Saturday Slumgullion

Happy Birthday to Allan Clarke, whose distinctive vocals graced several Top 40 hits by The Hollies, including “Look Through Any Window,” “I Can’t Let Go,” “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress,” “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” and “The Air That I Breathe.” Clarke created gorgeous harmonies with fellow founding member Graham Nash, as well as with Tony Hicks and Terry Sylvester. Clarke had retired from The Hollies by the time they were inducted into The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2010, but he performed at the induction ceremony. He has since come back with the impressive solo efforts Resurgence in 2019 and I’ll Never Forget in 2023.

UK-based music historian/author Peter Checksfield’s new book The Hollies - Elevated Observations: The Graham Nash Years 1963 – 1968 is now available on Amazon, and you’ll find plenty of references to Clarke in there as well. I recently received the copy I ordered, as well as the April issue of Mojo magazine, which has a feature story on Nash. 

On the subject of Happy Birthdays, best wishes to Chicago-based singer-songwriter Steve Dawson; ABBA vocalist Agnetha Fältskog; and my Top Chef Season 15 winning nephew Joe Flamm. You can celebrate Joe’s birthday (or anyone else’s) at either of his two Chicago restaurants; Rose Mary or the recently opened il Carciofo. Or celebrate at both since they’re close to each other in the Fulton Market area.

Jack White’s No Name Tour, which follows his identically named studio album and live EP,  comes to The Salt Shed in Chicago on April 10 and 11. 

The annual Old Town School Of Folk Music Record Sale will be held on May 3 and 4 at Music Direct’s warehouse at 1811 W. Bryn Mawr in Chicago. The official website promises “a diverse array of musical treasures, including thousands of donated LPs, rare 78s, tons of collectable and signed recordings, essential books, CDs, and DVDs, alongside premium records and equipment sourced directly from Music Direct’s warehouse.”

The Pandoras Official Fanpage on Facebook recently announced they have gigs coming up in the near future. “We’re super excited to announce that we will be playing some awesome shows!!” the post read. “It feels incredible to continue playing all our and your favorite tunes!! And we know Paula [Pierce] and Kim [Shattuck] would be so proud and are always with us!”

Adventurous prog rock musician and The Luck Of Eden Hall founding member Gregory Curvey, AKA Custard Flux, has a new album titled Enter Xenon coming out on June 1. It can be pre-ordered on Bandcamp, and the first three tracks are already available to purchase and download.

The Jeff Tweedy Annual Benefit Shows will be held at the Vic Theatre on April 18 and April 19, with the April 19 show having already sold out. As stated on the Wilco official website, “All proceeds are donated to organizations chosen by the Tweedy family. Past organizations include The Chicago Lighthouse, Be Alright, Direct Effect Charities, One Tail at a Time and Alive Rescue Chicago.” 

The Minus Five, comprising Linda Pitmon; Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey; Kurt Bloch; and Debbi Peterson, will embark on a short west coast tour in June. Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill will also be on the bill for the first three dates, followed by The Rubinoos in that spot on the next three dates.

Jason Narducy and Dag Juhlin will celebrate Pete Townshend’s birthday on June 21 at the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights, IL. Townshend was born on May 19, which is why this event is being billed as a (Belated) Birthday Bash. Understandable since Narducy and Juhlin have a busy schedule these days.

Fans of Chicago rock and roll circa the mid 1960s might have a willingness to check out The New Colony Six on May 23 at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights.

The Cruel World festival will take place in Pasadena, CA on May 17. Headline acts include New Order; The Buzzcocks; Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds; The Go-Go’s; Devo; OMD; Garbage; Alison Moyet, Blancmange; Stereo MC’s; Midge Ure; and Madness. According to a Facebook post from Aimee Mann, members of ’til tuesday will perform together for the first time in 35 years at the Cruel World festival.

