Slumgullion

For those whose new year’s resolutions include traveling the world to see rock concerts: Australian garage rockers Hoodoo Gurus will be backed by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra on January 29 at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl. The listing on the Ticketek site promises the band’s material will be “reimagined on an epic scale, with orchestral arrangements bringing fresh energy and grandeur.” In other down under news, Hoodoo Gurus, along with Iggy Pop; Joan Jett And The Blackhearts; and ZED will share a tour in Auckland, New Zealand on January 23, 26, and 31.

Congratulations to Danny Horn on being chosen by theatre critic Chris Jones of the Chicago Tribune as having given one of the top 10 performances on Chicago Stages in 2025. Horn portrayed Ray Davies of The Kinks in the musical Sunny Afternoon, which was staged at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. The well-respected Jones covers a lot of ground with his list, which appeared in today’s issue. His top 10 performances also include Sondra Radvanovsky’s title role in the Lyric Opera’s Medea, and Ava Lane Stovall for her work in Jekyll And Hyde by Kokandy Productions.

The first volume of an enhanced and fully rewritten edition of Doug Hinman’s 2004 book The Kinks - All Day And All Of The Night - The Day-By-Day Story Pt. 1: 1940 - 1971 is now available to pre-order from Beatland Book and is expected to ship on February 20.

Chicago-based indie rockers Local H will close out the year with a show at the Brat Stop in Kenosha, WI (with Fig Dish) on December 30, and with its annual New Year’s Eve show at the Bottom Lounge in Chicago. Looking ahead to 2026, Local H will have several shows as part of a triple lineup with Filter and Finger Eleven.

Patti Smith will continue promoting her Bread Of Angels memoir with events New York City on January 21; and New Haven, CT on January 26.

Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights will hold its annual Women’s Jazz Festival from January 6 through January 10. Somaluna And Tomeka Reid are the scheduled performers for the first day; followed by Hana Fujisaki and the Marlene Rosenberg Trio on January 7; and Carmani Edwards and Paige Brown on January 8. On Friday, January 9, there’s a 4:00 pm set with Christy Bennett, and a 7:30 set with Stacy McMichael and JoVia Armstrong. There will be three sets on Saturday, January 10: Student Ensembles at 12:30 pm; Lucy Smith with JoAnn Daugherty at 4:00 pm; and Joanie Pallatto and Tromblau And Friends at 7:30. See the official Hey Nonny website for the full festival information.

Fans of The Gin Blossoms can pre-order an autographed copy of the indie rock band’s 1992 album New Miserable Experience on marble colored vinyl for $49.98 from the TalkShopLive! website. That’s the record that includes the hits “Found Out About You” and “Hey Jealousy.”

Congratulations to Custard Flux, AKA musician Gregory Curvey, on his latest album Enter Xenon coming in at number 8 on MOJO’s Top 10 Prog albums of 2025 and grabbing the number 2 spot for the Top 5 Prog Albums in Classic Rock. Seems like these UK rock magazines really like his music. Curvey is a veteran of the Chicago-based prog rock band The Luck Of Eden Hall, and is noted for creating adventurous albums and graphics.

Gina Marie and The Golden Bucks, a Chicago-based Americana sextet whose 2024 album Pastures Of Plenty offers several examples of authentic country and swing, can just as easily slip into genuine blues. “Without That Man,” the latest single from Pastures Of Plenty, employs a slow, slinky arrangement to capture the sense of loss singer Ruth Etting brought to the original 1931 version.

What’s The Big Idea - 30 Great Concept Albums, a new book from author Bill Kopp, is now available from HoZac Books for $21.99. Kopp’s exploration of musical storytelling includes an interview with concept album master Pete Townshend, and a foreword by Let’s Active founder and critically acclaimed producer Mitch Easter.

What could be a better time to honor The Belfast Cowboy than on St. Patrick’s Day? Tickets are now on sale for the Beautiful Vision: The Songs Of Van Morrison event taking place on March 17 at SPACE in Evanston, IL.The participants will be Steve Dawson, Chris Greene, Alton Smith, John Mead, John Abbey, Larry Brown, and Sophie Creutz.

