Weekend Reminders

For information on the artists performing at Friday night’s International Pop Overthrow - Chicago showcase, check out my earlier post today.

Depending on when you read this, you could still catch the EXTC Terry Chambers And Friends show at City Winery Chicago tonight. The show features the longtime drummer for the critically acclaimed and beloved English band XTC, backed by veteran musicians.

Likewise for the Our House - Music Of  CSNY With Family Members Of The Original CSNY - “Live At Fillmore East” concert taking place tonight at The Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL.

The Stop Making Sense: A Film By Jonathan Demme And Talking Heads Live Event Hosted By Jerry Harrison at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts in Skokie, IL also takes place tonight. The re-release of Demme’s iconic 1984 concert flick has been restored in 4K, and Talking Heads guitarist Jerry Harrison will provide an introduction, as well comments and a Q&A session afterward.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 10:00 am for the 99 Years Of Rock ’N Roll X And Los Lobos show on October 16 at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. Each of these Los Angeles groundbreaking bands will feature all original members. The date is part of a tour that kicks off on July 19 in Denver, and includes stops in Salt Lake City, Toronto, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Seattle.

Chicago’s legendary folk singer Bonnie Koloc will be right at home when she performs at The Old Town School Of Folk Music tomorrow night, with special guest singer-guitarist Mark Dvorak. The music starts at 8:00 pm. In related news regarding a folk music legend, tickets for the Tom Rush July 29 concert at The Old Town School of Folk Music will go on sale tomorrow.

The New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival ran last Thursday through Sunday, and will run today through this Sunday this week as well.

Dead Freddie, the self-described Punk Pop Phenomena, will join fellow Chicago bands Go Time! and The Spindles in a triple bill at the Heroes West Sports Grill in Lemont, IL tomorrow. The music starts at 7:30 pm.

IPO - Chicago: Friday On My Mind

Photo from Ralph Covert Facebook page.

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago 2025 will wrap things up at Montrose Saloon this weekend with a seven-band showcase on Friday night, and a doubleheader (six sets in the afternoon, seven sets in the evening) on Saturday.

Singer-guitarist Billy Nixon will get things rocking and rolling on Friday at 7:30 pm. Nixon’s October 2023 album Late Fees, like his 2021 effort C’mon Let’s Rattle, evokes sock hops and malt shoppes with catchy and fun arrangements. Kerosene Stars have been releasing power pop albums since their 2014 self-titled effort, and put out the fun “Ants In The Bathroom” single last year. Their set at IPO - Chicago this Friday night will bring a catchy new song titled “Kerosine” (yes, the spelling’s different) that was posted on Bandcamp last Friday. Draped Apes, a self-described art-garage rock band, will travel from Nashville, TN to Chicago this Friday night. They have an official video for their adventurous indie rock song “Say Nothing,” and toured the UK last August.

It doesn’t seem that long ago I was enjoying a performance by Aaron Fox And The Reliables at an International Pop Overthrow - Chicago event. But as the band pointed out in a recent Facebook post about this Friday’s gig, that had to be back in 2014 or earlier. The post states they’re “super excited” to be playing their first show together in 11 years. Here’s what I wrote about the band way back when: Aaron Fox & The Reliables treated the audience to a seven-song preview of their follow up to 2010’s Late Too Soon. The catchy “Unpromised Land” and “What We Think” were immediate grabbers that highlighted the band’s knack for guitar-driven arrangements and impressive harmonies. Ralph Covert has created songs with The Bad Examples across many albums that are reminiscent of the clever and melodic music of Squeeze, and he offers fun musical lessons for kids via Ralph’s World. He’s performed a number of times over the years at IPO - Chicago. As for this Friday’s show, Covert recently posted on Facebook that he’ll offer “a 1/2 hour set of unreleased tunes backed by a killer band including The Bad Examples’ bassist Josiah Bailey, Miguel H Gonzalez on drums, and the amazing trombone of Henry Alden Carpender.”

The Nobodies’ offbeat and satirical lyrics are set to arrangements that range from the garage rock of  “You’re Making Me A Headache” to the country and western twang of  “Drunk Text My Ex.” They’ve also been known to cover The Ramones’ “Beat On The Brat” at their shows. The Minneapolis quartet High On Stress has taken an unpredictable path to creating music since its 2005 debut Moonlight Girls, and has released several singles and full-length albums since. Their songs tap into energetic rock (“Work Release,” “Nothing Can Change You”) country twang (“Leaving MPLS”), and ballads (“Life Can Get So Long”) while spinning tales of unhappy and frustrated characters.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago 2025 schedule. You’ll also find links for most of the acts who’ll be participating this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

IPO - Chicago: Thursday Preview

Thursday night’s showcase at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side arrives as a new month begins, and brings us to roughly the halfway mark for this year’s nine-day International Pop Overthrow - Chicago  festival.  

The Larvettes’ set will likely feature songs from their Here Come The Larvettes EP, which dropped on April 1. It’s a consistently hard-hitting effort that starts off with a cover of Nashville Teens’ “Tobacco Road,” and offers guitar-driven tracks such as “Russian Roulette” and “Doghouse.” They previously gave us the the ironically titled three-song Happy Go Lucky Times in 2022. Power pop band The Second Summer recently contributed a new song titled “Glimmerglass” to indie label Kool Kat Musik’s Pop Aid 2: A Compilation To Benefit Those Affected By Hurricanes Helene & Milton. It’s one of the many gems on that charitable effort. The Second Summer’s debut album undertow is filled with catchy tunes graced with well-crafted harmony vocals. A Nice Chunk is an appropriate title for The Loan Jetts’ 2024 debut album since there are several catchy, guitar-driven tracks on this effort. “Like A Cherrystone,” “Lost My Mind,” and “Slitherin’ By” are three good examples.

Folk singer Steve Slagg takes an introspective approach on his third album I Don’t Want To Get Adjusted To This World. His extensive, poetic lyrics are set to easy-going arrangements, with the title track, “Heaven (Yet),” and “Outside All The Time” being particularly effective. Named after founding member Jerry Schwartz, The Jerrys have been creating Anglo-influenced, guitar-driven pop since releasing their debut album in 2001. Cover Songs, which came out this past February, finds them performing material by The Beatles, The Kinks, Johnny Rivers, The Ventures, and other 1960s hit makers. Their 2022 release Ready Or Not offered original material. Taking time from its busy schedule on Syracuse, NYmusic scene, the band Modafferi has traveled to Chicago to take part in this year’s IPO festival. They’re a creative bunch who have filmed numerous videos for original indie rock songs such as “Coming Across The Middle,” “The Incident,” and “D.O.A.”

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago 2025 schedule. You’ll also find links for most of the acts who’ll be participating this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

Incoming

For information on the artists performing at tomorrow night’s International Pop Overthrow - Chicago showcase, check out the IPO - Chicago Wednesday Preview I posted earlier today. I’m trying to stay at least one day ahead while creating a preview for each showcase through this Saturday night.

Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10:00 am for the 99 Years Of Rock ’N Roll X And Los Lobos show on October 16 at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. Each of these Los Angeles groundbreaking bands will feature all original members. The date is part of a tour that kicks off on July 19 in Denver, and includes stops in Salt Lake City, Toronto, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and Seattle.

Chicago’s legendary folk singer Bonnie Koloc will be right at home when she performs at The Old Town School Of Folk Music this Friday, with special guest singer-guitarist Mark Dvorak. The music starts at 8:00 pm. In related news regarding a folk music legend, tickets for the Tom Rush July 29 concert at The Old Town School of Folk Music will go on sale this Friday.

The New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival ran last Thursday through Sunday, and will run Thursday through this Sunday this week as well. Well-known acts from several genres have been taking part.

Terry Chambers And Friends, which features the longtime drummer for the critically acclaimed and beloved English band XTC backed by veteran musicians, takes place this Thursday at City Winery Chicago.

