Slumgullion

Check out yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post for events taking place this weekend.

It might seem early to think about holiday gift shopping, but if you’re planning on giving a rock-fan-loved-one something related to their favorite artist, consider the time it might take to ship. Particularly from overseas sources. For example, The Who are now offering seven new items particularly for the season. The Rolling Stones have enough items sporting their iconic logo to fill Santa’s bag. I think I’d ask him for the tumbling dice. Chances are, your favorite band has some items available. Although I’m still waiting for those “COMING SOON . . .” items on The Hollies website.

Pravda Records has a 40th Anniversary Showcase and Whiskey Rye Release event coming up on December 7 at the Judson & Moore venue. Pravda label mates Steve Dawson and The Handcuffs will share a bill that kicks off at 8:00 pm. Judson & Moore is located at 3057 N. Rockwell in Chicago. Dawson also has a gig coming up next Sunday at Outpost in Evanston. He’ll be joined by musician-recording artist Tommi Zender.

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 band The SIT UP straights will also be on the bill that night at Mary’s Place.

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 this Sunday. 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 $467,583 of its $750K goal.

The Lost Record, a collection of songs Susanna Hoffs recorded with Charlotte Caffey and Jane Wiedlin from The Go-Go’s in her garage back in 1999, is now available on Bandcamp, Amazon, and other streaming sites. (Musicians Bill Bottrell, Brian MacLeod, and Dan Schwartz also contributed to the 10 tracks.) Bangles fans will recognize “Under A Cloud,” which appeared in a different version on the band’s 2011 album Sweetheart Of The Sun. The catchy “Living Alone With You” is another highlight. The CD comes out on October 25, and there will be a vinyl edition in early December.

NBC5 TV arts and culture reporter LeeAnn Trotter will serve as host for the Black Harvest Film Festival Opening Night ceremony starting at 7:00 pm this evening at the Gene Siskel Film Center in downtown Chicago. The annual event, which honors Black, African American, and African Diaspora identifying directors, producers, and screenwriters, is back for it 30th year. Films will be screened at the Gene Siskel Center through November 21.

The Chicagoland Guitar Show will take place this Sunday at Atlantis Banquets in the Prospect Crossing Plaza, 1273 N. Rand Road in Arlington Heights, IL. Admission is $5; free for all rockers under 16.

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 reunion concerts. The tour started yesterday at The Old Brewery Store in Faversham in the U.K. Hollies keyboard player Ian Parker will be joining them on the tour.

If you’re making plans for the upcoming Black Friday Record Store Day, the November issue of the Illinois Entertainer has a list of the vinyl releases and stores where you can find them.

British fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas and Edward Scissorhands can spend a few hours at The World Of Tim Burton exhibition being held at London’s Design Museum. The exhibition runs through April 21, 2025.

Vocalist Kate Fagan’s long career on the Chicago alt rock scene started with BB Spin although she’s better known for fronting the ska band Heavy Manners. She also recorded the popular single “I Don’t Wanna Be Too Cool.” She’s still active these days, as demonstrated by her latest release “2 Good 2 B True.” Co-written by Fagan and guitarist Jeremy Joyce, the song sets reflections on a romance gone sour to an engaging, mid-tempo arrangement.

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.

Todd Leiter-Weintraub, a veteran of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago events with his quirky and catchy band Hop On Pop, will perform for the first time in a while on November 20 gig at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. Welcome back.

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. 

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.

Singer-guitarist Joe Di Zillo, whose recent album Bringing It Back earned praise here on BHT for its catchy, energetic arrangements and clever lyrics, has a free, all-ages show coming up on December 6 at Sketchbook Brewing in Skokie.

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.

The Famous In The Future comedy group will present A Judy Christmas on the weekend of December 20 – 22 at The Den Theatre in Chicago. The parody of vintage TV holiday specials is back for its third year, having sold out weekend shows in 2023 and 2022. Tickets ($22 – $25) are available via the Famous In The Future website. Full disclosure: I was a member of Famous In The Future for several years.

iBAM! - The Irish Books, Arts And Music Celebration will be held at the Irish American Heritage Center on November 16. The center, which is known for its many entertainment events, is located at 4626 N. Knox Avenue.

Tickets are still available for the Sonic45 show at the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights on November 24. The atmospheric and often eerie alt rock band features sports broadcaster/musician/songwriter Len Kasper backed by music scene veterans. Sonic45 will likely include songs from its impressive new album SuperSonic.

 

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.

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.

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.

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.