Slumgullion

Gotta love this poster from Ellis Clark's Facebook page.

Several bands in Peoria will gather together on February 9th for It Was 50 Years Ago Today Sgt. Pepper Taught The Band To Play - A Celebration Of The Beatles Debut In America.  Organizer/musician Craig Moore promises, “surprise performances, orchestrated Beatles material you rarely hear performed live, videos, special guests, and more.” The musicians will be donating their time so that proceeds can go to charities like Illinois Dream Factory, which helps chronically ill children, St. Jude’s Hospital, and the Washington Illinois High School Tornado Relief Fund. It Was 50, etc will take place at 8102 N.University in Peoria. Moore suggests listening to Peoria station WWCT - FM 99.9 throughout January for details.

Phil Angotti and Ellis Clark will also be marking the 50 Anniversary of The Beatles coming to America, with their Magical Mystery Tour Orchestra at Mayne Stage on Chicago’s north side on February 8th. Each singer-songwriter will do a set of his original material, and then Angotti and Clark will combine forces on a set of Beatles songs, backed by a full band. Tickets are $7.

In the meantime, Angotti has a show with Steve Dawson of Dolly Varden next Friday, January 24th at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn.

Mike Cohen and Jeff Janulis of The Abbeys will be doing a 45-minute acoustic set (possibly joined by their bassist Carl Lubicz) as part of an Americana/Indie showcase next Friday at Reggie’s Music Joint on State Street. The Harmaleighs and Jukebox Casanova are also on the bill. The new full lineup for The Abbeys will make its debut at Redline Tap on February 15th. 

There’s going to be an event called Big Silly Variety Show & Party next Saturday, January 25th at the Park Ridge VFW Hall, but other than one of the acts being named Crapalanche, I don’t see anything silly about it. Still, you could definitely party with Crapalanche, along with Paul Coady And The Edsel Bros., The Tulips, Dan Connolly, Go Time!, Robin And Jerry Bienemann, Wango City, and singer-guitarist Kent Rose. The Park Ridge VFW Hall is located at 10 Higgins Road, and the silliness starts at 7:00PM.

Chicago Comic And Entertainment Expo returns to McCormick Place on the weekend of April 25-27, but artists and people who dig wearing super hero costumes can get an early start next Thursday, January 23rd. That’s when C2E2 will present the first installment of Heroes & Villains at Lincoln Tap Room. Comic guests Jenny Frison, Mike Norton, and Tim Seeley will be providing prizes for a hero-themed drawing competition.

Feathers have followed up their debut If All Here Now with a four-song EP titled Only One. It features two new tracks,“Wild Love” and “Only One” along with a pair of remixed songs from their first release. The Austin, Texas-based band is currently on tour with Depeche Mode in Europe.

Chicago’s inventive techno band Save The Clocktower will be performing an all-ages show with Bad Veins at Beat Kitchen next Saturday, January 25th. They'll also be at Durty Nellie’s in my hometown of Palatine on February 27th and at The Hideout in Chicago on February 28th.

These Boots Are Made For Playing “Barracuda.” If I had enough room in my closet-sized media room, and more spending cash, I would bid on eBay for Nancy Wilson from Heart’s boots. It’s part of the 6th Annual Kick Up Your Heels Fundraiser for the Lancaster Opera House. The current high bid is $1,000.  

If Only I Could Remember My Nickname. David Crosby has sold out his two upcoming gigs at City Winery in Chicago, and has a new CD titled Croz on the way. If you’ve read Graham Nash’s new autobiography Wild Tales, you might have noticed that Nash usually refers to his buddy and band mate as ‘Croz’ when he’s writing about something positive, and as ‘Crosby’ when he’s describing bad behavior. Long live ‘Croz’!

Power pop aficionado and Secret Weapon podcast creator “Boris” Boden has a guest post on the Meanwhile Back In Peoria blog, where he talks about Jerry Seinfeld’s Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee Internet series, and posts some artful photos of snow-flected vintage cars.

Book Review, Part Three: Graham Nash - Wild Tales - A Rock And Roll Life

After an emotionally charged departure from The Hollies, Graham Nash found his new band mates more receptive to the ambitious direction he wanted to pursue with his music. But in David Crosby and Stephen Stills, he had aligned himself with two of rock and roll’s more volatile personalities. After Neil Young was added to the mix, the chances of a recording session or live performance going off the rails became even greater. Nash writes about a time when he attempted to restore peace during the recording of the Deja Vu album, and wound up weeping instead.

“I was twenty-seven years old. I was supposed to be a man, and here I was crying my eyes out because we were losing it—whatever it was.”

It’s common knowledge that Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young had their quarrels, but some of the incidents (and downright sabotage) Nash describes makes it hard to conceive of how these guys could go on working together. Plus, Crosby’s hellish descent into cocaine addiction left the entire band vulnerable musically and legally.

