Slumgullion

Note: For information on events coming up this weekend, check out yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post.

Tickets are now on sale for The Fleshtones' gig at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn on November 8. The long-time, critically acclaimed garage rockers will no doubt feature songs from their latest supernatural-influenced album Face Of The Screaming Werewolf. That evening will also feature Chicago area favorites, New Duncan Imperials (celebrating their 35th year) and The Handcuffs.

Happy Birthday to Henry Diltz, who’s been an iconic photographer of rock and roll artists for several decades now. He’s best known for his work (including album covers) with Crosby, Stills and Nash and The Doors; as well as with The Eagles, America, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Hollies, and other bands.

On the subject of birthdays, legendary rhythm and blues vocalist Mavis Staples has an 85th Hometown Birthday Celebration coming up on December 6 at The Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago. That’s five months after her actual 85th birthday, but it’s not likely anyone will complain. The event is part of the 93XRT Fall Jam Series, and will feature special guest sets by Jackson Browne and Margo Price. The WXRT radio station promises to reveal more details this Monday morning at 10:00 am; tickets go on sale September 13.

Issues of Second Scene, the very cool, Pittsburgh-based alternative rock publication, can be purchased for $7 (plus shipping) per copy on its Bandcamp page.

Soundtrack Serenade, the self-described “Chicago-Based Eclectic Cover Band,” will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the cult classic Pulp Fiction on October 22 at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side.

Aussie garage rockers the Hoodoo Gurus return to the U.S.A. with a concert at the House Of Blues in Houston, TX tonight. Their tour will include stops in New Orleans, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Nashville, Chicago (Thalia Hall on September 18), Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. After treating American audiences to several albums worth of great tunes, the Hoodoo Gurus will return to their homeland for a series of shows starting on November 14.

As noted in this week’s special Fall Festival Guide issue of Streetwise, the Chicago Underground Film Festival opens next Wednesday at the Gene Siskel Film Center and Harper Theater, and will run through Sunday, September 15. Streetwise, which benefits homeless people, is available from vendors in the downtown Chicago area

Trouser Press Books, which gave us The Best Of Trouser Press Magazine - 1974 – 1984 earlier this year, will offer new editions of two previously released rock and roll books on October 15. This Ain’t No Disco combines Roman Kozak’s prose with Ebet Robert’s photography to capture the unbridled atmosphere of the CBGB rock club, and Robert Sellers and Nick Pendleton co-author a look at the famous Marquee club in swinging London. Both books will be available for pre-sale soon; see the official Trouser Press website for details. 

Chicago-based, guitar-powered instrumental band Outronaut will likely include its rollicking new song “Riot Flower” during next Saturday’s performance at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn. After that, it looks as though Outronaut will take a break for a while. Here’s hoping Steve Gerlach and the lads are back with us soon.

The 10th Annual Super Nova Ska Festival will be held next weekend at Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA. British pioneering ska act The Selecter, still led by Pauline Black, will be the main draw with its performance on the last day. Other artists include Roy Ellis with The Aggrolites; Skavoovie and the Epitones; Five Iron Frenzy; and Catbite. A total of 38 acts, from 8 countries are scheduled to appear.

Congratulations to musician/author Freda Love Smith of Blake Babies and Sunshine Boys fame on being chosen as Bloom Magazine’s Inaugural Resident. She'll be working on her novel Daughter Universe at The Hundredth Hill Artist retreat center in Bloomington, Indiana. 

Congratulations to Pop Art Sports Cards on its fifth anniversary of creating rock and roll trading cards that mimic the baseball cards many of us collected as kids. To mark the occasion, PASC is offering Limited Edition packs of 15 trading cards that include a stick of gum. Fans who order a PASC Limited Edition pack can choose each of the 15 cards, so there’s no danger of your favorite player not being included. Anyone interested in assembling their team can contact Pop Art Sports Cards at popartsportscards@gmail.com or check out the Pop Art Sports Card public Facebook page. 

Autographed copies of Neko Case's new memoir The Harder I Fight the More I Love You are available to pre-order from Premiere Collectibles. Case is a member of The New Pornographers indie rock band, as well as a successful solo artist.

Smoking Popes plan to release a Live-In-Studio 30th Anniversary vinyl edition of their second album Born To Quit on September 27. The Chicago-based alt rock band, led by vocalist-guitarist Josh Caterer, recently performed at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. The Get Up Kids will be the opening act for a tour that wraps up shows in Chicago at Metro on October 10 and 11.

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.

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 can be purchased by sending a direct message to the official Taking The City By Storm - The Birth Of Milwaukee’s Punk Scene Facebook page.

As of yesterday, 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.

 

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 on Navy Pier, near Kilwin's (between doors 5 and 6). 

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 next weekend (September 14 and 15) on Chicago’s north side. Local power pop band The Spindles, who have a new album of catchy originals and a few well-chosen covers coming out next March, are among the many live music acts scheduled to perform at the fest.

Steve Wynn from The Dream Syndicate is now also an author, with a memoir titled I Wouldn't Say It If It Wasn't True now available from Jawbone Press. Copies are available on Wynn’s Bandcamp page, which is also where you can pre-order his a new solo album Make It Right. 

Jeff Lynne’s ELO The Over And Out Tour throughout the USA is now under way and will wrap up in California 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.