Incoming

Photo from the official Tom Petty Facebook page.

Today would have been Tom Petty’s 75th birthday. He not only gave us catchy and well-crafted hit singles such as “Runnin’ Down A Dream,” “Listen To Her Heart,” “Even The Losers,” and “American Girl,” he was a rock and roll connoisseur who added an amazing variety of cover versions to his concerts with The Heartbreakers. I’m listing to the Live At The Fillmore box set now, and it’s a nonstop party. Rock In Paradise, Tom.

This past Saturday, I did a post about the multi-act Halloweekend tribute shows coming to Montrose Saloon on October 30 and 31. This Wednesday, Lincoln Hall will offer Lincoln Hall-Oween, with Reseda Freeways as Tom Petty; Treefingers as Radiohead; and The 35 Sweet Goodbyes as Steely Dan. Lincoln Hall is located at 2424 N. Lincoln Avenue on Chicago’s north side. 

Wild Honey Foundation, the California-based 501(c)(3)non-profit that frequently supports worthy causes by staging all-star concerts, will combine with The Zevon Family in presenting Join Me In L.A.: The Songs Of Warren Zevon With The Wild Honey Orchestra this Friday at The United Theater on Los Angeles. The event will celebrate Zevon’s Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction, and raise funds for the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) and The Ed Asner Family Center, which assists the autism-neurodivergent community. The participating performers include Jackson Browne, Jorge Calderon, Dwight Yoakam, Fountains Of Wayne, Marshall Crenshaw, and Steve Wynn; and The Wild Honey Orchestra features several well-known stars.

Indie Rock Night in the Bourbon And Brass Speakeasy at The Des Plaines Theatre will offer a special Battle Of The Bands tomorrow night. The winner of the event will have the honor of opening for a main stage act at some point in the future. The competitors are indie rockers Math125; power pop band The Spindles; and rock band Crashdive. Doors open at 7:00 pm; The Des Plaines Theatre is located in downtown Des Plaines, IL.

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 tomorrow night. 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 Public Library will host a Book Club Celebration this Thursday from 5:00 to 7: 00 pm at the Harold Washington Library Center’s Winter Garden. The city-wide event, which is described as Suitable for Adults: 18 and up, will celebrate “the joy of discussing books with others” along with tips and suggestions for various literary activities.

As noted by Tammy Easter, Admin for the official Let’s Active Facebook page, tickets for the November 29 Easter And Gang Play Let’s Active concert led by founding member Mitch Easter at The Ramkat in Winston - Salem have quickly sold out. Fortunately, the venue was able to move the event to a larger room downstairs so more tickets could be made available. Let’s Active’s entire catalog was newly remastered and will be released on streaming sites in late November.

Compound Yellow,  a non-profit experimental art venue in Oak Park, IL, will present Side Yard Sounds: Scorpio Celebration featuring Norman W. Long and Sharkey Zalek, this Saturday from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. In addition to these multi-disciplinary performers, the evening will feature the self-described 21st century druid music of whitewolfsonicprincess, as well as pianist, composer, vocalist and frequent collaborator Sharon Udoh. Tickets are $15.

The Replacements have a deluxe edition of their 1984 groundbreaking album Let It Be coming out in 4-LP, 3CD, and digital formats this Friday via Rhino Records.

Chicago’s unpredictable and always entertaining covers band EXPO ’76 has recorded their debut album, with help from the Total Pro Horns. Hot In The Dark drops this Friday, and will be available to order on Bandcamp. EXPO ’76 will travel out of state on Friday to perform at the Boo Ball fundraiser at The Acorn in Three Oaks, Michigan. Costumes are encouraged, and there will be a silent auction for “wickedly fun items.”

Chicago-based melodic rockers Kevin Lee And The Kings, along with Billy And The Saints will perform at the Goat Village venue in Norridge, IL this Saturday.

Penn and Teller are currently celebrating 50 years of entertaining audiences with shows that combine magic and humor. The anniversary tour will make a stop at the Chicago Theatre on October 24.

Congratulations to Stompin’ Grounds Cafe in Lake Zurich, IL on its fifth anniversary. That’s about how long my wife Pam and I have been regular customers there, and we’ve always appreciated the friendly atmosphere and well-crafted beverages. Stompin’ Grounds Cafe occasionally offers live music in the evening.