Four Auld Lang Syne Songs, My Dear

There was a time when just about everybody thought of Guy Lombardo when it came to “Auld Lang Syne” since he and his Royal Canadians played it every New Year’s Eve for years on radio and TV.  His version is available on YouTube and sounds particularly melancholy.

“Auld Lang Syne” continues to be covered by various musicians. The version by The Smithereens on their marvelous Christmas With The Smithereens album opens with the band harmonizing like a barbershop quartet before the guitars and drums kick in. From there, it morphs into a pulsating surf rock tune that’s predominantly instrumental.

Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken also tackled the song as part of group called Husky Team. This inspired instrumental take, from the Hi-Fi Christmas Party Volume 2 CD, mixes “Auld Lang Syne” with the Booker T & The MG’s 1960s hit “Green Onions.”

Perhaps the most relevant version of “Auld Lang Syne” for 2020 comes from a New Jersey band called The Cucumbers. I couldn’t find a link for it, but the song is on the various artists Ho Ho Ho Spice CD, if you have a copy of that. The guitar-driven, slightly Celtic, power pop arrangement and Deena Shoshkes’s spirited vocals cast out any trace of despair and offer instead an exhilarating sense of hope. The quest is underway and better times will soon be here.

From The Stoneage To 2021

Congratulations to the Hoodoo Gurus, who will mark 40 years of garage rock/power pop expertise tomorrow. Lots of us have new year’s resolutions, but these Australian mates decided they would form a band in 1981 and made good on that vow on the very first day of the year. If only I had that sort of determination when it came to writing my novels and getting them published.

The lineup has changed several times, but the emphasis has always been on guitar-driven, melodic songs that were fun and sometimes smacked you in the jaw. Current/founding member Dave Faulkner recently posted a Zoom meeting on Facebook where he reminisces with former members Rod Radalj, Kimble Rendall, and James Baker about the band’s earliest days. The 37-minute clip can be watched for free on New Year’s Eve. Fans will also find a 1987 live performance video on the Hoodoo Gurus Facebook page.

Finally, a quick shout-out to Boris Boden, a fellow power pop fan I first met at Harlow’s rock club on Chicago’s southwest side. We often swapped information on new artists (The Smithereens, Ian Lloyd, Paul Collins Beat, 20/20) and Boris was the first to tell me about the Hoodoo Gurus. I still remember buying their debut album Stoneage Romeos at a downtown store and holding the plastic bag above my head while I hurried to the bus stop because it was raining. Boris is still a power pop connoisseur, which is abundantly evident when you listen to his Secret Weapon program on Woody Radio.  

Extra! Extra! Local Publication And Venues Need Your Support

Last Thursday’s Chicago Tribune picked up a story from The New York Times about the return of The Village Voice after a two-year absence. Prior to its farewell in 2018, the New York alternative weekly had been around for 63 years. According to reporter Katie Robinson, The Village Voice will first return online in January and appear in printed form on a quarterly basis. The revival comes courtesy of Street Media, which owns the LA Weekly publication.

Chicago has a long-running free paper and it’s reaching out for assistance. The Chicago Reader started as a weekly publication back in 1971, but now comes out every other week. Ownership has changed a few times and the current staff is led by a veteran of the local publishing scene, Tracy Baim. I still have copies from when each issue had four sections. Whatever the format, the Chicago Reader has consistently offered cutting-edge journalism as well as extensive and respected coverage of the local music, theatre, and performing arts scene. You can also help out by buying merchandise at the paper’s gift shop.

Speaking of online shops, you’ll find an impressive display of ingenuity, variety, and fun when you check your favorite venues to see what they have to offer. I was glad Lincoln Hall and Schubas sold out all three versions of their concert passports but disappointed because I wanted to buy one. These items resemble actual passports, and can be used for admission to live performances once the club starts booking them again. You can still find t-shirts and posters for sale on the Lincoln Hall and Schubas website.

SPACE  has t-shirts, mugs, candles, and hats among its offerings; Beat Kitchen has t-shirts, face masks, and tote bags; and Montrose Saloon has limited edition F.U. Corona/“No Quarter Shall Be Given To The Enemies of Humanity” t-shirts that give COVID-19 the middle finger. Martyrs’ offers a selection of Music Saves, Music Is Good t-shirts; and The Hideout has an amazing 25th Anniversary calendar that will going up on a wall in my media room in a few days.

