Slumgullion #106

Squeeze photo from the band's official website.

Case & Collins Tour Loses Nerve. If you were planning on hearing some songs by The Nerves at the Empty Bottle this Sunday night, don’t look for Paul Collins to be there. Peter Case & Paul Collins, who formed the power pop trio back in the 1970s (guitarist Jack Lee was the third member), were in the midst of a 2012 reunion tour when something went wrong. A recent press release from Case, who was also a founding member of The Plimsouls, states Collins’s abrupt departure was due to “the usual musical differences.” Collins is no stranger to Chicago, so hopefully he’ll be back soon, performing songs from his days with The Nerves, The Beat, and his 2010 solo CD, King Of Power Pop.

Second Disc News. The Second Disc online newsletter recently broke the news about a Cheap Trick 14-CD boxed set cube called The Complete Epic Albums Collection that’s now available from Sony’s PopMarket for $99.99.

A few days later, The Second Disc heralded a collection of 10 rare George Harrison demos titled Early Takes Volume 1. Its May 1st release on Hip-o Records coincides with the American debut of Martin Scorsese’s Harrison documentary Living In The Material World on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Now Don’t That Make You Feel A Whole Lot Better? Tickets went on sale today for The Summer Dance Party, a double bill of Squeeze and The B-52’s on July 6th at Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island. Assuming the weather cooperates, this could be one of the more fun events of the season. The B-52’s were impressive running through their festive repertoire last year at Ravinia, with an extended performance of “Planet Claire” that alone was worth the price of admission.

The current line-up of Squeeze includes songwriting partners/founding members, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford. In 2010, the band re-recorded some of its best material, such as “Tempted,” “Hourglass,” and “Cool For Cats” for a new CD titled Spot The Difference. It would be great to hear those songs live, with Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline as a backdrop. In other Squeeze-related news, the band is set to release a limited edition, white vinyl, 2 LP set called Squeeze: Live At The Fillmore. For $25, fans will also get a Live At The Fillmore download card, a Spot The Difference poster and a Squeeze sticker.

Caffeine Withdrawal. For the past few years, Jeff Kelley has been creating the weekly Internet comedy show, Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff. Initially, his M.O. was establishing a theme based on public domain footage he found on YouTube, along with his own monologues and animation. As time went on, he recruited contributors like his wife Dawn, and son Mark; my wife Pam and me; and rock and roll road warrior Willy Deal. Kelley phased out the found footage, replacing it with original bits like What’s My Crime? and It’s Not Fred, and running gags like being transported to a spaceship, or being visited by his future self. He also incorporated free downloads from indie rock bands.

But he still wasn’t satisfied, so after this week’s installment, Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff will cease to exist. Kelley will be taking some time off to contemplate a new Internet show with a different name and format. I look forward to meeting with him and Willy Deal for a few idea-generating sessions.

Blood & Roses In Beverly. Usually, when The Smithereens come to Chicago, it’s at a north side location like the Park West club or a neighborhood festival. But next month, they’ll be on the opposite end of town, for an April 27th concert at the Beverly Arts Center. Hopefully, they won’t be shy about playing songs from their latest CD, the impressive Smithereens 2011. Tickets are $39, $35 for Beverly Arts Center members. The Smithereens were recently inducted into the Star-Ledger New Jersey Rock & Pop Hall Of Fame.

Blood & Guts At The Portage Theater. Chicago-based independent filmmaker Stuart R. Wahlin will present the premiere of his new horror film, Hand Of Glory at the Portage Theater in Chicago this Sunday (March 25th) at 4:15 PM. It’s part of the Indie Horror Film Festival that started today and runs through 10:00 PM Sunday night.

The Fool On The Film. Regulars at the Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins festival at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre back in the 1990s will surely remember Drew Richardson, the comic performer who bills himself as a Dramatic Fool. Richardson lives in Pittsburgh these days, and is looking for volunteers from around the world to take part in a project he’s doing for the Quest Visual Theatre in Maryland. Pictographic Play Project is going to be part of QuestFest 2012 and involves people filming their interpretation of a symbol-based script Richardson created. It looks like fun but I can’t even begin to explain it. Anyone interested can get the details at a blog he’s created.

The Whole World’s Acting. World Theatre Day is coming to the Chicago Cultural Center, located downtown, on Tuesday, March 27th. Sponsored by The League Of Chicago Theatres, this free event will include panel discussions, presentations, and special guests. The event starts at 4:00 PM.

