Post Of Christmas Past: Four “Auld Lang Synes,” My Dear

I’ve shared this post several times over the years, but if you’re putting together a playlist for your New Year’s Eve celebration, these are some worthy candidates.

One of the reasons people still get misty-eyed at the end of It’s A Wonderful Life is because all the family, friends, and neighbors singing “Auld Lang Syne” at the Bailey residence reminds us of our own situation. The song has always conveyed a bittersweet message. A celebration of the loved ones we’ve cherished throughout our lives, but a recognition that for one reason or another, many of them have moved on. John Lennon explored a similar sentiment with The Beatles on “In My Life.”

There was a time when just about everybody thought of Guy Lombardo when it came to “Auld Lang Syne” since he and his Royal Canadians played it every New Year’s Eve for years on radio and TV. Nowadays, nobody under 60 would know who he was, although his version is available on iTunes and YouTube. It sounds particularly melancholy.

“Auld Lang Syne” continues to be covered by various musicians. The version by The Smithereens on their terrific album Christmas With The Smithereens opens with the band harmonizing like a barbershop quartet. From there, the guitars and drums kick in and the arrangement morphs into a pulsating surf rock tune that’s predominantly instrumental.

Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken also tackled the song as part of group called Husky Team. This fun instrumental take, which is included on the Hi-Fi Christmas Party Volume 2 CD, mixes “Auld Lang Syne” with the Booker T & The MG’s 1960s hit, “Green Onions.”

My favorite version of “Auld Lang Syne” comes from a New Jersey band called The Cucumbers, and as far as I can tell, it’s only available on the various artists CD Ho Ho Ho Spice. The guitar-driven, slightly Celtic, power pop arrangement and Deena Shoshkes’s spirited vocals cast out any trace of sadness and offer instead an exhilarating sense of triumph. The journey’s over and the quest has been successful. Definitely inspirational, but not the feeling we’ve come away with at the close of any recent years. Here’s hoping we never stop trying to make things better. And a champagne toast to Jimmy Carter.

Incoming

Best wishes to everyone for a safe and festive New Year’s Eve tomorrow.

As proclaimed on the official Queen social media sites today, a Freddie Mercury Birthday Party 2025 will take place at the Casino Barriere Montreux in Paris on September 6th. Since the event will also celebrate 50 years of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” single, attendees are being asked to wear white to match the outfits worn by band members on the A Night At The Opera album cover. According to the official announcement, tickets, t-shirts, and posters will be available to purchase in the new year. The Freddie Mercury Birthday Party 2025 will benefit The Mercury Phoenix Trust.  

Amazing Heeby Jeebies, a Chicago-based garage rock and rockabilly outfit that conjures tales of werewolves, mummies, and other frightful creatures, will join Kozmic Kicks and DJ Killer Diller at Livewire Lounge on Milwaukee Avenue for what’s sure to be a wild new year’s eve bash. The partying starts at 8:00 pm.

The Mike Skill Band will perform a New Year’s Eve show at the Cadieux Cafe in Detroit with the local Eastside Still Alive covers and originals band. Brad Elvis, whose storied career includes several years of performing with Skill in The Romantics, will be playing drums that night. Doors open at 8:00 pm.

Another VU, the Chicago-based Velvet Underground tribute band, will have everyone shakin' to that fine, fine music on New Year's Eve at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. Brian and Joe from Hoover And Harley And The Boys, and Eric Chial from The Bon Mots, will also perform.

A fascinating film/live music event titled Haiku Milieu Highlights will take place at 7:00 pm this Saturday at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn. It involves the multiple artists who’ve composed songs based on haikus created by singer-songwriter Jenny Bienemann.

PureSoul, which regularly schedules Soul Brunch events at City Winery Chicago, will present A Quincy Jones Celebration at the venue this Thursday night at 7:30 pm. Special guests will include Marqueal Jordan, Chris Lofton, and Sam Thousand.

The Bad Examples will return to Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights this Saturday night. Lead vocalist-guitarist Ralph Covert has a knack for composing clever, catchy songs such as “Reaching For Shadows,” “Pictures Of A Masquerade,” and “Jayne Left Behind” that often remind people of Squeeze. The music starts at 7:00 pm.