Autographed copies of musician Melissa Auf der Maur’s upcoming book Even the Good Girls Will Cry are available to pre-order from the TalkShopLive! website. Auf der Maur, who’s known for performing with Hole and Smashing Pumpkins, describes her book as “part rock memoir, part travel diary, [and] part psychedelic scrapbook.”

Local singer-guitarist Phil Angotti and the Nash String Duo will perform a brunch time tribute to The Beatles at City Winery Chicago on January 18. Having performed Beatles brunches several times at this venue over the years, Angotti has become quite good at it. Looking further down the road, the Phil Angotti Band will be at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights on February 19.

The Smithereens, with Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill, will perform at The Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL on March 6. Cowsill and Peterson, who released the Long After The Fire album together earlier this year, have become regular guests at live gigs by The Smithereens.

Sons Of The Silent Age, the Chicago-based David Bowie tribute band led by vocalist Chris Connelly, has a tradition of kicking off the new year with a benefit performance at Metro. The January 31, 2026 event finds Sons Of The Silent Age taking “Our second trip through the Berlin trilogy, consisting of the albums Low, Heroes, and Lodger.” A second set will concentrate on Bowie’s hit singles and well-known material. And, as noted by guitarist Steve Gerlach in a Facebook post, “It’s a benefit for Endeavor Health’s excellent Integrative Medicine program.”

British recording artist Mordecai Smyth, who specializes in catchy, offbeat tunes, has a new album coming out soon on the Mega Dodo indie label. He recently posted a video of “Breaking The Backs,” one of the songs from that release, on his Facebook page as a preview. Smyth has a gig on March 1 at the Crumbs Coffee Shop in Woodley, Reading, with musician/producer/DJ Robert Sowden as supporting act.

Chicago-based indie rockers Ratboys are offering another impressive preview of what fans can expect from their up coming album Singin’ To An Empty Chair. According to a recent message on their Bandcamp page, a Thelma and Louise inspired video for their song “What’s Right?” can be viewed on various sites, including Apple Music and YouTube. Two other two tracks, “Anywhere,” which is getting some airplay at radio station WXRT, and “Light Night Mountains All That” are already available to download. The full album drops February 6.

My nephew chef Joe Flamm has opened a new restaurant called Bar Tutto. As with his already established venues Rose Mary and il Carciofo, this one’s located in the happening Fulton Market area, just west of downtown Chicago. 1114 W. Carroll Avenue, to be exact. The difference with Bar Tutto is that it takes an all-day approach, which means patrons can order breakfast, lunch or dinner. I was able to attend a preview event, and rest assured, I’ll be back. Maybe for a chai latte and a croissant.

Another Post From Christmas Past

With Christmas coming tomorrow, it’s a good time to revisit one of the best (and possibly first) various artists collections of original holiday songs. Back in 2010, I reviewed Yuletunes here on Broken Hearted Toy. Here’s an edited version of that review.

“This Christmas” by Shoes is a catchy rock song with a monster drum beat and chiming guitars that offers an optimistic approach to coping with tough times. The punchy “Merry Christmas Will Do” finds Material Issue at the peak of its power. Jim Ellison’s rugged guitar playing takes center stage, and as usual, he’s a master at selling the pain of unrequited love through his evocative singing. The Idea, fronted by vocalist-guitarist Phil Angotti, contributes the melodic “It’s About That Time,” which describes the joys of winter scenes, church bell, carols, and watching It’s A Wonderful Life.

The single-named Leroy checks in with “Santa Stole My Baby,” a mid-tempo song that sets up a crime scene with clever clues like, “footsteps on the rooftop.” On a more serious note, there’s the haunting “The Saddest Time Of The Year” from Spooner. The band featured lead vocalist-guitarist Duke Erikson and drummer Butch Vig long before they formed Garbage with dynamic Scottish singer Shirley Manson. The Spongetones craft an old-fashioned Christmas tune with a delicate melody and intricately layered vocals on their innocent fantasy “Christmasland.”