Dead Freddie, the self-described Punk Pop Phenomena, will join fellow Chicago bands Go Time! and The Spindles in a triple bill at the Heroes West Sports Grill in Lemont, IL this Friday. The music starts at 7:30 pm.

The Our House - Music Of  CSNY With Family Members Of The Original CSNY - “Live At Fillmore East” concert takes place at The Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL this Thursday.

The Stop Making Sense: A Film By Jonathan Demme And Talking Heads Live Event Hosted By Jerry Harrison is this Thursday to the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts in Skokie, IL. The re-release of Demme’s iconic 1984 concert flick has been restored in 4K, and Talking Heads guitarist Jerry Harrison will provide an introduction, as well comments and a Q&A session afterward. Limited meet and greet tickets are available.

IPO - Chicago: Wednesday

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago 2025 continues its daily run at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side through this Saturday, May 3. I’ve been able to post a preview of each showcase so far, and here’s a peek at Wednesday night’s lineup, featuring recording artists from the indie label Big Blast Records.

“Come Out Of The Darkness,” the latest single from the former Belleville, MI now Chicago-based quartet Quasar-Wut Wut, came out in 2022 but these guys have been sporadically giving the world silly indie rock songs since 1990. They’re active filmmakers as well, so it should be interesting to see how they present their adventurous compositions in a live performance. Golden Richards has performed numerous times at IPO - Chicago, as well as at clubs around the city. Their 2024 epic single “Doctor K” adds a rap twist to the band’s usual power pop approach.

The Mark Watson Band has done well on the Chicago club scene with an energetic power pop approach that draws on Cheap Trick and Fountains Of Wayne. Their catchy single “When Two Still Feels Alone” was included on the 2021 Big Blast Records compilation, and they released the three-song Beautiful EP in 2019. Rolling Numbers plan to showcase songs from their two albums, 2023’s Killer Machines and their self-titled 2022 release. The band’s harmony vocals play a major role on melodic songs such as “Best Of Luck” and “Memories Of You.”

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago 2025 schedule. You’ll also find links for most of the acts who’ll be participating this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

IPO - Chicago: Tuesday Night Preview

If International Pop Overthrow founder David Bash doesn’t mind copping a Monty Python catchphrase, he could introduce each of Tuesday night’s acts by saying, “And now for something completely different.” It should be an unusual and entertaining evening. International Pop Overthrow runs through this Saturday, May 3 at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side.

Somerville, MA vocalist-keyboards player Captain Easychord (Tom Despres) appears to have taken his stage name from the title of a 2001 Stereolab EP, and has notched airplay on Tufts University radio station WMFO. Songs such as “I Got My Act Together” and “My Blind Shrink” find him setting humorous observations to easygoing rock arrangements. Eight-member Chicago area band Transference released their debut EP 100 Mirrors a little over a year ago, with vocalist-keyboards player Laura Hollingsworth and bass player MJ Johnson writing all six tracks. Paranormal elements are woven through their indie rock arrangements, along with themes of social justice and environmental preservation. The Oh Boys, whose Facebook page lists their location as Chicago, Philadelphia, and Vancouver, expertly tap into vintage rock and roll, and then tweak that era with their own offbeat sentiments. Countless musicians have promised to love someone forever, but on their 2021 single “The End Of Time,” these guys go into the gruesome details of an apocalypse, alien invasion, and global warming. The Oh Boys’ most recent release was the 2024 retro single single “Dog-A-Bone.” One last interesting note: The Oh Boys’ drummer Kieran McCabe recently spent a little over a month portraying The Kinks drummer Mick Avory in the Chicago Shakespeare Theaters’s production of Sunny Afternoon.

According to a Facebook post, Cigarette Supernova is a new side project from the catchy and humorous IPO - Chicago regulars The Unswept. The post describes the music as fuzzed-out and blissfully loud, and promises, “If you’ve ever wondered what The Pixies meeting Sonic Youth might sound like ... you’re gonna love it.” Channahon, IL quintet Space Age Zeros craft a punk rock power pop blend they correctly believe will appeal to appeal to fans of  “The Ramones, Screeching Weasel, Material Issue, Cheap Trick and beyond.” Their September 2024 full length debut Strange New World features high speed gems such as “Fireworks,” “Jet Lagged,” “I Don’t Wanna Have Fun Anymore,” and a revved-up take on America’s “Sister Golden Hair.”

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago 2025 schedule. You’ll also find links for most of the acts who’ll be participating this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

IPO - Chicago: Start The Week Rocking

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago returned this past Friday night for its 22nd year, and its fourth year at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side. The festival continues each day until its two-part finale next Saturday, April 27. I’ve fallen a bit behind in getting my showcase previews out a few days early, mainly due to my actually attending IPO - Chicago for several hours yesterday. It was definitely a rewarding experience. So, here’s the preview of the four-act, women-focused showcase taking place tomorrow night, April 28.

Singer-guitarist Hannah Frank (pictured above) has become an IPO - Chicago veteran, as well as a popular performer on the local club scene by honing a repertoire of original acoustic compositions such as “Mad Girl’s Diary” and “Is You Mine,” along with unexpected covers such as the 1939 tune “Comes Love.” Her 15 Horses album, originally recorded in 2015, was mixed and updated for a 2023 release. Geez Louise, AKA singer-songwriter Louise Dimiceli-Mitran, aims to explore the conflicting emotions that complicate relationships. Her most recent album, Dancing In The Storm, has drawn praise for songs such as “Being With You,” “Already Gone,” and “Mexico.” Singer-guitarist Kristin Rose Kelly’s performances tend toward hard-edged rock, whether it’s on originals from her recently released Pantyhose album or well-chosen covers such as Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” Mrs. Smith And The Present will likely perform their catchy recent singles “Pretty Things” and “Big Man” at tomorrow night’s IPO - Chicago showcase. They also have four solid tunes on their 2024 She’s Right Here EP to choose from.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

Slumgullion

Check out my recent posts for coverage of this weekend’s International Pop Overthrow - Chicago festival at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. As the days pass, I’m hoping to post a preview for each day of the IPO - Chicago schedule. Wish me luck.

Fans of indie and alternative rock seem to find a lot to like about the recently revealed lineup for Chicago’s upcoming Riot Fest, judging from various comments on social media. Performers scheduled for this year’s bash range from punk pioneers such as Sex Pistols, The Pogues, Marky Ramone, The Damned, The Effigies, Shonen Knife, and The Buzzcocks to more recently formed acts such as The Linda Lindas and Inhaler. Green Day, Jack White, The Beach Boys, Weezer, The Cribs, Dropkick Murphys, Sparks, and Rilo Kiley are among the other acts coming to Douglass Park on the weekend of September 19 – 21.

Kinks fans from around the world get an opportunity to express their admiration for the band in author Chris Kocher’s new book Thank You For The Days: Fans Of The Kinks Share 60 Years Of Stories. Those fans include musicians such as Jonathan Lea, John Wesley Harding, and Ron Sexsmith, along with other professionals who’ve worked with The Kinks over the years. Thank You For The Days is now available on Amazon.

The Radio Soul!: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello Tour, featuring Costello and The Imposters, is coming to the Chicago Theatre on October 16. The 22-date tour kicks off on September 18 in Bethelem, PA—with American singer-songwriter Charlie Sexton as a special guest—and wraps up in Omaha, NE on October 22. 

Dead Freddie, the self-described Punk Pop Phenomena, will join fellow Chicago bands Go Time! and The Spindles in a triple bill at the Heroes West Sports Grill in Lemont, IL on May 2. The music starts at 7:30 pm. 

The Big Star Quintet has three concerts coming up in July. The lineup comprises original Big Star member Jody Stephens; along with Mike Mills from R.E.M., Jon Auer from The Posies, Pat Sansone from Wilco, and Chris Stamey from the dB’s. They’ll be in Germantown, TN on July 19; Nashville, TN on July 20; Minneapolis, MN on July 23; and at my house on July 25 to celebrate my birthday. Just kidding about that July 25 gig.

