International Pop Overthrow’s Crown Jewel

International Pop Overthrow, the globe-trotting celebration of power pop and indie rock, kicks off an extended run in Liverpool tomorrow at The Cavern Club. A few years back, IPO CEO/Founder David Bash told me in an interview for the Illinois Entertainer that the allure of playing at the world-famous Cavern Club (although it’s not the original one) allows him to pick the cream of the crop for his Liverpool showcases. The festival runs through May19th with well over 100 acts scheduled to appear. There will be a Cavern Club Tribute to Lennon and McCartney on Friday afternoon.

Once again, there are a few Yanks who make the trip across the sea, including Lannie Flowers, Jeremy, and Dave Rave, who were all at IPO-Chicago (though they’re not Chicagoans) this past April. Bands also arrive from other countries in Europe. The schedule, which can be found on the International Pop Overthrow website, has links to all the acts. That makes it a great resource for discovering new music even for those who can’t make it to The Cavern Club. Sometimes I put on a beret and pretend I’m David Bash while I research the bands. Fancy playing along? 

Pacific Soul Ltd. mixes The Beach Boys with 1970s soul music. SheBeat is an acoustic pop singer-songwriter. Alice (from Alice And The Lovers) formed an “original girllllstar band” on Valentine’s Day in 2013 that plays guitar-driven rock not unlike Dum Dum Girls. She’ll be doing a solo gig at IPO. The Rejetnicks, from Munich, describe their sound as Garagedancebeat and claim The Kinks and The Sonics as influences. Thee Wylde Fuzz Show mixes garage and psychedelic rock. The Backlash comes from Milan, and describes its sound as Britpop/shoesgaze music. Autos Detroit is a powerpop band from Madrid whose latest release has songs called “Jeff Lynne” and “Big Star.” That’s just a small sample of the bands that will be playing at The Cavern Club this week.

Slumgullion

There will be three great opportunities for fans of The Who in Chicago next week. Simon Townshend will be doing a solo show at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue on May 12th, with Dag Juhlin, who performs with The Slugs, Poi Dog Pondering, and EXPO ‘76, as his opening act. A day later, Simon will be performing with his brother Pete and The Who at the Allstate Arena.

On May 14th, the Townshend brothers will join Eddie Vedder, Zak Starkey, Joan Jett, and Joe Walsh for Celebrating The Who, a benefit to help Teen Cancer America at the Rosemont Theater. Roger Daltry has staged concerts for the organization in the past, and he’s listed on the Rosemont Theater website as being the host for this one.

Chicago Zine Fest  takes place today, May 8th, and tomorrow, May 9th, at the Plumbers’ Union Hall on Washington Blvd. Today is being devoted to a panel discussion and readings, while tomorrow’s main draw will be a Zine Exhibition showcasing zines, self-published books, and comics.

Fans of The Bangles and The Go-Go’s in Los Angeles will get a double treat on June 18th when Susanna Hoffs and her special guest Belinda Carlisle perform at the Largo At The Coronet. 

The Webstirs have a record release show for their latest effort Now You’ve Really Done It, at Beat Kitchen tomorrow night. I received an advance copy, and it offers more of the offbeat lyrics, irresistible melodies, and fun harmonies that fans have come to expect from these guys. For tomorrow night’s show, The Webstirs will be special guests of Textbook, a guitar-driven band who latest album All Messed Up finds them pursuing a more alt-country sound on some of the tunes.

Dennis Diken, the drummer for The Smithereens, will be joining musicians Tom Clark, Sal Maida, Craig Chester, Andy Riedel, and Charles Roth for A Spoonful Of Lovin’ - A Night Celebrating The Good Time Music Of The Lovin’ Spoonful on May 17th at The Treehouse at 2A in New York City.

Chicago-based indie rockers Fort Frances have a gig tonight at Lincoln Hall. In my July 1st, 2013 review (it originally ran in the Ilinois Entertainer) of the band’s Harbour album, I said it would fit in well with artists like Fleet Foxes, and that singer-guitarist David McMillin’s vocals bring a beguiling atmosphere to songs like “Truths I Used To Know” and “City By The Sea.”

Tributosaurus became Sting at Martyrs’ this past Wednesday, and they’ll make that transformation again tonight at Wire in Berwyn. 

Fresh from a successful gig at the recent International Pop Overthrow - Chicago festival, the coed power pop band The Right Tidys will be performing at Phyllis’ tomorrow night. Deadly Bungalows and Volt Amp are also on the bill.

A full-color printed Ravinia schedule has been showing up in people’s mailboxes around Illinois and once unfolded, it’s large enough to paper a wall. Some of the highlights of this year’s outdoor concert series in Highland Park include Sheryl Crow on June 25th; Pink Martini, Aimee Mann, and The Von Trapps on July 1st; Brian Wilson with Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin, and Rodriguez of Searching For Sugar Man fame on July 6th; a Chicago Symphony Orchestra tribute to Danny Elfman’s film music on July 21st; Blondie and Melissa Etheridge on July 2nd; Steely Dan on July 24th and 25th; Santana on August 29th and 30th; and Jackson Browne on September 5th.

We also now know the lineup for the outdoor Sounds Of Summer concerts in Palatine at the Fred P. Hall Amphitheater. The Palatine Concert Band once again has three dates (June 10th, July 8th, and July 29th); American English returns on June 12th; and Band Called Catch performs on June 19th. The full schedule wasn’t online yet as I wrote this but it should show up soon on the Sounds Of Summer website. 