“A God Of My Own” by 92 Degrees offers a complex look at religious beliefs during the most commercial time of the year. Whatever your feelings on that issue, there’s no denying this song has a gorgeous arrangement. Songs don’t come much happier than Bill Lloyd’s romantic “Underneath The Christmas Tree.” Set to a catchy arrangement, it sounds like it could have been a 1960s Top 40 hit. Kelley Ryan adds a hint of Country and Western to her heartfelt vocals on “It’s Not Christmas,” as someone spending the holiday alone “for the first time in years.”

Singer-songwriter Herb Eimerman’s gorgeous ballad “You Gave Me” celebrates family traditions at Christmas, as well as the way love and values are passed on from one generation to another. The Critics uncork an irresistible energy on their romantic “She Feels Like Christmas Day.” This is probably the only song on Yuletunes that would fit in just as well on a non-holiday collection.

Post Of Christmas Past

Congratulations to vocalist Darlene Love and The Smithereens on being inducted for the Count Basie Center Walk Of Fame in a ceremony held last week at the Count Basie Center in Redbank, NJ.

Here’s a holiday rerun about The Smithereens from the BHT vault.

The Smithereens first dabbled in Christmas music back in 1992 by recording a silly and energetic take on “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” for the various artists Rockin’ Christmas compilation. The song later appeared on their 1995 Attack Of The Smithereens rarities collection, as well as on the Songs Of The Season compilation sponsored by Borders Books and Chicago radio station WXRT in 2000.

In 2007, the band, which at the time featured bassist Severo Jornacion, really showed its holiday spirit by releasing the full-length Christmas With The Smithereens. It’s a fun party from start to finish, as The Smithereens bring their engaging power pop approach to a mix of originals and cover versions. “Waking Up On Christmas Morning,” which can also be found on the Hi-Fi Christmas Party and Ho Ho Spice collections, is a catchy tune penned by guitarist Jim Babjak. The fast-paced “Christmas Time All Over The World,” written by Babjak, singer Pat DiNizio, drummer Dennis Diken, and original bassist Mike Mesaros, celebrates hugging and kissing under the mistletoe, and compares the holiday to a big rock show. The other Smithereens original, “Christmas (I Remember)” takes a melodic look back at childhood and notes, “The kid inside my heart won’t die.”

There are also guitar-driven interpretations of Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” and The Beach Boys’ “Merry Christmas, Baby.” “Christmas,” taken from The Who’s Tommy isn’t traditional holiday fare, but the authentic arrangement here gives a preview of band’s later decision to record their own version of the entire rock opera. “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)” doesn’t have the rough edges of the version by The Ramones, but it’s still a solid effort, and The Smithereens also do well with “Christmas Time Is Here Again,” one of the rare songs The Beatles recorded for their fan club members.

The Smithereens set Clement Clark Moore’s classic poem, ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas to a jazzy percussion-led arrangement, and they open “Auld Lang Syne” with acappella vocals before launching into a rollicking instrumental jam session. All in all, Christmas With The Smithereens is a date worth keeping.

Incoming/Weekend Reminders

Due to this Thursday being Christmas, Broken Hearted Toy will present a combination of two weekly posts that usually appear on Monday and Thursday respectively.

Congratulations to Custard Flux, AKA musician Gregory Curvey, on his latest album Enter Xenon coming in at number 8 on the UK rock magazine MOJO’s Top 10 Prog albums of 2025. I received my copy of MOJO in the mail today and the Prog list is on page 59. Curvey is a veteran of the Chicago-based prog rock band The Luck Of Eden Hall, and is noted for creating adventurous albums and graphics. There’s a Custard Flux gig this Sunday at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side, and Chloe F. Orwell from The Handcuffs will play saxophone as a special guest.

Some of my happiest moments these days are spent reading the coverage of classic and current bands in MOJO magazine, which is why I signed up for a subscription. It’s rare to find it in American stores.

The Waco Brothers Annual Hideout Yuletide Rumble will be held this Friday and Saturday at The Hideout (1354 W Wabansia Avenue) on Chicago’s north side. These guys are well known as a genuine party band, having performed at a number of WXRT events. Tennis Court Oath will be the special guest on Friday; Gracie Lou Heuer and Los Gallos Band will be the special guests on Saturday.