Chicago’s legendary folk singer Bonnie Koloc will be right at home when she performs at The Old Town School Of Folk Music on May 2. Coming up later at The Old Town School Of Folk Music, Robin Hitchcock will perform on June 7.

EXPO Chicago, which bills itself as the city’s “premier contemporary and modern art fair,” returned to Navy Pier yesterday and will run through Sunday. Visitors can spend hours admiring paintings, photographs, sculptures, books, and other creative wonders from Chicago and around the world.

Bruce Springsteen plans to release an 83-song collection of previously unreleased material titled Tracks II: The Lost Albums on June 27. Springsteen’s website states the project will be available “in limited-edition nine LP, seven CD and digital formats.” It will also include a 100-page, cloth-bound hardcover book. Springsteen will also release a less ambitious set titled Lost And Found: Selections from The Lost Albums offering 20 highlights on two LPs or one CD.

Several bands will help out when Sketchbook Brewing Company in Skokie, IL, hosts A Night To Remember Cary Greenspon And Benefit Parkinson’s Foundation on May 3. The country and western Kent Rose Trio are among the acts involved. Sketchbook Brewing Company is located at 4901 Main Street.

The 40th Annual Printer’s Row Lit Fest will take place on September 6 and 7 in the southern area of downtown Chicago. Poet/fiction writer/essayist Sandra Cisneros will this year’s headliner. 

Stay tuned. Wolf Alice has a new logo, and possibly some new music on the way, if fans are correctly deciphering clues the U.K. band has been delivering via a series of social media posts. Wolf Alice used a similar teasing approach before releasing the masterful Blue Weekend in 2021.

The 15th Annual Blue Whiskey Film Festival starts this Sunday and will run through May 6 at venues in Chicago, Elk Grove, Downers Grove, and Palatine. This year’s BWiFF will screen six feature films and several shorts.

The Chicago Blues Festival, an annual event since 1984 and believed to be the world’s largest blues festival, returns to Millennium Park for the long weekend of June 5 – June 8. Mavis Staples will be among the headliners, and there will be a centennial tribute to the late B.B. King. Opening day will take place at the Ramova Theatre at 3520 S. Halsted and feature performances by Bobby Rush and Billy Branch And The Sons Of The Blues.

The Cincinnati, OH publisher Ruffian Books has released a new one titled 500 Essential Pop-Punk Albums - From Blondie To blink-182, offering more than 550 pages of famous and lesser known artists. It’s available for $29.95.

The New Orleans Jazz And Heritage Festival recently opened and will run through May 4, with well-known acts from several genres taking part. This year’s lineup includes Pearl Jam; Lenny Kravitz; Kacey Musgraves; Santana; John Fogerty; HAIM; Cage The Elephant; Patti LaBelle; Gladys Knight; Joan Jett and The Blackhearts; Cheap Trick; Diana Krall; Branford Marsalis; The Wailers Featuring Julian Marley; Taj Mahal And The Phantom Blues Band; Stanley Clarke; Rickie Lee Jones; Shemekia Copeland; and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Detroit-based singer-songwriter Jeremy Porter will bring his Spring 2025 Solo-Acoustic Tour to the Lakeview Uncommon Ground venue in Chicago on May 7. Porter, whose songs mix catchy melodies with dark humor, will share the bill at Uncommon Ground with Phil Yates and Gary Camaro.

Billy Idol will be joined by Joan Jett on his It’s A Nice Day To . . . Tour Again! series of concerts starting April 30. That includes a stop at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheater in Tinley Park, IL on May 20.

I’m proud to share the news that my nephew Joe Flamm will co-chair this year’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry, along with fellow successful chef Diana Davila, on June 27. The event will be held at Rockwell On The River (3057 N. Rockwell) and feature 50 chefs and mixologists. Several well-known Chicago area restaurants will be involved, including Joe’s Rose Mary and il Carciofo; and Diana’s Mi Tocaya Antojeria. General Admission is $150, while an All Access Pass is $200.

The always engaging duo Sparks will release a new album titled Mad! on May 23 in vinyl, CD, and cassette fomats. After a world tour that will take them across Japan and Europe, Ron and Russell Mael will arrive in Atlanta, GA on September 5 to kick off an American tour that will include 15 dates. Chicago is not among the cities on the U.S. tour, which is likely to leave fans here, well, Mad.

Todd Rundgren’s July 13 concert at The Riviera Theatre in Chicago will be part of his Still Me (Still We) Tour. The 22-date tour kicks off on June 21 in Cranston, RI, and will also include stops in Syracuse, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Kalamazoo, MI; Minneapolis, MN; Cleveland, OH; and Orlando, FL.

Peter Checksfield, a UK-based music historian/author whose previous efforts have covered The Rolling Stones and Jerry Lee Lewis, has released a new book titled The Hollies - Elevated Observations: The Graham Nash Years 1963 – 1968. It’s available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback and kindle versions.

Online applications are now available for those interested in being part of YippieFest 2025 at Chopin Theatre on Chicago’s north side. The freewheeling, in-person entertainment event will return for its seventh year on the weekend of August 22 – 24. The long-running sketch/musical comedy group Famous In The Future will once again host YippieFest, which is inspired by the annual Abby Fest that was staged by Mary-Arrchie Theatre for several years.

Hung Up On A Dream, director/musician Robert Schwartzman’s 2023 documentary covering The Zombies’ entire career, will come to American theaters this May. The film features the British Invasion band’s most recent live performances, along with archival footage.

Peter Asher, who was half of the popular British Invasion duo Peter and Gordon before moving on to a highly successful career as a producer, also continues to perform music himself. His multimedia show A Musical Memoir of the 60s and Beyond comes to The Old Town School Of Folk Music May 16.

The Color Purple - The Musical is coming to the Goodman Theatre in Chicago starting June 21. The production will be directed by Lili-Anne Brown, with book by Marsha Norman, and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Alee Willis, and Stephen Bray.

Garbage, the band that gave us songs such as “Stupid Girl,” “I’m Only Happy When It Rains,” and “I Think I’m Paranoid,” have a Happy Endings Tour with special guest Starcrawler coming this fall. It kicks off on September 3 in Orlando, FL, and will include a stop at The Salt Shed in Chicago on September 29. Let All That We Imagine Be The Light, the band’s eighth album, is due out May 30.

Chicago-based, guitar-powered instrumental band Outronaut recently released an extensive and ambitious new tune titled “Demonic Republic.” Check it out, along with other previous gems on the Outronaut Bandcamp page.

Aimee Mann has a 22 1/2 Lost In Space Anniversary Tour with guest Jonathan Coulton coming this summer. It opens on June 5 in Cranston, RI and wraps up at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago on June 27.

Weekend Reminders

Photo from the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

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.

Where have all the good times gone? Sunny Afternoon, the UK play based on the music of The Kinks, wraps up its run at Chicago Shakespeare Theater this Sunday. If you’ve been meaning to check out this critically acclaimed and thoroughly rocking production, there isn’t much time left.

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago 2025 kicks off tomorrow night at Montrose Saloon on the city's north side and will run through May 3. Check out my earlier posts this week offering previews of this weekend’s showcases. I’m hoping to continue my previews as the festival progresses.

John Cowsill, who started his career with The Cowsills (“The Rain, The Park, And Other Things”) and recently released an album with his wife Vicki Peterson of The Bangles, will be the guest lead vocalist when The Smithereens perform at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL tomorrow night. Chicago’s own and very impressive Sunshine Boys will be the opening act.

Singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks will be showcasing songs from his several critically acclaimed albums when he performs at SPACE in Evanston tomorrow night and Saturday.

