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.