Richard Milne, the former WXRT radio DJ who provided air time for countless Chicago area music acts when he hosted the weekly Local Anesthetic show, will make a special guest appearance on CHIRP Radio 107.1 FM on Christmas Eve (tomorrow) from 9:00 am to noon.

This Saturday night’s Expo ’76 appearance at Fuller’s Pub will not only be the band’s last gig in Chicago for 2025, it will be the last one until next April. Band member Dag Juhlin will be part of the Michael Shannon - Jason Narducy Celebrate The 40th Anniversary Of R.E.M.’s Lifes Rich Pageant USA Tour during the earlier months of 2026. (They have two sold-out shows in Chicago on March 12 and 13.)

The Walkin’ on Sunshine band, featuring Steve Dawson, Gerald Dowd, Alton Smith, John Abbey and special guest Diane Christiansen, has a gig coming up at Simon’s in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood this Sunday. Admission is free, but tips are always welcome. A recent post from Dawson states the two sets will feature “a lot of my songs and a bunch of surprise covers.” The music starts at 8:30 pm.

It’s not too late to download your present from Aussie musician Joe Algeri. He’s been offering people around the globe a free new song each December for 25 years, and the 2025 effort, “Summer Forever,” can be found on his Egomaniac Music Bandcamp page. Algeri’s 2025 gift is a melodic power pop tune, and once again, he’s joined by an international crew of musicians: American bassist-backup vocalist Herb Eimerman; drummer Stefan Johansson and organ player Lars Brussel from Sweden; and lead guitarist Andy J. Prinkkila from Finland.

The BoDeans performed four times at City Winery Chicago over the Thanksgiving weekend, and they have a show this Saturday at The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, IL. The Wisconsin alt rock/Americana band has given us gems such as “Closer To Free,” “Fadeaway,” and “Good Things.”

The Continental Posters (1982 – 83) - Selections from Dean Brownrout exhibition at The Fitz Books store in Buffalo, NY, has been extended through the end of December. The posters on display are from Brownrout’s private collection and focus on acts such as Billy Idol, The Fleshtones, and The Dream Syndicate that performed at the Buffalo, NY venue The Continental. Brownrout booked bands at the club back then, before moving on New York, where he founded the Big Deal rock record label. He offers a fun and informative look back in his recently released book No Big Deal - Chasing the indie music dream in the last days of the record business. Fitz Books is located at 1462 Main Street in Buffalo.

And finally, a Weekend Reminder to share with any children you know: Make sure you get up at 5:00 am this Thursday morning, awaken the rest of your family and insist it isn’t too early to open your presents. Best holiday wishes to all who read this blog. Have fun, share plenty of good will, and be careful.

Slumgullion

Here’s a toast to all those who plan to celebrate the holiday season at some point this weekend. (My family, for example.) Have fun, share plenty of good will, and be careful.

Chicago-based/world renowned blues artist Buddy Guy will kick off his traditional January residency at his Legends venue on January 3, and add 15 more performances throughout the month. There will be supporting acts for each of Guy’s shows. Legends is located in the south end of downtown Chicago.

Henry Diltz has joined forces with Cindystock for a series of rock musician photo books that would make great stocking stuffers. They benefit the Yates Fund For Cancer Hope, and the choices include The Monkees; Dan Fogelburg; Stephen Stills; David Crosby; Micky Dolenz; David Cassidy; Joni Mitchell; America; Graham Nash; and Crosby, Stills, Nash And Young. Each book contains 40 photos and sells for $24.

Richard Milne, the former WXRT radio DJ who provided air time for countless Chicago area music acts when he hosted the Local Anesthetic show, will make a special guest appearance on CHIRP Radio 107.1 FM on Christmas Eve from 9:00 am to noon.

Mike Skill, a founding member of The Romantics will perform on New Year’s Eve at the Cadieux Cafe in Detroit. He’ll joined by Brad Elvis, who was a Romantics member for several years, Ricky Rat and Brian McCarty. The Custodians are also on the bill that night.