EXPO Chicago, which bills itself as the city’s “premier contemporary and modern art fair,” returned to Navy Pier for its annual visit today and will run through Sunday. Visitors can spend hours admiring paintings, photographs, sculptures, books, and other creative wonders from Chicago and around the world. Single admission is $40.

The Effigies, one of Chicago’s first and best known punk bands, have an all ages show (with parent or guardian) coming up tomorrow at The Vixen venue in McHenry. The music starts at 6:30 pm, with Chicago-based punk band Sex Dream as the opening act. The Effigies have classic albums such as For Ever Grounded and Fly On A Wire to choose from, as well as their 2023 effort Burned. Unfortunately, we lost founding member John Kezdy to a fatal accident right around the time of that last effort.

The Handcuffs will likely include a few new songs they’ll be recording soon for their 5th album when they open for fellow Chicagoans The Steepwater Band at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL tomorrow. The Steepwater Band has recorded a series of albums filled with hard-hitting Americana rock.

Big Brother’s Vinyl, a Chicago area band that performs classic rock songs that haven’t been covered endlessly by numerous other local acts, has a gig at Peggy Kinnanes in Arlington Heights tomorrow night.

McLuhan, the adventurous seven-piece Chicago band inspired by philosopher Marshall McLuhan, will perform at the Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich this Saturday. Based on its recent series of shows at Montrose Saloon, it seems likely McLuhan will have vinyl copies of its ground-breaking and recently re-released album Anomaly available for sale at this show. Copper Fiddle Distillery is located at 532 W. Il. Route 22, Suite 110.

The Social Act, one of the first local bands I interviewed when I started writing for the Illinois Entertainer back in the mid-1980s, is back in action and has a 7:30 pm gig this Friday at The Liar’s Club on Chicago’s north side. Fans can expect to hear early goth-tinged gems such as “Sally-O,” “Love Hearts Open,” and maybe “Heaven Is Waiting.”

IPO Sunday WIll Never Be The Same

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago starts tomorrow night at Montrose Saloon and will continue at the north side venue through May 3. Most of the acts involved are from the Chicago area, although there are some out-of-state visitors. Traditionally, IPO - Chicago Sunday involved a six-act afternoon showcase and a five-act evening showcase, separated by a short break. But this year, there’s only one Sunday showcase—with seven acts—that starts at 2:00 pm.

The bouncy and lyrical Lance Drake (I’m quoting his Facebook page) opens Sunday’s showcase, and if my investigative skills are working, he is (was?) a member of the Deep Cricket Night band. If so, the audience will be treated to songs that evoke mystery via ornate yet energetic arrangements. Lead vocalist-guitarist Michael Mazza is a familiar face to IPO - Chicago fans, having led the band Collectors for several years before forming The Walkdown. “The Distance (Gets In The Way),” the first single from The Walkdown, finds Mazza continuing to take a guitar-driven approach. The band contributed a song to the Kool Kat Musik label’s Pop Aid 3-CD that supports World Central Kitchen’s efforts to feed people in the Ukraine. Progressive hard rock band Refrestramus will likely showcase songs from its 2024 debut Intourist, and since four vocalists joined the core musicians on that album, it will be interesting to see who handles the singing at IPO - Chicago. Derek Ferguson composes the band’s adventurous material, along with playing drums. Guitarist Zoey Witz will be a special guest at this performance. Freetoed has performed at a number of IPO - Chicago shows in the past, with an alt rock sound that’s influenced by Wilco, Pearl Jam, and Bon Iver. Their latest album, Cure For The Common Sound, is available on Bandcamp.

Chicago music scene veterans Phil Yates and The Affiliates have four albums worth of catchy, guitar-driven pop to draw from for their IPO - Chicago performance. The band moved here from Burlington, VT a while back, and its 2022 effort A Thin Thread is the first to feature the Chicago lineup. Modern Daybreak hopes to have copies of a new live performance CD  available to sell at its IPO - Chicago performance this Sunday. The quartet has created catchy rock with a supportive vibe on its 2024 full-length debut Sound Of Nothing, as well as on single releases and an EP since forming in 2017. Singer-songwriter Joe Wylie’s latest album, Frontal Lobe Development, dropped last October and features melodic acoustic-based songs. He released four singles prior to that, including a Christmas song. He probably won’t include the Christmas song when he wraps up IPO - Chicago Sunday.

Incoming

Check out the IPO - Chicago Saturday Preview in my earlier post today.

Just like watching his very first shows. The Radio Soul!: The Early Songs of Elvis Costello Tour, featuring Costello and The Imposters, is coming to the Chicago Theatre on October 16. The 22-date tour kicks off on September 18 in Bethelem, PA—with American singer-songwriter Charlie Sexton as a special guest—and wraps up in Omaha, NE on October 22.

John Cowsill, who started his career with The Cowsills (“The Rain, The Park, And Other Things”) and recently released an album with his wife Vicki Peterson of The Bangles, will be the guest lead vocalist when The Smithereens perform at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL this Friday. Chicago’s own Sunshine Boys will be the opening act.

The Social Act, one of the first local bands I interviewed when I started writing for the Illinois Entertainer back in the mid-1980s, is back in action and has a 7:30 pm gig this Friday at The Liar’s Club on Chicago’s north side. Fans can expect to hear early goth-tinged gems such as “Sally-O,” “Love Hearts Open,” and maybe “Heaven Is Waiting.”

Singer-songwriter Robbie Fulks will be showcasing songs from his several critically acclaimed albums when he performs at SPACE in Evanston this Friday and Saturday.

Tickets are now on sale for June 7 concert by Robin Hitchcock at The Old Town School Of Folk Music.

The Handcuffs will likely include a few new songs they’ll be recording soon for their 5th album when they open for for fellow Chicagoans The Steepwater Band at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL this Friday. The Steepwater Band has recorded a series of albums filled with hard-hitting Americana rock.

The Effigies, one of Chicago’s first and best known punk bands, have an all ages show (with parent or guardian) coming up this Friday at The Vixen venue in McHenry. The music starts at 6:30 pm, with Chicago-based punk band Sex Dream as the opening act. The Effigies have classic albums such as For Ever Grounded and Fly On A Wire to choose from, as well as their 2023 effort Burned. Unfortunately, we lost founding member John Kezdy to a fatal accident right around the time of that last effort.

McLuhan, the adventurous seven-piece Chicago band inspired by philosopher Marshall McLuhan, will perform at the Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich this Saturday. Based on its recent series of shows at Montrose Saloon, it seems likely McLuhan will have vinyl copies of its ground-breaking and recently re-released album Anomaly available for sale at this show. Copper Fiddle Distillery is located at 532 W. Il. Route 22, Suite 110.

Big Brother’s Vinyl, a Chicago area band that performs classic rock songs that haven’t been covered endlessly by numerous other local acts, has a gig at Peggy Kinnanes in Arlington Heights on April 25.

A Double Dose Of IPO - Chicago This Saturday

Really cool art by The Sonnets from their Facebook page.

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago will have its first 2025 showcase this Friday night at Montrose Saloon (see yesterday's post), and will follow that Bash (pun intended) with two separate lineups on Saturday. IPO Founder/CFO David Bash has shows scheduled at Montrose Saloon through May 3. Most of the acts involved are from the Chicago area, although there are some out-of-state visitors.

This Saturday afternoon’s showcase starts with a 2:00 pm set by LaRue DeVille. The band includes four members of The Red Wigglers, who ended their 25-year run a few years back. It will interesting to see if they carry on the original band’s emphasis on adventurous and often funny rock and roll with coed vocals and horn accompaniment. Montrose Saloon regulars Brother Derek are back at IPO - Chicago for the third time. Their latest album Parade Rest features them taking a satirical point of view while exploring various genres. San Marcos, CA singer-guitarist Scott Samuels must have enjoyed performing at the 2024 IPO - Chicago so much he’s back again this year. The former Chicagoan reunited with some local musicians at his previous IPO appearance, and seeing as he’s billed as Scott Samuels And Friends this time out, he’ll likely take the same approach this Saturday. His recent recording Sunshine And Starlight offers a selection of melodic pop songs.

