Incoming

Ratboys will wrap up their massive When The Sun Explodes US Tour with a concert this Saturday at The Vic Theatre in their hometown of Chicago. As with at least 13 previous stops on this tour, Saturday night’s show is sold out. Ratboys recently snagged a rave review in the British rock magazine MOJO for their Singin’ To An Empty Chair album.

The Zombies will release their first album Begin Here as a remastered in the original 1965 mono mix version this Friday in LP, CD, and digital formats. It will combine all the tracks from the English and American original versions and be released on their own Beechwood Park Records label.

The Chicago Soul Jazz Collective will showcase their latest album No Wind And No Rain with a 7:30 show this Saturday at Winter’s Jazz Club, and with a 5:30 pm show at that same venue on Sunday. Winter’s Jazz Club is located at 465 N. McClurg Court, three blocks west of Navy Pier.

Chris Stamey will kick off his self-described European adventure on May 2 at the Roots Festival in Kilkenny, Ireland. The solo artist/founding member of The dB’s also has concerts scheduled in Antwerp; Madrid; Glasgow; London; and Paris. This Friday, he’s releasing a colored-vinyl picture-sleeve seven-inch single with a cover version of The Kinks’ “Waterloo Sunset” on one side and a Paul McCartney rendition on the other.

Record Store Day is this Saturday. See the official site for a full list of all the available vinyl. (I’m hoping to do a separate post on it some time this week.)

Dag Juhlin, Chicago’s man of a thousands bands, will perform with one of them—Courtesy Patrol—this Thursday night at Friendly Tap in Berwyn, IL. The group’s Facebook page vows they’ll “bring you musical joy in all forms - classics, deep cuts, and beyond…,” at no charge. The joy begins at 8:30 pm.

Peter Howarth from The Hollies has three acoustic solo shows scheduled for this week in the UK. He’ll perform at the Chapel Arts Centre in Bath on Thursday; Settle Victoria Hall in Settle on Friday; and at Kirkby Stephen Sports And Social Club in Kirkby Stephen on Saturday. Keep in mind you can always come to visit us in the States, Peter.

International Pop Overthrow - Chicago opens this Friday at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side and will run through April 25. See my last two posts for previews of the Friday and Saturday showcases. I’m hoping to add a preview for each showcase as the festival gets closer.

Singer-guitarist Phil Angotti will perform songs by Badfinger in his 7:45 pm set at Montrose Saloon tomorrow night, followed by a “mystery set” at 9:00 pm. Montrose Saloon.

Metric has an album release party on April 23 at Xanadu Roller Arts in Brooklyn NY. Romanticize The Drive is their 10th album. Metric will shoot a video for the album’s first single “Crush Forever” at the event.

Steve Dawson, Marian Runk, and Evan MacMillian have a Songwriters Showcase this Friday at the Val’s Halla Record Store in Oak Park, IL. The event starts at 7:00 pm. admission is $10.

Cheap Trick will perform the entire At Budokan album, along with a hearty selection of greatest hits this Friday and Saturday at The Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, NV.

The 42nd Latino Film Festival will present 51 features and 31 shorts at the Landmark Century Centre Cinema on Chicago’s north side starting this Thursday and running through April 27.

Power pop band The Second Summer recently signed with Hardstop Records and hopes to have a new album (their second) coming out later this year. In the meantime, The Second Summer has a gig coming up at The Village Club in Western Springs, IL this Thursday.