Post Of Christmas Past: Four “Auld Lang Synes,” My Dear

I’ve shared this post several times over the years, and if you’re putting together a last-minute playlist for your New Year’s Eve celebration, here are some worthy candidates.

One of the reasons people get misty-eyed at the end of It’s A Wonderful Life is because all the family, friends, and neighbors singing “Auld Lang Syne” at the Bailey residence reminds us of our own situation. The song has always conveyed a bittersweet message. A celebration of the loved ones we’ve cherished throughout our lives and can count on for help, but a recognition that for one reason or another, many of them have moved on. John Lennon explored a similar sentiment with The Beatles on “In My Life.”

There was a time when just about everybody thought of Guy Lombardo when it came to “Auld Lang Syne” since he and his Royal Canadians played it every New Year’s Eve for years on radio and TV. Nowadays, nobody under 60 would know who he was, although his version is available on iTunes and YouTube. It sounds particularly melancholy. 

“Auld Lang Syne” continues to be covered by various musicians. The version by The Smithereens on their terrific album Christmas With The Smithereens opens with the band harmonizing like a barbershop quartet. From there, the guitars and drums kick in and the arrangement morphs into a pulsating surf rock tune that’s predominantly instrumental.

Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken also tackled the song as part of side project group called Husky Team. This fun instrumental take, which is included on the Hi-Fi Christmas Party Volume 2 CD, mixes “Auld Lang Syne” with the Booker T & The MG’s 1960s hit, “Green Onions.”

My favorite version of “Auld Lang Syne” comes from a New Jersey band called The Cucumbers, and as far as I can tell, it’s only available on the various artists CD Ho Ho Ho Spice. The guitar-driven, slightly Celtic, power pop arrangement and Deena Shoshkes’s spirited vocals cast out any trace of sadness and offer instead an exhilarating sense of triumph. The journey’s over and the quest has been successful. Definitely inspirational, but not the feeling we’ve come away with at the close of any recent years. Here’s hoping we’ll never stop trying to make things better.

But Wait, There’s More

Tad Fettig photo of Peter Buck from the official Drink The Sea Facebook page.

Best wishes to everyone for a safe and festive New Year’s Eve, and success with all your goals in 2026. Here are a few more items for this week’s Incoming/Weekend Reminders posts.

Drink The Sea, an exotic, experimental band of established musicians that includes R.E.M. founding member Peter Buck, has a U.S. Tour coming in 2026 that will visit several cities, including Boston, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia. Tickets are now on sale for the Drink The Sea concert coming to Chicago’s Old Town School Of Folk Music on February 13.

Chicago-based singer-guitarist Terry White will return to Fitzgerald’s in Berywn, IL this Friday for a happy hour show in the Sidebar. White held a record release party for his latest album You Won’t Have A Name at FitzGerald’s back in September, but this time out, he’ll likely draw from an extensive career that includes solo efforts as well as being in bands such as Modern Day Saints and The Zimmermen. His happy hour show Friday will start at 5:30 pm.

As noted in the British rock magazine Shindig No. 169 (for some reason they don’t go by month), 1960s psychedelic rockers The Strawberry Alarm Clock have released a new album on the Big Stir label. Reviewer Andy Morten gave Monster / White Light four stars, while declaring The Strawberry Alarm Clock “refuse to play the oldies game, instead writing new material that’s as inquisitive and exploratory as their 1967 gear.” Morten also points out the band still has five original members.

Tickets are now on sale for the Bonnie Koloc Trio all-ages show at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, IL on March 24. Koloc, a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter, was a driving force in Chicago’s emerging folk scene back in the 1970s. She was a Founders Choice inductee into the Illinois Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame earlier this year.

Incoming/Weekend Reminders

Due to this Wednesday being New Year’s Eve, Broken Hearted Toy will present a combination of two weekly posts that usually appear on Monday and Thursday respectively.

The Old 97s have sold out their shows for tonight and tomorrow night at SPACE in Evanston, IL, but it looks like there are still tickets left for New Year’s Eve at that same venue. They’ll likely perform selections from their 2024 album American Primitive, although they have several years of material (“Champagne, Illinois,” “Big Brown Eyes,” etc.) to choose from. Front man Rhett Miller will play an opening solo set each night.

Phil Angotti and Friends have a Beatles Brunch coming up this Sunday at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL. Angotti will be joined by some of his frequent collaborators; John San Juan, Tom Ryan and Blair Holmes.

Chicago-based/world renowned blues artist Buddy Guy will kick off his traditional January residency at his Legends venue this Saturday, and add 15 more performances throughout January. There will be supporting acts for each of Guy’s shows. Legends is located in the south end of downtown Chicago.

Mike Skill, a founding member of The Romantics, will perform on New Year’s Eve at the Cadieux Cafe in Detroit. He’ll be joined by Brad Elvis, who was a Romantics member for several years, Ricky Rat and Brian McCarty. The Custodians are also on the bill that night.

The Purple Madness - The Ultimate Prince Tribute Experience will take place at 7:00 pm this Sunday at City Winery Chicago. The venue promises to present “Prince’s iconic presence — from the soulful vocals and intricate guitar riffs to the dazzling choreography and flamboyant fashion.”

Alejandro Escovedo of Rank And File and True Believers fame will bring his current band The Electric Saints to FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL for performances on December 30 and 31. Chicago-based singer-songwriter Nora O’Connor will be the opening act on the first night.

Chicago-based indie rockers Local H will close out the year with a show at the Brat Stop in Kenosha, WI (with Fig Dish) tomorrow night, and with their annual New Year’s Eve show at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago. Looking ahead to 2026, Local H will have several shows as part of a triple lineup with Filter and Finger Eleven.

Allan Clarke, a founding member of The Hollies, and their lead vocalist through 1999 (with a few gaps), recently released a holiday song that’s doing quite well on Heritage Chart Radio in the UK. It’s available on YouTube, although there’s just a photo without a video clip. “Christmas Sleigh Ride,” featuring The Get Together Choir, opens with chimes and takes off with a catchy, guitar-driven Phil Spector style arrangement. Prior to the release of “Christmas Sleigh Ride,” Clarke had returned to the recording scene with two well-received albums; Resurgence is 2019 and I’ll Never Forget in 2023.

The Allan Clarke Appreciation Society Facebook page has been promoting “Christmas Sleigh Ride” for about a month. Group Expert/All-Star Contributor Chrissy Rowan graciously and almost immediately responded to my message asking if there was any way I could download the song. Thanks to her help, I was able to find it on Amazon. It’s already been added to one of my Christmas song playlists, following “White Christmas” by Carl Wayne (another former Hollies lead vocalist) with Et Cetera.

Slumgullion

For those whose new year’s resolutions include traveling the world to see rock concerts: Australian garage rockers Hoodoo Gurus will be backed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on January 29 at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl. The listing on the Ticketek site promises the band’s material will be “reimagined on an epic scale, with orchestral arrangements bringing fresh energy and grandeur.” In other down under news, Hoodoo Gurus, along with Iggy Pop; Joan Jett And The Blackhearts; and ZED will share a tour in Auckland, New Zealand on January 23, 26, and 31.

