The Definite Article

In the September issue of the Illinois Entertainer, freelance writer Arsenio Orteza reviews Crack My Bones, a new CD by The Shoes, a French duo comprised of producers/musicians Guillaume and Benalways. Orteza gives the catchy techno music a thumbs up but believes power pop fans should take offense because Guillaume and Benalways, “simply by adding a ‘The’ to their moniker have co-opted the name of one of the genre’s greatest bands. What’s next? The Big Star? The Cheap Trick? The The The?”

Singer-guitarist Jeff Murphy from the original Shoes has also weighed in via a recent press release. After discussing his band’s work on a new CD, Murphy stated, “In the meantime, our name has been usurped by a group from France calling themselves The Shoes! It’s turning into a precedent-setting battle. After 35 years as Shoes, whodathunkit? We refuse to be bullied.”

Murphy elaborated on his own upcoming activities, as well as the band’s, in a recent email. “We’re well over a dozen new songs into the project,” he said regarding the recording of the next Shoes effort, “and not quite sure where or when we’ll stop!”

Murphy will be on stage this Saturday night at Lincoln Hall in Chicago as part of a Material Re-Issue gig titled A Night Of Music, Video And Stories. Original Material Issue members bassist Ted Ansani and drummer Mike Zelenko will once again be joined by singer/guitarist Phil Angotti. Murphy served as producer and engineer for The Ish’s first two releases, International Pop Overthrow and Destination Universe, and predicts he’ll perform a song from each on Saturday. “I’ll also be sharing some [original Material Issue lead vocalist] Jim Ellison remembrances and stories of working with the band.”

The evening will include other special guests, as well as a video presentation. The four-woman hard rock band Rockit Girl will be the opening act. The show starts at 9:00 PM. In other Shoes-related news, Boys Don’t Lie: A History Of Shoes by Power Pop blog contributor Mary E. Donnelly, is now available on PurePopPress.

Special thanks to Valley Downs bassist-vocalist Mike Galassini for his help with this post.

Slumgullion #78

I’m encouraged by the idea of men with this hairstyle being thought of as sex symbols. Photo from Expo 76 Facebook page.

Art For Art Sake. The Music Room at 26 N. Brockway Street in Palatine will be hosting a meet-and-greet from 6:00 PM to 9:00PM tonight, as a kickoff to this weekend’s Art Affair Around The Square art festival. Each of the artists involved has been invited to bring a painting to discuss.

76 And Some Trombones. Expo 76, the eclectic covers band that features Dag Juhlin of The Slugs and Kenn Goodman of The Service, will return to its home turf at Simon’s Tavern on Chicago’s north side, Wednesday, September 14th. They’ll be backed by The Total Pro Horns. Admission is free.

Action! I’ve been having fun on Facebook chatting with friends about being an extra in the movie, Contagion, which opened today in theaters. I worked on two scenes; one in an armory on Chicago’s south side, and one in an open lot in Evanston. I doubt I’ll be recognizable, since I was wearing a Hazmat suit in the armory, and a winter coat with a hood in the outdoor scene. I was in a fair amount of bits that were filmed so it’ll be interesting to see which ones made it into the film. I got kicked out of one bit where I was walking behind the action because one of the crew said my Hazmat suit was making a loud swishing sound.

An Odd Experience. Musician/journalist Hugh Hart sounds like he’s traveling back to his cutting edge days of leading the Chicago band The ODD on a new rock video titled “Come Out Swinging.” Hart’s take on the current wave of worldwide political upheaval is set to a high-speed arrangement featuring guitarist J.D. Dragus, and features black and white footage of vintage political unrest and female wrestling.

Be The First Kid On Your Block To Have One. The Second Disc online newsletter notes that there have been a number of tributes lately to Freddie Mercury, who would have turned 65 this year. There’s a link to a fun animated Google video honoring the charismatic vocalist, but mainly, The Second Disc talks about some upcoming Queen box sets. The most elaborate will be the 25th Anniversary reissue of Live At Wembly Stadium, which includes CDs, DVDs, and among other unique items, a 12” inflatable Freddie Mercury doll.

British Rock On The Telly. The Fest For Beatles Fans reports that Albert Maysles’s Paul McCartney documentary The Love We Make will air on Showtime tomorrow night at 9:00PM. Not sure if that’s Eastern, Central, or Pacific Standard time.

The Zombies will be performing on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon this coming Monday, September 12th.

All You Need Is Cash. Visitors to The Fest For Beatles Fans who have admired Eric Cash’s striking portraits of the band will be glad to hear he now has a newsletter. The September 6th edition notes that the artist’s work is featured in three newly released books, including Bruce Spizer’s Beatles For Sale On Parlaphone. The newsletter offers six examples of Cash’s work, plus a new piece depicting George and Paul sharing a microphone in the studio. Readers can enter a contest to name the new work, with the winner getting a free copy.

Maybe It Disappeared Into The Sea Of Holes. The Members of The British Beatles Fan Club Facebook page is reporting that a large wooden Yellow Submarine model was stolen from outside the St. Barnabas Church in Liverpool. This was the same church where Paul McCartney once sang as an choir boy.