Throughout Wild Tales, Nash emphasizes his passion for creating music, so we believe him when says the bond he felt with Crosby, Stills, and Young (he offers examples of each of their incredible talent and inventiveness) was strong enough to help weather the persistent storms. An early agreement that each member would be free to pursue solo and side projects also no doubt helped ease the tension. Nash has been quoted as saying a similar arrangement probably would have saved The Beatles.

Recent years have seen Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young overcome their competing egos on stage; Crosby clean up his act; and Nash reaffirm his friendship with Allan Clarke of The Hollies. Nash also has a successful career in photography and treasures spending time with his wife and family. After all the Wild Tales, he’s probably thrilled to find things running so smoothly.

Book Review, Part Two: Graham Nash - Wild Tales - A Rock And Roll Life

One of the many lasting images Graham Nash creates in his autobiography Wild Tales is of him singing with his father as the two of them walk together through their blighted Salford neighborhood in England. Even at that young age, he was fascinated with creating harmonies. It was a gift that would serve Nash well in making friends, particularly a classmate named Allan Clarke. Once the two lads discovered how well their voices blended together, they started performing at pubs and social functions. They were amazed the first time they heard an Everly Brothers song, and immediately decided to model their singing after those exquisite Phil and Don harmonies. Later, when Nash and Clarke formed The Hollies, they would establish a vocal sound that would help land them in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame by including guitarist-vocalist Tony Hicks.

Hollies fans who’ve always felt the band has been short-changed in the media will find a lot to like in Wild Tales. In addition to honoring his lifelong bond to Clarke, Nash praises Hicks and drummer Bobby Elliott as first-rate musicians. He credits Hicks with coming up with the banjo riff on “Stop Stop Stop” that, “imitated a balalaika and gave the record its inimitable sound. He’d done the same magic for ‘Look Through Any Window’ and ‘Bus Stop’ with those incredible guitar riffs at the beginning of each.” By the mid-1960s, The Hollies were intent on not only writing all their own music, but to move beyond the standard boy-meets-girl love songs.

Eventually though, Nash felt that he and The Hollies were no longer on the same page, creatively or in terms of social and political awareness. After his ambitious “King Midas In Reverse” failed to chart as well as hoped, he sensed that the other band members no longer trusted his instincts. They rejected “Marrakesh Express” and other songs he brought in for consideration. This was right around the time he met David Crosby and Stephen Stills in the U.S., who would soon steal him away for a new band they were putting together.      

Book Review, Part One: Graham Nash - Wild Tales - A Rock And Roll Life

In Wild Tales, Graham Nash doesn’t waste time in getting to the big bang event most readers will be eager to hear about: His first encounter with David Crosby and Stephen Stills. After that opening chapter, Nash travels back to his childhood to begin this entertaining autobiography. It’s not a journey delivered in strict chronological order; he sometimes follows a narrative thread over the course of a few years before slipping back again to pick up another tale. Nash employs an easy-going writing style that places the reader on a bar stool beside him, most likely in an English pub. It’s a buddy-to-buddy account, with a fair amount of nudge-nudge, wink-wink material.

Nash must have known that at least some of his recollections would cast him in an unfavorable light. After all, he spent a good portion of his musical career chasing mini-skirts and consuming (although never becoming addicted to) illegal drugs. He doesn’t excuse or condemn this past behavior; Wild Tales is filled with let-the-chips-fall-where-they-may observations of an era of free love and mind-altering experimentation. As he simply states in the Acknowledgments, “This is how I remember it.” Later in the book, he notes the disastrous effect that too much cocaine use had on the ability of Crosby, Stills and Nash to record or perform music. He also settles down with Susan Sennett, who becomes the love of his life.

Throughout Wild Tales, Nash’s core values come across loud and clear; his obsession with harmony singing, his devotion to friends, his strong bond with his parents, and a passion for social justice. Like George Harrison and John Lennon, he became one of the pioneers of using music to reach out to others in need, whether it be in the form of writing a new song, or putting together benefit concerts.            

And Another Thing. . .

Portrait of the man who made it possible for me to perform skit comedy for over 20 years. 

Happy Birthday, Rich Cotovsky. (Photo from his Facebook page.)

A few more bits from the world of entertainment.

Happy Birthday to Rich Cotovsky, Artistic Director of the Mary-Arrchie Theatre; founder of the annual Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins festival; Abbie Hoffman impersonator; director; actor; and Chicago legend. Famous In The Future, the comedy group I performed with for 20 years, could not have existed without him. I’m not sure he would want to take responsibility for that, but I express my thanks to him anyway. It’s impossible to count the hours of fun I’ve had at the Mary-Arrchie Theatre over the years.

Fest For Beatles Fans did a post on Facebook yesterday stating there’s a rumor going ‘round that Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will perform together on the Late Show With David Letterman Show at some point in early February. Letterman’s nightly program is taped at the Ed Sullivan Theater, the place where The Beatles made their monumental first impression on American TV viewers 50 years ago.

As mentioned earlier here before on BHT, The Smithereens will be recreating The Beatles’ February 11th, 1964 Washington, D.C. concert as part of the Fest For Beatles Fans celebration in New York. According to a recent Facebook post from guitarist-vocalist Jim Babjack, the band plans to release a recording of their performance of The Beatles’ concert event. It will have 12 songs, including “Roll Over Beethoven,” “All My Loving,” and “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” Babjak promises information on how to order a copy will be coming soon.