Singer-guitarist Phil Angotti will continue his Beatle Brunch series at City Winery Chicago this Sunday at noon, with help from Nash Duo for a set of Beatles songs with strings. A second set of more rock-oriented Beatles songs will find Angotti being backed by Blair Holmes and Tom Ryan.

The Rolling Stones are holding a 25% Off Storewide - Boxing Day Sale through January 2 for items from their official online store. I decided to nab those Fuzzy Tumbling Dice I mentioned in a post here a while back.

Like many American Doctor Who fans, I first became aware of the British sci-fi program back in the days when Tom Baker played the main role. (Episodes were shown on PBS station WTTW in Chicago.) Hard to believe it’s been 50 years since he began his run as the fifth version of The  Doctor. Baker’s performance inspired a young David Tennant to declare his desire to portray The Doctor, and many years later, he achieved that goal. Of the several actors who have played The Doctor, Baker and Tennant are among the ones most often cited as being the very best. Doctor Who continues to thrill fans on the BBC to this day, with actor Ncuti Gatwa now portraying the title character.

Saturday Slumgullion

(There was no Friday Slumgullion this week. I simply ran out of time and energy to post all this last night.)

Sons Of The Silent Age, Chicago’s impressive David Bowie tribute band, has a Celebrating 50 Years Of David Bowie’s Young Americans And More show coming to Metro on January 11. Critically acclaimed actor Michael Shannon, who frequently shares a bill with Sons Of The Silent Age, will perform that night as John Lennon. Metro is located at 3730 N. Clark Street.

The Alternative History: A Cracker Retrospective tour starts tonight in Phoenix, and will wrap up on April 27 with a concert in San Francisco. The band, best known for its “Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now)” single, has two shows at the Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago on January 12. The 4:00 pm performance will have Anne Harris as the opening act, while the 7:00 pm show will only feature Cracker. The tour takes it name from the band’s recently released album, which is available in 2-CD or 3-LP sets (as well as digitally), and features re-recordings, demos, and live renditions.

Another VU, the Chicago-based Velvet Underground tribute band, will have everyone shakin' to that fine, fine music on New Year's Eve at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side.

Guster’s We Also Have Eras Tour 2025 will start on January 24 in Philadelphia, and will include a stop at Riviera Theatre in Chicago on January 31. Along with performing hits such as “Satellite” and “Amsterdam,” the alternative rock band will present “a deep chronological journey through our music with skits, costume changes, and plenty of piss-poor acting.”

Amazing Heeby Jeebies, a Chicago-based garage rock and rockabilly outfit that conjures tales of werewolves, mummies, and other frightful creatures, will join Kozmic Kicks and DJ Killer Diller at Livewire Lounge on Milwaukee Avenue for what’s sure to be a wild new year’s eve bash. The partying starts at 8:00 pm.

Solo artist and New Pornographers band member Neko Case will kick off her 2025 book tour for The Harder I Fight The More I Love You memoir with a January 18 appearance in London with fellow author/musician Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s. Case’s stops in North America through early February include February 4 in Chicago with South African journalist Lior Phillips.

Chicago guitarist Ellis Clark recently had the honor of being one of the band members when Billy J. Kramer of original British Invasion and Beatles pal fame performed at the Moon Theatre in St. Charles. Kramer must have taken a liking to Chicago area musicians; he’s previously performed here with Phil Angotti.

Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve have a 15-date In Concert Tour USA 2025 kicking off on February 19 in Easton, PA. The tour wraps up in Chicago on March 11, 12, and 14. Those three shows at the Park West will features Costello and Nieve joined by a full band.

Vocalist-musician Cathy Richardson, who’s found success with her own material as well as in tributes to other artists, has a show titled Goddesses Of Rock coming up on January 17 at City Winery Chicago.

Cary’s Lounge on Chicago’s north side will offer a double bill of whitewolfsonicprincess and The Flying Chaucers on January 4. Indie-rockers whitewolfsonicprincess, whose recent album Love Without Fear was previously praised on BHT for its mysticism and engaging arrangements, has been picking up positive reviews from other online sites as well.

Jack White will start his massive 2025 Canada/USA/Japan No Name Tour on February 6 in Toronto, and he’ll have dates at The Salt Shed in Chicago on April 10 and 11.