Walk Like You’re In England. The Bangles are scheduled to perform at this year’s Rewind The 80s Festival in Henley-On-Thames England on Saturday, August 18th. Some of the other acts lined up for the weekend bash include Kool & The Gang, Lightning Seeds, OMD, Wang Chung, Midge Ure of Ultravox, Grandmaster Flash, Marc Almond of Soft Cell, Roland Gift of Fine Young Cannibals, and Jimmy Somervill of Bronski Beat. There will also be a Scottish version of Rewind The 80s Festival in Scone Palace, Perth, on the weekend of July 20th-22nd, featuring many of the same acts, though not The Bangles.

Just a quick note to the Rewind The 80s Festival organizers: Pay for my airfare and hotel accommodations, along with free admission, and I’ll be happy to cover your little shindig on Broken Hearted Toy.

A Cure For The Summertime Blues

Photo from The Smithereens Facebook page.

The Smithereens have become regular summertime visitors to Chicago; having played at least one outdoor concert here in each of the last three years. Last Saturday, they headlined the Roscoe Village Burger Fest, a fitting choice considering the band’s long-held meat and potatoes approach to rock and roll love songs. Singer-guitarist Pat DiNizio, guitarist-vocalist Jim Babjak, and drummer-vocalist Dennis Diken have lost none of their regular guy appeal over the past three decades, and Severo Jornacion, who replaced original bassist Mike Mesaros, always seems to be up for a party. I’ve used this comparison before, but it’s still appropriate to say The Smithereens approach every concert as master craftsmen.

The main question going into Saturday’s show was how many songs The Smithereens would play from 2011, their first album of original material since 1999’s God Save The Smithereens. A sensible guess would have been several since it’s an impressive comeback, with songs like “One Look At You,” “Rings On Her Fingers,” and “What Went Wrong” that stand with the band’s best material. (See my full review in archives, under July 4th) So it was surprising that the energetic “Keep On Running” was the only new tune DiNizio & company did during their regular set. They certainly gave it the same intensity they brought to “Behind The Wall Of Sleep” and “Top Of The Pops.” But it was odd that they didn’t hype 2011 more.

If The Smithereens believed people wanted to hear old favorites, they were fully committed to carrying out that mission. “In A Room Without A View” and “Time And Time Again” featured extensive jamming, and at one point, Babjak and Jornacion jumped from the stage and played in the midst of the SRO crowd. After The Smithereens executed a perfect segue from “House We Used To Live In” into “Sparks” from The Who’s Tommy, DiNizio let out a joyous roar. The man enjoys his work. He thanked Chicago and radio station WXRT for always supporting The Smithereens, before a rousing version of “Only A Memory.” The bass-driven “Blood And Roses” remains a stunning showpiece, and the concert ended on a high note with “A Girl Like You.”

I had to leave before the encores (I assume there were some) in order catch the CTA and Metra back to Palatine. So I may have missed a new song in that portion of the show. Still, it would great if The Smithereens came back soon and concentrated more on 2011. It’s definitely an album that deserves to be heard.

CD Review: The Smithereens - 2011

Hopefully, everyone had a fun and safe 4th of July weekend. I have a theory that once this holiday passes, the entire summer will be gone in a flash if you’re not careful. So take some time to enjoy the weather and have lots of fun.

The Smithereens are always a blast to catch at an outdoor concert, and they’ll be performing at the Roscoe Village Burger Fest this coming Saturday at 8:30 PM. (Palatine’s own Dot Dot Dot goes on before them at 6:30 PM.) There is a $6 suggested donation. If past gigs are any indication, Pat DiNizio and the boys will meet with fans after the show to sign merchandise. The following review originally appeared the Illinois Entertainer.

After recording two CD’s of vintage Beatles songs as well as a version of The Who’s rock opera Tommy, The Smithereens have come up with their first collection of all new material since 1999’s God Save The Smithereens. Whether it’s from covering those covering classic rock songs, or from constantly touring, the band sounds as vital as ever. While nothing on the Don Dixon-produced 2011 takes The Smithereens out of their comfort zone, there are some interesting variations.