The Einstein’s Sister band has previously performed at IPO Chicago and IPO - Los Angeles. They released their Exit Strategies EP in November, 2023, and this year, they’re celebrating the 25th anniversary of their Humble Creatures album. Barry And The Fountains, featuring The Voice contestant vocalist-guitarist Barry Fontenot, will perform their new single “The Flow” and other soulful tunes. It looks like this might be their IPO- Chicago debut. The Jeremy Band, led by Kalamazoo, MI vocalist-guitarist Jeremy Morris, traditionally closes out a Saturday afternoon showcase with high-powered, melodic rock, and that’s exactly what will take place this Saturday. His latest album, Opener Of Eyes, once again finds Morris collaborating with Ken Stringfellow of The Posies.

The Saturday evening showcase kicks off with former Grand Prairie, TX native/current Chicago resident Monte Carload. He offers catchy, guitar-driven songs with frequently off-kilter lyrics on his November, 2024 album Hit The Max. David Bash likes to throw the occasional curveball into the IPO - Chicago mix, which is certainly the case with The Emily Chloe Quinn Ensemble. On songs such as “My Own Mountain” and “Belonging,” vocalist-keyboards player Quinn delivers ethereal vocals while she and her fellow musicians embellish well-crafted arrangements with elements of classical music. The Band Calderisi offered 11 tracks of catchy power pop music on its most recent album Years Gone By. Highlights from that effort include “Nothing Left To Save” and “Pent Up Frustrations.” They’ll likely perform tracks from Years Gone By, as well as some new music this Saturday.

Things That Fly is a Chicago-based indie rock band led by Heidi Serwer and Karen Salmon. They served up clever and catchy tunes such as “Lucky Ones” and “Crunch Went The Snow” on their 2023 self-titled EP. Chicago band Night Baby will offer a mix of original songs and covers, with the promise to perform “old songs that sound new again and new songs that you think you’ve heard.” The Sonnets are veterans of the local club scene and specialize in an intriguing mix of glam, mod, power pop, garage, surf, and blues.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

IPO - Chicago Kicks Off This Friday

The 22nd Annual International Pop Overthrow - Chicago festival kicks off this Friday for a nine-day run at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side. IPO Founder David Bash has several acts lined up, many of which fans have enjoyed at previous IPO - Chicago shows. There are also a fair amount of first-timers. Named after Material Issue’s stellar debut album, the festival was born in Los Angeles back in 1997. Bash has added IPO festivals around the globe over the years, with 2025 featuring stops in Chicago, Liverpool, Stockholm, Los Angeles, San Diego, Vancouver, New York, Boston, and Toronto.

There are no newcomers among the six acts performing this Friday night. In fact, Alpine Subs will be IPO - Chicago’s opening act for at the third straight year. The six-member band has released four albums of easy-going melodic pop since 2019, with this year’s double album Up With Geese being the latest. The Queue have been bringing their melodic Brit pop style tunes to International Pop Overthrow - Chicago for quite a few years now, and their latest single is “Love Save Us All.” Earlier efforts include the hard-edged 2018 EP Fire And Lies. Indie rockers The Pickpockets are also IPO - Chicago vets, and their webpage shows they pursue a variety of approaches and instrumentation on their songs.

The group Bur released Snowy Chloe, its latest full-length album, this past January, and it’s a strong follow-up to their impressive 2022 album We Are Bur. They’ve also dropped a few singles and EPs along the way, all with an emphasis on engaging harmonies on ornate pop and guitar-driven rock. The 321’s are a newer arrival on the Chicago music scene, but have already notched several gigs while delivering what they describe as “a sonic experience that is captivating and revolutionary.” Custard Flux, AKA The Luck Of Eden Hall founding member Gregory Curvey, is another IPO - Chicago veteran. The adventurous prog rock musician has a new album titled Enter Xenon coming out on June 1.

Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago schedule. You’ll also find links for just about all the acts who’ll be participating in Chicago this year. Even if you can’t attend in person, it’s a great way to discover new music. Many of the acts have Bandcamp pages, so it’s possible to already have some favorite songs before you even see the band perform.

Saturday Slumgullion

The Effigies, one of Chicago’s first and best known punk bands, have an all ages show (with parent or guardian) coming up next Friday at The Vixen venue in McHenry. The music starts at 6:30 pm, with Chicago-based punk band Sex Dream as the opening act. The Effigies have classic albums such as For Ever Grounded and Fly On A Wire to choose from, as well as their 2023 effort Burned. Unfortunately, we lost founding member John Kezdy to a fatal accident right around the time of that last effort.

Congratulations to Ronnie Wood on 50 years of performing with the Rolling Stones. He officially replaced guitarist Mick Taylor on April 14, 1975.

Alaskan singer-songwriter Mark Ward, whose 2024 album Let ‘Er Rip offered power pop gems, along with some country-flavored fun, is finalizing mixes for his next album. This one will feature cover songs, and is due out in mid-June.

The feature-length documentary Bono: Stories of Surrender, which is based on the U2 vocalist’s solo tour for his fascinating memoir, will stream on May 30 on Apple TV. According to an online post from Billboard, director Andre Dominik’s film will include footage of Bono performing some of the songs he’s made famous with U2. 

As noted in Chicago Sun-Times staff reporter Erica Thompson’s article in yesterday’s Showcase section, local publisher Numero Group has released Dante Carfagna’s two-volume, 732-page set Soul Music Of Illinois. The website states Soul Music Of Illinois “chronicles over 3200 artists, 1200 record companies, and 10,000 individual releases between the years of 1960 and 1990.” 

Forever Now - A Post Punk, One Day Festival will make its debut on June 22 at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes. The official website states: “A UK sister event of city of the acclaimed US festival Cruel World, it celebrates alternative culture, post-punk music, fashion, and literature.” Participating acts include The The; Johnny Marr; Billy Idol; Kraftwerk; Psychedelic Furs; Berlin; The Motels; and Chameleons. 

The Cruel World festival takes place in Pasadena, CA on May 17. Headline acts include New Order; ’til tuesday; The Buzzcocks; Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds; The Go-Go’s; Devo; OMD; Garbage; Alison Moyet, Blancmange; Stereo MC’s; Midge Ure; and Madness.

McLuhan, the adventurous seven-piece Chicago band inspired by philosopher Marshall McLuhan, will perform at the Copper Fiddle Distillery in Lake Zurich on April 26. Based on its recent series of shows at Montrose Saloon, it seems likely McLuhan will have vinyl copies of its ground-breaking and recently re-released album Anomaly available for sale at this show. Copper Fiddle Distillery is located at 532 W. Il. Route 22, Suite 110.

The Pandoras Official Fanpage on Facebook recently announced they have gigs coming up in the near future. “We’re super excited to announce that we will be playing some awesome shows!!” the post read. “It feels incredible to continue playing all our and your favorite tunes!! And we know Paula [Pierce] and Kim [Shattuck] would be so proud and are always with us!”

The recently released single “Bullet Proof” is the first new music we’ve heard from Chicago rock scene veterans Kevin Lee And The Kings since 2022. The hard-edged song takes aim at high society via Lee’s strong vocals and a guitar-driven arrangement. Fans can check it out on Soundcloud.

Emmylou Harris will share a double bill with Graham Nash at the Tanglewood venue in Lenox, MA on July 29, as well as at the Wolf Trap National Park For The Performing Arts in Vienna, VA on July 31.

EXPO ’76 will perform at the Prairie Moon restaurant in Evanston as the venue celebrates its 23rd anniversary on May 8. There will be drink and dinner specials all night, and the live music starts at 8:00 pm. There’s no cover charge, but reservations are recommended. Two days later, EXPO ’76 will perform at the Austin Community Tavern in Steger, IL.