FitzGerald’s has t-shirts, sweatshirts, and beanie hats; and Metro has been sorting through its vault to offer posters and other memorabilia.  CIVL - Chicago Independent Venue League has posters, t-shirts, and a double LP to help out local entertainment establishments. Also, don’t forget a lot of your favorite venues are still offering pick-up and delivery service.

Saturday Slumgullion

I’m sorry Slumgullion is late again this week but I was making rather merry last night. It won’t happen again, Mr. Scrooge. Actually, it will, and probably soon. At any rate, I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season and staying safe and healthy.

Beatles fans who’ve been anxiously awaiting Peter Jackson’s documentary The Beatles Get Back received an early Christmas present when the acclaimed director shared an almost six-minute long preview this past Monday. The montage of previously unreleased footage provides an insider’s view of the band’s creative process as well as some cheeky humor. It was no surprise when Jackson’s clip quickly spread across social media.

Georgia Comes Alive - A Virtual Concert To Get Out The Vote kicked off at 3:00 pm today and offered performances by 50 bands. Foo Fighters; Los Lobos; Mike Mills Featuring Big Something; Portugal. The Man; Ben Folds; Pete Yarrow; Blind Boys Of Alabama; Phil Lesh And Friends; Nathaniel Rateliff; Grace Potter; Preservation Hall Jazz Band; and The Revivalists are just a few examples of the event’s wide range of entertainment. The event was a benefit for the Georgia Coalition For The People’s Agenda and CivicGeorgia.

Chicago singer-songwriter Phil Angotti’s new album Still Life is now available on his Bandcamp page. Like his 2017 Such Stories, it’s an introspective, acoustic effort that’s reminiscent at times of Simon and Garfunkel. This time out, Angotti is focused on the troubling events of the past year, as evidenced by the somber but well-crafted closing song, “The Weirdest Christmas.” 

In a completely different vein, Angotti, NRBQ member Casey McDonough, and producer/musician Blair Holmes recently posted “Tomorrow Never Snows” on YouTube. It’s a fun medley that finds the trio singing Christmas carol lyrics to the tune of classic Beatles songs. “Here Comes Santa Claus” rocks to “Here Comes The Sun,” and “Oh Come All Ye Faithful,” “Frosty The Snowman,” and “Rudolph Then Red Nosed Reindeer” all sport beat group arrangements and harmony vocals.

The Chicago-based indie rock band The Handcuffs premiered a new song earlier today on DJ Mike Lidskin’s program on Woody Radio. “Love Me While You Can,” the first single from from their upcoming fourth album, has a January 8 release date on the Color Red Records. The full album Burn The Rails will be coming out in spring, and if it’s as good as their previous releases, well worth the wait.

Hushdrops, another impressive local band recently released the four-song EP Indian Summer. It’s their first new material in a while, but still resonates with the strong melodies and psychedelic ambience that made their earlier efforts so compelling.

Rock music fans have been known to puzzle over The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s choices for inductees—why some acts are chosen, why some keep getting overlooked—but The RRHOF is now actually selling 500-piece puzzles of some of its honorees. Choices include The Beatles; The Rolling Stones; The Who; Queen; David Bowie; and The Doors. As with the RRHOF t-shirts, it seems unfair that some inductees have two or three items while most have none. I’d love to see a lot more variety in The Hall’s merchandise.

Manchester Music Then And Now: Music Worth Fighting For is a new documentary celebrating the past few decades of the English city’s long history of bringing the world top-notch rock bands. Featured acts include Happy Mondays; New Order; Joy Division, and Denise Johnson. The 35-minute film can be viewed on the Visit Manchester website. 

BBC Radio 4 will be celebrating the life and work of Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and Rutles musician/Monty Python collaborator Neil Innes throughout December. The Monty Python Official Instagram page promises there will be new and archival interviews with Python members. 

As noted in an Instagram post from the music venue Sleeping Village, artist-musician Steve Krakow, AKA Plastic Crimewave, has joined forces with Wake Up! Music to create a Heroes Of Chicago House Coloring Book. The 34-page effort features illustrations of house music stars from the 1980s and 90s. It’s available from Wake Up! Music for $20, and $5 of each sale will go to the Sustain Chicago Music Organization.

A Different Holiday Approach With The JAC and The Myrrhderers

“Won’t Be Leaving Home For Christmas” is this year’s holiday gift from Australian vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Joe Algeri, AKA The JAC. In keeping with his annual tradition, the song is available as a free download on his Bandcamp page. Algeri rarely takes a conventional approach on his Yuletide efforts, so it’s no surprise the 2020 edition is haunted by the ghost of COVID-19. The pandemic isn’t mentioned specifically, but you get the idea with lines like “You can smile and keep your distance/Let’s make a wish and split the difference.” The message may be melancholy but it’s delivered via Algeri’s usual clever wordplay. 

