Festeggiare

Please see yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post for events taking place this weekend. 

Gee, but it’s great to be back home, as Simon And Garfunkel sang on “Keep The Customer Satisfied.” My wife Pam and I recently returned from a two-week trek through Italy with a professional travel company. We had a lot of fun, but now it’s time to get back to covering the global entertainment scene.

The Who’s Tommy - The Musical North American Tour kicks off on October 6 in Cleveland, OH and will wrap up in San Antonio, TX on June 6, 2027. It will be a massive endeavor, including a February 16 – February 28 run in Chicago. I saw this show at The Goodman Theatre a while back, and it’s truly an Amazing Journey.

An Evening With Steve Dawson, an event celebrating the Chicago-based singer-songwriter’s 35 years of performing, will take place on October 11 at Evanston SPACE in Evanston, IL. He’ll be joined by special guests Jason Adasiewicz; Jason Roebke; Diane Christiansen; and Alton Smith.

The Smithereens are coming to the Park West venue in Chicago on November 21. John Cowsill (The Cowsills, Beach Boys, John Cowsill and Vicki Peterson) will be their guest vocalist, and he’s been doing a terrific job in that role for a while now.

“Silencio,” U2’s recently released single, sets provocative lyrics to a fast-paced, irresistible arrangement. Bono delivers the message with vocals that are every bit as powerful as when the band formed 50 years ago. The track will be included on their Carnaval De Luz album, which is due out November 13.

Read ‘Em And Keep. Any time I go on vacation, I keep an eye out for rock and roll publications in that area. While visiting Italy, I picked up an issue of Buscadero with The Rolling Stones on the cover. There were also articles on The Smithereens; Lenny Kaye; Laurie Anderson; and Bruce Springsteen. Since it’s all in Italian I can’t read it, but I can admire the photos and classy layout.

More Read ‘Em And Keep. Rattleback Records, a cool store on Chicago’s far north side, as well as its own indie label (Naked Brunch band), is also in the publishing biz. Issue #3 of its RPM magazine features articles and interviews; a glow-in-the-dark button; a sticker; and a CD compilation of the local band A.M Slingers. RPM is available at Rattleback Records, which is located at 5405 N.Clark Street.

Even More Read ‘Em And Keep. The next issue of Second Scene, the Pittsburgh, PA indie rock music publication led by editor-in-chief Tim Thomas, will include interviews with Colin Moulding from XTC and Jah Wobble from PiL. It will likely come out in the next few months.

Singer-guitarist Casey McDonough of NRBQ, The Flat Five, Western Elstons, and other acts, has a solo gig tomorrow night at Cary’s Lounge on Chicago’s north side.

 

The Zombies’ third annual Begin Here Festival (following ones in 2023 and 2024) will take place from October 30 through November 1 in St. Albans in the UK. It’s described on the band’s Facebook page as “a unique fan experience,” and looking over the various activities, that sounds about right. Lead vocalist Colin Blunstone will be accompanied by composer/musician Dave Bainbridge and Q Strings, as well as special guests in a candlelight concert. There will also be a record signing with Blunstone, Rod Argent, and other band members; Q and A sessions with band members; and a ‘60s-themed dance party.

As noted on ace music/nature photographer Robert Loerzel’s Facebook page, the Chris and Heather’s 16mm Big Screen Blowout #3 will take place tomorrow night at the Music Box Theater on Chicago’s north side. The event is being presented by the Chicago Film Society.

The 49th Anniversary Edition of Elvis Costello’s My Aim Is True five-CD box set will have 104 tracks, and half of them will be previously unreleased material. Costello’s groundbreaking debut featured songs such as “Watching The Detectives,” “Miracle Man,” “Alison,” “Less Than Zero,” and “(The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes.” The anniversary issue is priced at $109.98, and will be released on October 2nd.

Souvenirs - 80 Years Of John Prine, a four-day event, will kick off October 8 at the Chicago Theatre. Members of Prine’s band will perform, along with Steve Earle; Ratboys; Jon Langford; Kathleen Edwards; Alynda Segarra; Amos Lee; Shemekia Copeland; Josh Ritter; Margo Price; and The Cactus Blossoms. Actor John C. Reilly will serve as host. All proceeds from Souvenirs will benefit the Prine-inspired Hello In There Foundation.

Police vocalist-bassist Sting’s 3.0 Tour comes to the Hard Rock Live in Rockford, IL on October 16.

Henry Diltz will bring the Behind The Lens slideshow, which features his favorite photographs of famous musicians, to seven venues on the West Coast throughout the month of November. Diltz will also share “stories and memories” of his work experiences over the years. There will be a special Once Upon a Troubadour event at the Troubadour Club in Los Angeles on December 9.

Chicago-based blues legend Buddy Guy will celebrate his 90th birthday at Madison Square Garden on October 1. The massive guest list will include Eric Clapton; John Mayer; Shemekia Copeland; and Robert Randolph. His ongoing Celebrate The Legend Tour includes shows in Minneapolis; Green Bay; and Memphis.

After taking a breather in 2026, Fest For Beatles Fans will return when the NY Metro Fest is held April 9 – 11 at World of Blue, a new hotel in East Rutherford, NJ. 

The Third Eye, a book of personal photographs George Harrison took of his fellow Beatles in the years 1963 –1969, will go on sale October 6. It features over 200 photographs compiled and curated by Olivia Harrison, along with her essays, and comments from George.

Theater Of The Mind, the imaginative adventure crafted by David Byrne from Talking Heads and writer Mala Gaonkar, has been extended through October 25 at the Reid Murdoch Building at 333 N. LaSalle Street in downtown Chicago. Theater Of The Mind is a Goodman Theatre production. 

Susana Hoffs of The Bangles fame recently released her latest solo effort, The List. It includes the previously released singles“Bad Case of Loneliness” and “Casablanca.”

Vicki Peterson (another Bangles founding member) and John Cowsill of The Cowsills (and later The Beach Boys) have been touring in support of their Long After The Fire album, and recently announced three October dates: on the 10th in Port Arkansas, TX; the 11th in Austin, TX; and the 14th at Avenel, NJ.

The Smashing Pumpkins will bring their Rats In A Cage Tour to the United Center in Chicago on October 14. Billed as Two Unique Sets Celebrating Mellon Collie At 30 And Nearly Four Decades Of Unruly Hits And Dark Treasures, the tour will also include Boston, MA; Brooklyn, NY; Hamilton, ON; Montreal, QC; Madison, WI; Nashville, TN; Austin, TX; and Denver, CO.

Local comedy group Famous In The Future will present YippieFest 2026 on the October 9 – 11 weekend at The Cornservatory venue on Chicago’s north side. As in previous years, the counter culture event will offer puppets, dance, performance art, and a few acoustic music sets.

The Buzzcocks, one of England’s first and best punk bands, will celebrate 50 years of crafting high-energy and irresistible music with a North American tour this fall. They’ll be at Park West in Chicago on October 3. Other stops include New York, Philadelphia, Detroit, and Denver. Minds Eye will be their special guest for these shows; tickets are now available.

   

Steve Barton from the band Translator will release his latest solo effort,  See-Saw Hullabaloo, on October 23. Two days later, he’ll showcase the album at the Alberta Street Pub in Portland, Oregon.