Seems Like Only Yesterday I Was Watching His Cool Animated Video On MTV. Matthew Sweet will be playing selections from his latest effort, Modern Art (due out on September 27th) on an upcoming tour that includes a pair of Chicago gigs at the Bottom Lounge on October 13th and 14th. He’ll also be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the release of Girlfriend by playing the 1991 CD in its entirety.

Three Dimensional Art For The Fridge. The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame comes up with some pretty cool items for its online gift store, and the new Long Live Rock Blue 3-D Magnet a good example. Set this little round baby on the fridge and you’ll be looking at a three dimensional image of a guitar floating above a wall of flames and the Long Live Rock slogan. The cost is $5.99.

CD Review: Project Film - Chicago

My review of the Blondie/The Handcuffs concert at The House Of Blues in Chicago last night is now up on the Illinois Entertainer website.

Here’s a review of the indie band Project Film I did as part of the Illinois Entertainer’s Around Hears column a while back.

Sam McAllister and Megan Frestedt of the duo Project Film meander into their debut Chicago, which sort of chronicles their move from Minneapolis to our town. The music becomes more focused as the CD progresses, with McAllister playing all the instruments and crafting easy-going duets with vocalist Frestedt. “Sound Sleepers” and “Sun” have a delicate beauty while McAllister’s electric guitar gives “Art School” a harder edge. Overall, Project Film succeeds as a more indie sounding version of She & Him.

CD Review: Crawpuppies - World’s Much Bigger

Don’t forget there’s a first rate double bill at The House Of Blues in Chicago tonight, with The Handcuffs opening for Blondie. Both bands have new brand new CDs, so it will interesting to see how much material from those discs makes it into their shows.

Here’s a review I did for the Around Hears column in the Illinois Entertainer a while back. It’s the second release I’ve heard from the Chicago band Crawpuppies, and while I liked the first, this latest CD shows a great deal of growth in terms of songwriting an performance.

Crawpuppies aim high on their second CD, World’s Much Bigger, with 14 songs that cover topical issues as well as romantic relationships. Lead vocalist-guitarist Chad Clifford has a classic voice that evokes Ian Hunter, and his well-crafted lyrics consistently hit the mark. His only misstep comes on the over-dramatic “So Mundane.” The musicianship is also top notch, whether it’s the power pop of “Owe It All To You,” the hard rock of the title track, or the acoustic and touching “My Wife.”

Giving Early For Christmas

Back in my childhood, I marveled at the concept of my father making deposits to a bank account so that he’d have enough money to buy presents for us kids at Christmas time. Dan Pavelich, vocalist-rhythm guitarist for the power pop band The Bradburys has come up with a similar idea for Volume 3 of his various artists holiday compilation series, Hi-Fi Christmas. He’s seeking $750 in contributions to cover the cost of manufacturing and promoting the CD, which should drop sometime around December. Pavelich isn’t looking to bring toys to kids; he’s hoping to give normal lives to people afflicted with Von Willebrand’s disease.

His daughter Mari was born with the blood disorder, which makes it too risky for her to play many of the sports other kids can. In 2002, he put together the first Hi-Fi Christmas, which featured 19 power pop acts donating original and traditional holiday songs so that all of the profits could go to help find a cure for Von Willebrand’s disease. The artists included The Spongetones, The Bradburys, The Lolas, Ted Ansani, Jim Babjak of The Smithereens, Phil Angotti, Bill Lloyd, and Jeremy. (see Archive December 14th, 2010 for my review.) Mari Pavelich, six years old at the time, contributed a short track called, “The Chubby Little Snowman.” In terms of quality, it ranks with Black Vinyl’s Yuletunes and Chris Stamey’s Christmas Time as a highly entertaining compilation of power pop holiday music.

Four years later, Pavelich struck gold again, with another roster of artists for Hi Fi Christmas Volume 2, (see Archive December 15th, 2010 for my review). The fundraising goal remained the same. Some artists from the first release were back, along with new contributors like Joey Molland of Badfinger, The Elvis Brothers, and Marti Jones. Mari Pavelich recorded a catchy pop version of “Up On The Rooftop.”

For Volume 3, Pavelich has lined up The Jigsaw Seen, Tinsley Ellis, The Sun Kings, Jamie & Steve, and The Click Beetles. Regular participants The Bradburys, Jim Babjak, Lisa Mychols, October Elsewhere, and yes, Mari Pavelich, are also on hand. Dan Pavelich is asking for some help in advance, and has set up a website with information on how people can help by making monetary donations or by just spreading the word. There are some perks based on the amount donated, but the real reward is knowing the money will go toward helping those afflicted with Von Willebrand’s disease. Also, you’ll have the joy of helping to continue the fun and festive Hi-Fi Christmas series.

CD Review: Various Artists - Rave On Buddy Holly

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Labor Day weekend. Here’s a review of a tribute CD that originally appeared in the Illinois Entertainer. Perfect for the Holly Day.