I haven’t been able to find anything official on this, but supporters of WXRT DJ Tom Marker are proclaiming on his Facebook page that he’s been reinstated as an air personality on the station. If that’s the case, then congratulations to all those who rose up in anger when he was let go. Marker’s followers extend beyond the rock and roll scene because of his decades of supporting blues music in Chicago. One thing is for sure; Marker will host his annual Blues Breakers Blues Of The Year this Monday night on WXRT at 9:00 PM.

The Walker Brigade, a punk rock covers band that includes Jeff Charreaux from Ultraviolet Eye, will be performing next Friday, January 17th at 321 Lounge in Los Angeles, along with The Grrrls and Rachel Goodrich. When I reviewed Ms. Goodrich’s self-titled CD a few years back, I noted that, “At a time when quirky singer-songwriters are as common as snowflakes in a blizzard, Rachel Goodrich still stands out” and concurred with a press release description of her music as “vaudeville-inspired indie pop.” 

The second annual Danstock Benefit Showcase to Raise Funds for Melanoma Research at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwest University of Northwestern University will be held on Thursday, February 6th at Lincoln Hall on Chicago’s north side. Planning for the event is still underway, but Band Called Catch, American Wolf, and DeXter, have already signed up to perform. Danstock came about last year when musician/producer Dan Stock decided to do something to help victims of the disease that was on the verge of taking his life. The benefit now lives on in his honor. The goal for the 2014 Danstock is to raise $40,000. Admission is $20, and there are VIP tickets available for $100.00. 

And finally, a song to a certain New Zealand teenage singer, with apologies to Janis Joplin:

Oh Lorde, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz

You’ve scored some hit singles and made famous friends

You’re so very young, hoping success never ends

Oh Lorde, won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz

Oh Lorde, won’t you buy me a plasma TV

You’re just so much nicer than that nut Miley

I’d love to watch programs all day in HD

Oh Lorde, won’t you buy me a plasma TV

Slimgullion

It’s been a hectic week, so unfortunately, there’s not much in the Slumgullion pot this time around.

First, best wishes to singer-guitarist Vicki Peterson of The Bangles on her 25th birthday.

Chicago-based psychedelic rockers Secret Colours have two EPs coming out in the first half of 2014: The digital release of Positive Distractions Part I will be on February 4th, and Part II will be digitally released on April 29th. Both parts will be available on the same slab of vinyl on April 29th. Secret Colours have created a fun retro-tech video for “It Can’t Be Simple,” one of the songs from Positive Distractions Part I.

WXRT air personality Richard Milne will present The Anesthetic Best of ’13 on the station this Sunday night from 7:00 to 8:00PM. Milne has been doing Local Anesthetic for several years, and it’s a great way to keep up with the latest bands in Chicago.

It’s All-Right To Have A Good Time - The Story Of Curtis Mayfield has been extended through March 30th at the Black Ensemble Theater on Chicago’s north side. The critically acclaimed musical bio is now running along side Chicago’s Golden Soul, which also features the music of Mayfield, along with Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler, Tyrone Davis, and other R & B stars who came up through the Windy City.

If I could carry a tune, I’d go there and sing “Paperback Writer.” As noted in Thursday’s Chicago Sun-Times, The Harold Washington Library has a 50th anniversary of The Beatles coming to America karaoke bash scheduled for 12:15 on Friday, January 24th. The library is located at 400 S. State. People interested in taking part can call 312-747-4850 for more information.

Hear! Here!

I just finished reading Graham Nash’s autobiography Wild Tales. While he understandably spends the majority of his time spinning tales of his days with David Crosby and Stephen Stills, there’s a wealth of inside information and anecdotes to please an avid Hollies fan like myself. Reading Nash’s recollections of those early days with The Hollies took me back to the Christmas of 1966, when I received the Hear! Here! LP as an added bonus to the “Stop Stop Stop” single I had asked for from one of my older brothers. The joy of discovering those ringing guitars and spirited harmonies would stick with me for a lifetime.

It wasn’t their debut, but it’s likely that Hear! Here! was the first Hollies album for a lot of Americans since it featured the hit single “Look Through Any Window.” If so, then it served as an energetic introduction. The Hollies romped through covers of classic R&B and rock songs like “You Must Believe Me,” “Down The Line,” “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” and “Mickey’s Monkey.”

Even more impressive was that Nash, lead vocalist Allan Clarke, and guitarist Tony Hicks had begun to compose their own material. Rollicking songs like “Put Yourself In My Place,” “When I Come Home To You,” and “I’ve Been Wrong” (later recorded by The Everly Brothers), along with the melancholy ballad “So Lonely,” clearly indicated that The Hollies were well on their way to becoming one of the British Invasion’s most influential acts.

I’m hoping to post a review of Wild Tales here on Broken Hearted Toy some time next week.