Indie label Kool Kat Musik has released Pop Aid 2: A Compilation To Benefit Those Affected By Hurricanes Helene & Milton. All net profits from the 23-track CD will go directly to the American Red Cross in its efforts to help people in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Acts who contributed songs to Pop Aid 2 include Mothboxer; Ronnie D’Addario featuring The Lemon Twigs; Vegas With Randolph; The Anderson Council; The Weeklings; Thrift Store Halo; The Grip Weeds, The Successful Failures; and Richard Turgeon. Kool Kat’s first Pop Aid effort came in 2022 with A Power Pop Compilation to Benefit the Citizens of Ukraine, which has so far generated over $4,000 to help World Central Kitchen in its work.

The Chicago area Harry Potter Shop is now open at 676 N. Michigan Avenue; offering clothing, candy, wands, mugs, books, and something called Hogwarts trunks.

The 10cc’s Graham Gouldman and Heart Full Of Songs tour is currently visiting venues in the UK, featuring the well-known songwriter/musician and a “semi-acoustic four-piece band performing songs from his back catalogue.” That includes hits by 10cc, The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, and The Yardbirds. I’d love to see him come to Chicago with that tour.

Chicago area teenage musician Gavin Eimerman has released a series of singles over the past few years via the Australian indie label Egomaniac Music, and his full-length debut CD To Inherit All Prevalence is coming out April 25. According to a Facebook post, it will offer a mix of indie rock, progressive metal, power pop, and a few acoustic ballads.

Terry Chambers And Friends, which features the longtime drummer for the critically acclaimed and beloved English band XTC backed by veteran musicians, has a May 1 gig coming up at City Winery Chicago.

Adventurous prog rock musician and The Luck Of Eden Hall founding member Gregory Curvey, AKA Custard Flux, has a new album titled Enter Xenon coming out on June 1. It can be pre-ordered on Bandcamp, and the first three tracks are already available to purchase and download. Custard Flux is one of the numerous acts scheduled to appear at the upcoming International Pop Overthrow - Chicago fest starting next Friday.

The annual Old Town School Of Folk Music Record Sale will be held on May 3 and 4 at Music Direct’s warehouse at 1811 W. Bryn Mawr. The official website promises “a diverse array of musical treasures, including thousands of donated LPs, rare 78s, tons of collectable and signed recordings, essential books, CDs, and DVDs, alongside premium records and equipment sourced directly from Music Direct’s warehouse.”

Jason Narducy and Dag Juhlin will celebrate Pete Townshend’s birthday on June 21 at the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights, IL. Townshend was born on May 19, which is why this event is being billed as a (Belated) Birthday Bash. Understandable since Narducy and Juhlin have a busy schedule these days.

Fans of Chicago rock and roll circa the mid 1960s might have a willingness to check out The New Colony Six on May 23 at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights.

Just Like Heaven: A Tribute To The Cure is now available from American Laundromat Records in vinyl format. Participating artists include Dean and Britta; Class Actress; Black Francis +Violet Clark; The Wedding Present; and Tanya Donelly.

The Stop Making Sense: A Film By Jonathan Demme And Talking Heads Live Event Hosted By Jerry Harrison is coming May 1 to the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts in Skokie, IL. The re-release of Demme’s iconic 1984 concert flick has been restored in 4K, and Talking Heads guitarist Jerry Harrison will provide an introduction, as well comments and a Q&A session afterward. Limited meet and greet tickets are available.

Shaky Knees - The Music Festival is scheduled to take place at Piedmont Park in in Atlanta, GA from September 19 through 21. Scheduled acts include Lenny Kravitz; Pixies; Spoon; Inhaler; Cage The Elephant; Johnny Marr; The Beaches; Vampire Weekend; Devo; Wet Leg; Franz Ferdinand; and Stereophonics.

Slumgullion

The Chicago Blues Festival, an annual event since 1984 and believed to be the world’s largest blues festival, returns to Millennium Park for the long weekend of June 5 – June 8. Mavis Staples will be among the headliners, and there will be a centennial tribute to the late B.B. King. Opening day will take place at the Ramova Theatre at 3520 S. Halsted and feature performances by Bobby Rush and Billy Branch And The Sons Of The Blues.

Fans of Wolf Alice are hoping recent mysterious social media posts from the U.K. band are meant to plant a seed that a new album—or new song—is on the way. Wolf Alice used a similar teasing approach before releasing the masterful Blue Weekend in 2021.

I’m proud to share the news that my nephew Joe Flamm will co-chair this year’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry, along with fellow successful chef Diana Davila, on June 27. The event will be held at Rockwell On The River (3057 N. Rockwell) and feature 50 chefs and mixologists. Several well-known Chicago area restaurants will be involved, including Joe’s Rose Mary and il Carciofo; and Diana’s Mi Tocaya Antojeria. General Admission is $150, while an All Access Pass is $200.

The Big Star Quintet has three concerts coming up in July. The lineup comprises original Big Star member Jody Stephens; along with Mike Mills from R.E.M., Jon Auer from The Posies, Pat Sansone from Wilco, and Chris Stamey from the dB’s. They’ll be in Germantown, TN on July 19; Nashville, TN on July 20; Minneapolis, MN on July 23; and at my house on July 25 to celebrate my birthday. Just kidding about that July 25 gig.

The Handcuffs will likely include a few new songs they’ll be recording soon for their 5th album when they open for for fellow Chicagoans The Steepwater Band at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL on April 25. The Steepwater Band has recorded a series of albums filled with hard-hitting Americana rock.

Bruce Springsteen plans to release an 83-song collection of previously unreleased material titled Tracks II: The Lost Albums on June 27. Springsteen’s website states the project will be available “in limited-edition nine LP, seven CD and digital formats.” It will also include a 100-page, cloth-bound hardcover book. Springsteen will also release a less ambitious set titled Lost And Found: Selections from The Lost Albums offering 20 highlights on two LPs or one CD.

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago kicks off on April 25 and will run through May 3 at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side. CFO/Founder David Bash has several acts lined up; a mix of ones fans have enjoyed at previous IPO - Chicago shows and newcomers. Named after Material Issue’s stellar debut album, the festival was born in Los Angeles back in 1997. Three Chicago area bands, 92 Degrees, The Idea, and The Critics, performed on opening night of that 1997 festival in Los Angeles. Check the official International Pop Overthrow website for the full Chicago schedule.

The Cincinnati, OH publisher Ruffian Books has released a new one titled 500 Essential Pop-Punk Albums - From Blondie To blink-182, offering more than 550 pages of famous and lesser known artists. It’s available for $29.95.

Detroit-based singer-songwriter Jeremy Porter will bring his Spring 2025 Solo-Acoustic Tour to the Lakeview Uncommon Ground venue in Chicago on May 7. Porter, whose songs mix catchy melodies with dark humor, will share the bill at Uncommon Ground with Phil Yates and Gary Camaro.

The always engaging duo Sparks will release a new album titled Mad! on May 23 in vinyl, CD, and cassette fomats. After a world tour that will take them across Japan and Europe, Ron and Russell Mael will arrive in Atlanta, GA on September 5 to kick off an American tour that will include 15 dates. Chicago is not among the cities on the U.S. tour, which is likely to leave fans here, well, Mad.

Big Brother’s Vinyl, a Chicago area band that performs classic rock songs that haven’t been covered endlessly by numerous other local acts, has a gig at Peggy Kinnanes in Arlington Heights on April 25.

John Cowsill, who started his career with The Cowsills (“The Rain, The Park, And Other Things”) and recently released an album with his wife Vicki Peterson of The Bangles, will be the guest lead vocalist when The Smithereens perform at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL on April 25. He’ll be in that same role for more upcoming Smithereens shows, including Kansas City, MO; Nashville, TN; and Philadelphia, PA. Chicago’s own Sunshine Boys will be the opening act at the North Shore Center gig.