Congratulations to Danny Horn on being chosen by theatre critic Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune as having given one of the top 10 performances on Chicago Stages in 2025. Horn portrayed Ray Davies of The Kinks in the musical Sunny Afternoon, which was staged at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The well-respected Jones covers a lot of ground with his list, which appeared in today’s issue. His top 10 performances also include Sondra Radvanovsky’s title role in the Lyric Opera’s Medea, and Ava Lane Stovall for her work in Jekyll And Hyde by Kokandy Productions.

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 Book and is expected to ship on February 20.

Chicago-based indie rockers Local H will close out the year with a show at the Brat Stop in Kenosha, WI (with Fig Dish) on December 30, and with its annual New Year’s Eve show at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago. Looking ahead to 2026, Local H will have several shows as part of a triple lineup with Filter and Finger Eleven.

Patti Smith will continue promoting her Bread Of Angels memoir with events New York City on January 21; and New Haven, CT on January 26.

Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights will hold its annual Women’s Jazz Festival from January 6 through January 10. Somaluna And Tomeka Reid are the scheduled performers for the first day; followed by Hana Fujisaki and the Marlene Rosenberg Trio on January 7; and Carmani Edwards and Paige Brown on January 8. On Friday, January 9, there’s a 4:00 pm set with Christy Bennett, and a 7:30 set with Stacy McMichael and JoVia Armstrong. There will be three sets on Saturday, January 10: Student Ensembles at 12:30 pm; Lucy Smith with JoAnn Daugherty at 4:00 pm; and Joanie Pallatto and Tromblau And Friends at 7:30. See the official Hey Nonny website for the full festival information.

Fans of The Gin Blossoms can pre-order an autographed copy of the indie rock band’s 1992 album New Miserable Experience on marble colored vinyl for $49.98 from the TalkShopLive! website. That’s the record that includes the hits “Found Out About You” and “Hey Jealousy.”

Congratulations to Custard Flux, AKA musician Gregory Curvey, on his latest album Enter Xenon coming in at number 8 on MOJO’s Top 10 Prog albums of 2025 and grabbing the number 2 spot for the Top 5 Prog Albums in Classic Rock. Seems like these UK rock magazines really like his music. Curvey is a veteran of the Chicago-based prog rock band The Luck Of Eden Hall, and is noted for creating adventurous albums and graphics.

Gina Marie and The Golden Bucks, a Chicago-based Americana sextet whose 2024 album Pastures Of Plenty offers several examples of authentic country and swing, can just as easily slip into genuine blues. “Without That Man,” the latest single from Pastures Of Plenty, employs a slow, slinky arrangement to capture the sense of loss singer Ruth Etting brought to the original 1931 version.

What’s The Big Idea - 30 Great Concept Albums, a new book from author Bill Kopp, is now available from HoZac Books for $21.99. Kopp’s exploration of musical storytelling includes an interview with concept album master Pete Townshend, and a foreword by Let’s Active founder and critically acclaimed producer Mitch Easter.

What could be a better time to honor The Belfast Cowboy than on St. Patrick’s Day? Tickets are now on sale for the Beautiful Vision: The Songs Of Van Morrison event taking place on March 17 at SPACE in Evanston, IL.The participants will be Steve Dawson, Chris Greene, Alton Smith, John Mead, John Abbey, Larry Brown, and Sophie Creutz.

Autographed copies of musician Melissa Auf der Maur’s upcoming book Even the Good Girls Will Cry are available to pre-order from the TalkShopLive! website. Auf der Maur, who’s known for performing with Hole and Smashing Pumpkins, describes her book as “part rock memoir, part travel diary, [and] part psychedelic scrapbook.”

Local singer-guitarist Phil Angotti and the Nash String Duo will perform a brunch time tribute to The Beatles at City Winery Chicago on January 18. Having performed Beatles brunches several times at this venue over the years, Angotti has become quite good at it. Looking further down the road, the Phil Angotti Band will be at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights on February 19.

The Smithereens, with Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill, will perform at The Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL on March 6. Cowsill and Peterson, who released the Long After The Fire album together earlier this year, have become regular guests at live gigs by The Smithereens.

Sons Of The Silent Age, the Chicago-based David Bowie tribute band led by vocalist Chris Connelly, has a tradition of kicking off the new year with a benefit performance at Metro. The January 31, 2026 event finds Sons Of The Silent Age taking “Our second trip through the Berlin trilogy, consisting of the albums Low, Heroes, and Lodger.” A second set will concentrate on Bowie’s hit singles and well-known material. And, as noted by guitarist Steve Gerlach in a Facebook post, “It’s a benefit for Endeavor Health’s excellent Integrative Medicine program.”

British recording artist Mordecai Smyth, who specializes in catchy, offbeat tunes, has a new album coming out soon on the Mega Dodo indie label. He recently posted a video of “Breaking The Backs,” one of the songs from that release, on his Facebook page as a preview. Smyth has a gig on March 1 at the Crumbs Coffee Shop in Woodley, Reading, with musician/producer/DJ Robert Sowden as supporting act.

Chicago-based indie rockers Ratboys are offering another impressive preview of what fans can expect from their up coming album Singin’ To An Empty Chair. According to a recent message on their Bandcamp page, a Thelma and Louise inspired video for their song “What’s Right?” can be viewed on various sites, including Apple Music and YouTube. Two other two tracks, “Anywhere,” which is getting some airplay at radio station WXRT, and “Light Night Mountains All That” are already available to download. The full album drops February 6.

My nephew chef Joe Flamm has opened a new restaurant called Bar Tutto. As with his already established venues Rose Mary and il Carciofo, this one’s located in the happening Fulton Market area, just west of downtown Chicago. 1114 W. Carroll Avenue, to be exact. The difference with Bar Tutto is that it takes an all-day approach, which means patrons can order breakfast, lunch or dinner. I was able to attend a preview event, and rest assured, I’ll be back. Maybe for a chai latte and a croissant.

Another Post From Christmas Past

With Christmas coming tomorrow, it’s a good time to revisit one of the best (and possibly first) various artists collections of original holiday songs. Back in 2010, I reviewed Yuletunes here on Broken Hearted Toy. Here’s an edited version of that review.

“This Christmas” by Shoes is a catchy rock song with a monster drum beat and chiming guitars that offers an optimistic approach to coping with tough times. The punchy “Merry Christmas Will Do” finds Material Issue at the peak of its power. Jim Ellison’s rugged guitar playing takes center stage, and as usual, he’s a master at selling the pain of unrequited love through his evocative singing. The Idea, fronted by vocalist-guitarist Phil Angotti, contributes the melodic “It’s About That Time,” which describes the joys of winter scenes, church bell, carols, and watching It’s A Wonderful Life.