Gina Marie and The Golden Bucks, a Chicago-based Americana sextet whose 2024 album Pastures Of Plenty offers several examples of authentic country and swing, can just as easily slip into genuine blues. “Without That Man,” the latest single from Pastures Of Plenty, employs a slow, slinky arrangement to capture the sense of loss singer Ruth Etting brought to the original 1931 version.

Fans of The Gin Blossoms can pre-order an autographed copy of the indie rock band’s 1992 album New Miserable Experience on marble colored vinyl for $49.98 from the TalkShopLive! website. That’s the record that includes the hits “Found Out About You” and “Hey Jealousy.”

What could be a better time to honor The Belfast Cowboy than on St. Patrick’s Day? Tickets are now on sale for the Beautiful Vision: The Songs Of Van Morrison event taking place on March 17 at SPACE in Evanston, IL.The participants will be Steve Dawson, Chris Greene, Alton Smith, John Mead, John Abbey, Larry Brown, and Sophie Creutz.

Autographed copies of musician Melissa Auf der Maur’s upcoming book Even the Good Girls Will Cry are available to pre-order from the TalkShopLive! website. Auf der Maur, who’s known for performing with Hole and Smashing Pumpkins, describes her book as “part rock memoir, part travel diary, [and] part psychedelic scrapbook.”

The Chicago Immigrant Orchestra, which had an initial run from 1999 through 2004 and was revived in 2019 under the guidance of musicians Fareed Haque and Wanees Zarourd, will showcase songs from their new album Sanctuary at 7:00 pm this Sunday at the Epiphany Center for the Arts. The Epiphany Center for the Arts is located at 201 S. Ashland Avenue.

Patti Smith will continue promoting her Bread Of Angels memoir with events New York City on January 21; and New Haven, CT on January 26.

Local singer-guitarist Phil Angotti and the Nash String Duo will perform a brunch time tribute to The Beatles at City Winery Chicago on January 18. Having performed Beatles brunches several times at this venue over the years, Angotti has become quite good at it.

The Smithereens, with Vicki Peterson and John Cowsill, will perform at The Des Plaines Theatre in Des Plaines, IL on March 6. Cowsill and Peterson, who released the Long After The Fire album together earlier this year, have become regular guests at live gigs by The Smithereens.

What’s The Big Idea - 30 Great Concept Albums, a new book from author Bill Kopp, is now available from HoZac Books for $21.99. Kopp’s exploration of musical storytelling includes an interview with concept album master Pete Townshend, and a foreword by Let’s Active founder and critically acclaimed producer Mitch Easter.

It’s still a gift even if it’s not seasonal. Aussie musician Joe Algeri has been offering people around the globe a free new song each December on his Egomaniac Music website for 25 years. In the past, he would take an off-kilter view of the yuletide, but recently Algeri switched his December free download to a non-seasonal song. Which is fine, considering how many holiday gifts are standard rock and roll related. I still have The Hollies Hear Here album I got got for Christmas in 1966. Algeri’s 2025 gift is a melodic power pop tune titled “Summer Forever” that deals with emotional confusion. Once again, he’s joined by an international crew of musicians: American bassist-backup vocalist Herb Eimerman; drummer Stefan Johansson and organ player Lars Brussel from Sweden; and lead guitarist Andy J. Prinkkila from Finland.

The Walkin' on Sunshine band, featuring Steve Dawson, Gerald Dowd, Alton Smith, John Abbey and special guest Diane Christiansen, has a gig coming up at Simon’s in Chicago’s Edgewater neighborhood on December 28. Admission is free, but tips are always welcome. A recent post from Dawson states the two sets will feature “a lot of my songs and a bunch of surprise covers.” The music starts at 8:30 pm. 

British recording artist Mordecai Smyth, who specializes in catchy, offbeat tunes, has a new album coming out soon on the Mega Dodo indie label. He recently posted a video of “Breaking The Backs,” one of the songs from that release, on his Facebook page as a preview. Smyth has a gig on March 1 at the Crumbs Coffee Shop in Woodley, Reading, with musician/producer/DJ Robert Sowden as supporting act.