Dennis Diken’s drum work stands out on “What Went Wrong,” which features a hint of Country & Western, and “One Look At You” has a dreamy psychedelic coda. All four members (Severo “The Thrilla” Jornacion having replaced original bassist Mike Mesaros) contribute to the lush harmonies on “A World Of Our Own,” “Bring Back The One I Love,” and “Goodnight Goodbye.” Jim Babjak’s guitar playing drives much of the action, and Pat Di Nizio remains one of power pop’s best vocalists.

CD Review: The Bristols - Tune In With . . .

Released in 2001, this second effort from The Bristols taps into the original British Invasion with so much authenticity that a number of songs sound like “Look Through Any Window” era Hollies with a female vocalist. Fabienne Delsol is equally impressive singing romantic material that evokes Lesley Gore and Petula Clark. The Bristols also dabble in rock-a-billy, but regardless of what style they take on, the melodies are consistently irresistible.

“I’ll Be Gone,” with its loping bass line, is reminiscent of those old R&B covers The Beatles used to transform into revved up rock and roll, while the more ornate “Romeo And Juliet” is a medieval style ballad, like “Lady Jane” by The Rolling Stones. “You’re A Moody Guy” and “So Fine” have that Hollies thing going on, and The Bristols add a touch of Country & Western to the very Byrds-like “A Picture Of You.” “Baby I Got News For You” aims for the later 1960s, with a psychedelic arrangement that evolves into some serious jamming toward the end. And for a bit of extra fun, The Bristols toss in “Old Man Mose,” a spooky rock-a-billy romp about an elderly guy who kicks the bucket.

Rocking The Detectives

As much as I enjoyed In Tune With . . ., this was not The Bristols I had set out to find. As a longtime fan of The Smithereens, I once saw an online reference that the song, “Behind The Wall Of Sleep” was inspired by Pat DiNizio’s infatuation with the bassist for an all-woman band called The Bristols. I made a note of that with the intention that I would some day look them up. By the time I got around to checking out Amazon and iTunes, I wasn’t as sure about the all-woman band part, and since these Bristols had a female member who looked like someone a guy could get a crush on, I figured my search was over. Besides, these songs sounded like something DiNizio would dig. So I bought the CD and set about writing a review.

Luckily, before I added a note stating Fabienne Delsol was the inspiration for “Behind The Wall Of Sleep,” I decided to double check on the internet again. Turns out, there was an all-woman band called The Bristols, who hailed from Boston, and it was their bassist, Kim Ernst, who had snagged DiNizio’s heart by standing just like Bill Wyman and having hair like 1960s model/actress Jeannie Shrimpton. By the way, there is at least a third band called The Bristols. They’re a British Invasion tribute band who will be part of this year’s Abbey Road On The River Festivals in Washington, D.C. and Louisville.

You know that PBS show, History Detectives? They should have a rock and roll version.

Vintage Publication Spotlight #15

The latest entry in an ongoing series devoted to magazines of the past.

I recently came across three issues RockBill in my collection of vintage magazines, and I honestly have no idea where they came from. There’s one from 1984, one from 1987, and the one pictured above with The Smithereens on the cover is from 1988. Each issue has 30 pages, which must set some sort of record for consistency.

The 1984 issue, which had Laurie Anderson on the cover, is marked as Volume 3, Number 1, so it must have been around for a few years before that. For all I know, it could still be in production, but I haven’t seen any issues in quite a while. The name and size is similar to the theatrical publication Stagebill, but as far as I can tell, RockBill was not from the same publisher. The bulk of the Smithereens issue is content, with only a few vice ads, like for cigarettes or liquor. There was a full page ad for MTV, which wasn't as worthless then as it is now, and a two page spread for a sassy new cologne spray from Avon called Rio. It could be purchased along with a bonus cassette that featured Tina Turner, The Jets, Jody Watley, and Kim Wilde.

In editor Mike Hammer’s interview with The Smithereens, conducted just after the release of Green Thoughts, guitarist Jim Babjak and bassist Mike Mesaros dismissed heavy metal music as too slick and boring, while vocalist Pat DiNizio discussed the art of songwriting. There were also feature stories on Little Richard, future Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame honoree Jimmy Cliff, Todd Rundgren, and Love And Rockets. The Street Corner Talkin’ and Cuts pages served up shorter profiles on Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark, Ice House, and EIEIO.

A column called Lip Service, written by Lou O’Neill Jr., Jesse Nash, and Lisa Goodman, offered news bits on a reconciliation between Mick Jagger and Keith Richards; the first American release by The Sugarcubes; Joe Jackson’s live album; Carlos Santana marking 20 years of performing; and rumors of a Jefferson Airplane reunion.