The single-named Leroy checks in with “Santa Stole My Baby,” a mid-tempo song that sets up a crime scene with clever clues like, “footsteps on the rooftop.” On a more serious note, there’s the haunting “The Saddest Time Of The Year” from Spooner. The band featured lead vocalist-guitarist Duke Erikson and drummer Butch Vig long before they formed Garbage with dynamic Scottish singer Shirley Manson. The Spongetones craft an old-fashioned Christmas tune with a delicate melody and intricately layered vocals on their innocent fantasy “Christmasland.”

“A God Of My Own” by 92 Degrees offers a complex look at religious beliefs during the most commercial time of the year. Whatever your feelings on that issue, there’s no denying this song has a gorgeous arrangement. Songs don’t come much happier than Bill Lloyd’s romantic “Underneath The Christmas Tree.” Set to a catchy arrangement, it sounds like it could have been a 1960s Top 40 hit. Kelley Ryan adds a hint of Country and Western to her heartfelt vocals on “It’s Not Christmas,” as someone spending the holiday alone “for the first time in years.”

Singer-songwriter Herb Eimerman’s gorgeous ballad “You Gave Me” celebrates family traditions at Christmas, as well as the way love and values are passed on from one generation to another. The Critics uncork an irresistible energy on their romantic “She Feels Like Christmas Day.” This is probably the only song on Yuletunes that would fit in just as well on a non-holiday collection.

Post Of Christmas Past

Congratulations to vocalist Darlene Love and The Smithereens on being inducted for the Count Basie Center Walk Of Fame in a ceremony held last week at the Count Basie Center in Redbank, NJ.

Here’s a holiday rerun about The Smithereens from the BHT vault.

The Smithereens first dabbled in Christmas music back in 1992 by recording a silly and energetic take on “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” for the various artists Rockin’ Christmas compilation. The song later appeared on their 1995 Attack Of The Smithereens rarities collection, as well as on the Songs Of The Season compilation sponsored by Borders Books and Chicago radio station WXRT in 2000.

In 2007, the band, which at the time featured bassist Severo Jornacion, really showed its holiday spirit by releasing the full-length Christmas With The Smithereens. It’s a fun party from start to finish, as The Smithereens bring their engaging power pop approach to a mix of originals and cover versions. “Waking Up On Christmas Morning,” which can also be found on the Hi-Fi Christmas Party and Ho Ho Spice collections, is a catchy tune penned by guitarist Jim Babjak. The fast-paced “Christmas Time All Over The World,” written by Babjak, singer Pat DiNizio, drummer Dennis Diken, and original bassist Mike Mesaros, celebrates hugging and kissing under the mistletoe, and compares the holiday to a big rock show. The other Smithereens original, “Christmas (I Remember)” takes a melodic look back at childhood and notes, “The kid inside my heart won’t die.”

There are also guitar-driven interpretations of Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” and The Beach Boys’ “Merry Christmas, Baby.” “Christmas,” taken from The Who’s Tommy isn’t traditional holiday fare, but the authentic arrangement here gives a preview of band’s later decision to record their own version of the entire rock opera. “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)” doesn’t have the rough edges of the version by The Ramones, but it’s still a solid effort, and The Smithereens also do well with “Christmas Time Is Here Again,” one of the rare songs The Beatles recorded for their fan club members.

The Smithereens set Clement Clark Moore’s classic poem, ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas to a jazzy percussion-led arrangement, and they open “Auld Lang Syne” with acappella vocals before launching into a rollicking instrumental jam session. All in all, Christmas With The Smithereens is a date worth keeping.

Incoming/Weekend Reminders

Due to this Thursday being Christmas, Broken Hearted Toy will present a combination of two weekly posts that usually appear on Monday and Thursday respectively.

Congratulations to Custard Flux, AKA musician Gregory Curvey, on his latest album Enter Xenon coming in at number 8 on the UK rock magazine MOJO’s Top 10 Prog albums of 2025. I received my copy of MOJO in the mail today and the Prog list is on page 59. Curvey is a veteran of the Chicago-based prog rock band The Luck Of Eden Hall, and is noted for creating adventurous albums and graphics. There’s a Custard Flux gig this Sunday at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side, and Chloe F. Orwell from The Handcuffs will play saxophone as a special guest.

Some of my happiest moments these days are spent reading the coverage of classic and current bands in MOJO magazine, which is why I signed up for a subscription. It’s rare to find it in American stores.

The Waco Brothers Annual Hideout Yuletide Rumble will be held this Friday and Saturday at The Hideout (1354 W Wabansia Avenue) on Chicago’s north side. These guys are well known as a genuine party band, having performed at a number of WXRT events. Tennis Court Oath will be the special guest on Friday; Gracie Lou Heuer and Los Gallos Band will be the special guests on Saturday.

Richard Milne, the former WXRT radio DJ who provided air time for countless Chicago area music acts when he hosted the weekly Local Anesthetic show, will make a special guest appearance on CHIRP Radio 107.1 FM on Christmas Eve (tomorrow) from 9:00 am to noon.

This Saturday night’s Expo ’76 appearance at Fuller’s Pub will not only be the band’s last gig in Chicago for 2025, it will be the last one until next April. Band member Dag Juhlin will be part of the Michael Shannon - Jason Narducy Celebrate The 40th Anniversary Of R.E.M.’s Lifes Rich Pageant USA Tour during the earlier months of 2026. (They have two sold-out shows in Chicago on March 12 and 13.)

The Walkin’ on Sunshine band, featuring Steve Dawson, Gerald Dowd, Alton Smith, John Abbey and special guest Diane Christiansen, has a gig coming up at Simon’s in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood this Sunday. Admission is free, but tips are always welcome. A recent post from Dawson states the two sets will feature “a lot of my songs and a bunch of surprise covers.” The music starts at 8:30 pm.

It’s not too late to download your present from Aussie musician Joe Algeri. He’s been offering people around the globe a free new song each December for 25 years, and the 2025 effort, “Summer Forever,” can be found on his Egomaniac Music Bandcamp page. Algeri’s 2025 gift is a melodic power pop tune, and once again, he’s joined by an international crew of musicians: American bassist-backup vocalist Herb Eimerman; drummer Stefan Johansson and organ player Lars Brussel from Sweden; and lead guitarist Andy J. Prinkkila from Finland.

The BoDeans performed four times at City Winery Chicago over the Thanksgiving weekend, and they have a show this Saturday at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL. The Wisconsin alt rock/Americana band has given us gems such as “Closer To Free,” “Fadeaway,” and “Good Things.”

The Continental Posters (1982 – 83) - Selections from Dean Brownrout exhibition at The Fitz Books store in Buffalo, NY, has been extended through the end of December. The posters on display are 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.

And finally, a Weekend Reminder to share with any children you know: Make sure you get up at 5:00 am this Thursday morning, awaken the rest of your family and insist it isn’t too early to open your presents. Best holiday wishes to all who read this blog. Have fun, share plenty of good will, and be careful.

