Incoming

Twisted Dream Machine - The Paisley Underground - California’s Psychedelic Renaissance: 1982-1986 is now available to preorder as a double-LP or CD Digipak from the Futurismo site. It’s the next volume in Futurismo's Altered Vision compilation series, and features tracks by The Three O’Clock, The Rain Parade, True West, The Bangles, Thin White Rope, Game Theory, The Dream Syndicate, The Long Ryders, Green On Red, 28th Day, The Pandoras, and Wednesday Week. In a recent Facebook post, Michael Quercio of The Three O’Clock described Twisted Dream Machine as, “A virtual odyssey of incredible music. ...and yes, that's me being freaky and psychedelic on the cover.”

As recently noted by veteran theatre critic Albert Williams on the Chicago, Theatre Capital of America: Past. Present. Future. Facebook page, Matt Fotis has just released his new book Fifty Key Improv Performers: Actors, Troupes, and Schools from Theatre, Film, and TV. Several popular comedic/theatrical figures are covered, including Viola Spolin, Del Close, Charna Halpern, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mick Napier. 

  

The Zombies’ 2024 Begin Here Festival, which takes place November 8 – 10 in St. Albans in the UK, will include a Tribute To Rod Argent on November 9. The longtime keyboards player/songwriter gave up live performances after recently experiencing a stroke, but will continue to record with the band. The tribute will include special guests Russ Ballard, Tanita Tikaram, Danny Mattin, Millies Riquelme, Hugh Grundy and Chris White. 

Polka On The Water. The Northman Riverwalk in downtown Chicago will stage the first of its two Oktoberfest Weekends on September 20 – 22. Natalie Grana will perform at 5:30 pm this Friday, and she’s bringing her alphorn with her. The Polkaholics, a comic and authentic trio that’s well known on the local club scene, will follow at 6:15 pm. On Saturday, the multi-piece Die Musikmeisters will play traditional German music from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, and Sunday brings a double bill of The Dirndolls at 2:00 pm and The Deutsch Meisters at 5:00 pm. The former is a six-woman Alpine folk band; the latter has been performing together for decades, including shows at Six Flags Great America and Berghoff’s.

The official Facebook page for The Hollies recently had a rather bewildering post involving a photo of Graham Nash taken in the mid-1960s. It was presented via an appealing graphic design that read:

The Hollies Digital Trading Cards  Graham Nash  No. 1 Of 1  62¢ 

After a brief description of Nash, the post states: “Share this card with the biggest Graham lover in your life.” I’m not sure why a price was involved or if No. 1 Of 1 means there won’t be any other Hollies Digital Cards. But it looked cool so I dragged a copy onto my desktop.