Slumgullion

Photo from the R.E.M. official Facebook page.

Happy Birthday to R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. I was hooked on this band from the first time I heard “Wolves, Lower” from its Chronic Town EP on the Chicago radio station WXRT back in 1982. Buck has kept busy since R.E.M. broke up, performing with a variety of interesting new bands and projects.

Just a reminder there are few hours left in this month’s Bandcamp Friday. That’s when Bandcamp waives its revenue and passes the funds directly on to artists and labels. Combine your holiday gift giving with supporting musicians. Bandcamp also has its own merch for sale; I bought a t-shirt from them a while back.

Pure Soul will present a Soul Brunch Christmas Spectacular featuring vocalist Meagan McNeal at City Winery Chicago at noon this Sunday. The show will feature chestnuts such as Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas,” Stevie Wonder’s “Someday at Christmas,” and The Jackson 5’s “Santa Claus is Comin' to Town.” A week later, Phil Angotti and Friends (John San Juan, Carolyn Engelmann, Tom Ryan, and Blair Holmes for this event) will present a Christmas Beatles Brunch at City Winery Chicago at noon.

Graham Nash has announced he’ll follow his USA spring tour next year with a series of concerts across Europe in the fall. Tickets for the UK stops on that tour, including Liverpool, London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Cardiff, went on sale earlier today. I can’t help hoping Nash with check in with his former mates in The Hollies, at least for some tea and sharing memories.

Social Act, a Chicago band that began releasing albums back in the mid-1980s, will showcase their new holiday single “XMAS” at a performance coming on December 13th at The Liar’s Club on Chicago’s north side. The show starts  at 7:30 PM and personnel from WZRD Radio will be on hand, celebrating the station’s 50th anniversary.

As noted on the Powerpopalooza Facebook page, the 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 the 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.

The always authentic and impressive tribute band Tributosaurus will hold The Christmas Spectacular on December 21 at SPACE in Evanston.

It’s still a gift even if it’s not seasonal. Aussie musician Joe Algeri has been sending people around the globe a new song each December for 24 years. Often, they take an off-kilter view of the holiday season, but this year’s free download “Are You Ever Coming Back” is a guitar-driven garage rocker about a busted relationship. Algeri is joined by his usual international crew of  bassist-backup vocalist Herb Eimerman, drummer Stefan Johansson, lead guitarist Lars Brussel, and lead guitarist Andy J. Prinllila. “This year, we’ve all got fuzz pedals and bowl haircuts,” Algeri explains on his Bandcamp page. “Just think of it as a gift in time for the holiday season.” Thanks, Joe.

Congratulations and best wishes to my nephew/godson Chef Joe Flamm on the December 12 debut of his new restaurant il Carciofo in Chicago’s Fulton Market area. Reservations are now available for those looking to experience cuisine inspired by restaurants and markets of Rome. Joe has already found success with his first venue Rose Mary, and was the winner of the 15th season of the Bravo channel’s Top Chef.

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.

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.

NRBQ has six east coast performances coming up, starting with The Warehouse FTC in Fairfield, CT on December 11. The other stops are in Norfolk, CT; Fall River, MA; Shirley, MA; New York, NY; and Northampton, MA.

Chicago area glam rockers The Artist Formally Known As Vince, or TAFKAVince as they’re more commonly known, have just released “a new homemade low budget video” for their hard-hitting and adventurous song “A Problematic Opera.”

Fans of the adventurous prog rock UK label Fruits de Mer Records regularly releases should check out the 53-minute Custard Flux - Live at the 20th Dream of Dr. Sardonicus Festival that’s now available on Bandcamp. The festival is a yearly event in Cardigan,Wales created by Fruits de Mer; hosted by the Sendelica band and the Cellar Bar; and sponsored by Record Collector magazine. Custard Flux is a Yank band that makes the trek overseas, and this new effort features songs such as “Burning In The Sun,” “Transmutation,” and “Right Now Here In Time.” All for just $10.

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.

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.

The Spindles will perform at the Des Plaines Theatre’s on December 17 as part of the venue’s new Indie Rock Night series. The Arcada in St. Charles, IL will also have Indie Rock nights.

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.

There will be a triple bill of Van Go, The Second Summer, and Dam Destroyers (formerly The Red Wigglers) on December 14 at The Gallery on December 14. Admission is free. All three acts have performed at International Pop Overthrow - Chicago.

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.