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.