Refreshing Pop In Palatine

Photo by Pam.

I feel totally vindicated. For the past few weeks, I’ve been riding around my home town of Palatine on a horse, telling everyone to come to The Smithereens and The Bad Examples concerts at the Downtown Palatine Street Fest. Well, I didn’t ride a horse so much as write a preview for the TribLocal and talk to a few of my neighbors. For power pop fans in Palatine, this was the most exciting event here since the Underground Garage Tour (minus Little Steven, unfortunately) came to Durty Nellies, with The Zombies as headliners. As I predicted, The Smithereens played a few songs by The Who and The Beatles along with their own high-powered hits, and The Bad Examples evoked Squeeze with their clever word play and infectious melodies.

The Smithereens took their usual workmanlike approach, quietly walking on stage a little after 10PM Saturday night, with no introduction or fanfare. They ran through a selection of originals before lead vocalist-guitarist Pat DiNizio mentioned The Smithereens had recorded their own version of The Who’s Tommy. This led to a lively rendition of “House We Used To Live In” that segued perfectly into powerful versions of “Sparks” and “The Acid Queen” from The Who’s rock opera. They only played one song from their pair of Beatles tribute CDs this time out, choosing “Ask Me Why,” from B-Sides The Beatles.

The temporary stage was set up in a parking lot, and as the band played songs like “Top Of The Pops,” “Behind The Wall Of Sleep,” “Especially For You,” “Spellbound” and “She’s Got A Way,” I was able to wind my way through the crowd until I was close enough to feel the Severo Jornacion’s bass and Dennis Diken’s drums kicking against my chest like a giant foot.

Jornacion, nicknamed The Thrilla From Manilla, had fun interacting with the audience before unleashing the opening bass line of “Blood And Roses.” The Smithereens jammed extensively on this major hit, with Jornacion and lead guitarist Jim Babjak stepping out onto the speakers in front of the stage. Toward the end of the concert, a young kid ambled on stage, plugged in his guitar and started to play. After the song, DiNizio introduced the 14 year-old Zach, and explained that the boy's parents told him he had been raised listening to The Smithereens, and his ultimate dream was to play onstage with them. Zach kept his cool as members of his family watched elated, and he joined the band for an encore of “Girl Like You” that segued into Youngbloods’ “Get Together” and The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes.”

Afterward, band members came out to sign autographs and give away Smithereens 30th Anniversary guitar picks. Three decades is a long time for a group to stay together, but The Smithereens have managed that feat by creating great songs and connecting with their fans.

* * * *

The Bad Examples’ performance at 4PM on Sunday came 25 hours after lead vocalist-guitarist Ralph Covert had Palatine parents and kids dancing and singing along with the silly but engaging tunes from his highly successful Ralph’s World CDs. For my full review of the Ralph’s World concert from last year’s Downtown Palatine Street Fest, see Pure Pop For Knee High People under Archive, August, 2009.

Downtown Palatine Street Fest also presented acts on the smaller gazebo stage, including Covert’s daughter, Fiona Grey and her guitarist/co-writer Matt Pingel. Although only in her mid-teens, Grey is already a polished performer with a good voice in the vein of Feist or Ingrid Michaelson. The duo’s mix of covers and originals lean more toward indie rock than the old man’s power pop or kids’ fare.

Covert’s work with The Bad Examples is notably harder-edged and more adult-oriented than what he does for Ralph’s World, but throughout both concerts, he exuded the enthusiasm of a kid having a blast on the playground. Backed by guitarist Tom O’Brien, the only musician other than Covert who’s in both lineups; drummer Larry Beers; bassist Tom “Pickles” Piekarski; and guitarist Steve Gerlach, Covert belted out familiar tunes like “Me And My Near-Blind Hindsight,” “A Mindless Pop Song,” “Let Her Go,” and “One Perfect Moment.” “Any Twisted Thing” had more of a funk rock feel, and as usual, “Not Dead Yet,” the rollicking hit that still garners regular airplay on WXRT, had just about everybody in the crowd joining in.

New songs, like the catchy “Pictures of a Masquerade” and taunting “I’m Still Living With Your Ex-Girlfriend,” as well as “You Don’t Understand Me,” a slower tune about a relationship coming apart, bode well for the new CD The Bad Examples plan to release this Fall. Another new song, which I’m guessing was called “Kill Amanda,” had the feel of classic Squeeze material. The Bad Examples closed their impressive set with the energetic “Let Her Go,” from the CD, Popscape - The Best of Ralph Covert And The Bad Examples.

