Slumgullion

Here’s an item that should have been included in yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post. Several modern-day performers will gather at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL tomorrow night to recreate The Band’s 1976 farewell extravaganza The Last Waltz. Participants include Joe Pug; Corky Siegel; Mud Morganfield; Rick Kreher; Nicholas Tremulis; Lauren Jelencovich; Shaun Hague; Josh and Erika from The Empty Pockets; Gerald McClendon; LaShera Moore; Nycee Butler; Jasmine Beamon; and the Soundtracks of a Generation house band.

Well done, mate. Mick Jagger surprised the students at Dartford Grammar School in Kent—which he attended as a lad—by dropping by for a visit. The occasion was the 25th anniversary of The Mick Jagger Centre at the school, a program he helped create to help kids hoping for a career in music.

Fans of the BoDeans can be grateful to City Winery Chicago for offering four opportunities to catch them over the Thanksgiving weekend. The Wisconsin alt rock/Americana band has one show on November 28, two shows on November 29, and one show on November 30. Over the years, the BoDeans have given us gems such as “Closer To Free,” “Fadeaway,” and “Good Things.” 

The 45th Annual John Lennon Tribute - Benefit For Theatre Within will take place at the Town Hall venue in New York on December 12. Judy Collins will be given this year’s John Lennon Real Love Award and perform a few Lennon and Beatles songs. The other musicians who’ll participate are Graham Nash; Suzanne Vega; Shawn Colvin; Jimmy Webb; Valerie June; Yola; Livingston Taylor; Willie Nile; Lucy Kaplansky; and The Kennedys. Joe Raiola will host the event, with Rich Pagano serving as Musical Director. 

Looks like Graham Nash has no intention of slowing down in 2026. He recently announced the schedule for his Live On Tour 2026, with dates from April 4 though May 2. So far, there are no stops in Chicago.

Kartemquin Films will present the Diverse Voices In Docs Culminating Event And Showcase at 6:00 pm on December 5 at Collaboration Theater on Chicago’s north side.

The first volume of an enhanced and fully rewritten edition of Doug Hinman’s 2004 book The Kinks - All Day And All Of The Night - The Day-By-Day Story Pt. 1: 1940 - 1971 is now available to pre-order from Beatland Books. P.S. This publisher also really digs The Monkees.

The adventurous seven-piece Chicago band McLuhan and the edgy acid/political folk duo Esmeralda’s Boys will share the bill at Phyllis’ Musical Inn on November 30. In addition to performing their own material—including the brand new single “The Biker In The Park”—McLuhan will play covers of songs by Jethro Tull, Pink Floyd, and Social Distortion. There’s no cover charge, but management suggests a $15donation. Phyllis’ Musical Inn is located at 1800 W. Division Street.

Patti Smith was recently in town for a pair of well-received Chicago Theatre concerts as part of the 50th anniversary of her groundbreaking debut album Horses. She also has upcoming book events promoting her Bread Of Angels memoir from November through January. 

The Tributosaurus Becomes Supertramp events on December 4 and 5 at Martyrs’ will feature the well-known Chicago tribute band performing songs such as “Give a Little Bit,” “Goodbye Stranger,” and “Bloody Well Right” at the Lincoln Avenue venue.

An exhibition titled The Continental Posters (1982 – 83) - Selections from Dean Brownrout opened this past Wednesday at The Fitz Books store in Buffalo, NY and will run through December 12, 2025. The posters on display will be from Brownrout’s private collection and focus on acts such as Billy Idol, The Fleshtones, and The Dream Syndicate that performed at the Buffalo, NY venue The Continental. Brownrout booked bands at the club back then, before moving on New York, where he founded the Big Deal rock record label. He offers a fun and informative look back in his recently released book No Big Deal -  Chasing the indie music dream in the last days of the record business. Fitz Books is located at 1462 Main Street in Buffalo.

The Black Ensemble Theatre, which has presented several well-crafted and critically acclaimed musicals over the years, will perform A Black Ensemble Holiday Spectacular from December 6 through 14. As noted in freelance writer Emily McClanahan’s extensive preview of holiday events in yesterday’s Chicago Tribune, A Black Ensemble Holiday Spectacular will offer a blend of traditional, gospel, and modern music.

How about some psychedelic mind-bending music for the holidays? Custard  Flux, AKA musician Gregory Curvey, a veteran of the Chicago-based prog rock band The Luck Of Eden Hall, has a gig scheduled for December 28 at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. Custard Flux is noted for his adventurous albums, with the most recent being Enter Xenon.

Next week’s Black Friday Rock And Roll Bash (also referred to as the Turkey Sandwich Day Bash) at LiveWire on Milwaukee Avenue in Chicago will feature The Midnight Calls; TAFKAVince Band and Viceroy. The music starts at 9:00 pm.

Something for every prog rock fan’s holiday wish list: Pink Floyd’s 50th anniversary edition of Wish You Were Here, AKA Wish You Were Here 50, drops on December 12 in 2CD, 3LP, and a deluxe box formats.

Erich Specht from Push Puppets and Steve Frisbie, who’s recorded with Push Puppets in addition to recording with his own band Frisbie, will perform as a duo at the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights, IL on November 26.

Paul McCartney’s new autobiographical book Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run, edited by well-known biography author Ted Widmer, is now available. Meanwhile, McCartney will wrap up his Got Back North American Tour 2025 in style with concerts at Chicago’s United Center on November 24 and 25.

The John And Yoko/Plastic Ono Band with Elephant’s Memory and Special Guests Live At The One To One Concert box set is now available from various sites. Recorded live at Madison Square Garden in New York City on August 30, 1972, the concert is available in 9 CD + 3 Blu-Ray Boxset; 4 LP; 2 CD; 2 LP, and 1 CD formats. 

In the fine tradition of Chicago area musicians paying homage to adventurous British acts, Reggies Chicago will host Indiscipline: A Tribute To The Music Of King Crimson on December 6. The show will cover King Crimson “In All Eras: Lake, Wetton And Belew.” Reggies Chicago is located south of the Loop, at 2105 S. State Street, and this production will be staged in the Comedy Shack.

The Easter And Gang Play Let’s Active concert, led by Let’s Active founding member Mitch Easter, taking place on November 29 at The Ramkat in Winston - Salem, NC is now sold out. The band’s entire catalog was newly remastered and will be released on streaming sites later this month.

Ratboys, the Chicago-based indie rock band whose 2023 album The Window made quite an impression with local fans and the media, have a new album coming out on February 6. Singin’ To An Empty Chair is available for pre-order on the Ratboys Bandcamp page; and the two tracks already available —“Light Night Mountains All That” and “Anywhere”—are both impressive.

Wicked Cool Records and Little Steven’s Underground Garage will present The Chesterfield Kings Christmas Show with special guests The Grip Weeds on December 13 at Iron Smoke Distillery in Fairport, NY.

Henry Diltz, one of rock music’s most successful photographers, will present Once Upon A Troubadour - A Slideshow And Story-Telling Experience Of The Photographs That Made Music History By The Man Who Took Them at the Troubadour in Los Angeles on December 9.

Tickets are now on sale for The Smithereens with Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill concert at The Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL on March 6. Cowsill and Peterson, who released an album together earlier this year, have become regular guests at live gigs by The Smithereens.

Aimee Mann and Ted Leo successfully collaborate on indie rock songs from time to time, and they also enjoy spreading holiday cheer. Tickets are now on sale for their Aimee Mann and Ted Leo Christmas Show! with Paul F. Tompkins, Nellie McKay and Josh Gondelman. It kicks off on November 28 at City Winery New York, and will include shows in Chicago on December.