Slumgullion

Here’s a toast to all those who plan to celebrate the holiday season at some point this weekend. (My family, for example.) Have fun, share plenty of good will, and be careful.

Chicago-based/world renowned blues artist Buddy Guy will kick off his traditional January residency at his Legends venue on January 3, and add 15 more performances throughout the month. There will be supporting acts for each of Guy’s shows. Legends is located in the south end of downtown Chicago.

Henry Diltz has joined forces with Cindystock for a series of rock musician photo books that would make great stocking stuffers. They benefit the Yates Fund For Cancer Hope, and the choices include The Monkees; Dan Fogelburg; Stephen Stills; David Crosby; Micky Dolenz; David Cassidy; Joni Mitchell; America; Graham Nash; and Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young. Each book contains 40 photos and sells for $24.

Richard Milne, the former WXRT radio DJ who provided air time for countless Chicago area music acts when he hosted the Local Anesthetic show, will make a special guest appearance on CHIRP Radio 107.1 FM on Christmas Eve from 9:00 am to noon.

Mike Skill, a founding member of The Romantics will perform on New Year’s Eve at the Cadieux Cafe in Detroit. He’ll joined by Brad Elvis, who was a Romantics member for several years, Ricky Rat and Brian McCarty. The Custodians are also on the bill that night.

Gina Marie and The Golden Bucks, a Chicago-based Americana sextet whose 2024 album Pastures Of Plenty offers several examples of authentic country and swing, can just as easily slip into genuine blues. “Without That Man,” the latest single from Pastures Of Plenty, employs a slow, slinky arrangement to capture the sense of loss singer Ruth Etting brought to the original 1931 version.

Fans of The Gin Blossoms can pre-order an autographed copy of the indie rock band’s 1992 album New Miserable Experience on marble colored vinyl for $49.98 from the TalkShopLive! website. That’s the record that includes the hits “Found Out About You” and “Hey Jealousy.”

What could be a better time to honor The Belfast Cowboy than on St. Patrick’s Day? Tickets are now on sale for the Beautiful Vision: The Songs Of Van Morrison event taking place on March 17 at SPACE in Evanston, IL.The participants will be Steve Dawson, Chris Greene, Alton Smith, John Mead, John Abbey, Larry Brown, and Sophie Creutz.

Autographed copies of musician Melissa Auf der Maur’s upcoming book Even the Good Girls Will Cry are available to pre-order from the TalkShopLive! website. Auf der Maur, who’s known for performing with Hole and Smashing Pumpkins, describes her book as “part rock memoir, part travel diary, [and] part psychedelic scrapbook.”

The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, which had an initial run from 1999 through 2004 and was revived in 2019 under the guidance of musicians Fareed Haque and Wanees Zarourd, will showcase songs from their new album Sanctuary at 7:00 pm this Sunday at the Epiphany Center for the Arts. The Epiphany Center for the Arts is located at 201 S. Ashland Avenue.

Patti Smith will continue promoting her Bread Of Angels memoir with events New York City on January 21; and New Haven, CT on January 26.

Local singer-guitarist Phil Angotti and the Nash String Duo will perform a brunch time tribute to The Beatles at City Winery Chicago on January 18. Having performed Beatles brunches several times at this venue over the years, Angotti has become quite good at it.

The Smithereens, with Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill, will perform at The Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL on March 6. Cowsill and Peterson, who released the Long After The Fire album together earlier this year, have become regular guests at live gigs by The Smithereens.

What’s The Big Idea - 30 Great Concept Albums, a new book from author Bill Kopp, is now available from HoZac Books for $21.99. Kopp’s exploration of musical storytelling includes an interview with concept album master Pete Townshend, and a foreword by Let’s Active founder and critically acclaimed producer Mitch Easter.

It’s still a gift even if it’s not seasonal. Aussie musician Joe Algeri has been offering people around the globe a free new song each December on his Egomaniac Music website for 25 years. In the past, he would take an off-kilter view of the yuletide, but recently Algeri switched his December free download to a non-seasonal song. Which is fine, considering how many holiday gifts are standard rock and roll related. I still have The Hollies Hear Here album I got got for Christmas in 1966. Algeri’s 2025 gift is a melodic power pop tune titled “Summer Forever” that deals with emotional confusion. Once again, he’s joined by an international crew of musicians: American bassist-backup vocalist Herb Eimerman; drummer Stefan Johansson and organ player Lars Brussel from Sweden; and lead guitarist Andy J. Prinkkila from Finland.

The Walkin' on Sunshine band, featuring Steve Dawson, Gerald Dowd, Alton Smith, John Abbey and special guest Diane Christiansen, has a gig coming up at Simon’s in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood on December 28. Admission is free, but tips are always welcome. A recent post from Dawson states the two sets will feature “a lot of my songs and a bunch of surprise covers.” The music starts at 8:30 pm. 

British recording artist Mordecai Smyth, who specializes in catchy, offbeat tunes, has a new album coming out soon on the Mega Dodo indie label. He recently posted a video of “Breaking The Backs,” one of the songs from that release, on his Facebook page as a preview. Smyth has a gig on March 1 at the Crumbs Coffee Shop in Woodley, Reading, with musician/producer/DJ Robert Sowden as supporting act.

Sons Of The Silent Age, the Chicago-based David Bowie tribute band led by vocalist Chris Connelly, has a tradition of kicking off the new year with a benefit performance at Metro. The January 31, 2026 event finds Sons Of The Silent Age taking “Our second trip through the Berlin trilogy, consisting of the albums Low, Heroes, and Lodger.” A second set will concentrate on Bowie’s hit singles and well-known material. And, as noted by guitarist Steve Gerlach in a Facebook post, “It’s a benefit for Endeavor Health’s excellent Integrative Medicine program.”

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 Book and is expected to ship on February 20.

Chicago-based indie rockers Ratboys are offering another impressive preview of what fans can expect from their up coming album Singin’ To An Empty Chair. According to a recent message on their Bandcamp page, a Thelma and Louise inspired video for their song “What’s Right?” can be viewed on various sites, including  Apple Music and YouTube. Two other two tracks, “Light Night Mountains All That” and “Anywhere” are already available to download; the full album drops February 6.

Alejandro Escovedo of Rank And File and True Believers fame will bring his current band The Electric Saints to FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL for performances on December 30 and 31. Chicago-based singer-songwriter Nora O’Connor will be the opening act on the first night.

Congratulations to my nephew chef Joe Flamm on the opening of his new restaurant Bar Tutto. As with his already established venues Rose Mary and il Carciofo, this one’s located in the happening Fulton Market area, just west of downtown Chicago. 1114 W. Carroll Avenue, to be exact. The difference with Bar Tutto is that it takes an all-day approach, which means patrons can order breakfast, lunch or dinner. I was able to attend a preview event, and rest assured, I’ll be back. Maybe for a chai latte and a croissant.

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.”