It was a kick having The Smithereens and The Bad Examples playing outdoor shows in Palatine over the same weekend, and fortunately, the weather cooperated perfectly.

That Was A Long Time Ago, Dearie

A regular feature where I present a review or article I wrote in the near or distant past. It takes its name from a line in a sketch Dave Drazin once wrote for the Famous In The Future comedy group. This time, it’s a review of the 1988 Green Thoughts LP by The Smithereens in honor of their coming to my home town of Palatine five days from now. The band played at least a few of the tracks from this release when I saw them at an outdoor gig right next to Wrigley Field about a year ago.

My preview of the this year’s Downtown Palatine Street Fest, which includes profiles of The Smithereens and The Bad Examples, is currently up on the TribLocal blog. Hopefully it will be in the printed edition of TribLocal that’s included as an insert in Thursday’s Chicago Tribune.

Note: this review originally appeared in the Illinois Entertainer.

The Smithereens did such a bang up job of updating the spirit of 1960s style rock on their debut Especially For You, it should come as no surprise to find them continuing in that vein on the follow-up. Green Thoughts, with producer/musician Don Dixon back at the controls, offers more of the catchy melodies and ringing guitars that have made The Smithereens a favorite of power pop fans since their EP, Beauty And Sadness was released five years ago.

Lead singer Pat DiNizio shows his usual flair for songwriting, switching from hard-hitting numbers like “The World We Know” and “Only A Memory,” which features Marti Jones on back-up vocals, to the lighter “Something New” and “Elaine.” None of these tracks have the immediate impact of “Blood And Roses,” which fueled the massive success of Especially For You, but there’s still plenty of fun on Green Thoughts.

Liverpoolooza - Part Two

More reflections on The Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago 2010, which was held at the Hyatt Regency in Rosemont this past weekend.

A Beatles Storytellers session featured Pat DiNizio, lead singer/guitarist for The Smithereens, and a friend he introduced as Tommy Beatle, performing as The Scotch Plainsmen. DiNizio is uniquely qualified to comment on Beatles music, having recorded the CDs Meet The Smithereens, a note for note recreation of Meet The Beatles, and B-Sides Of The Beatles, with his New Jersey based band.

Between songs, DiNizio spun tales of hearing his first Beatles song at age nine while brushing his teeth, and how it took the sage advice of an older cousin for him to fully appreciate “Penny Lane” when it first came out. There was also a funny story about his mother calling him in the middle of the night back in the mid 1980s to let him know that The Smithereens had been listed for The David Brenner Show in the latest edition of TV Guide.

DiNizio and Tommy Beatle entertained with acoustic versions of “Hide Your Love Away,” “Dear Prudence,” and “Strawberry Fields,” as well as Smithereens tunes like “Only A Memory” and a medley of “Blood & Roses” and “Behind The Wall Of Sleep.”

British humorist/producer Martin Lewis has served as host of Fest For Beatles Fans on the East and West Coasts since 1992, and has worked on assorted Beatles related projects. In Chicago, he conducts some of the celebrity guest interviews and moderates B.U.I. - Musician’s Forum, which is an informative and entertaining discussion/jam session with some of the famous musicians who have been booked for the Fest. Musician/producer Mark Hudson was once again the most active participant, and while his exuberance approaches a Muppet-like silliness at times, he knows music inside and out, and is a talented performer. Denny Laine and Denny Seiwell of Wings, and musician Gary Wright also helped make this year’s Musician’s Forum another winner.

Pretty much everything at Fest For Beatles Fans qualifies as family entertainment, but none of it more so than the Battle Of The Beatles Bands. WXRT air personality Terri Hemmert, marking her 33rd year as MC for Fest For Beatles Fans Chicago, always oversees this amateur hour with gentle humor and an encouraging word, even for contestants who are noticeably off key. It’s common for parents and their offspring to form bands for this event, and any act that features cute kids has a definite edge in making the finals. Some of the better acts this year included The Shades and Hootenanners.

The Art Contest, with participants competing at various levels and age groups, brought in another crop of imaginative works, especially the piece that showed over 30 albums on which the actual Beatles were replaced with their animated counterparts from the 1960s cartoon show; and a huge portrait of the lads in their Magical Mystery Tour splendor.