Lee Ketch from the Chicago-based indie rock band Mooner has a solo gig coming up at Constellation on January 9, as the opening act for singer-songwriter Daniel Knox. Constellation is located at 3111 N. Western, the former home of the Viaduct Theater. Ketch recently released new material on his Bandcamp page. Proceeds from these songs will be donated to Nourishing Hope Food Pantry, Chicago, IL.

Scottish singer-songwriter Al Stewart of “Year Of The Cat” fame and Zombies vocalist/founding member Colin Blunstone will perform shows together in Arizona and California in February and March. Stewart will be joined The Empty Pockets, a band he’s performed with here in Chicago. The first concert will be in Phoenix on February 21. Blunstone will embark on a short European solo tour starting with Berlin on April 15th.

Congratulations to veteran Chicago band Go Time! on its new partnership with the esteemed indie label Kool Kat Musik. Led by vocalist-guitarist Scott Niekelski, Go Time! has released a series of hard-edged, emotionally rich power pop albums on the (their own?) Sound Gypsy Recordings label.

Because the night will belong to Patti. Several highly regarded musicians, including Michael Stipe, Matt Berninger, Courtney Barnett, Sharon Van Etten, Alison Mosshart, Kronos Quartet, Ben Harper, Karen O, and Kim Gordon will take part in the People Have The Power - A Celebration Of  Patti Smith being held on March 26 at the Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage At Carnegie Hall. As noted on the official R.E.M. Facebook page, the event is part of the 20th annual Music Of benefit series, and all of net profits will go to fund music education for underserved youth.

Fans who can’t make the trip to New York can get their Patti Smith fix with the recently released book Patti Smith: Before Easter After. Originally released as a limited edition that sold for $1,000, this collection of “hundreds of rarely seen images” taken by critically acclaimed photographer Lynn Goldsmith is now available to the general public for the list price of $65.00.

The Fest For Beatles Fans 2025 NY Metro Fest will take place at The Hyatt Regency Jersey City on March 28 – 30, and special guests will include Jim McCarty from The Yardbirds and Colin Hanton from The Quarrymen. Performers on the Apple Jam Stage will include Phil Angotti from Chicago. Congratulations to Phil on his first time being invited out to the Big Apple Fest.

Fans of the only band that matters will likely enjoy Manchester-based journalist Iain Key’s upcoming book All The Young Punks - A People’s History Of The Clash. Due out April 11, 2025 from Spenwood Books, it offers the point of view from numerous fans and photos of rare memorabilia. The UK publisher also has books on Thin Lizzy, Slade, Pink Floyd, The Who, and other bands.

Andrew Robert Palmer, who has released solo albums as ARP! and with his sister Becca Palmer as the Chicago alt rock duo Mother Z’s, has a new solo EP titled Letters to the Moon coming out on January 13. The four-track effort (two power pop/two acoustic) will be available on his Bandcamp page. In the meantime, you can check out the previous releases he’s posted there.

We lost Martin Phillipps, the guiding force of New Zealand’s evocative indie rock band The Chills this past July, but an album of previously unreleased material is coming out on February 25. Spring Board: The Early Unrecorded Songs will no doubt add to Phillipps’ legacy, and it’s currently available to pre-order as a download or gold vinyl double LP via The Chills Bandcamp page. 

Weekend Reminders

Recently, Thursday posts have focused on events that were previously mentioned on Broken Hearted Toy, and are taking place during the upcoming weekend. Plus, the occasional event taking place this weekend that has just come to my attention.

The Handcuffs will get a jump on year-end festivities with their Pre-New Year’s Eve Celebration at the Outtaspace venue in Berwyn this Saturday evening. The Chicago-based band has four albums worth of adventurous indie rock tunes to choose from for the event. Their special guests will be The Vaughan Building, a self-described “bluesy garage rock band with a pslightly psychedelic twist.” I’m assuming ‘pslightly’ is spelled that way to match ‘psychedelic.’

Sounds familiar. Saturday Morning Flashback has been a popular program on Chicago radio station WXRT since the days when the always informative and entertaining Wendy Rice served as its host. Nowadays, hosting duties are split among Frank E. Lee, Annalisa Xrt, and Johnny Mars, who are also quite good. The format remains the same—a look back at music and culture from a particular year in the distant past. The selection of years Flashback explores was only recently expanded to include the very beginning of this century. This Saturday, WXRT will break from tradition by focussing on the year we’re currently in. 2024. From 9:00 am to noon, this week’s Saturday Morning Flashback will feature Frank E. Lee delving into the music and events of the past 12 months. WXRT (93.1) is available on the Audacy app.