Weekend Reminders

Thursday posts focus on events that were previously mentioned on Broken Hearted Toy, and are taking place during the upcoming weekend. Plus, the occasional event taking place this weekend that has just come to my attention, or concert tickets going on sale.

Happy Birthday to Keith Richards, one of rock and roll’s most impressive guitarists for seven decades. His strumming has fueled hit singles as well as classic album tracks, all the while conveying a superstar persona.

On the local scene, Happy Birthday to John San Juan, a guitarist-vocalist who’s performed with numerous acts on stage as well as performing and recording with his indie rock band Hushdrops.

Desiree Burcum, a longtime member of the Chicago comedy group Famous In The Future and The Ruts alt rock band, is also celebrating today. Happy Birthday, Des.

The LiveWire Lounge at 3394 N. Milwaukee Avenue on Chicago’s north side will host a Holiday Market this Sunday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Shoppers will find handmade goods, artwork, fashion, records, and rock and roll memorabilia.

Patti Smith will continue promoting her Bread Of Angels memoir with an event in Washington, D.C. tomorrow, and upcoming dates in January.

As noted on the Jam Mail Concert Calendar, tickets are now on sale for Fountains Of Wayne, with Fig Dish and Child Seat at Vic Theatre on December 31; Mavis Staples with Nathaniel Rateliff (solo) at The Chicago Theatre on January 10; and Brigitte Calls Me Baby at Schubas on January 21.

Congratulations to vocalist Darlene Love and The Smithereens on being announced as the next inductees for the Count Basie Center Walk Of Fame. The inductions will take place tomorrow at the Count Basie Center in Redbank, NJ. Previous inductees are Count Basie and Jon Bon Jovi.

Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side will offer a full lineup of oddly named acts tomorrow night with Helen Huff; Trick Shooter Social Club; The Revinirs; The Cold Motions; and Decoy Prayer Meeting. The music starts at 7:00 pm.

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Michael McDermott will bring his Mischief And Mistletoe celebration to City Winery - Chicago for the 13th year this coming Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Each night will offer a different show, as McDermott is joined by special guests.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the Old Town School Of Folk Music on March 14. The critically acclaimed a cappella singing group has been together for 60 years.

The Bad Examples’ gig tomorrow night at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, IL is being billed as A Christmas Rock Party. The long-time, Chicago-based indie rockers are led by vocalist-guitarist Ralph Covert, whose songs are reminiscent of the clever and melodic music of Squeeze.

Those Chicago-based, self-described 21st century druid musicians whitewolfsonicprincess will wrap up a busy year with “a little party/concert at our humble rehearsal studio” this Saturday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Participating musicians will include Chris Bock, Randy Farr, Pat McDonald, Karen Singer, Daniel Connolly, Scott Judd, and The Telepaths. There is a suggested donation of $10. The studio is located at 826 Custer St. in Evanston.

Incoming

Happy Birthday to Tony Hicks of The Hollies. As with The Hollies themselves, Hicks doesn’t always get the credit he deserves. Likewise for drummer Bobby Elliott, whose birthday we celebrated earlier this month. Hicks is a superb musician and one third of the glorious harmonies that have been a Hollies trademark since the days he helped create them with Graham Nash and Allan Clarke.

Hicks also wrote hits such as “Carrie Anne” and “Dear Eloise” with Nash and Clarke, and came up with the idea for “Stop Stop Stop,” which features his distinctive banjo playing. Later, Hicks collaborated with songwriter Kenny Lynch on the terrific tracks “Long Dark Road” and “To Do With Love” on the Distant Light album. He’s also a good judge of outside material, having suggested “The Air That I Breathe” to the band.

Several local musicians will take part in the Second Annual Remembering Elliott Smith Night being held tomorrow at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. The ambitious format involves eight brief sets, each by an individual performer, with a full band taking over at 10:00 pm. John Aulabaugh will kick things off at 7:00 pm, followed by Rick Nitz; Niko Stavropoulos; Trevor Lynch; Phil Yates; Dolph Chaney; Garret Johnson; and Phil Angotti. The full band will feature Mike Conroy; Eric Chial; Brian Stour; Garret Johnson; and Trevor Lynch. We lost the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Elliott Smith in 2003, but his emotionally charged approach to performing and writing is still highly regarded on the music scene.

Congratulations to vocalist Darlene Love and The Smithereens on being announced as the next inductees for the Count Basie Center Walk Of Fame. The inductions are scheduled for this Friday at the Count Basie Center in Redbank, NJ. Previous inductees are Count Basie and Jon Bon Jovi.

Tickets go on sale this Friday for the Ladysmith Black Mambazo concert taking place at the Old Town School Of Folk Music on March 14. The critically acclaimed a cappella singing group has been together for 60 years.

Patti Smith will continue promoting her Bread Of Angels memoir with events in Brookline, MA tomorrow and Washington, D.C. on Friday.

Congratulations to my nephew chef Joe Flamm on the opening of his new restaurant Bar Tutto. As with his already established venues Rose Mary and il Carciofo, this one’s located in the happening Fulton Market area, just west of downtown Chicago. 1114 W. Carroll Avenue, to be exact. The difference with Bar Tutto is that it takes an all-day approach, which means patrons can order breakfast, lunch or dinner. I was able to attend a preview event, and rest assured, I’ll be back. Maybe for a chai latte and a croissant.

What better night for honoring The Belfast Cowboy than St. Patrick’s Day? Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning at 10:00 am for the Beautiful Vision: The Songs Of Van Morrison event taking place on March 17 at SPACE in Evanston, IL.The participants will be Steve Dawson, Chris Greene, Alton Smith, John Mead, John Abbey, Larry Brown, and Sophie Creutz.

The Bad Examples’ gig this Friday night at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, IL is now being billed as A Christmas Rock Party. The long-time, Chicago-based indie rockers are led by vocalist-guitarist Ralph Covert, whose songs are reminiscent of the clever and melodic music of Squeeze.

Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side offers a full evening of live music this Friday with performances by Helen Huff; Trick Shooter Social Club; The Revinirs; The Cold Motions; and Decoy Prayer Meeting. The music starts at 7:00 pm.

Slumgullion

Congratulations to vocalist Darlene Love and The Smithereens on being announced as the next inductees for the Count Basie Center Walk Of Fame. The inductions are scheduled for December 19th at the Count Basie Center in Redbank, NJ. Previous inductees are Count Basie and Jon Bon Jovi.

The Smithereens, with Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill will perform 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.

Several local musicians will take part in the Second Annual Remembering Elliott Smith Night being held on December 17 at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. The ambitious format involves eight brief sets, each by an individual performer, with a full band taking over at 10:00 pm. John Aulabaugh will kick things off at 7:00 pm, followed by Rick Nitz; Niko Stavropoulos; Trevor Lynch; Phil Yates; Dolph Chaney; Garret Johnson; and Phil Angotti. The full band will feature Mike Conroy; Eric Chial; Brian Stour; Garret Johnson; and Trevor Lynch. We lost the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Elliott Smith in 2003, but his emotionally charged approach to performing and writing is still highly regarded on the music scene.