As the night wore on, the people under the stairs began to make their presence known. This unofficial collective has been performing a sort of Mersey beat hootenanny on the ground level of the Hyatt at Fest For Beatles Fans for years. When I stopped by on Sunday, there was a row of about eight guitarists playing Beatles songs to a small crowd sitting directly in front of them on the floor. The joyous spirit of this phenomenon illustrates the bonding power of Beatles music.

Liverpool, a four piece band comprised of keyboards/rhythm guitar player Drew Hill, bassist Glen Burtnik, drummer Chris Camilleri, and lead guitarist John Merjave, has developed a loyal following through its performances at Fest For Beatles Fans. At Chicago shows in the past, Liverpool has focused on a single album by The Beatles, but this year, the band bounced from one era to another for sterling renditions of “Glass Onion,” “Let It Be,” “Another Girl,” and “Golden Slumbers.” Unlike many Beatles tribute bands, these guys don’t dress or act like the original band members, they just perform their songs with solid musicianship and amazing vocals.

After Liverpool appeared to have finished its set, original Wings drummer Denny Seiwell appeared onstage to a roar of applause, and asked if the audience wanted to hear more. As the band returned, he took his place behind a second drum kit onstage and joined in for a spirited version of “Smile Away” from Paul McCartney’s Ram album. A short time later, former Wings and Moody Blues vocalist Denny Laine came on board to join his old mate Seiwell, and Liverpool for some show-stopping versions of the Wings classics “Band On The Run,” “Mull Of Kintyre,” and “Live And Let Die.”

After Laine’s guest appearance, bass player, artist, and longtime close friend of The Beatles, Klaus Voormann came up to play, along with Gary Wright. I must confess that while I’m certainly familiar with Wright’s hit singles, I wasn’t aware of his work on solo albums by Ringo Starr and George Harrison. With Voormann and Wright joining in, Liverpool charged through “Back Off Boogaloo” and “It Don’t Come Easy,” before Wright took center stage for “Dream Weaver” and some of his originals. Wright also sang lead on “To Discover Yourself,” a song he had co-written with Harrison. With Mark Hudson joining in, the concert continued to rock toward its impressive finale.

Fest For Beatles Fans had come to Chicago once again, and left those in attendance with a wealth of happy memories.

Liverpoolooza - Part One

Image taken from Fest For Beatles Fans program.

The 34th Annual Chicago Fest For Beatles Fans wrapped things up last night with an all-star fortified performance by the tribute band Liverpool that in itself was worth the price of a day’s admission. The Fest, which kicked off at the Hyatt Regency in Rosemont with an opening announcement by MC (and WXRT radio personality) Terri Hemmert at 5:00 PM Friday and ran through the weekend, once again demonstrated the drawing power of The Beatles. Various guests shared how much the band had changed their lives, either through personal relationships or via musical influences.

Even with my attendance limited to one day, I was still able to take in a lot of the event’s multiple treasures. I arrived Sunday afternoon in time to catch British comedian Martin Lewis’s interview with author Chris O’Dell, whose book Miss O’Dell reflects back on her days as an employee of The Beatles’ ambitious but ill-fated Apple company. She recalled George Harrison playfully flirting with her, and how she eventually became close friends with his wife. Patti Boyd.

One of the coolest things about Fest For Beatles Fans is an inclusive ambience where well-known musicians, authors, and other performers weave their way through crowded halls and rooms with no hassles. After checking out the O’Dell interview, I wandered downstairs to visit the marketplace, and passed Fest honcho Mark Lapidos conversing with musician/producer/TV star Mark Hudson. A few times during the day, renowned artist and bass player Klaus Voorman walked within a few feet of me. Andy Babiuk, author of the respected Beatles Gear book and founding member of the garage rock band The Chesterfield Kings, was on hand, displaying some of his instruments.

The marketplace was filled with dozens of vendors selling t shirts, bags, wallets, belts, caps, guitar straps, calendars, books, buttons, publicity stills, CDs, vinyl, vintage publications, radio station Top 40 surveys, and just about anything that can possibly bear a Beatles logo or image. One vendor sold official merchandise from the current Cavern Club in Liverpool. My favorite item this year was a small guitar pick tin with an eye-catching, black & white Sgt. Pepper band photo on the top. There was also a t shirt for The Traveling Wilburys that caught my fancy. The oddest thing for sale was a toy from the 1960s that was a board with magnetic hairs that you shook until they found their rightful places on a drawing of the Beatles’ heads. A slogan on the package claimed, “Amuses the whole family.” Not any family I’d want to live next door to.