Tickets are now on sale for Todd Rundgren’s July 13 concert at The Riviera Theatre in Chicago. The show is part of Rundgren’s Still Me (Still We) Tour, which kicks off on June 21 in Cranston, RI. The 22-date tour also includes stops in Syracuse, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Kalamazoo, MI; Minneapolis, MN; Cleveland, OH; and Orlando, FL.

Peter Checksfield, a UK-based music historian/author whose previous efforts have covered The Rolling Stones and Jerry Lee Lewis, has released a new book titled The Hollies - Elevated Observations: The Graham Nash Years 1963 – 1968. It’s available on Amazon in hardcover, paperback and kindle versions.

YippieFest will return for its seventh year of freewheeling, in-person entertainment on the weekend of August 22 – 24 at Chopin Theatre on Chicago’s north side. The long-running sketch/musical comedy group Famous In The Future is once again serving as host, and most likely will perform a revue of their own as part of the festivities. Online applications for those interested in performing at YippieFest 2025 will be available soon.

Sunny Afternoon, the UK play based on the music of The Kinks, continues its run at Chicago Shakespeare Theater through April 27. As I stated in my review here on March 25, cast members Danny Horn, Oliver Hoare, Michael Lepore, and Kieran McCabe consistently impress with their live performance of Kinks songs such as “You Really Got Me,” “Til The End Of The Day,” “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” and “A Rock ’N' Roll Fantasy.”

In other Kinks news, people from around the world get an opportunity to express their admiration for the band in author Chris Kocher’s new book Thank You For The Days: Fans Of The Kinks Share 60 Years Of Stories. Those fans include musicians such as Jonathan Lea, John Wesley Harding, and Ron Sexsmith, along with other professionals who’ve worked with The Kinks over the years. Thank You For The Days is now available on Amazon.

Dead Freddie, the self-described Punk Pop Phenomena, will join fellow Chicago bands Go Time! and The Spindles in a triple bill at the Heroes West Sports Grill in Lemont, IL on May 2. The music starts at 7:30 pm.

Hung Up On A Dream, director/musician Robert Schwartzman’s 2023 documentary covering The Zombies’ entire career, will come to American theaters this May. The film features the British Invasion band’s most recent live performances, along with archival footage.

Peter Asher, who was half of the popular British Invasion duo Peter and Gordon before moving on to a highly successful career as a producer, also continues to perform music himself. His multimedia show A Musical Memoir of the 60s and Beyond comes to The Old Town School Of Folk Music May 16.

Tickets are now on sale for The Color Purple - The Musical, which is coming to the Goodman Theatre in Chicago starting June 21. The production will be directed by Lili-Anne Brown, with book by Marsha Norman, and music and lyrics by Brenda Russell, Alee Willis, and Stephen Bray.

Garbage, the band that gave us songs such as “Stupid Girl,” “I’m Only Happy When It Rains,” and “I Think I’m Paranoid,” have a Happy Endings Tour with special guest Starcrawler coming this fall. It kicks off on September 3 in Orlando, FL, and will include a stop at The Salt Shed in Chicago on September 29. Let All That We Imagine Be The Light, the band’s eighth album, is due out May 30.

Chicago-based, guitar-powered instrumental band Outronaut recently released an extensive and ambitious new tune titled “Demonic Republic.” Check it out, along with other previous gems on the Outronaut Bandcamp page.

Aimee Mann has a 22 1/2 Lost In Space Anniversary Tour with guest Jonathan Coulton coming this summer. It opens on June 5 in Cranston, RI and wraps up at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago on June 27.

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.

Depending on when you read this, you could still catch power pop group Dolph Chaney & The Phins at Montrose Saloon tonight. The indie rock bands Sonny Veneer and LaRue DeVille are also on the bill. The music starts at 7:30; Montrose Saloon is located at 2933 W. Montrose on Chicago’s north side.

The Yardbirds, featuring founding member drummer Jim McCarty, will perform at the Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL tomorrow night at 8:00 pm. During the original British Invasion, The Yardbirds released classic songs such as “For Your Love,” “Heart Full Of Soul,” “Shapes Of Things,” and “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago.” McCarty was recently one of the featured guests at the New York Fest For Beatles Fans event. Billy J. Kramer, also a veteran of the British Invasion and a close friend of The Beatles, will be a special guest. Eric Howell, who's well known on the Chicago music scene, will be part of Kramer’s band.

Singer-songwriter Rachel Drew, along with her band, will perform at the White Lilac venue in Kenosha, WI this Saturday. Drew’s most recent album, the 2024 release Old Sky New, offered a well-crafted mix of rock, folk, and soul. The music starts at 7:00 pm.

Singer-songwriter Steve Forbert, who kicked off his career with the irresistible “Romeo’s Tune” back in 1979, will likely showcase that song, along with tunes from his new album Daylight Savings Time, at the Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago this Sunday. The music starts at 7:00 pm.

Vocalist-guitarist Michael Steven Cohen will perform songs from the Great American Songbook tomorrow night at Chicago Prime Italian in Schaumburg, and he’ll perform at an Easter Brunch from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm this Sunday at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights.

The Phil Angotti Band and Steve Dawson with Lucid Dreams will share a double bill at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL this Saturday. Angotti and Dawson are two of Chicago’s best singer-songwriters, and have the albums to prove it. The music starts at 8:30 pm.

The Jeff Tweedy Annual Benefit Shows will be held at the Vic Theatre on tomorrow night and Saturday night. As stated on the Wilco official website, “All proceeds are donated to organizations chosen by the Tweedy family. Past organizations include The Chicago Lighthouse, Be Alright, Direct Effect Charities, One Tail at a Time and Alive Rescue Chicago.”

Incoming

As posted on official Big Star social media earlier today, The Big Star Quintet has three concerts coming up in July. The lineup comprises original Big Star member Jody Stephens; along with Mike Mills from R.E.M., Jon Auer from The Posies, Pat Sansone from Wilco, and Chris Stamey from the dB’s. They’ll be in Germantown, TN on July 19; Nashville, TN on July 20; Minneapolis, MN on July 23; and at my house on July 25 to celebrate my birthday. Just kidding about that July 25 gig.

Singer-songwriter Steve Forbert, who kicked off his career with the irresistible "Romeo’s Tune" back in 1979, will likely showcase that song, along with tunes from his new album Daylight Savings Time, at the Old Town School Of Folk Music in Chicago this Sunday. The music starts at 7:00 pm.

YippieFest will return for its seventh year of freewheeling, in-person entertainment on the weekend of August 22 – 24 at Chopin Theatre on Chicago’s north side. The long-running sketch/musical comedy group Famous In The Future is once again serving as host, and most likely will perform a revue of their own as part of the festivities. Online applications for those interested in performing at YippieFest 2025 will be available soon.

Singer-songwriter Rachel Drew, along with her band, will perform at the White Lilac venue in Kenosha, WI this Saturday. Drew’s most recent album, the 2024 release Old Sky New, offered a well-crafted mix of rock, folk, and soul. The music starts at 7:00 pm.

Incoming

As revealed in a recent newspaper article by AP music writer Maria Sherman, Bruce Springsteen plans to release an 83-song collection of previously unreleased material titled Tracks II: The Lost Albums on June 27. Springsteen’s website states the project will be available “in limited-edition nine LP, seven CD and digital formats.” It will also include a 100-page, cloth-bound hardcover book. Springsteen will also release a less ambitious set titled Lost And Found: Selections from The Lost Albums offering 20 highlights on two LPs or one CD.

Power pop group Dolph Chaney & The Phins will share a bill at Montrose Saloon this Thursday with the indie rock bands Sonny Veneer and LaRue DeVille. Longtime fans of the adventurous act Red Wigglers should take note that LaRue DeVille is the name the band goes by these days. Montrose Saloon is located at 2933 W. Montrose on Chicago’s north side.