How Lucky Can One Man Get, the documentary covering John Prine’s 2010 benefit concert at Proviso East, will be screened at The Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL on April 9. There will be Q and A panel afterward with Fiona Prine, Jason Wilbur, and Lois Baumann. Tickets are $30.

Keri Johnsrud and Shawn Maxwell will showcase songs from their 2024 debut album Caffeine on April 8 at City Winery Chicago. As a vocalist and saxophone player respectively, Johnsrud and Maxwell are well known on the Chicago music scene and combined their talents on Caffeine to celebrate the ups and downs of a typical person’s day. They’ll be accompanied by musicians Tom Vaistas on piano, Tim Seisser on bass & Lucas Gillan on drums at the City Winery Chicago gig.

Indie label Kool Kat Musik has released Pop Aid 2: A Compilation To Benefit Those Affected By Hurricanes Helene & Milton. All net profits from the 23-track CD will go directly to the American Red Cross in its efforts to help people in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Acts who contributed songs to Pop Aid 2 include Mothboxer; Ronnie D’Addario featuring The Lemon Twigs; Vegas With Randolph; The Anderson Council; The Weeklings; Thrift Store Halo; The Grip Weeds, The Successful Failures; and Richard Turgeon. Kool Kat’s first POP AID effort came in 2022 with A Power Pop Compilation to Benefit the Citizens of Ukraine, which has so far generated over $4,000 to help World Central Kitchen in its work.

EXPO ’76, which modestly promotes itself as, “Chicago’s favorite band playing the tunes you forgot you always loved,” can return to the local club scene now that member Dag Juhlin has finished working with the Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy And Friends R.E.M.’s Fables Of The Reconstruction tour. EXPO ’76 will be back at one of its favorite joints, Simon’s Tavern on April 9.

The 10cc’s Graham Gouldman and Heart Full Of Songs tour is currently visiting venues in the UK, featuring the well-known songwriter/musician and a “semi-acoustic four-piece band performing songs from his back catalogue.” That includes hits by 10cc, The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, and The Yardbirds. I’d love to see him come to Chicago with that tour.

The Chicago-based David Bowie tribute band Sons Of The Silent Age has a benefit concert for a close friend coming up on April 13 at Madame Zuzu’s in Highland Park. The music starts at 7:00 pm.

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan, who runs Madame Zuzu’s with his wife Chloe Mendel, is working with Lyric Opera Of Chicago boss John Mangum to create a piece “based on arranged and orchestrated music” from the Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness album. The Lyric Opera’s upcoming season will include performances of Night Of Mellon Collie And Infinite Sadness November 21 – 30.

Just Like Heaven: A Tribute To The Cure is now available from American Laundromat Records in vinyl format. Participating artists include Dean and Britta; Class Actress; Black Francis +Violet Clark; The Wedding Present; and Tanya Donelly.

Indie rock acts Doug Gillard and Bunnygrunt have recorded a seven-inch split single titled “A Tribute To Game Theory.” Gillard picked “Dripping With Looks” and Bunnygrunt chose “Together Now, Very Minor,” and both tracks are available on vinyl or as downloads on the Bert Dax Bandcamp page. It’s nice to see the late Scott Miller and his underrated band Game Theory getting some recognition.

Jazz guitarist Steve Knight has a release party for his For Years Gone album coming up on April 14 at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago’s Printer’s Row area. Working with bassist Justin Peterson and drummer Linard Stroud as an instrumental trio, Knight creates his own compositions and covers well-known artists such as George Harrison, Joni Mitchell, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. The Jazz Showcase is located at 806 S Plymouth Ct.

The Stop Making Sense: A Film By Jonathan Demme And Talking Heads Live Event Hosted By Jerry Harrison is coming on May 1 to the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts in Skokie, IL. The re-release of Demme’s iconic 1984 concert flick has been restored in 4K, and Talking Heads guitarist Jerry Harrison will provide an introduction, as well comments and a Q&A session afterward. Limited meet and greet tickets are available.