Incoming

The Smoking Popes have come up with an ambitious plan to celebrate their decades-long, critically acclaimed career. Their 35th Anniversary Tour will involve performing two nights in each location, with one show being completely different from the other. Depending on the location, The Smoking Popes will appear with special guests Alien Boy, Radiator Hospital, or Nerf Herder and Alien Boy. Tickets go on sale this Thursday, and can be purchased as single tickets or 2-night passes.

Tickets will go on sale this Friday for Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival being held September 26 and 27 at Moody Center in Austin TX. An impressive variety of well-known musicians will take part, including Clapton; Trey Anastasio; Joe Bonamassa; Billy Gibbons; Buddy Guy; Sonny Landreth; Taj Mahal; John McLaughlin; Robert Randolph; Tedeschi Trucks Band; and Pete Townshend. Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Guitar Festival will celebrate of the 28th anniversary of the founding of the Crossroads Centre Antigua, a substance-abuse rehabilitation center for drug and alcohol addiction.

Local singer-songwriter Phil Angotti has a video release/live music event coming up this Thursday night at the G-Man Tavern on Chicago’s north side. In addition to unveiling a Blair Holmes filmed/Lou Hinkhouse produced video for “Eye For An Eye” from his Once Around Again album, Angotti will present a 14-minute video mix of promo clips and out-takes. There will be two sets of original songs performed by Angotti, Casey McDonough, Tom Ryan, Blair Holmes, Todd Rusin and Charlie Piper; along with a DJ set by Lou Hinkhouse.

Congratulations to Chicago alt rock band Ratboys on the four-star review of their new album Singin’ To An Empty Chair in England’s top-notch music magazine Mojo. Reviewer Stephen Thomas Erlewine praises singer Julia Steiner’s emotionally charged songwriting, and describes “Anywhere” as a “brilliant bit of propulsive pop.” Here in Chicago, “Anywhere” has been getting frequent airplay on radio station WXRT.

That April issue of MOJO also includes a five-star review of the recent Trixies release by Squeeze. As noted by critic Pat Gilbert, the album has its origins in an abandoned song cycle/musical written by band member Chris Difford in 1974. Gilbert concludes his extensive review by noting Trixies sits comfortably beside Squeeze’s finest works of the ‘70s.

Issue #22 of Second Scene includes articles on The Godfathers, The Pandoras, Reckless Eric, and Big Stir Records. Led by editor-in-chief Tim Thomas, the Pittsburgh, PA indie rock music newspaper presents its reviews and articles within a colorful, eye-catching layout. Second Scene can be found in some records stores, and is available through its Bandcamp page.

Sam Robinson, a well-known jazz musician on the Chicago club scene for over two decades, has an album release party this Saturday at Le Piano on the north side. Chasin’ The Dream, a collection standards and original material, is Robinson’s fourth release. Le Piano is located at 6970 N. Glenwood Avenue; the release party starts at 9:30 pm. 

The Unswept, a Chicago band whose members hail from Sheffield, England, have released a new EP on Bandcamp titled Bittersweet On Repeat, featuring the single “Almost Always Better.” As they’ve often done on previous releases, The Unswept take an offbeat approach to describing a romantic relationships. They’re among the many acts that will perform at this year’s International Pop Overthrow taking place April 17 – 25 at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side.