Randall Poster, a well-known soundtrack producer, was certainly given a variety of talent to work with when asked to oversee this tribute album. The result is an eclectic collection of songs that should please Holly’s longtime fans, and introduce them to artists they probably wouldn’t otherwise encounter. At the same time, new music fans will get a taste of an old master’s songwriting skills.

It’s no surprise to find Nick Lowe, Graham Nash, She & Him, and Justin Townes Earle interpreting this timeless material, but who would have guessed Cee Lo Green would bring a nostalgic glow to “(You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care”? Kid Rock successfully transforms “Well All Right” into old school Motown, while Florence + The Machine give “Not Fade Away” a slinky, bass and percussion arrangement.

Elsewhere, Lou Reed, Patti Smith, Karen Elson (with then husband Jack White), and The Black Keys stay true to Holly’s exceptional vision while keeping their own identities. Paul McCartney has a blast giving “It’s So Easy” a down and dirty arrangement, although he should have skipped what sounds like a bad Wolfman Jack impersonation. It’s the only thing that qualifies as a misstep on this adventurous disc.

Slumgullion #77

WXRT just announced this morning that Ray Davies will be coming to the Chicago Theatre on November 11th. Word is he’ll be performing a number of classic Kinks songs as well as his solo stuff.

Dot Dot Dot, the Palatine-bred synth rock band that now travels the country entertaining audiences, is marking the passing of the season with a series of Celebrate Summer’s End gigs. They’ll be playing the On The Waterfront festival in Rockford tonight, on the Great Lawn Stage, starting at 7:30. The group has at least eight other dates lined up, including the Guinness Oyster Fest at Damen and Roscoe in Chicago on September 17th.

The New Invaders will be performing 1960s hits from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM tonight at the Maria SS Lauretana Italian Festival in Berwyn. The concert will be held in the Morton West High parking lot behind Cermak Plaza, at Home Avenue and 23rd Street.

The Lakeview East neighborhood in Chicago will be presenting its Festival Of The Arts on Broadway, from Belmont to Roscoe next Saturday, September 10th and Sunday, September 11th. There will be art, music and food.

On that same weekend, about 50 exhibitors will take part in An Art Affair Around The Square in Palatine. In addition to paintings, jewelry, and stained glass, the event will include food vendors and live music. The folk duo Small Potatoes will perform from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Sunday.

The Music Room will host a meet and greet in conjunction with the Art Affair on Friday night from 6PM to 9 PM at its store in the heart of downtown Palatine. Each artist will display a single work and be willing to discuss it with visitors. There will be hors’ douvres and beverages.

Also in Palatine on September 10th, the Main Library will host a Local Author Fair from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The event includes a panel discussion led by well-known authors who live in the area, and there will be several other authors on hand, including Susan Kaye Quinn, who’s a member of the same Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators group that I belong to.

Ludicrous Theatre Company will be staging The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Boho Theatre from August 26th through September 17th. There will be a special midnight show on Friday, September 9th. Boho Theatre is located at 7016 N. Glenwood in Chicago. Tickets are $20 - $25, and are available at Brown Paper Tickets Call 1-800-838-3006 for info.

In retrospect, I’m afraid I may have come across as a little flippant in my reference to the late radio personality Jim Stagg in my Vintage Publication Spotlight on WCFL Presents The Teen Set earlier this week. It would have been more accurate to state that I didn’t become aware of the respect The Beatles had for Stagg as an interviewer until recent years. That bond is evident on a CD I bought at The Fest For Beatles Fans a few years back, called The Beatles With Jim Stagg: Behind The Scenes On Their First U.S. Tour 1964. There are some really interesting interviews on the disc.

Black Forest Theatre has already feted John Lennon and Bob Dylan, and now they have 12 acts lined up for Black Forest Presents A Night Of Neil Young Songs. The event will be held September 17th at Cafe Mozart, 600 Davis Street in Evanston. Some of the scheduled performers include indie rock band WhiteWolfSonicPrincess, (which features Black Forest founding members James Moeller and Carla Hayden), Pat McDonald, Victor Sanders & Friends, Brian Cox, Tiffany Seybert & Chris Leseur, and Mr. Mo.

Writers Theatre, located in Glencoe at 325 Tudor Court, will be presenting Tom Stoppard’s The Real Thing, beginning September 13th. The theatre’s Artistic Director Michael Halberstam will be directing a cast that includes Writers Theatre members Sean Fortunato, Ryan Hallahan, John Sanders, and Natasha Lowe, along with newcomers Rae Gray, Carrie Coon, and Jordan Lane Shappell.

Singer-songwriter Herb Eimmerman, a member of the international power pop trio The Britannicas, recently announced via Facebook that he has nine tracks ready for his next solo CD.

Fresh from Abbie Hoffman Died For Out Sins XXIII, Mary-Arrchie Theatre will present actor Lawrence Fishburne’s play Riff Raff from September 22nd through October 30th. Founding member Rich Cotovsky will be directing this hard-edged tale of drug dealers in New York. Mary-Arrchie Theatre is located at 735 W. Sheridan Road in Chicago. Tickets are already available on Ticketweb.