The Phenoms punk band will headline a four-act show this Sunday night at The Sidebar at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, along with the Chicago-based indie rock groups The Safes; Time Thieves; and Speed Babes. The music starts at 8:00 pm.

Wisconsin-based Americana rockers The BoDeans will perform at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL this Saturday.

The Razor and Die Annual End Of The Year Special will air from 3:00 to 6:00 pm tomorrow on Chicago independent radio station WLUW. DJ Di will only play tracks from 2024.

Manual Cinema’s Christmas Carol will wrap up its run at the Studebaker Theater / Fine Arts Building this Sunday. The production offers an adventurous take on the holiday favorite with a plot that concerns a widow attempting to carry on her husband’s annual Christmas Carol puppet show, but getting caught up in her own interpretation. The production involves “handmade puppets, immersive sound design, and live music.”  

Post Of Christmas Past

I believe last year was the first time I posted this nostalgic look back at how I became a Hollies fan and a journalist. It all ties together.

Back when I bought the 2010 vinyl reissue of The Hollies’ Hear! Here! album on the Sundazed label, I decided to keep my 1965 version even though it definitely shows its age. The jacket of that Imperial Records release is frayed and the vinyl has scratches, but I’ll always regard it as a prized possession. I’m pretty sure it was the first album I ever owned. On this day in 1966, an older brother decided to give me a copy of Hear! Here! as a Christmas present, along with the “Stop Stop Stop” single I had requested.

At that point, I only knew one song by The Hollies, but hearing jangling pop gems such as “I’m Alive,” “Look Through Any Window,” and “I’ve Been Wrong” immediately caught my attention. Their covers of the rhythm and blues standards “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” and “You Must Believe Me,” as well as Roy Orbison’s “Down The Line,” were precise and spirited. The Hollies’ originals—the touching “So Lonely” and the harder-edged “Too Many People”—showed their versatility as songwriters.

A month later, I bought their Stop Stop Stop album (For Certain Because in the UK) with money I earned from shoveling our next door neighbor’s sidewalk after the infamous Chicago big snow of 1967. My fascination with the liner notes describing the various inspirations that Graham Nash, Allan Clarke, and Tony Hicks drew upon as songwriters sparked my own life-long interest in writing. And as on Hear! Here!, the harmonies these three guys created were fantastic.

Happy Holidays to all my visitors here at Broken Hearted Toy.

Post Of Christmas Past

Christmas Eve brings anticipation and joy to kids as well as adults, unless you’re a coldhearted miser like Ebenezer Scrooge. In that case, you might be haunted by the ghost of a former co-worker. You can make this situation less awkward by entertaining him with tunes from a fun holiday album. I’ve recently mentioned that The Very Best Of Hi-Fi Christmas Party by various artists is now available on the Futureman Records Bandcamp site. The 25-track effort draws from three Hi-Fi Christmas Party CDs that were released on the indie Vandalay label in 2002, 2006, and 2010.

Back in 2002, vocalist-bassist Dan Pavelich from the Illinois band The Bradburys released the very first Hi-Fi Christmas Party on the independent label Vandalay. Proceeds from the album helped fund research for Von Willibrand’s disease. Here’s an edited repost of that album and the two sequels that followed. Check earlier December posts here on Broken Hearted Toy for a few more holiday music suggestions. And best wishes to everyone for a peaceful, happy holiday.

Hi-Fi Christmas Party was an easy-going compilation that offered original holiday contributions from various local and national power pop acts. Pavelich led The Bradburys through the romantic and highly energetic “I Love It When It Snows!” Other highlights included Don Dixon’s “Christmas Is Saturday,” The Jellybricks’ “We’ll Be Together,” Andrea Perry’s “Fat Aunt Bette,” and The Ted Ansani Trio’s “The Kriss Kringle Jingle.”

