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.