The Fest also had some impressive, higher end art for sale, including some Rockstore works from Voorman, who started creating unique portraits of his friends The Beatles from their early performaning days in Hamburg, Germany. Eric Cash and Paul Saltzman were among several talented artists and photographers offering their work for sale.

Print and TV model Mike Olie is a sort of Beatles memento come to life. He looks and dresses like a post-Beatles Paul McCartney, and is available to lip synch, or meet and greet at private parties, trade shows, and other special events. I’ve seen Olie at previous Fests, and always thought it would be fun to have this charming impersonator come by when I’m celebrating a birthday with family and friends. At the Fest, he was enthusiastically working the crowd throughout the day.

Hemmert’s onstage interview with former Wings and Moody Blues member Denny Laine offered interesting vignettes from both of the involved parties. Laine revealed that he and the other Moodies had been friends with the Beatles from the very early days. He also recalled visiting a Pirate Radio ship and seeing empty Heinekens bottles floating around it. Hemmert harked back to her first interview with Laine in Chicago when he was still with Wings, and how Linda McCartney helped her remain calm as she prepared to interview Paul.

Coming tomorrow: Pat DiNizio at Beatles Storytellers; The Musicians Forum; Battle Of The Beatles Bands; an Art Contest; People Under The Stairs; and Liverpool Rocks The House with special guests.

Pam Appreciation Day!

Each year, on June 21st, I celebrate Pam Appreciation Day in honor of my wife. She was instrumental in helping me set up this blog, and has been extremely supportive of my countless creative endeavors, interests, and obsessions. Here are a few examples:

When we first started dating back in 1989, it didn’t take long for her to discover that I’m an avid Hollies fan. Pam’s an extremely talented artist, and she decided to paint a portrait of the band for me. She did a great job, and the painting (see above) continues to hold a place of honor in my media room.

One of our first dates involved seeing The Smithereens perform at an outdoor concert in Grant Park in Chicago. It was a mercilessly sunny day, and Pam soon looked like she would pass out from the heat. I decided we’d have to leave, but she refused because she didn’t want me to miss one of my favorite bands. So we compromised. I stood up directly in front of her to block out the sun. Which must have looked incredibly ignorant to people around us, because that meant she couldn’t see the stage, but at least I provided a bit of refreshing shade.

When The Hollies came to America for a brief series of concerts in 2002, Pam drove me to Stillwater, Minnesota so I could see them. Why they chose that town instead of somewhere in the Chicago area, I’ll never know. Unfortunately, the concert got rained out, but we did see their sound check since the concert was outside, and had a chance to chat with a very gracious Carl Wayne, who was then the lead vocalist for The Hollies. I also met a fellow Hollies fan who has been my friend ever since.

Pam drives me to my writers meetings for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators twice a month. If any of my novels ever get printed, it will due in part to this very helpful group, and my wife for taking me to the meetings.

Pam and I have created a series of short video clips called Manchester Gallery. They can be seen on the Sunday Morning Coffee With Jeff Internet show. I write the clips and perform in them, which takes about 10 minutes to do. Pam does all the taping and editing, which takes quite a bit longer.

So, for all the wonderful things my wife does for me, I once again celebrate Pam Appreciation Day. Feel free to use this occasion to express gratitude for your own significant other.

Happy P.A.D., Pam!! Love, Terry

Rocking In Palatine 2010

Photo taken from My Villain Your Hero Facebook page.

As summer approaches, my hometown of Palatine, like Chicago and the other surrounding suburbs, offers a full schedule of outdoor concerts. Out this way, bands perform every Wednesday and Friday night, weather permitting, at the Fred P. Hall Amphitheater. The selection process for these concerts has been on autopilot for years; with the same acts, or types of acts always getting the nod. Still, they make for an enjoyable night of music.

American English plays this Friday night, June 18th, carrying on the tradition of kicking things off with a Beatles tribute band. In the past, we’ve also had Liverpool Legends and British Export. A few years back, the outdoor concert series broke tradition by opening with local heroes Dot Dot Dot, who went over extremely well. In addition to Dot Dot Dot, some other bands I’d like to see return to the Palatine stage are The Neverly Brothers and The New Invaders. Plus, it would be great to have an additional night each week, when more cutting-edge bands could play.

