Saturday Slumgullion

The Effigies, one of Chicago’s first and best known punk bands, have an all ages show (with parent or guardian) coming up next Friday at The Vixen venue in McHenry. The music starts at 6:30 pm, with Chicago-based punk band Sex Dream as the opening act. The Effigies have classic albums such as For Ever Grounded and Fly On A Wire to choose from, as well as their 2023 effort Burned. Unfortunately, we lost founding member John Kezdy to a fatal accident right around the time of that last effort.

Congratulations to Ronnie Wood on 50 years of performing with the Rolling Stones. He officially replaced guitarist Mick Taylor on April 14, 1975.

Alaskan singer-songwriter Mark Ward, whose 2024 album Let ‘Er Rip offered power pop gems, along with some country-flavored fun, is finalizing mixes for his next album. This one will feature cover songs, and is due out in mid-June.

The feature-length documentary Bono: Stories of Surrender, which is based on the U2 vocalist’s solo tour for his fascinating memoir, will stream on May 30 on Apple TV. According to an online post from Billboard, director Andre Dominik’s film will include footage of Bono performing some of the songs he’s made famous with U2. 

As noted in Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter Erica Thompson’s article in yesterday’s Showcase section, local publisher Numero Group has released Dante Carfagna’s two-volume, 732-page set Soul Music Of Illinois. The website states Soul Music Of Illinois “chronicles over 3200 artists, 1200 record companies, and 10,000 individual releases between the years of 1960 and 1990.” 

Forever Now - A Post Punk, One Day Festival will make its debut on June 22 at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes. The official website states: “A UK sister event of city of the acclaimed US festival Cruel World, it celebrates alternative culture, post-punk music, fashion, and literature.” Participating acts include The The; Johnny Marr; Billy Idol; Kraftwerk; Psychedelic Furs; Berlin; The Motels; and Chameleons. 

The Cruel World festival takes place in Pasadena, CA on May 17. Headline acts include New Order; ’til tuesday; 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.

McLuhan, the adventurous seven-piece Chicago band inspired by philosopher Marshall McLuhan, will perform at the Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich on April 26. Based on its recent series of shows at Montrose Saloon, it seems likely McLuhan will have vinyl copies of its ground-breaking and recently re-released album Anomaly available for sale at this show. Copper Fiddle Distillery is located at 532 W. Il. Route 22, Suite 110.

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!”

The recently released single “Bullet Proof” is the first new music we’ve heard from Chicago rock scene veterans Kevin Lee And The Kings since 2022. The hard-edged song takes aim at high society via Lee’s strong vocals and a guitar-driven arrangement. Fans can check it out on Soundcloud.

Emmylou Harris will share a double bill with Graham Nash at the Tanglewood venue in Lenox, MA on July 29, as well as at the Wolf Trap National Park For The Performing Arts in Vienna, VA on July 31.

EXPO ’76 will perform at the Prairie Moon restaurant in Evanston as the venue celebrates its 23rd anniversary on May 8. There will be drink and dinner specials all night, and the live music starts at 8:00 pm. There’s no cover charge, but reservations are recommended. Two days later, EXPO ’76 will perform at the Austin Community Tavern in Steger, IL.

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.

The Chicago area Harry Potter Shop is now open at 676 N. Michigan Avenue; offering clothing, candy, wands, mugs, books, and something called Hogwarts trunks.

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.

Chicago area teenage musician Gavin Eimerman has released a series of singles over the past few years via the Australian indie label Egomaniac Music, and his full-length debut CD To Inherit All Prevalence is coming out April 25. According to a Facebook post, it will offer a mix of indie rock, progressive metal, power pop, and a few acoustic ballads.

Terry Chambers And Friends, which features the longtime drummer for the critically acclaimed and beloved English band XTC backed by veteran musicians, has a May 1 gig coming up at City Winery Chicago.

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. Custard Flux is one of the numerous acts scheduled to appear at the upcoming International Pop Overthrow - Chicago fest starting next Friday.

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. 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.”

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.

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.

The Stop Making Sense: A Film By Jonathan Demme And Talking Heads Live Event Hosted By Jerry Harrison is coming 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.

Shaky Knees - The Music Festival is scheduled to take place at Piedmont Park in in Atlanta, GA from September 19 through 21. Scheduled acts include Lenny Kravitz; Pixies; Spoon; Inhaler; Cage The Elephant; Johnny Marr; The Beaches; Vampire Weekend; Devo; Wet Leg; Franz Ferdinand; and Stereophonics.