Slumgullion

Cheap Trick’s new album All Washed Up is due out November 14, and the group has posted a video on YouTube for the first single from it. “Twelve Gates” finds an animated version of the guys rocking a mid-tempo arrangement powered by guitars and layered vocals. A promising start.

The Replacements have a deluxe edition of their 1984 groundbreaking album Let It Be coming out in 4-LP, 3CD, and digital formats on October 24 via Rhino Records. A recent post on the band’s Facebook page states there will also be a “special bonus 10-inch vinyl, and T-Shirt mercy option.” 

McLuhan, the adventurous seven-piece Chicago band inspired by philosopher Marshall McLuhan, has added an August 30 performance at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue to its busy schedule. CD copies of McLuhan’s ground-breaking, re-released album Anomaly is now available through the Think Like A Key Music site.

The latest edition of Second Scene, the Pittsburgh-based print publication that covers indie rock, is now available for $7 plus shipping on its Bandcamp page. Issue #21 features articles on Jah Wobble, Heavenly, The Laissez Fairs, Philip Parfitt, and several acts. If past issues are an indication, there will be colorful graphics to go with the copy.

Long-time entertainment writer Mark Caro (Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, etc.) has talked with several indie rock musicians on his Caropop podcast, and just started making some of those interviews available on his YouTube channel. Caro has an easy-going, knowledgeable style that leads to fascinating conversations with his guests. The recently posted Caropop episode with singer-songwriter Sam Phillips is a prime example.

Duets Special - Chrissie Hynde And Pals, an album featuring The Pretenders lead vocalist pairing up with Lucinda Williams; Julian Lennon; Shirley Manson; k.d. lang; David Gahan; Debbie Harry; Brandon Flowers; Rufus Wainwright and other well-known performers, is due out on October 17. It’s currently available to pre-order from various sites.

Chicago’s beloved and frequently funny covers band EXPO ’76 will perform at Fuller’s Pub on the north side for the very first time on September 6. The venue is located at 3203 W. Irving Park Road. In related news, EXPO ’76 with the Total Pro Horns will release an album titled Hot In The Dark on October 24. 

High Moon Records, which is known for its adventurous series of reissues, has released Sly And The Family Stone - The First Family: Live At Winchester Cathedral 1967. Available in CD or LP format, it includes a deluxe booklet, interviews with Stone and original band members, rare photos, and memorabilia.

Three Chicago area recording artists with loyal followings on the club scene will join forces at QBar in Darien, IL on September 13. Fans can expect an evening of live power pop and indie rock during separate sets by The Embryos, The Spindles, and Go Time! Doors will open at 7:30 pm.

The Woggles, the garage rock specialists championed by Little Steven and his Wicked Cool record label, recently embarked on a world tour. One of those dates will bring them to Reggies in Chicago on September 11, with hometown heroes The Handcuffs serving as the opening act.

Autographed copies of the Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill’s album Long After The Fire can now be ordered via the TalkShopLive website.

Chicago’s beloved and frequently funny covers band EXPO ’76 will perform at Fuller’s Pub on the north side for the very first time on September 6. The venue is located at 3203 W. Irving Park Road. In related news, EXPO ’76 with the Total Pro Horns will release an album titled Hot In The Dark on October 24. 

Three Chicago area recording artists with loyal followings on the club scene will join forces at QBar in Darien, IL on September 13. Fans can expect an evening of live power pop and indie rock during separate sets by The Embryos, The Spindles, and Go Time! Doors will open at 7:30 pm.

Chicagoans who enjoyed the Magnolia Pictures documentary It’s Never Over, Jeff Buckley will be happy to learn the 28th Annual Jeff Buckley Tribute will be held on November 16 and 17 at Uncommon Ground Lakeview. 

Cheap Kiss Records is currently offering a limited edition compilation titled A Blast From The Cellar! - Lost Gems From The 60s Chicago Garage Rock Explosion. Available on vinyl only, the album is inspired by the legendary Arlington Heights, IL teen club that booked several of that era’s world famous bands. As stated in its title, this collection focuses on Chicago-area acts that also performed at The Cellar, and includes songs by The Mauds; The Same; Boston Tea Party, and The Huns.

The 40th Annual Printers Row Lit Fest has announced the full schedule of events that will take place on the weekend of September 6 and 7 on South Dearborn Street, from Ida B. Wells to Polk Street. The outdoor event always exudes a friendly, creative vibe and will feature over 150 exhibitors, as well as authors and presenters. Admission is free.

Parody Of Pleasure, the debut solo album from Lydia Night is now available, and finds the former leader of The Regrettes exploring a variety of musical approaches. Night describes her new music as “a window into my weird little brain” and promises to be out on tour soon.

The annual Doctor Who convention Chicago TARDIS recently announced that actor Christopher Eccleston will be among the celebrity guests when the event takes place at the Westin Lombard Yorktown in November. Eccleston was pivotal in the success of the British sci-fi program’s 2005 rebirth when he portrayed The Doctor in that first year.

Tickets are now on sale for the Mark Guarino produced Old No. 1 at 50 – A Celebration of Guy Clark featuring Robbie Fulks, John Abbey, Janet Beveridge Bean, Steve Dawson, Josh Caterer, and Naomi Ashley. The event  takes place at Evanston SPACE on October 5.

Chicago-based blues legend Buddy Guy recently released the new album Ain’t Done With The Blues, and it’s now available in CD, vinyl, and digital formats on Amazon and other sites.

The Carla Olson and Tall Poppy Syndrome single “Is It True,” which was released in digital format in 2024, is now available as a Deluxe CD + download on Bandcamp. The song offers a 1960s arrangement with a harder edge, and features Olson, Clem Burke, Vince Melouney and Jonathan Lea.

Another VU, the Chicago-based band that performs 1969-era Velvet Underground songs, has gigs lined up at Montrose Saloon on August 29 and September 20; and on November 23 at Simon’s Tavern.

The Lakeview East Festival Of The Arts returns for its 20th year on September 13 and 14, taking place on Broadway, between Belmont and Hawthorne. Over 120 artists will display their work, and performances on the two stages will include Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen; Gerald Dowd;Gerald McClendon; The Band Calderisi; and Kent Rose And The Remedies.

Trolley will release A Carnival Of Black And White, its first new album in five years on October 3. In the meantime, the Milwaukee-based power pop band released the catchy title track, and more recently gave us “As Long As I Can Find You.” The latter mixes a hint of Elvis Costello with mid-1960s British rock.

Several well-known acts will perform at the Evanston Folk Festival when it’s held September 6 and 7 at Dawes Park in Evanston, IL. Iron And Wine; Tune-Yards; Margo Price; Loudon Wainwright III; Steve Dawson and Diane Christiansen; The Milk Carton Kids; and Ezra Furman are among the scheduled acts. The festival will include three aftershows in nearby locations: Ani DiFranco with special guest Hurray for the Riff Raff at Cahn Auditorium on September 5; Songs Of Bob Dylan featuring Nora O’Connor, Nathan Graham, Steve Dawson, Gerald Dowd, and others at SPACE on September 6; and Roseanne Cash at Cahn Auditorium on September 7.

Material Issue, the Chicago power pop trio that scored MTV hits such as “Valerie Loves Me” and “Diane” back in the early 1990s, and later returned with new vocalist-guitarist Phil Angotti, have a show coming up at the north-side venue Schubas on September 17.