It’s still a gift even if it’s not seasonal. Aussie musician Joe Algeri has been offering people around the globe a free new song each December on his Egomaniac Music website for 25 years. In the past, he would take an off-kilter view of the yuletide, but recently Algeri switched his December free download to a non-seasonal song. Which is fine, considering how many holiday gifts are standard rock and roll related. I still have The Hollies Hear Here album I got got for Christmas in 1966. Algeri’s 2025 gift is a melodic power pop tune titled “Summer Forever” that deals with emotional confusion. Once again, he’s joined by an international crew of musicians: American bassist-backup vocalist Herb Eimerman; drummer Stefan Johansson and organ player Lars Brussel from Sweden; and lead guitarist Andy J. Prinkkila from Finland.

Chicago-based/world renowned blues artist Buddy Guy has announced the dates for his traditional January residency at his Legends venue in the south end of downtown Chicago. He’ll have 16 performances throughout the month, with the first on January 3, and the last on January 30. There will be supporting acts for each of Guy’s shows.

Fans of The Gin Blossoms can pre-order an autographed copy of the indie rock band’s 1992 album New Miserable Experience on marble colored vinyl for $49.98 from the TalkShopLive! website. That’s the record that includes the hits “Found Out About You” and “Hey Jealousy.”

The Walkin' on Sunshine band, featuring Steve Dawson, Gerald Dowd, Alton Smith, John Abbey and special guest Diane Christiansen, has a gig coming up at Simon’s in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood on December 28. Admission is free, but tips are always welcome. A recent post from Dawson states the two sets will feature “a lot of my songs and a bunch of surprise covers.” The music starts at 8:30 pm.

British recording artist Mordecai Smyth, who specializes in catchy, offbeat tunes, has a new album coming out soon on the Mega Dodo indie label. He recently posted a video of “Breaking The Backs,” one of the songs from that release, on his Facebook page as a preview. Smyth has a gig on March 1 at the Crumbs Coffee Shop in Woodley, Reading, with musician/producer/DJ Robert Sowden as supporting act.

Chicago’s long-time indie rockers The Bad Examples will perform at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, IL on December 19. As often mentioned here on Broken Hearted Toy, lead vocalist-guitarist Ralph Covert creates songs that are reminiscent of the clever and melodic music of Squeeze. A recent Facebook post from Covert promises “a fun mix of old and new favorites from our catalog.” He’s also a skilled, humorous storyteller, so they may be a few anecdotes from his extensive career.

Autographed copies of musician Melissa Auf der Maur’s upcoming book Even the Good Girls Will Cry are available to pre-order from the TalkShopLive! website. Auf der Maur, who’s known for performing with Hole and Smashing Pumpkins, describes her book as “part rock memoir, part travel diary, [and] part psychedelic scrapbook.”

Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side offers a full evening of live music on December 19 with performances by Helen Huff; Trick Shooter Social Club; The Revinirs; The Cold Motions; and Decoy Prayer Meeting. The music starts at 7:00 pm.

Patti Smith will continue promoting her Bread Of Angels memoir with events in Princeton, NJ this Monday; Brookline, MA on December 17; Washington, D.C. on December 19; New York City on January 21; and New Haven, CT on January 26. 

Chloe F. Orwell from The Handcuffs will play saxophone as a special guest at the Custard Flux gig scheduled for December 28 at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. Custard Flux, AKA musician Gregory Curvey, is a veteran of the Chicago-based prog rock band The Luck Of Eden Hall, and is noted for creating adventurous albums, such as his most recent effort Enter Xenon. He’ll have a few special design t-shirts for sale at the Montrose Saloon show.

The Continental Posters (1982 – 83) - Selections from Dean Brownrout exhibition, which recently opened at The Fitz Books store in Buffalo, NY, has been extended through the whole month of December. 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.

Sons Of The Silent Age, the Chicago-based David Bowie tribute band led by vocalist Chris Connelly, has a tradition of kicking off the new year with a benefit performance at Metro. The January 31, 2026 event finds Sons Of The Silent Age taking “Our second trip through the Berlin trilogy, consisting of the albums Low, Heroes, and Lodger.” A second set will concentrate on Bowie’s hit singles and well-known material. And, as noted by guitarist Steve Gerlach in a recent Facebook post, “It’s a benefit for Endeavor Health’s excellent Integrative Medicine program.”

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. 

Chicago-based indie rockers Ratboys are offering another impressive preview of what fans can expect from their up coming album Singin’ To An Empty Chair. According to a recent message on their Bandcamp page, a Thelma and Louise inspired video for their song “What’s Right?” can be viewed on various sites, including  Apple Music and YouTube. Two other two tracks, “Light Night Mountains All That” and “Anywhere” are already available to download; the full album drops February 6.

Alejandro Escovedo of Rank And File and True Believers fame will bring his current band The Electric Saints to FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL for performances on December 30 and 31. Chicago-based singer-songwriter Nora O’Connor will be the opening act on the first night.

The Chicago-based Kevin Brown Quintet will have a release party for their new Christmas album this Monday at the Church Of The Resurrection in Wheaton, IL. Adventus is an ambitious effort that updates nine hymns from much earlier centuries with contemporary jazz arrangements. “The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came,” “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” and “Gaudete” are particularly appealing, and like the other tracks, would go well with a sophisticated holiday brunch or get-together.

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.”

Weekend Reminders

Thursday posts focus on events that were previously mentioned on Broken Hearted Toy, and are taking place during the upcoming weekend. Plus, the occasional event taking place this weekend that has just come to my attention, or concert tickets going on sale.

The 45th Annual John Lennon Tribute - Benefit For Theatre Within will take place tomorrow at The Town Hall venue in New York. Judy Collins will be given this year’s John Lennon Real Love Award and she’ll 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.

Happy Birthday to bassist Mike Mesaros, a founding member of The Smithereens. These guys have been awesome from the start, and Mesaros has played a major role in their success. 

Singer-guitarist Michael Steven Cohen, a former member of the power pop bands The Abbeys and Pop Dollys, has embarked on a successful career playing selections from The Great American Songbook at dinner clubs. His last performance for 2025 will take place tomorrow at one of his regular haunts, the Tuscan Market And Wine Shop in Arlington Heights, IL. The music starts at 7:00 pm.

The Do You Her What I Her? event taking place at 3:00 pm this Sunday at Urban Stages in New York City will feature new original holiday music crafted by female songwriters. Curated and hosted by Amy Engelhardt, with Tracy Stark serving as musical director, the showcase will honor writers as well as performers. Urban Stages is located at 259 W. 30th Street in New York.

Long-time Chicago indie rockers The Social Act (one of the first bands I interviewed back when I freelanced for the Illinois Entertainer) will perform a free holiday show tomorrow evening at 8:00 pm at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue. With founding member Ellis Clark leading the way, The Social Act will perform a set of original songs they’ve created over the years, along with covers of “Susie Q” and “That’s All Right, Mama.”