When Pavelich returned to the concept with Hi-Fi Christmas Party Volume 2 in 2006, he kept the focus on original 1960s-style power pop. The Elvis Brothers traveled back a little further than that with their very fun “Rock-A-Billy Christmas.” Lisa Mychols joined The Wondermints on the Leslie Gore-influenced “Lost Winter’s Dream,” and Husky Team, which included Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken, delightfully mixed “Auld Lang Syne” with “Green Onions.” Volume 2 also featured The Grip Weeds, Jeremy, The Bradburys, Rob Paravonian, Joey Molland and The Echo Boys, The Spongetones, and The Brothers Figaro Orchestra.

Hi-Fi Christmas Party Volume Three, released in 2010, followed in the amiable tradition of its two predecessors, presenting another selection of mostly original material. Sketch Middle’s “Very Very, Merry Merry” had an energetic power pop buzz, and The Jigsaw Seen’s “What About Christmas?” was another highlight. Other acts contributing catchy holiday tunes included The Click Beetles, a Pavelich side project with drummer Ed James; The Yule Logs; The Sun Kings; Jamie and Steve from The Spongetones; and Jim Babjak of The Smithereens.

Incoming

Photo of Cheap Trick from the band's official Facebook page.

Happy Birthday to Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen, who’s been one of rock’s most unique performers for decades. I still have the guitar pick that struck me in the face after he flicked it from the stage during a concert at the University Of Illinois - Chicago several years ago. 

As noted on his Facebook page, former WXRT radio personality Richard Milne will pay a visit to Chicago indie station CHIRP Radio 107.1FM tomorrow from 6:00 to 9:00 am. He’ll join DJ Michael B and share “some of my all-time Holiday faves” with listeners. Milne was an engaging host for XRT’s morning show a while back, and he also promoted countless Chicago area bands on his Local Anesthetic program.

The Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown opens in theaters on Christmas day, and if the advance reviews are correct, actor Timothée Chalamet will be impressing a lot of people. 

Chicago guitarist Ellis Clark had the honor of being one of the band members when Billy J. Kramer of original British Invasion and Beatles pal fame performed at the Moon Theatre in St. Charles. Kramer must have taken a like to Chicago area musicians; he’s previously performed here with Phil Angotti.

Wisconsin-based Americana rockers The BoDeans will perform at The Ames Center in Minneapolis, MN this Thursday, and at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL on Saturday.

Susanna Hoffs and Elvis Costello recently celebrated Keith Richards’ 81st birthday by recording a version of the vintage Rolling Stones song “Connection” that can be heard on YouTube. Hoffa and Costello have worked together previously; she and The Bangles recorded his song “Tear Off Your Own Head” on their 2003 Doll Revolution album, and they have also performed in concert with him. I would gladly download the Hoffs and Costello take on “Connection,” but I haven’t found any info as to whether it’s available. 

It’s not too late to download some fun rock and roll for your holiday gathering. The Very Best Of Hi-Fi Christmas Party by various artists is now available on the Futureman Records Bandcamp site. 

Slumgullion

Photo from official Paul McCartney Facebook page.

You might say Paul McCartney touched bass with some old acquaintances in London on the final date of his current latest tour. As reported by Stereogum and other websites, McCartney strummed his Hofner 500/1 bass guitar, which was returned to him several years after it mysteriously went missing. He also performed with surprise guests Ringo Starr and Ronnie Wood, much to the joy of audience members.

Sons Of The Silent Age, Chicago’s impressive David Bowie tribute band, has a Celebrating 50 Years Of David Bowie’s Young Americans And More show coming to Metro on January 11, 2025. Critically acclaimed actor Michael Shannon, who frequently shares a bill with Sons Of The Silent Age, will perform that night as John Lennon. Tickets are now on sale. Metro is located at 3730 N. Clark Street.

Solo artist and New Pornographers band member Neko Case will kick off her 2025 book tour for The Harder I Fight The More I Love You memoir with a January 18 appearance in London with fellow author/musician Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go’s. Case’s stops in North America through early February include February 4 in Chicago with South African journalist Lior Phillips.

The first Indie Music event at the Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL got off to an encouraging start this past Tuesday with a solid lineup of four Chicago area acts. The performances took place within the speakeasy ambience of the Bourbon ’N Brass lounge rather than on the main stage, with most of the well-upholstered chairs and sofas filled with patrons. The original music from Americana rock performer Richard Bandini and his band; the guitar-driven Capra Brothers; the power pop band The Spindles; and country rockers Ryan Craig Band was consistently impressive.