Tickets go on sale this Wednesday at 10:00 am for Todd Rundgren’s July 13 concert at The Riviera Theatre in Chicago. The show is part of Rundgren’s Still Me (Still We) Tour, which kicks off on June 21 in Cranston, RI. The 22-date tour also includes stops in Syracuse, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Kalamazoo, MI; Minneapolis, MN; Cleveland, OH; and Orlando, FL.

The Phil Angotti Band and Steve Dawson with Lucid Dreams will share a double bill at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL this Saturday. Angotti and Dawson are two of Chicago’s best singer-songwriters, and have the albums to prove it. The music starts at 8:30 pm.

John Cowsill will be the guest lead singer for The Smithereens when the band performs at the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts in Skokie, IL on April 25. He’ll be in that same role for more upcoming Smithereens shows, including Kansas City, MO; Nashville, TN; and Philadelphia, PA.

The Jeff Tweedy Annual Benefit Shows will be held at the Vic Theatre this Friday and Saturday. As stated on the Wilco official website, “All proceeds are donated to organizations chosen by the Tweedy family. Past organizations include The Chicago Lighthouse, Be Alright, Direct Effect Charities, One Tail at a Time and Alive Rescue Chicago.”

Sunday Papers

As I mentioned in this past Thursday’s Weekend Reminders post, the David Bowie tribute band Sons Of The Silent Age will perform a 7:00 pm benefit concert for a close friend of theirs tonight at Madame Zuzu’s in Highland Park. The venue is run by Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan and his wife Chloe Mendel. I recently discovered that rare Smashing Pumpkins albums and other cool merch items are available for sale on the Madame Zuzu’s website.

Forever Now - A Post Punk, One Day Festival will make its debut on June 22 at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes. The official website states: “A UK sister event of city of the acclaimed US festival Cruel World, it celebrates alternative culture, post-punk music, fashion, and literature.” Participating acts include The The; Johnny Marr; Billy Idol; Kraftwerk; Psychedelic Furs; Berlin; The Motels; and Chameleons.

The Cruel World festival takes place in Pasadena, CA on May 17. Headline acts include New Order; ’til tuesday; The Buzzcocks; Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds; The Go-Go’s; Devo; OMD; Garbage; Alison Moyet, Blancmange; Stereo MC’s; Midge Ure; and Madness.

The Chicago radio station WDCB 90.9 Jazz will present guitarist Steve Knight in a release party for his For Years Gone album this Monday at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago’s Printer’s Row area. Working with bassist Justin Peterson and drummer Linard Stroud as an instrumental trio, Knight creates his own compositions and covers well-known artists such as George Harrison, Joni Mitchell, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. The Jazz Showcase is located at 806 S Plymouth Ct.

The Pandoras Official Fanpage on Facebook recently announced they have gigs coming up in the near future. “We’re super excited to announce that we will be playing some awesome shows!!” the post read. “It feels incredible to continue playing all our and your favorite tunes!! And we know Paula [Pierce] and Kim [Shattuck] would be so proud and are always with us!

I had forgotten the Chicago area Harry Potter Shop is now open at 676 N. Michigan Avenue until I saw two young women lugging gigantic paper bags with the official logo as they boarded the northwest suburban Metra train yesterday afternoon. Both bags were so full, one of them had a rip on the bottom. Hopefully nothing fell out on the way home. The Harry Potter Shop offers clothing, candy, wands, mugs, books, and something called Hogwarts trunks.

The Minus Five, comprising Linda Pitmon; Peter Buck, Scott McCaughey; Kurt Bloch; and Debbi Peterson, will embark on a short west coast tour in June. Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill will also be on the bill for the first three dates, followed by The Rubinoos in that spot on the next three dates.

Chicago area teenage musician Gavin Eimerman has released a series of singles over the past few years via the Australian indie label Egomaniac Music, and his full-length debut CD To Inherit All Prevalence is coming out April 25. According to a Facebook post, it will offer a mix of indie rock, progressive metal, power pop, and a few acoustic ballads.

Terry Chambers And Friends, which features the longtime drummer for the critically acclaimed and beloved English band XTC backed by veteran musicians, has a May 1 gig coming up at City Winery Chicago.

Adventurous prog rock musician and The Luck Of Eden Hall founding member Gregory Curvey, AKA Custard Flux, has a new album titled Enter Xenon coming out on June 1. It can be pre-ordered on Bandcamp, and the first three tracks are already available to purchase and download.

The annual Old Town School Of Folk Music Record Sale will be held on May 3 and 4 at Music Direct’s warehouse at 1811 W. Bryn Mawr. The official website promises “a diverse array of musical treasures, including thousands of donated LPs, rare 78s, tons of collectable and signed recordings, essential books, CDs, and DVDs, alongside premium records and equipment sourced directly from Music Direct’s warehouse.”

Emmylou Harris will share a double bill with Graham Nash at the Tanglewood venue in Lenox, MA on July 29, as well as at the Wolf Trap National Park For The Performing Arts in Vienna, VA on July 31.

The Jeff Tweedy Annual Benefit Shows will be held at the Vic Theatre on April 18 and April 19. As stated on the Wilco official website, “All proceeds are donated to organizations chosen by the Tweedy family. Past organizations include The Chicago Lighthouse, Be Alright, Direct Effect Charities, One Tail at a Time and Alive Rescue Chicago.”

Indie label Kool Kat Musik has released Pop Aid 2: A Compilation To Benefit Those Affected By Hurricanes Helene & Milton. All net profits from the 23-track CD will go directly to the American Red Cross in its efforts to help people in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina. Acts who contributed songs to Pop Aid 2 include Mothboxer; Ronnie D’Addario featuring The Lemon Twigs; Vegas With Randolph; The Anderson Council; The Weeklings; Thrift Store Halo; The Grip Weeds, The Successful Failures; and Richard Turgeon. Kool Kat’s first POP AID effort came in 2022 with A Power Pop Compilation to Benefit the Citizens of Ukraine, which has so far generated over $4,000 to help World Central Kitchen in its work.

Jason Narducy and Dag Juhlin will celebrate Pete Townshend’s birthday on June 21 at the Hey Nonny venue in Arlington Heights, IL. Townshend was born on May 19, which is why this event is being billed as a (Belated) Birthday Bash. Understandable since Narducy and Juhlin have a busy schedule these days.

The 10cc’s Graham Gouldman and Heart Full Of Songs tour is currently visiting venues in the UK, featuring the well-known songwriter/musician and a “semi-acoustic four-piece band performing songs from his back catalogue.” That includes hits by 10cc, The Hollies, Herman’s Hermits, and The Yardbirds. I’d love to see him come to Chicago with that tour.

Fans of Chicago rock and roll circa the mid 1960s might have a willingness to check out The New Colony Six on May 23 at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights.

Just Like Heaven: A Tribute To The Cure is now available from American Laundromat Records in vinyl format. Participating artists include Dean and Britta; Class Actress; Black Francis +Violet Clark; The Wedding Present; and Tanya Donelly.

The Stop Making Sense: A Film By Jonathan Demme And Talking Heads Live Event Hosted By Jerry Harrison is coming on May 1 to the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts in Skokie, IL. The re-release of Demme’s iconic 1984 concert flick has been restored in 4K, and Talking Heads guitarist Jerry Harrison will provide an introduction, as well comments and a Q&A session afterward. Limited meet and greet tickets are available.

Translator founding members Steve Barton, Robert Darlington, Larry Dekker, and David Scheff got together in 2023 and recorded two new songs. They’ll be included as bonus tracks on the Live at the Farm, San Francisco 1986 album. It was recorded at the band’s final live show, and is scheduled for release on May 9. One of those new tracks, “These Days To Come,” can now be heard on YouTube.