Pink Floyd’s 50th anniversary edition of Wish You Were Here, AKA Wish You Were Here 50, drops tomorrow in 2CD, 3LP, and a deluxe box formats.

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Phil Angotti Band will perform an acoustic solo show tomorrow at Goldy’s in Forest Park, IL. And in welcome news for those of us out in the northwestern suburbs, tickets are now on sale for the February 19 show by The Phil Angotti Band at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights.

Wicked Cool Records and Little Steven’s Underground Garage will present The Chesterfield Kings Christmas Show with special guests The Grip Weeds this Saturday at Iron Smoke Distillery in Fairport, NY. As recently noted by The Chesterfield Kings founding member Andy Babiuk on Facebook, the Wicked Cool Records compilation It's A Wicked Cool Christmas!, which includes a track by his band, is now available on all digital platforms.

The Cure - The Show Of A Lost World - Troxy Live 2024 concert film opened exclusively in cinemas today and will have a limited run. Information on where fans can “see one of the most influential bands of all time on the big screen film” can be found on the film’s official website.

The December issue of the Illinois Entertainer features a cover story on Cheap Trick, in which journalist Tom Lanham interviews the band’s bass player Tom Petersson. Langham also interviewed Naoko Yamano from the Japanese trio Shonen Knife for this issue, and there are album reviews of Smashing Pumpkins; Tortoise; and Hüsker Dü. The Illinois Entertainer is available for free in record stores in the Chicago area. I usually pick up a copy at The Music Room in Palatine.  

Incoming

Photo of Bobby Elliot, taken by Rob Haywood, from the official Hollies website.

Happy Birthday to Bobby Elliott, who started drumming for The Hollies in the early 1960s and never left them. He and guitarist Tony Hicks are the only remaining original members in current Hollies lineup. The band hasn’t toured for a while, but you never know what the future might bring. Among professional musicians and music critics, Elliott is regarded as an inventive rock and roll drummer who frequently incorporated elements of jazz. Judging from Elliott’s 2020 autobiography It Ain’t Heavy, It’s My Story - My Life In The Hollies, he’s justifiably proud of his musical accomplishments.

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Phil Angotti Band will perform an acoustic solo show this Friday at Goldy’s in Forest Park, IL. And in welcome news for those of us out in the northwestern suburbs, tickets are now on sale for the February 19 show by The Phil Angotti Band at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights.

Tickets for the March 29 charity event An Evening With Wolf Alice at the Royal Albert Hall in London will go on sale at 9:00 am this Friday. The British alt rock band has been touring in support of its critically acclaimed new album The Clearing and will have fellow Brit singer-songwriter Nilüfer Yanya as their special guest. Robert Smith is listed as the cureator—I believe that’s a deliberate misspelling intended as a pun—and the event will support the Teenage Cancer Fund.

Chloe F. Orwell from The Handcuffs will play saxophone as a special guest at the Custard Flux gig scheduled for December 28 at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. Custard Flux, AKA musician Gregory Curvey, is a veteran of the Chicago-based prog rock band The Luck Of Eden Hall, and is noted for creating adventurous albums, such as his most recent effort Enter Xenon. He’ll have a few special design t-shirts for sale at the Montrose Saloon show.

Wicked Cool Records and Little Steven’s Underground Garage will present The Chesterfield Kings Christmas Show with special guests The Grip Weeds this Saturday at Iron Smoke Distillery in Fairport, NY. As recently noted by The Chesterfield Kings founding member Andy Babiuk on Facebook, the Wicked Cool Records compilation It's A Wicked Cool Christmas! includes a track by his band, and is now available on all digital platforms.

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 tomorrow night.

Chloe F. Orwell from The Handcuffs will play saxophone as a special guest at the Custard Flux gig scheduled for December 28 at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. Custard Flux, AKA musician Gregory Curvey, is a veteran of the Chicago-based prog rock band The Luck Of Eden Hall, and is noted for creating adventurous albums, such as his most recent effort Enter Xenon. He’ll have a few special design t-shirts for sale at the Montrose Saloon show.

The Continental Posters (1982 – 83) - Selections from Dean Brownrout exhibition recently opened at The Fitz Books store in Buffalo, NY and has been extended through the whole month of December. 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.

Tickets are now on sale for The Cure - The Show Of A Lost World - Troxy Live 2024. The concert film will be shown exclusively in cinemas for a limited run starting this Thursday. Information on where fans can “see one of the most influential bands of all time on the big screen film” can be found on the film’s official website.

The 45th Annual John Lennon Tribute - Benefit For Theatre Within will take place at the Town Hall venue in New York this Friday. 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.

Patti Smith will continue promoting her Bread Of Angels memoir with events in Brooklyn, NY this Thursday; Princeton, NJ on December 15; Brookline, MA on December 17; Washington, D.C. on December 19; New York City on January 21; and New Haven, CT on January 26.

Pink Floyd’s 50th anniversary edition of Wish You Were Here, AKA Wish You Were Here 50, drops this Friday in 2CD, 3LP, and a deluxe box formats.

Sunday Papers

Sons Of The Silent Age, the Chicago-based David Bowie tribute band led by vocalist Chris Connelly, has a tradition of kicking off the new year with a benefit performance at Metro. The January 31, 2026 event finds Sons Of The Silent Age taking “Our second trip through the Berlin trilogy, consisting of the albums Low, Heroes, and Lodger.” A second set will concentrate on Bowie’s hit singles and well-known material. And, as noted by guitarist Steve Gerlach in a recent Facebook post, “It’s a benefit for Endeavor Health’s excellent Integrative Medicine program.”

Aimee Mann and Ted Leo successfully collaborate on indie rock songs from time to time, and they also enjoy spreading holiday cheer. Their Aimee Mann and Ted Leo Christmas Show! drops by Cleveland, OH tomorrow;  and Royal Oak, MI on Tuesday. The show, which also features Paul F. Tompkins, Nellie McKay and Josh Gondelman, is coming to Chicago on December 11 and 12.

Congratulations to Andrew Bird on selling out all five of his December 8 – 12 Gezelligheid Concerts at the Fourth Presbyterian Church just north of downtown Chicago. I believe this is a common occurrence whenever the vocalist-violinist-whistler stages this annual holiday event.

Now that Paul McCartney has wrapped up his Got Back North American Tour 2025 with two well-received concerts at Chicago’s United Center, he can concentrate on promoting the his autobiographical book Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run. It was edited by well-known biography author Ted Widmer, who also contributed the introduction.

Chicago-based indie rockers Ratboys are offering another impressive preview of what fans can expect from their up coming album Singin’ To An Empty Chair. According to a recent message on their Bandcamp page, a Thelma and Louise inspired video for their song “What’s Right?” can be viewed on various sites, including  Apple Music and YouTube. Two other two tracks, “Light Night Mountains All That” and “Anywhere” are already available to download; the full album drops February 6.

