For events taking place this weekend, check out my previous post titled Weekend Reminders.
Paul McCartney’s Got Back North American Tour 2025 kicks off in Palm Desert, CA this Monday. Other stops include Las Vegas; Minneapolis; Tulsa; New Orleans; Atlanta; Nashville; Montreal; and the recently added San Antonio. The long and winding road ends with concerts at the United Center on November 24 and 25, which means Chicago area fans will have something fun to talk about with their families at Thanksgiving dinner.
Los Lobos fans in the Chicago area will also be grateful; the Los Angeles band has concerts scheduled for November 24 and 25 at SPACE in Evanston.
Here’s one I saw too late for yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post: The Raveonettes will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their Pretty In Black album with a show this Sunday at The Bottom Lounge in Chicago’s west loop. The duo will likely also showcase songs from its recent album Pe’ahi II. The opening act this Sunday will be the Texas trio Shallowater.
Weird Al Yankovic fans—and there were plenty of them at his recent Riot Fest concert in Chicago—can purchase The Official Weird Al Mini-Accordion for the reduced price of $50 from the Z2 Comics website.
The annual World Music Festival Chicago opened today and will run through October 5 at the Chicago Cultural Center; The Old Town School Of Folk Music; The Promontory; Constellation; Martyrs’; Beverly Arts Center; and other venues around the city.
As noted by writer Mike Duquette on The Second Disc website, Patti Smith will release a Horses (50th Anniversary Edition) via Legacy Recordings on October 10. In addition to the original tracks, it will offer “nine alternate versions and outtakes from the album sessions.” Duquette also points out that Smith will release a memoir titled Bread Of Angels in November.
Congratulations to DJ Di Kulka Piteo on 21 years of being on the air at the Chicago independent radio station WLUW-FM 88.7. She celebrated the milestone during her three-hour shift this very afternoon.
The Saint Rocke venue in Hermosa Beach, CA has a fun double bill of Flamin Groovies and The Pandoras coming up on November 19.
Revolution(s), Zayd Ayers Dohrn’s play about a soldier who returns from Afghanistan only to find his south side Chicago neighborhood also in turmoil, opens next Saturday at The Goodman Theatre. Tom Morello, of Rage Against The Machine fame, created the music and lyrics; and Steve H. Broadnax III is the director. Revolution(s) runs through November 9.
Congratulation to Irish rockers U2 on being chosen as the 2025 Woody Guthrie Prize honorees. Bono and The Edge will receive the award on the band’s behalf at a Harper House Music Foundation event at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa, OK on Oct. 21. The official Woody Guthrie Prize site states the annual award is presented to “an artist who best exemplifies Woody Guthrie’s spirit and work by speaking for the less fortunate through music, film, literature, dance or other art forms and serving as a positive force for social change.” Previous honorees include Bruce Springsteen, Joan Baez, Pete Seeger, and Mavis Staples.
Chicago’s long-time indie rockers The Bad Examples will perform at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL on October 11. As previously mentioned here on Broken Hearted Toy, lead vocalist-guitarist Ralph Covert creates songs that are reminiscent of the clever and melodic music of Squeeze. He has also been posting funny and fascinating tales on Facebook, based on his many years of touring with his band.
Just about two years ago on Broken Hearted Toy, I mentioned that legendary rock and roll photographer Henry Diltz had joined forces with Cindystock on a series of rock musician photo books that benefit the Yates Fund For Cancer Hope. Back then, the choices were Dan Fogelburg, Stephen Stills, David Crosby, and Micky Dolenz. Diltz has since added David Cassidy, Joni Mitchell, America, Graham Nash and Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young to the collection. Each book contains 40 photos and sells for $24. I just received my copy of the Nash book and it’s really cool.
Singer-guitarist Terry White will have a record release party for his latest album You Won’t Have A Name at Fitzgerald’s in Berywn, IL on October 2. The Loaded Dice, Cannonball, and other special guests will also perform at FitzGerald’s that night. You Won’t Have A Name is now available on Bandcamp.
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.
MotownShowdown: The Temptations Vs The Supremes, a tribute show presented by Jai Brenai Productions that imagines the iconic soul acts in a battle of the bands, will take place at City Winery Chicago this Monday. The music starts at 7:30 pm.
The Other Art Fair, a global and inventive effort from online gallery Saatchi Art to create a place “where the experience exists outside of four white walls,” is coming to Artifact Events in Chicago on the weekend of October 31 - November 2. The price of admission ranges from $18 to $312.50, depending which day you choose. Artifact Events is located at 4325 N. Ravenswood Avenue.
The West Loop Fine Art Expo will take place at the Stephen M. Bailey Auditorium in Plumbers Hall just west of downtown Chicago on the weekend of October 17 - 19. The event’s organizers describe it as “a curated boutique expo showcasing over 40 invitation-only fine artists from 7 states offering original art.” Plumbers Hall is located at 1340 W. Washington.
Ring in the new with Old 97s at SPACE in Evanston. Tickets are now on sale for the Dallas, TX band’s December 29, 30, and 31 shows at the Illinois venue. Old 97s will likely perform selections from their 2024 album American Primitive, as well as favorites such as “Champagne, Illinois” and “Big Brown Eyes.”
Tickets are also available for Chicago folk legend Bonnie Koloc’s November 30 show at SPACE in Evanston.
Chicago has produced impressive music acts for decades, and the experimental, jazz rock ensemble The Flock first joined that legacy back in the mid-1960s. So there’s good reason to have high expectations for The Return Of The Flock, along with the Rick Biordi Band show coming on November 1 to Park West on the city’s north side.
Congratulations to Penn and Teller on 50 years of combining magic, humor, and audience participation in their entertaining shows. Their anniversary tour will make a stop at the Chicago Theatre on October 24.
Pravda Records Presents, a showcase featuring three of the Chicago-based label’s acts, will take place at Martyrs’ on October 10. A recent Facebook post from The Handcuffs teases with the promise, “The ’Cuffs will be doing something a little different for this one show which should be fun for you and for us.” They’ll be joined by Brian Krumm And His Barfly Friends and Nathan Graham. Martyrs’ is located at 3855 N. Lincoln Avenue.
Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan’s new album titled Better Broken is now available; with the title track being the first single. Her 2025 North American tour kicks off on October 15 in Victoria, BC, and will include a stop at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago on November 22.
Radio Soul - Early Songs Of Elvis Costello, featuring Mr. Costello and The Imposters with Charlie Sexton, recently kicked off a month’s worth of concerts in Bethlehem, PA. The tour will come to The Chicago Theatre on Oct 16.
Aliza Hava’s new album Into The Light is now available exclusively on Bandcamp. The Ashland, Oregon folk rock singer-guitarist creates emotionally charged songs such as “Let It Roar” and “Fix My Fate” that convey how to navigate this troubled world.
Hot In The Dark, the debut album from Chicago’s unpredictable and always entertaining covers band EXPO ’76 with the Total Pro Horns, is now available to pre-order on Bandcamp. The 12 tracks reflect the mind-boggling variety of music EXPO ’76 performs at its live gigs. Hot In The Dark will be officially released on October 24.
I recently received Issue 21 of Second Scene in the mail,
and once again, it’s an appealing mix of indie rock journalism and
colorful graphics. This issue features concert reviews of Iggy Pop,
Patti Smith, and The English Beat, along with coverage of several up and
coming bands. The Pittsburgh-based publication is available for $7 plus
shipping on its Bandcamp page.