Sons Of The Silent Age, the Chicago-based David Bowie tribute band led by vocalist Chris Connelly, has a tradition of kicking off the new year with a benefit performance at Metro. The January 31, 2026 event finds Sons Of The Silent Age taking “Our second trip through the Berlin trilogy, consisting of the albums Low, Heroes, and Lodger.” A second set will concentrate on Bowie’s hit singles and well-known material. And, as noted by guitarist Steve Gerlach in a Facebook post, “It’s a benefit for Endeavor Health’s excellent Integrative Medicine program.”

The first volume of an enhanced and fully rewritten edition of Doug Hinman’s 2004 book The Kinks - All Day And All Of The Night - The Day-By-Day Story Pt. 1: 1940 - 1971 is now available to pre-order from Beatland Book and is expected to ship on February 20.

Chicago-based indie rockers Ratboys are offering another impressive preview of what fans can expect from their up coming album Singin’ To An Empty Chair. According to a recent message on their Bandcamp page, a Thelma and Louise inspired video for their song “What’s Right?” can be viewed on various sites, including  Apple Music and YouTube. Two other two tracks, “Light Night Mountains All That” and “Anywhere” are already available to download; the full album drops February 6.

Alejandro Escovedo of Rank And File and True Believers fame will bring his current band The Electric Saints to FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL for performances on December 30 and 31. Chicago-based singer-songwriter Nora O’Connor will be the opening act on the first night.

Congratulations to my nephew chef Joe Flamm on the opening of his new restaurant Bar Tutto. As with his already established venues Rose Mary and il Carciofo, this one’s located in the happening Fulton Market area, just west of downtown Chicago. 1114 W. Carroll Avenue, to be exact. The difference with Bar Tutto is that it takes an all-day approach, which means patrons can order breakfast, lunch or dinner. I was able to attend a preview event, and rest assured, I’ll be back. Maybe for a chai latte and a croissant.

Ring in the new with Old 97s at SPACE in Evanston. Tickets are now on sale for the Dallas, TX band’s December 29, 30, and 31 shows at the Illinois venue. Old 97s will likely perform selections from their 2024 album American Primitive, as well as favorites such as “Champagne, Illinois” and “Big Brown Eyes.”

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.

Happy Birthday to Keith Richards, one of rock and roll’s most impressive guitarists for seven decades. His strumming has fueled hit singles as well as classic album tracks, all the while conveying a superstar persona.

On the local scene, Happy Birthday to John San Juan, a guitarist-vocalist who’s performed with numerous acts on stage as well as performing and recording with his indie rock band Hushdrops.

Desiree Burcum, a longtime member of the Chicago comedy group Famous In The Future and The Ruts alt rock band, is also celebrating today. Happy Birthday, Des.

The LiveWire Lounge at 3394 N. Milwaukee Avenue on Chicago’s north side will host a Holiday Market this Sunday from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Shoppers will find handmade goods, artwork, fashion, records, and rock and roll memorabilia.

Patti Smith will continue promoting her Bread Of Angels memoir with an event in Washington, D.C. tomorrow, and upcoming dates in January.

As noted on the Jam Mail Concert Calendar, tickets are now on sale for Fountains Of Wayne, with Fig Dish and Child Seat at Vic Theatre on December 31; Mavis Staples with Nathaniel Rateliff (solo) at The Chicago Theatre on January 10; and Brigitte Calls Me Baby at Schubas on January 21.

Congratulations to vocalist Darlene Love and The Smithereens on being announced as the next inductees for the Count Basie Center Walk Of Fame. The inductions will take place tomorrow at the Count Basie Center in Redbank, NJ. Previous inductees are Count Basie and Jon Bon Jovi.

Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side will offer a full lineup of oddly named acts tomorrow night with Helen Huff; Trick Shooter Social Club; The Revinirs; The Cold Motions; and Decoy Prayer Meeting. The music starts at 7:00 pm.

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Michael McDermott will bring his Mischief And Mistletoe celebration to City Winery - Chicago for the 13th year this coming Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Each night will offer a different show, as McDermott is joined by special guests.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the Old Town School Of Folk Music on March 14. The critically acclaimed a cappella singing group has been together for 60 years.

