Incoming

Local singer-guitarist Phil Angotti will be joined by the Nash Duo of cellist Christopher Ferrer and violinist Emily Nash when he performs a brunch time tribute to The Beatles at City Winery Chicago this Sunday at noon. Having performed Beatles brunches several times at this venue over the years, Angotti has become quite good at them.

Let’s lift a toast to vocalist-guitarist Gary Klebe of Shoes on the occasion of this being his birthday. The Zion, IL band pioneered do-it-yourself recording and gave us several catchy rock songs.

Happy Birthday as well to actor/director/playwright and former Mary-Arrchie Theatre Artistic Director Richard Cotovsky. A section of West Sheridan Road, where Mary-Arrchie was once located, is now named Honorary Richard Cotovsky Way. Back when I was a member of the Famous In The Future comedy group, we performed several times at Mary-Arrchie’s annual Abby Fest.

The first gig of the new year for whitewolfsonicprincess will take place on February 18 at the Wilmette Theatre in Willamette, IL. A Facebook post from the 21st Century Druid Music practitioners states there’s a bar in that venue, and there will likely be at least one other act on the bill. The band’s founding members, Carla Hayden and James Moeller, are also veterans of Mary-Arrchie Theatre’s Abby Fest. 

Vocalist-violinist Susan Voelz and cellist Helen Money will perform tomorrow night at The Hideout (1354 W. Wabansia) on Chicago’s north side.

Week three of Buddy Guy’s 16-date January residency at his Legends venue kicks off this Thursday with Bobby Rush and Showers/Simmons as his special guests. Guy will also have guests for his Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night gigs, and he’ll be back with more shows in week four and five. Legends is located in the south end of downtown Chicago.

Long-time entertainment writer Mark Caro (Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, etc.) has talked with several rock musicians on his Caropop podcast, and recently started making some of those interviews available on his YouTube channel. Caro has an easy-going, knowledgeable style that leads to fascinating conversations with his guests. The recently posted Caropop episode, in which he interviews Robyn Hitchcock about the eccentric English musician’s album 1967: Vacations In The Past and memoir 1967: How I Got There And Where I Never Left is a prime example.

In related news, tickets go on sale this Friday for Robyn Hitchcock’s April 10 concert at the Athenaeum Center on Chicago’s north side.

Gina Marie, whose versatile singing made quite an impression on the 2024 album Pastures Of Plenty by Gina Marie and The Golden Bucks, will perform with the Alan Gresik Swing Orchestra on January 22 at Chicago’s acclaimed Green Mill Cocktail Lounge.

The Chicago-based power trio Triple will perform with The Feds and Second City Seance at Liar’s Club on January 25. Liar’s is located at 1665 W. Fullerton on Chicago’s north side.

Tickets are now on sale for the 10,000 Maniacs show at City Winery Chicago on February 12. The band, which gave us hits such as “Like The Weather,” “Trouble Me,” and “Candy Everybody Wants,” will celebrate their 45th anniversary in 2026 by releasing of box set of material from their Elektra/Rhino Records years, as well as an album of new songs.

The critically acclaimed (Downbeat magazine, Chicago Reader) Joe Policastro Trio will likely showcase songs from their recently released Mending Wall album at two venues this week. They’ll be at Merriman’s Playhouse, Inc in South Bend, IN tomorrow and Caffè Vivace in Cincinnati, OH on Saturday. Bass player Policastro—along with guitarist Dave Miller and drummer Mikel Avery—is known for adding adventurous touches to traditional jazz music.

Congratulations to The Spindles on their album Wavelength being named by several websites and blogs as one of 2025’s best albums. The Chicago area power pop band has also garnered kudos for “Getaway” as one of last year’s best singles.

International Pop Overthrow founder David Bash has released his Top 150 Albums of 2025, with UK folk/power pop singer-songwriter Lavinia BlackwAll’s The Making nabbing the number one slot. Other honorees include Trolley; Tchotchke; Juliana Hatfield; the above-mentioned The Spindles; The Grip Weeds; The Len Price 3; Jeremy; Smoking Popes; Chris Stamey; Coke Belda; Tamar Berk; The Webstirs; Guided By Voices; Cheap Trick; Ken Stringfellow; Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill; and 20/20.

Desiree Burcum and Frank Carr of the Chicago-based Famous In The Future comedy group (as mentioned in today’s first paragraph, I was once a member) have changed the name of their alt-rock side project from The Rut to The Lovely Rut. The band has a gig coming up at Phyllis’ Musical Inn this Friday, so you can judge their appearance for yourself. They’ll be joined by local bands Boiaderio and Gunnelpumpers, who will likely be attractive as well. Phyllis’ Musical Inn is located at 1800 W. Division on Chicago’s near north side.

Frank Carr of Famous In The Future recently reminded me of a skit he wrote several years ago, in which we played a couple of guys watching a football game. Check out these two lines:

Chris: Williams is having a great year, huh?
Tony: Yeah. I thought he had it in him. He just needed time to develop. 

Maybe Frank has psychic powers. Anyway, congratulations to the Chicago Bears on that exciting finale this last Saturday.