Tomorrow night, the Des Plaines Theatre will offer It’s A Motown Christmas on its main stage. The event will include tributes to The Four Tops, The Supremes, The Temptations, Stevie Wonder, and Martha And The Vendellas.

Jack White will start his massive 2025 Canada/USA/Japan No Name Tour on February 6 in Toronto, and he’ll have dates at The Salt Shed in Chicago on April 10 and 11.

Congratulations to veteran Chicago band Go Time! on its new partnership with the esteemed indie label Kool Kat Musik. Led by vocalist-guitarist Scott Niekelski, Go Time! has released a series of hard-edged, emotionally rich power pop albums on the (their own?) Sound Gypsy Recordings label.

Scottish singer-songwriter Al Stewart of “Year Of The Cat” fame and Zombies vocalist/founding member Colin Blunstone will perform shows together in Arizona and California in February and March. Stewart will be joined The Empty Pockets, a band he’s performed with here in Chicago. The first concert will be in Phoenix on February 21. Blunstone will embark on a short European solo tour starting with Berlin on April 15th.

While it might be too late to order memorabilia from The Smoking Popes website and have it in time for holiday gift giving, some of the Chicago-based punk band’s Winter Sale merch is well-suited for the upcoming winter weather. You’ll also find t-shirts and CDs.

The Very Best Of Hi-Fi Christmas Party by various artists is now available on the Futureman Records Bandcamp site. The 25-track effort draws from three Hi-Fi Christmas Party CDs that were released on the indie Vandalay label in 2002, 2006, and 2010. The artists on this new Best release include The Jellybricks; Andrea Perry; Don Dixon; Phil Angotti; Jeremy; The Bradburys; Jigsaw Seen; The Elvis Brothers, Grip Weeds; Husky Team; and The Spongetones. 100% of the proceeds from The Very Best Of Hi-Fi Christmas Party are being donated to the Versiti Blood Research Institute (formerly The Blood Center) in Milwaukee, WI.

How can you shred a broken heart? Not sure how this would pan out, but a Tragedy - All Metal Tribute To The Bee Gees show is coming to The Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL on April 10.

Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve have a 15-date In Concert Tour USA 2025 kicking off on February 19 in Easton, PA. The tour wraps up in Chicago on March 11, 12, and 14. Those three shows at the Park West will features Costello and Nieve joined by a full band.

Push Puppets, a band from my hometown of Palatine, recently finished a new album and will announce a release date soon. Their splendid 2023 album Allegory Grey featured catchy indie rock songs similar to Wilco, with a bit of Paisley Underground on other tracks.

The Toronto-based co-ed quintet Alvvays has released a 10th anniversary edition of its self-titled debut on Cerulean in Cloudy Clear vinyl that includes the previously unreleased track “Underneath Us.” The album also includes a poster print of hand drawn art by Canadian musician/artist Chad VanGaalen.

Congratulations to Chicago musician Lee D’buddah on completing his book Side by Side, Raisa and Lee hit the Road. According to his Facebook page, it’s based on their 1970 cross country trip in a converted 1965 VW bus. Thee book is now available on Amazon.

 

The Fest For Beatles Fans 2025 NY Metro Fest will take place at The Hyatt Regency Jersey City on March 28 – 30, and special guests will include Jim McCarty from The Yardbirds and Colin Hanton from The Quarrymen. Performers on the Apple Jam Stage will include Phil Angotti from Chicago. Congratulations to Phil on his first time being invited out to the Big Apple Fest.

If you’re looking for holiday songs that offer some wisdom for the season, check out Herb Eimerman’s jangly “Don’t Ask For More” and The Twigs’ delicate and beautiful “Flying Kites On Christmas.” 

Fans of the only band that matters will likely enjoy Manchester-based journalist Iain Key’s upcoming book All The Young Punks - A People’s History Of The Clash. Due out April 11, 2025 from Spenwood Books, it offers the point of view from numerous fans and photos of rare memorabilia. The UK publisher also has books on Thin Lizzy, Slade, Pink Floyd, The Who, and other bands.

 

Andrew Robert Palmer, who has released solo albums as ARP! and with his sister Becca Palmer as the Chicago alt rock duo Mother Z’s, has a new solo EP titled Letters to the Moon coming out on January 13. The four-track effort (two power pop/two acoustic) will be available on his Bandcamp page. In the meantime, you can check out the previous releases he’s posted there.