Actor-musician Michael Shannon and musician Jason Narducy recently announced the nine dates on their September 40th Anniversary of R.E.M.’s Lifes Rich Pageant 2026 UK and Ireland Tour. (The North American portion takes place earlier in the year.) The lucky cities are Bristol; Brighton; London; Manchester; Leeds; Edinburgh; Glasgow, Dublin; and Belfast. As on their previous R.E.M. tribute tours, Shannon and Narducy will be backed by musicians Dag Juhlin, John Stirratt, Vijay Tellis-Nayak, and Jon Wurster.

Alejandro Escovedo of Rank And File and True Believers fame will bring his current band The Electric Saints to FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL for performances on December 30 and 31. Chicago-based singer-songwriter Nora O’Connor will be the opening act on the first night.

The Chicago-based Kevin Brown Quintet’s Christmas album Adventus is an ambitious effort that updates nine hymns from much earlier centuries with contemporary jazz arrangements. “The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came,” “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” and “Gaudete” are particularly appealing, and like the other tracks, would go well with a sophisticated holiday brunch or get-together.

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. 

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.

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.”

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 looking for a career in music.

Weekend Reminders

Thursday posts focus on events that were previously mentioned on Broken Hearted Toy, and are taking place during the upcoming weekend. Plus, the occasional event taking place this weekend that has just come to my attention, or concert tickets going on sale.

Jason Narducy has a book release event for his Mostly The Van memoir coming up this Sunday night at Evanston Space. WXRT radio personality Marty Lennartz will interview the musician/author, and the evening will wrap up with a Narducy solo performance. The doors open at 6:30.

Depending on when you read this (and if tickets are still available) you could catch the Tributosaurus Becomes Supertramp show at 7:00 pm tonight at Martyrs’ on Chicago’s north side. Tributosaurus Becomes Supertramp will also take place at Martyrs’ at 8:00 pm tomorrow night.

Also going on tonight (at 7:30) is Joel Paterson’s Hi-Fi Christmas, featuring the critically acclaimed, Chicago-based guitarist, at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, IL.

My Biggest Thrills, a Chicago-based band that pays tribute to English rockers The Mighty Lemon Drops, will perform at 8:00 tonight at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. Violent Themmes and Matt Augustine will also be on the bill. Sunday night brings another Brit band tribute to Martyrs’ when 40,000 Headmen perform hits and deep cuts by Traffic.

In another example of Chicago area musicians paying homage to adventurous British acts, Reggies Chicago will host Indiscipline: A Tribute To The Music Of King Crimson on Saturday. 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.

Tomorrow is Bandcamp Friday, when Bandcamp waives its revenue on the first Friday of the month. Or, as stated in an official email, “More of what you spend goes straight to the artists and labels you care about.”

Over The Rhine will begin their 2025 Christmas Tour with a show this Friday at the Kent Stage in Kent, OH. On Saturday, they’ll perform at the Davidson Theatre, Riffe Center in Columbus, OH; and Sunday brings them to Chicago, IL for a show at The Old Town School Of Folk Music. Additional concerts will take place at venues in Ann Arbor, MI; Lexington, KY;  Louisville, KY; and Nashville, TN. The critically acclaimed Americana band—led by Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler—will wind up the tour December 19 – 21 at Memorial Hall in its hometown of Cincinnati, OH.

The Black Ensemble Theatre, which has presented several well-crafted and critically acclaimed musicals over the years, is currently staging A Black Ensemble Holiday Spectacular. It opens this Saturday and will run through December 14, offering a blend of traditional, gospel, and modern music.

Singer-guitarist Michael Steven Cohen, a former member of the power pop bands The Abbeys and Pop Dollys, has embarked on a successful career playing selections from The Great American Songbook at dinner clubs. His 6:00 to 10:00 pm. performance tomorrow night at the Chicago Prime Italian restaurant in Schaumburg, IL will be his last one at that venue for 2025. He’ll perform at the Tuscan Market And Wine Shop in Arlington Heights next Friday.

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

Chris Ligon and Heather McAdams will stage their annual Country Calendar Show this Saturday at FitzGerald’s In Berwyn, IL. Several performers from the Chicago music scene will be involved, with each act covering a well-known country or rock star. Audience members should also check the merch table for the 2026 edition of Heather’s Lil' Country Calendar; a new Chris Ligon CD; and other unique treasures.

Incoming

Over The Rhine will begin their 2025 Christmas Tour with a show this Friday at the Kent Stage in Kent, OH. On Saturday, they’ll perform at the Davidson Theatre, Riffe Center in Columbus, OH; and Sunday brings them to Chicago, IL for a show at The Old Town School Of Folk Music. Additional concerts will take place at venues in Ann Arbor, MI; Lexington, KY;  Louisville, KY; and Nashville, TN. The critically acclaimed Americana band—led by Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiler—will wind up the tour December 19 – 21 at Memorial Hall in its hometown of Cincinnati, OH. 

Alejandro Escovedo of Rank And File and True Believers fame will bring his current band The Electric Saints to FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL for performances on December 30 and 31. Chicago-based singer-songwriter Nora O’Connor will be the opening act on the first night.

Joel Paterson’s Hi-Fi Christmas, featuring the critically acclaimed, Chicago-based guitarist, returns to Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, IL this Thursday.

The Black Ensemble Theatre, which has presented several well-crafted and critically acclaimed musicals over the years, is currently staging A Black Ensemble Holiday Spectacular. It opens this Saturday and will run through December 14, offering a blend of traditional, gospel, and modern music.

Chris Ligon and Heather McAdams will stage their annual Country Calendar Show this Saturday at FitzGerald’s In Berwyn, IL. Several performers from the Chicago music scene will be involved, with each act covering a well-known country or rock star. Audience members should also check the merch table for the 2026 edition of Heather’s Lil' Country Calendar; a new Chris Ligon CD; and other unique treasures.

Ring in the new with Old 97s at SPACE in Evanston, IL. The Dallas, TX band’s December 29, 30, and 31 shows will likely feature selections from their 2024 album American Primitive, as well as favorites such as “Champagne, Illinois” and “Big Brown Eyes.”

Fans of The Gin Blossoms can pre-order an autographed copy of the indie rock band’s 1992 album New Miserable Experience on marble colored vinyl for $49.98 from the TalkShopLive! website. That’s the record that includes the hits “Found Out About You” and “Hey Jealousy.”

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. 

My Biggest Thrills, a Chicago-based band that pays tribute to English rockers The Mighty Lemon Drops, will perform this Thursday at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. Violent Themmes and Matt Augustine will also be on the bill.

The Tributosaurus Becomes Supertramp events this Thursday and Friday at Martyrs’ will feature the well-known Chicago tribute band performing songs such as “Give a Little Bit,” “Goodbye Stranger,” and “Bloody Well Right.” Martyrs’ is located in the Lincoln Park area.

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 this Saturday. 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.