As a long-time member of the international power pop band The Britannicas (these guys were doing the isolated recording thing before it was a safety measure), Algeri once again crafts a catchy arrangement. There’s also an impressive guitar-driven instrumental break. Fellow Britannicas member bassist-backup vocalist Herb Eimerman from America helps out, along with drummer Stefan Johanson and organ player Lars Brussel from Sweden; Andy J. Prinkkila from Finland; and Algeri’s daughter Hanna on backup vocals. “Won’t Be Leaving Home For Christmas” reflects on a tough 2020, but still can make staying in more enjoyable.

For those who like their seasonal music with sharp edges, The Myrrhderers offer five high-speed renditions of holiday classics on their Sleigh Xmas  EP. “Deck The Halls” is actually joyous, which is what you’d want from that song, while “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” sounds as fierce as anything that sprang from the Los Angeles punk scene back in the early 1980s. “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and the instrumental/spoken word “Carol Of The Bells” don’t make the transformation as successfully, but the galloping “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” is a blast by any standards.

The bio on The Myrrhderers’ Bandcamp page is as fun as it is fictional, stating, “The Myrrhderers are a punk supergroup featuring members of the North Pole underground music scene.” The band came right back with another EP, titled The Myrrhderers Sleigh Some More, featuring an irresistible punk/ska take on “Sleigh Ride” and four other amped-up chestnuts.

Saturday Slumgullion

Ringo Starr just released an inspirational new song and video titled “Here’s To The Nights” that serves as a global holiday present with its uplifting message and impressive lineup of well-known performers helping out on vocals. Peace And Love, indeed.

CIVL - Chicago Independent Venue League wrapped up its four-part CIVLIZATION livestream concert series last night with performances by Xoe Wise, Avery R. Young, and David Boykin Expanse. The gigs were intended to draw attention to the economic hardships encountered by entertainment venues as well as musicians across the Chicago area, and donations are always welcome at the organization’s website. There’s also an CIVL online store where t-shirts, posters, a double LP, and even shower curtains sporting awesome CIVL artwork can be purchased to help the cause.

This past week brought birthday celebrations for two long-time, critically acclaimed guitarists who emerged in the original British Invasion and have been with us ever since. So cheers to Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones and Tony Hicks of The Hollies. It was great to see both gentlemen receive loads of best wishes across social media.

Tony Hicks has the last word in a new video The Hollies created to celebrate the season, as well as honor the medical workers who have helped us battle COVID-19. Opening with vocalist Peter Howarth singing “Silent Night”—I wish they’d release the entire song as a download—and shifting to the whole band performing “The Air That I Breathe” in concert footage, it’s definitely a heartfelt clip. Each band member offers a holiday message, and Hicks wraps things up with, “Merry Christmas. We miss you. And we’ll see you again soon.” The video can be viewed on the official Hollies Facebook.

Congratulations to Coco and Blu in Arlington Heights on its first anniversary. The European style cafe was fully decked out this afternoon for the celebration with ribbons and balloons. Coco and Blu also serves cocktails and occasionally brings in a DJ, so I suspect it will blossom into an even more adventurous venue once COVID-19 loosens its grip on the world.

The U.K. charitable organization Lifeshare has a livestream event coming up to help awareness of the city of Manchester’s homeless community. Put together by High Violet PR and Plugging, the five-hour presentation features Tom Hingley of Inspiral Carpets, Barry Sutton of The La’s and several other music acts. Spoken word performers Karl Hildebrandt and Leon The Pig Farmer will also be on hand, along with DJ sets and special guests. The music can be streamed for free on the Lifeshare website, but donations are encouraged.

 

BBC Radio 4 will be celebrating the life and work of Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and Rutles musician/Monty Python collaborator Neil Innes throughout December. The Monty Python Official Instagram page promises there will be new and archival interviews with Python members. 

As noted in an Instagram post from the music venue Sleeping Village, artist-musician Steve Krakow, AKA Plastic Crimewave, has joined forces with Wake Up! Music to create a Heroes Of Chicago House Coloring Book. The 34-page effort features illustrations of house music stars from the 1980s and 90s. It’s available from Wake Up! Music for $20, and $5 of each sale will go to the Sustain Chicago Music Organization.

Metro, one of Chicago’s best-loved music venues since 1982, continues to find tempting new items from its vault to sell via its online store. This week, it’s a colorful Be Kind Be Creative 2020 silkscreen poster that features Metro’s iconic outdoor sign. Visitors to the site will find Metro and Smart Bar t-shirts, accessories, and various indie rock gig posters.

