Service; The Slugs; The Chamber Strings (Chloe F. Orwell, Tim Fowler, Carolyn Engelmann, Anthony Illarde, Jason Walker, and Ellis Clark paying tribute to the late Kevin Junior); Susan Voelz; Allen Hill; Brian Krumm And His Barfly Friends; and Thrift Store Halo. The doors open at noon, with entertainment scheduled across three stages. General admission is $40, and there’s a VIP option that includes a t-shirt and 40th Anniversary CD for $60. 

Judging from various social media posts, PRAVDAFEST was featured in a short bit on WGN News today, and there’s a PRAVDAFEST preview in this week’s edition of the Chicago Reader. I subscribe to the longtime free paper, but since it usually hits my mailbox on the weekend, I haven’t seen the latest issue yet.

A new DVD titled Taking The City By Storm - The Birth Of Milwaukee’s Punk Scene, is now available for $26. Billed as “A documentary focusing on the progression of Milwaukee’s Protopunk, Power Pop, Punk and New Wave,” it was produced by Judy Simonds and Clancy Carroll and directed and edited by Doug LaValliere. The DVD is available at Irving Place Records, the retail store run by long-time musician Terry Hackbarth. People who aren’t Wisconsinites can send a direct message to the official Taking The City By Storm - The Birth Of Milwaukee’s Punk Scene Facebook page.

Hello there, ladies and gentlemen. The Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, IL will be have its grand opening on August 29. Hard Rock is known for displaying a huge guitar outside its venues, and this particular instrument has a distinct checkerboard pattern that honors hometown heroes Cheap Trick. Rick Nielsen was on hand for the unveiling, and the memorabilia at this particular Hard Rock will highlight Illinois, as well as global musicians.

V–U2, a new, immersive film featuring concert footage from U2’s extensive run at the mind-altering Sphere venue in Las Vegas will be screened exclusively at the Sphere starting September 5. 

Pearl Jam will likely showcase impressive songs such as “Wreckage,” “Scared Of Fear,” “React, Respond,” and “Running” from their 2024 album Dark Matter when the Pearl Jam Dark Matter World Tour comes to Chicago for concerts on August 29 and 31 at Wrigley Field.

Singer-songwriter Caroline O’Boyle will perform at the Hideout Inn tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon in a benefit for Free Street Theater. The music starts at 3:30 pm; Hideout Inn is located at 1354 W. Wabansia Avenue. 

The forever-suave Roxy Music frontman and solo performer Bryan Ferry will release the 81-track Retrospective - Bryan Ferry 1973 – 2023 on October 25. Available on colored vinyl or as a 5-CD deluxe box set, it will include new and unreleased recordings, along with extensive liner notes and rare photography. It’s currently available for pre-order from his official website.

The 19th Annual Lakeview Festival Of The Arts will be held on September 14 and 15 on Chicago’s north side. Local power pop band The Spindles, who add an occasional Hollies cover to their catchy originals, are among the many live music acts scheduled to perform at the Lakeview Festival Of The Arts.

 

Steve Wynn from The Dream Syndicate has accomplished his long-time goal of writing a book, and it’s due out from Jawbone Press right about now. 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.” There are a few autographed copies left for sale on Wynn’s Bandcamp page, which is also where you can pre-order his a new solo album  Make It Right. 

Red Spot Rhythm Section, a Chicago-based band whose previous recordings offered covers of well-known songs reinvented with reggae and ska arrangements, has just released a new album titled Twilight. This time out, it’s a mix of covers and original material composed by band member Joshua Siegal. The title track was originally recorded by The Band, and there are spirited renditions of Paul Simon’s “Boy In The Bubble,” Nick Lowe’s “Peace, Love And Understanding,” and Steve Goodman’s “City Of New Orleans.” Red Spot Rhythm Section also impresses with originals such as the easy-going “Nothin,” acoustic “Never Told Her,” and the more blues-oriented “Time.” Twilight is available on Bandcamp.

Critically acclaimed band NRBQ started its nine-date, east coast tour this past Wednesday with a concert in Gloucester, MA and tonight’s gig at Broad Brook Opera House in East Windsor, CT is sold out. NRBQ has upcoming shows in Northampton, MA; New York, NY; Woodstock, NY; Natick, MA; and Plymouth, MA. 

The guitar-powered instrumental band Outronaut will be rocking out at the north side Chicago venue Beat Kitchen on August 31.

Activities of Daily Living, the most recent release from Glasgow power pop/indie rock band Aerial, is now available in CD format from by the America-based label Kool Kat Musik. In a review this past May on Broken Hearted Toy, I noted: The songwriting duo of Colin Cummings and Mackie Mackintosh once again craft clever, off-kilter lyrics set to well-crafted power pop arrangements, particularly on energetic gems such as the title track, “An Encore And A Cover Song,” and “Bad Tattoo.” 

Chicago: Home Of House, an exhibit honoring the city’s pivotal role in widespread success of house music over the past 40 years, runs through the end of October.

International Pop Overthrow - Vancouver will showcase power pop and indie rock acts on the weekend of August 29 – 31 at the Lana Lou’s venue at 362 Powell Street.

Unless you’re among the many fans who’ve already snapped up Pete Townshend’s Complete Live Albums 14-CD boxed set, you might be out of luck. The merch page on The Who’s official website currently shows the short but polite message: Sorry Sold out. Priced at a reasonable $109.80, the set offers “all the Eel Pie live shows compiled in one place,” ranging from 1985 through 2001. The songs are an impressive mix taken from Townshend’s solo efforts and classics from The Who, along with rarities. Complete Live Albums is also available in digital format on various sites.

 

The Doobie Brothers - The 2024 Tour will make a stop in Tinley Park on August 25 for a concert with special guest Steve Winwood at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheater.

Jeff Lynne’s ELO The Over And Out Tour throughout the USA kicks off tomorrow, August 24 in Palm Desert, CA and will wrap up in that same state with shows on October 23 and 25 at Sacramento and Inglewood respectively. Lynne will perform at the United Center in Chicago on September 27 and 28.

Tellin’ Tales Theatre, the Chicago-based theatre group whose mission is “to shatter barriers between the disabled & non-disabled worlds,” needs three more kids for an upcoming production of its Six Stories Up series. “If you know of middle schoolers who would like a complete theater experience, please steer them our way,” a recent Facebook post from Tellin’ Tales requested. The show is scheduled for November 8, 9, 10 & 15, 16, and 17. Anyone interested can write to Tekki@tellintales.org.

When Nick Lowe releases Indoor Safari, his first album in 11 years on September 13, it will be “POWERED BY” his long-time collaborators Los Straitjackets. He’ll hit the road with them for a fall tour starting with two nights (October 10 and 11) in New York City and ending with a pair of shows (November 2 and 3) in Minneapolis. Lowe and Los Straitjackets will play Lincoln Hall in Chicago on October 29 and 30. 

 

T Bone Burnett now has a pair of shows lined up for The Old Town School Of Folk Music this fall. He’ll perform at the venue on October 19 and October 20.

Music industry veteran Dean Brownrout will have a book release party for his No Big Deal memoir at the Marble + Rye  bar/lounge in New York on September 30.

It’s been 60 years since The Kinks released their ground-breaking single “You Really Got Me.” The Brit Invasion band is celebrating  with a 7-inch single PYE Records limited edition that’s now available for pre-order. Only 1964 copies will be created.