Palatine Concert Band always gets three slots over the season, possibly because no musical act in history has had more bad luck in getting rained out. They’re not rock and roll, but they’re very talented, and my wife and I enjoy their tributes to Broadway shows and famous composers. Otherwise, the most interesting concerts this season are Big Guitars From Memphis on June 25th, and oldies cover band The Meteors on July 23rd.

Sometimes, my wife and I buy a pizza at the nearby J.J. Twigs and bring it to the concert along with some refreshing beverages, but there are also concession stands near the amphitheater.

The Palatine Jaycees will sponsor Hometown Fest 2010 from Thursday, July 1st through Monday, July 5th. There will be several food vendors, fireworks, and a full schedule of bands.

My Villain Your Hero, a young group that plays a mix of hip-hop originals and cover versions will perform from 2:00 to 3:30PM on Sunday, July 4th. Although I lean more toward power pop, I caught one of the band’s regular gigs at Durty Nellies, and was impressed with its non-stop energy, as well as the one-two vocal punch of Mig Mora and Jennifer Lee. My Villain Your Hero has become much more popular since I first mentioned them in a post under my Elevated Observations column quite a while ago, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that Lee looks like a 20-something version of Jennifer Aniston.

Other acts booked for the 4th of July concerts include One Hand Clapping, 7th Heaven, The Mosquitos, David Allen, Bucket #6, TNT Chicago, New Odyssey, Cowbirds, Donna Matrix, 20 Over, Cammi’s NRG, AVM, Triple Threat, He Said She Said, and the Rolling Meadows Big Band.

Saving the best for last, The Smithereens will headline this year’s Palatine Downtown Street Fest on August 28th. I caught Pat DiNizio and the boys at an outdoor performance right next door to Wrigley Field last summer, and they are still an amazing act to see in a live setting. In addition to playing their own power pop masterpieces like “House We Used To Live In,” “Behind The Wall Of Sleep,” and “Blood and Roses,” The Smithereens expertly cover The Beatles and The Who.

Ralph’s World is returning for another gig at the Street Fest. As I said in my “Pure Pop For Knee High People” post last August (see archive), I’m a long-time fan of The Bad Examples, but I had never seen lead vocalist Ralph Covert performing as Ralph’s World. Covert applies the same elements of irresistible melodies and clever lyrics that make the Examples so much fun to his kid-friendly shows. Hi Infidelity and Sixteen Candles are also booked for the Palatine Downtown Street Fest, and I’m sure other acts will be added along the way.

Good Times With Good Friends

2010 will see the return of two power pop acts who have been sorely missed on the recording scene. Hoodoo Gurus have already released Purity Of Essence in their native Australia, and it’s due to drop Stateside some time in April. The Bangles are still working on their yet-to-be-titled next release, but hopefully, it will be out this year. These two acts used to tour together back in the 1980s, and it would be great to see them reunite on the road if their schedules allow.

The Bangles have been known to appear as back-up singers on the occasional Hoodoo Gurus song. The 1987 single “Good Times,” released in advance of the Hoodoo Gurus’ Blow Your Cool album, has Susanna Hoffs, Debbi Peterson, Vicki Peterson, and Michael Steele beautifully harmonizing with lead vocalist Dave Faulkner. It’s a catchy mid-tempo tune that should give hope to broken hearted people all over the world. The arrangement feels like a 1960s chart-topper, although lead guitarist Brad Shepherd cuts loose with some modern-edged playing during an instrumental passage.

“You told me goodbye and I believed you,” Faulkner notes at the beginning of “Good Times.” But he goes on to describe a happy reconciliation, and suggests both parties always knew they had too much of a good thing to abandon it permanently. “What felt good before, today we’ll treasure so much more.” Like “Love Is For Lovers” by The dBs, “Good Times” is a joyous celebration of finding true love.

While “Good Times” is a fun collaboration between the Hoodoo Gurus and The Bangles, the B-Side, “Heart Of Darkness” sounds like The Smithereens have been summoned to help out. Pat DiNizio and the boys aren’t really on this record, but the crunching bass and guitar arrangement calls to mind the classic “Blood And Roses.” “Heart Of Darkness” is one of those spooky non-album tracks the Hoodoo Gurus were fond of slapping on back of single releases, and it makes for an interesting rarity.