I was once 53 miles west of Venus, thanks to The B-52’s, but Jupiter and Saturn will appear to be even closer to each other than that on Monday at sunset. As explained by Chicago Tribune reporter Katherine Rosenberg-Douglas, the event is scientifically known as a conjunction, but has also been called a “Christmas Star,” due to the timing of its arrival. It will be the closest the two planets have come together in 400 years.

Rosenberg-Douglas quotes Shane Larson from Northwestern’s Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics as saying, “This is not just a once-in-a-lifetime event, this is a once-in-our-history since-we-built-the-telescope event.” The conjunction will be most visible on the horizon just as the sun is setting. So, put together a space age playlist, throw on your face mask and go out have a socially distanced cosmic bash. Now, won’t that make you feel a whole lot better?

Slumgullion

Steve Earle and The Dukes and several other big-name acts will perform at the Sixth Annual John Henry’s Friends - A Benefit For The Keswell School this Sunday night. The lineup features Emmylou Harris, Graham Nash, Jackson Browne, Lucinda Williams, Jason Isbell and Amanda Shires, Josh Ritter, Matt Savage, Shawn Colvin, The Mastersons, and Warren Haynes. All donations will aid Keswell’s mission to provide educational programs for children and adults with autism. There are also celebrity-contributed items available in a silent auction.

Episode 3 of the CIVLIZATION streaming series is going on tonight. Supernova, Quin Kirchner, Minor Moon and Ami will be performing. In addition to giving music fans the opportunity to enjoy shows, the series aims to cast a spotlight on the CIVL Emergency Relief Fund. Working in conjunction with the Giving Back Fund, CIVL supports Chicago artists and venues. Donations are being accepted at the CIVL website.

BBC Radio 4 will be celebrating the life and work of Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band and Rutles musician/Monty Python collaborator Neil Innes throughout December. The Monty Python Official Instagram page promises there will be new and archival interviews with Python members. 

Metro recently announced it has some more items from the vault for sale at its online store. 

Visitors to the site will find Metro and Smart Bar t-shirts, accessories, and indie rock gig posters for Dinosaur Jr.,  Babes In Toyland, Bob Mould, The Donnas, Guided By Voices, Sharon Van Etten, Wire, Questlove, and others.

As noted in an Instagram post from the music venue Sleeping Village today, artist-musician Steve Krakow, AKA Plastic Crimewave, has joined forces with Wake Up! Music to create a Heroes Of Chicago House Coloring Book. The 34-page effort features illustrations of house music stars from the 1980s and 90s. It’s available from Wake Up! Music for $20, and $5 of each sale will go to the Sustain Chicago Music Organization.

Krakow’s distinctive style will be familiar to those who have followed his weekly The Secret History Of Chicago Music strip in the Chicago Reader, and he released a Compendium of those strips as a hardcover book. I purchased an autographed copy at a CHIRP Record Fair a few years back. 

For three years running, Krakow would hang out at the Milwaukee Avenue Reckless Records on Record Store Day, drawing portraits of any band you wanted for $5. I had three Hollies sketches done during those years. 

R.E.M. tribute band Shaking Through will perform a livestream concert tomorrow night, December 12, as part of the New York venue The Bowery Electric’s LivePremiere Sessions. Tickets are on demand through December 18, and 100% of the proceeds will go to the Equal Justice Initiative and to help keep The Bowery Electric open.

The Hollies have just announced they’ll embark on a fall tour across England in 2021. The band will also be onboard for the 5th Annual Flower Power Cruise in 2022 from March 28 through April 4. They’ll be joined by The Zombies, John Lodge from The Moody Blues, The Guess Who, and The Yardbirds. The Hollies canceled its U.K. and U.S. tours due to COVID-19 earlier this year

The Fest For Beatles Fans online store has Ringo Starr’s new Painting Is My Madness Too! book for sale in autographed and non-autographed versions. The former will cost you $725 and the latter goes for $110. All proceeds will benefit The Lotus Foundation.

Ringo Starr will be among the performers when Joe Walsh and Friends present the VetsAid 2020: Home For The Holidays streaming event tomorrow, starting at 5:00 p.m. Little Steven Van Zandt, Eddie Vedder, Gwen Stefani, Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Willie Nelson and The Boys, Ben Harper, Jewel, Daryl Hall, Billy Bob Thornton, Blake Shelton, Brandon Flowers, and other stars will be on hand.