The Mekons recently released a new song titled “You’re Not Singing Anymore” and they have an extensive tour coming in 2025 that will include performances at the Square Roots Festival in Chicago and at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL.

Lee Ketch from the Chicago-based indie rock band Mooner has just released more solo material on his Bandcamp page. This time out, he covers a pair of songs originally recorded by one of his favorite groups, Office Culture. “A Word” and “Was I Cruel” are engaging, acoustic-based ballads. Proceeds will be donated to Nourishing Hope Food Pantry, Chicago, IL. Ketch has a gig coming up at Constellation on January 9.  

Post Of Christmas Past

I posted Weekend Reminders earlier tonight. And now, here’s another holiday rerun from the BHT vault.

The Smithereens first dabbled in Christmas music back in 1992 by recording a silly and energetic take on “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” for the Rockin’ Christmas compilation. The song later appeared on the 1995 Attack Of The Smithereens rarities collection, as well as on the Songs Of The Season compilation sponsored by Borders Books and WXRT in 2000. 

In 2007, the band, which at the time featured bassist Severo Jornacion, really showed its holiday spirit by releasing the full-length Christmas With The Smithereens. It’s a fun party from start to finish, as The Smithereens bring their engaging power pop approach to a mix of originals and cover versions. “Waking Up On Christmas Morning,” which can also be found on the Hi-Fi Christmas Party and Ho Ho Spice collections, is a catchy tune penned by guitarist Jim Babjak. The fast-paced “Christmas Time All Over The World,” written by Babjak, singer Pat DiNizio, drummer Dennis Diken, and original bassist Mike Mesaros, celebrates hugging and kissing under the mistletoe, and compares the holiday to a big rock show. The other Smithereens original, “Christmas (I Remember)” takes a melodic look back at childhood and notes, “The kid inside my heart won’t die.”

There are also guitar-driven interpretations of Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” and The Beach Boys’ “Merry Christmas, Baby.” “Christmas,” taken from The Who’s Tommy isn’t traditional holiday fare, but the authentic arrangement here gives a preview of band’s later decision to record their own version of the entire rock opera. “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)” doesn’t have as much edge as the version by The Ramones, but it’s still a solid effort, and The Smithereens also do well with “Christmas Time Is Here Again,” one of the rare songs The Beatles recorded for their fan club members.

The Smithereens set Clement Clark Moore’s classic poem, ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas to a jazzy percussion-led arrangement, and they open “Auld Lang Syne” with acappella vocals before launching into a rollicking instrumental jam session. All in all, Christmas With The Smithereens is a date worth keeping.

Weekend Reminders

Country Calendar art by Heather McAdams

Recently, Thursday posts have focused on events that were previously mentioned on Broken Hearted Toy, and are taking place during the upcoming weekend. Plus, the occasional event taking place this weekend that has just come to my attention.

The 2024 Chris and Heather’s Country Calendar Show will take place at FitzGerald’s In Berwyn, IL this Saturday. Andrew Sa; Jodee Lewis; Zachary Stevenson and The Oh Boys; Dave Drazin; Phil Angotti; Nora O’Connor; The Hushdrops; Jane Baxter Miller and Kent Kessler; Casey McDonough; Hillbilly Frolic; Scott Ligon and Kelly Hogan; and The Saturn Kings will be the entertainers joining Chris Ligon and Heather McAdams. Each local act will cover a well-known country or rock act. Chances are McAdams will be selling copies of her calendar, which for years now has featured lots of the cool portraits of musicians and celebrities.

Singer-songwriter Michael McDermott’s Mischief and Mistletoe concert is another holiday tradition ‘round these parts, and it will run this Saturday through Monday at City Winery Chicago. The Saturday show is already sold out.

The Razor and Die Annual Christmas Radio Celebration! will air from 6:00  to 8:00 pm tomorrow on Chicago independent radio station WLUW. DJ Di promised on a recent Facebook post that she “will be spinning obscure and multi-genre holiday tunes.” The special follows her regular show, in which she’ll have Frankie O’Malley from Chicago band The Safes as her special guest.

