The CHIRP Record Fair And Other Delights event will return to Plumbers’ Hall at 1340 W. Washington in Chicago next Saturday, November 9 for its 20th anniversary. As always, there will be lots of vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, and all kinds of rock music related merchandise. There will be live bands and DJs, along with beer and food vendors. The CHIRP Record Fair & Other Delights is a benefit for CHIRP Radio, and the independent station is hinting this might be the last one we’ll see.
Return of the Mud men. Long-time fans of The Hollies (the band has never broken up and the current line-up has been together for over 20 years) are aware that bass player Ray Stiles was a member of the British 1960s/70s glam rock band MUD. Stiles and former Mud lead guitarist Rob Davies will perform “Dyna-mite,” “Tiger Feet” and other hits during a series of Mud reunion concerts starting on November 7 at The Old Brewery Store in Faversham in the U.K. Hollies keyboard player Ian Parker will be joining them on the tour.
The Spindles, a Chicago power pop band that’s been known to cover The Hollies, will open for country music recording artist Kent Rose And The Remedies at Montrose Saloon on November 6. The Spindles have a new album coming out in March 2025 that will include a cover of the catchy “Rock For It,” originally done by The Elvis Brothers.
Wild Honey Foundation, the California-based a 501(c)(3)non-profit that supports various worthy causes by staging concerts, will host a Matthew Sweet fundraiser at the McCabe’s Guitar Shop venue in Santa Monica on November 10th. Performers will include Vicki and Debbi Peterson; Dan Wilson; Richard Lloyd; Greg Leisz; Val McCallum; Tony Marsico; and John Moremen. Tickets are now on sale via eventbrite.
In related news, the GoFundMe page created to help cover Sweet’s medical costs has so far raised $449,060 of its $750K goal.
Here’s an event I missed on yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post: Pure Soul is presenting a Bob Marley Soul Brunch at City Winery Chicago tomorrow at noon. City Winery Chicago is located at 1200 W. Randolph, just west of downtown.
Sonic45, the self-proclaimed “Chicago-based new-wave quintet” led by sports broadcaster/musician Len Kasper, will return to the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights on November 24. The performance will likely include songs from Sonic45's impressive new album SuperSonic.
There’s good news tonight for those of us who ordered the Melanie And Kim Monday fanzine put together by Music Arkives and musician Melanie Vammen. The 60-page effort celebrates the friendship and musical partnership of Vammen and the late Kim Shattuck of The Muffs while helping a charity. Tonight’s email from Vammen states “the zines are FINALLY in! I'll be signing them this week and in the mail they'll go!” She added that Melanie And Kim Monday raised “a great amount of money for the ALS Network.”
The Fleshtones are coming to FitzGerald’s in Berwyn next Friday, 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 a pair of Chicago area favorites; New Duncan Imperials (celebrating their 35th year) and The Handcuffs.
The Handcuffs have been busy on the club scene lately, promoting the new vinyl edition of their 2022 album Burn The Rails. They’ll perform at Mary’s Place in Rockford, IL on November 22. The SIT UP straights, a band featuring local music scene veterans, will also be on the bill that night at Mary’s Place.
Those of us who rocked out to Queen long before “Bohemian Rhapsody,” will be glad to learn the band members themselves have overseen a remixed, remastered and expanded version of their 1973 debut Queen I. Apparently, they were not amused by how it was produced back in the day. Now it’s a 6-CD+1LP box set with 63 tracks and 43 brand new mixes. A special 2024 official video of the superb song “Keep Yourself Alive” can be viewed on YouTube.
A low ticket alert has been issued for the BoDeans annual post Thanksgiving shows on the weekend of November 29 – December 1 at City Winery Chicago. A post on the Wisconsin-based American rockers’ Facebook page notes these holiday gigs sell out every year. Tickets are available at the venue.
British fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands can spend a few hours this Halloween at The World Of Tim Burton exhibition being held at London’s Design Museum. According to an Associated Press piece by Jill Lawless that ran in yesterday’s Chicago Sun-Times, the exhibition features “props, puppets, set designs and iconic costumes.” The exhibition runs through April 21, 2025.
The Babes With Blades Theatre Company is presenting A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Edge Theatre (5451 N. Broadway) through November 23. The production is directed by Lauren Katz, with fight direction by Jillian Leff. Babes With Blades is a women-focused company that has been on the Chicago theatre scene for several years.
Author Jennifer Otter Bickerdike’s book Eternal Flame - The Authorized Biography Of The Bangles, which is due out in February 2025, is now available for pre-order on various sites. It would be nice to see the band given some serious consideration for an induction into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.
A charity event titled To Find A Friend: An Evening of Tom Petty Music for Hurricane Relief will take place at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL on November 23. Several local acts will perform Petty songs, and proceeds will benefit the North Carolina Arts Disaster Fund.
International Pop Overthrow - Boston runs through tomorrow night at The Square Root in Boston. IPO - New York kicks off next Thursday at The Parkside Lounge and will run through Sunday, November 10.
The Nielsen Trust, a side project for Cheap Trick members guitarist-vocalist Rick Nielsen and drummer Daxx Nielsen, has concerts coming up on November 14 at The Arcada in St. Charles, IL and on November 15 at The Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL. It’s hard to believe it’s been over three years since I saw this group at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine; possibly because I still distinctly remember how good its show was. Another of Rick’s sons—vocalist-guitarist Miles Nielsen from The Rusted Hearts—was also part of that Durty Nellie’s show, along with his (Miles’) wife Kelly Steward. It looks like the same lineup will perform at the November dates.
Chicago: Home Of House, an exhibit honoring the city’s pivotal role in the widespread success of house music, has been extended on Navy Pier through December 15. Admission is free.
Eric Idle, a founding member of the Monty Python comedy group and co-creator of a highly entertaining comedy-musical, has just released a new book titled The Spamalot Diaries. It provides a behind-the-scenes look at how Spamalot came together, based on Idle’s own journal and email correspondence.
Six Stories Up On The Campaign Trail - A Student Council Calamity will run at Filament Theatre November 18 – 27, on weekends only.
Peter Himmelman, the Minneapolis singer-songwriter who’s given us emotionally charged songs such “Woman With The Strength Of 10,00 Men,” has released a book titled Suspended By No Strings that offers poems, and tales with a spiritual feel.