The Bad Examples’ gig tomorrow night at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, IL is being billed as A Christmas Rock Party. The long-time, Chicago-based indie rockers are led by vocalist-guitarist Ralph Covert, whose songs are reminiscent of the clever and melodic music of Squeeze.

Those Chicago-based, self-described 21st century druid musicians whitewolfsonicprincess will wrap up a busy year with “a little party/concert at our humble rehearsal studio” this Saturday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. Participating musicians will include Chris Bock, Randy Farr, Pat McDonald, Karen Singer, Daniel Connolly, Scott Judd, and The Telepaths. There is a suggested donation of $10. The studio is located at 826 Custer St. in Evanston.

Incoming

Happy Birthday to Tony Hicks of The Hollies. As with The Hollies themselves, Hicks doesn’t always get the credit he deserves. Likewise for drummer Bobby Elliott, whose birthday we celebrated earlier this month. Hicks is a superb musician and one third of the glorious harmonies that have been a Hollies trademark since the days he helped create them with Graham Nash and Allan Clarke.

Hicks also wrote hits such as “Carrie Anne” and “Dear Eloise” with Nash and Clarke, and came up with the idea for “Stop Stop Stop,” which features his distinctive banjo playing. Later, Hicks collaborated with songwriter Kenny Lynch on the terrific tracks “Long Dark Road” and “To Do With Love” on the Distant Light album. He’s also a good judge of outside material, having suggested “The Air That I Breathe” to the band.

Several local musicians will take part in the Second Annual Remembering Elliott Smith Night being held tomorrow at Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side. The ambitious format involves eight brief sets, each by an individual performer, with a full band taking over at 10:00 pm. John Aulabaugh will kick things off at 7:00 pm, followed by Rick Nitz; Niko Stavropoulos; Trevor Lynch; Phil Yates; Dolph Chaney; Garret Johnson; and Phil Angotti. The full band will feature Mike Conroy; Eric Chial; Brian Stour; Garret Johnson; and Trevor Lynch. We lost the critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Elliott Smith in 2003, but his emotionally charged approach to performing and writing is still highly regarded on the music scene.

Congratulations to vocalist Darlene Love and The Smithereens on being announced as the next inductees for the Count Basie Center Walk Of Fame. The inductions are scheduled for this Friday at the Count Basie Center in Redbank, NJ. Previous inductees are Count Basie and Jon Bon Jovi.

Tickets go on sale this Friday for the Ladysmith Black Mambazo concert taking place at the Old Town School Of Folk Music on March 14. The critically acclaimed a cappella singing group has been together for 60 years.

Patti Smith will continue promoting her Bread Of Angels memoir with events in Brookline, MA tomorrow and Washington, D.C. on Friday.

Congratulations to my nephew chef Joe Flamm on the opening of his new restaurant Bar Tutto. As with his already established venues Rose Mary and il Carciofo, this one’s located in the happening Fulton Market area, just west of downtown Chicago. 1114 W. Carroll Avenue, to be exact. The difference with Bar Tutto is that it takes an all-day approach, which means patrons can order breakfast, lunch or dinner. I was able to attend a preview event, and rest assured, I’ll be back. Maybe for a chai latte and a croissant.

What better night for honoring The Belfast Cowboy than St. Patrick’s Day? Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning at 10:00 am for the Beautiful Vision: The Songs Of Van Morrison event taking place on March 17 at SPACE in Evanston, IL.The participants will be Steve Dawson, Chris Greene, Alton Smith, John Mead, John Abbey, Larry Brown, and Sophie Creutz.

The Bad Examples’ gig this Friday night at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, IL is now being billed as A Christmas Rock Party. The long-time, Chicago-based indie rockers are led by vocalist-guitarist Ralph Covert, whose songs are reminiscent of the clever and melodic music of Squeeze.

Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side offers a full evening of live music this Friday with performances by Helen Huff; Trick Shooter Social Club; The Revinirs; The Cold Motions; and Decoy Prayer Meeting. The music starts at 7:00 pm.