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

The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights will wrap up its run of A Christmas Carol on December 23, so this will be its last weekend for 2024. The cast is consistently successful with this more musical-oriented take, so even if you’ve already seen the iconic Dickens play this year, the Metropolis version is worth checking out.

Post Of Christmas Past

Here’s another rerun from BHT vault.

Back in the year 2000, Carl Wayne took over for Allan Clarke as the lead vocalist of The Hollies. Although the band hadn’t released an album since 1983, it still toured extensively throughout Europe. Considering that Clarke had one of the more distinctive voices in rock, whoever replaced him would be facing a huge challenge. Wayne never attempted to imitate his predecessor. As a founding member of the highly regarded English band The Move, as well as a veteran of the stage, he had the confidence to be himself. In the four years he performed with The Hollies before passing away from throat cancer, he established himself as “the people’s Hollie”— a performer who loved interacting with fans and bringing them closer to their favorite band.

In 2003, Wayne collaborated with the German synth duo et cetera on a CD with three versions of the classic holiday song “White Christmas.” The disc was made available through Wayne’s website, and fans could choose between an English language version or a German language version. The singer autographed each copy with a gold ink pen. The “True Feelings Mix” and the “Radio Mix” have slower, keyboards-based arrangements that showcase Wayne’s deep, soulful vocals. They’re nice, but perhaps a little too mainstream for some rock fans’ tastes. The “Swing Mix,” which features horns, finds Wayne taking a peppy, hipster approach, and it’s a lot of fun. All three versions are available on amazonmusic.

The Hollies themselves never recorded a Christmas song, even though their famous three-part harmonies would have been well-suited to the task. Plus, the band reportedly took their name from the fact that their first gig was on Christmas, in a club decorated with holly. They did engage in holiday revelry on British TV shows, but to my knowledge, none of that material was ever officially released. The closest I’ve found is “Julhalsning,” on the import CD, The Hollies - Swedish Hits And More. It’s a recording the band made in the mid-1960s for the readers of Bild magazine, and features Graham Nash and the boys joking around and singing a very silly and very short version of  “White Christmas.”

Merry Christmas, Carl and thanks for the memories.

Post Of Christmas Past

With Christmas just about a week away, it’s a good time to revisit one of the best (and possibly first) various artists collections of original holiday songs. Back in 2010, I reviewed Yuletunes here on Broken Hearted Toy. Here’s an edited version of that review. 

“This Christmas” by Shoes is a catchy rock song with a monster drum beat and chiming guitars that offers an optimistic approach to coping with tough times. The punchy “Merry Christmas Will Do” finds Material Issue at the peak of its power. Jim Ellison’s rugged guitar playing takes center stage, and as usual, he’s a master at selling the pain of unrequited love through his evocative singing. The Idea, fronted by vocalist-guitarist Phil Angotti, contributes the melodic “It’s About That Time,” which describes the joys of winter scenes, church bell, carols, and watching It’s A Wonderful Life.

The single-named Leroy checks in with “Santa Stole My Baby,” a mid-tempo song that sets up a crime scene with clever clues like, “footsteps on the rooftop.” On a more serious note, there’s the haunting “The Saddest Time Of The Year” from Spooner. The band featured lead vocalist-guitarist Duke Erikson and drummer Butch Vig long before they formed Garbage with dynamic Scottish singer Shirley Manson. The Spongetones craft an old-fashioned Christmas tune with a delicate melody and intricately layered vocals on their innocent fantasy “Christmasland.”

“A God Of My Own” by 92 Degrees offers a complex look at religious beliefs during the most commercial time of the year. Whatever your feelings on that issue, there’s no denying this song has a gorgeous arrangement. Songs don’t come much happier than Bill Lloyd’s romantic “Underneath The Christmas Tree.” Set to a catchy arrangement, it sounds like it could have been a 1960s Top 40 hit. Kelley Ryan adds a hint of Country and Western to her heartfelt vocals on “It’s Not Christmas,” as someone spending the holiday alone “for the first time in years.”

Singer-songwriter Herb Eimerman’s gorgeous ballad “You Gave Me” celebrates family traditions at Christmas, as well as the way love and values are passed on from one generation to another. The Critics uncork an irresistible energy on their romantic “She Feels Like Christmas Day.” This is probably the only song on Yuletunes that would fit in just as well on a non-holiday collection.