Also in Palatine, Theatre Nebula’s staging of Godspell at Cutting Hall begins tonight and runs through May 24th. Theatre Nebula did a great job on Spamalot! last year.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the July 14th Matthew Sweet and August 1st Marshall Crenshaw shows at SPACE in Evanston.  

Billie Piper and Arthur Darville from Doctor Who are among the guests coming to the Wizard World Comic Con - Chicago at the Donald E. Stephens Center on August 20th  through the 23rd.

Singer-guitarist Terry Sylvester, who replaced Graham Nash in The Hollies, will make his second visit to the Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago on the weekend of August 14th through 16th. Other guests include Mark Hudson and George Harrison’s sister Louise.

Frank E. Lee did his final afternoon shift today on WXRT before retiring. It was fun and interesting to hear him reflect on his early days at the station. The musicians he’s interviewed over the years included Jimmy Page, R.E.M., and Robert Smith of The Cure. Earlier today, morning man Lin Brehmer offered a funny and heartfelt tribute to Lee. There’s a short video on WXRT’s website  featuring various members of the staff offering their thoughts on the now retired radio star.

Fare Lee Well

Frank E. Lee’s 1–5 PM shift tomorrow will be his last for WXRT as he enters into retirement. Having listened to Lee for decades, I want to thank him for making weekday afternoons entertaining, and wish him the very best. Like so many WXRT air personalities, his easy-going delivery made it feel like he was a friend. Lee recently posted a video tour of the station’s new headquarters in the Prudential 2 building on the 93XRT Facebook page that serves as a bookend to a video tour he once gave of WXRT’s previous location at 4949 W. Belmont. It should be interesting to see what other treats Lee and his fellow air personalities cook up for his swan song tomorrow.

Back in 2006, when WXRT was selling Volume 9 of its ONXRT - Live From The Archives CD through Borders Books and Music, I went to the Schaumburg location to buy a copy. I had worked at that Borders for two years and knew that Frank E. Lee would be signing copies there. He and marketing person Kristin Kay were genuinely friendly, and I told him that Borders would do a good job selling the CD since its music staff was so knowledgeable and helpful. I had been part of that staff, and all modesty aside, my ability to help customers find CDs was legendary.

I enjoyed talking to Lee again at one of WXRT’s Listener Poll Galas, and as a former southwest sider, I have fond memories of his New Wave nights at Eric The Red’s on 111th Street. But it may be best to think of Lee’s retirement in terms of those now-shuttered Borders locations. It’s rare to find a record store these days where an employee will not only take the time to help you with what you’re looking for but also suggest other music you might like. In an era of listening to downloaded tunes on various devices, it’s important to keep in mind the dee jays who have introduced us to so many rock and roll artists over the years. Frank E. Lee is one of the best, and he always works with a smile.

Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago And A Hollies Type Of Summer

Great graphic from The Fest For Beatles Fans website. But none of these guys is Terry Sylvester.

Tickets for Graham Nash’s solo show at The Arcada in St. Charles on July 28th went on sale today. My incredible wife Pam snagged two tickets, so we’ll be going to celebrate my birthday, which occurs three days earlier.

And now on to this year’s Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago, which also involves a former member of The Hollies. Now if only the current lineup of The Hollies, which includes original members guitarist-vocalist Tony Hicks and drummer Bobby Elliott, would pay the Chicago area a visit, this could really be a summer for Hollies fans to remember. 

Last Sunday, on her Breakfast With The Beatles show on WXRT, Terri Hemmert announced the guests for this year’s Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago. The information can also be found on the Fest’s official website. Hemmert will once again serve as Master Of Ceremonies as Fest For Beatles Fans takes place at the Hyatt Regency O’Hara in suburban Rosemont on the weekend of August 14 – 16th. This year, it’s not on the same weekend as Wizard World Comic Con - Chicago, which is held at the neighboring Donald E. Stephens Center. That makes it easier for those of us who like to attend both events, but the crossover of Beatlemaniacs and sci-fi nerds has been fun and fascinating in the past.

Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago will once again present musicians, authors, artists, photographers, and music biz people who have some connection to The Beatles. Most are accessible to fans in both the general sense of watching them being interviewed in a large meeting room, and on a face-to-face basis at the autograph tables. Bob Eubanks, who produced Beatles concerts before hosting The Dating Game, and Jack Oliver, former president of Apple Records, are among this year’s guests. A huge marketplace with loads of music-related memorabilia is also a major draw. 

Singer-guitarist Terry Sylvester, who replaced Graham Nash in The Hollies, will make his second visit to the Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago. He’s actually not in the Hollies photograph Fest For Beatles Fans is using on its website. Earlier this year, Sylvester was part of the British Invasion Tour that also featured Fest For Beatles Fans veterans Peter Asher, Denny Laine, Billy J. Kramer, and Chad and Jeremy. Sax player-vocalist Mark Riviera, who has toured with Ringo Starr and made an impressive Fest debut last year, is back again. Louise Harrison, George’s older sister, will also be on hand.

Some of the returning favorites include trivia master Wally Podrazik; producer-musician Mark Hudson, who has worked with Ringo Starr and other famous musicians; Beatles artist Eric Cash; Rob Shanahan, who served as Ringo Starr’s photographer; and authors Bruce Spizer, Jude Southerland Kessler and Dee Elias. Liverpool, one of the best Beatles tribute bands around, will continue its tradition of performing at Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago, and Peter Max designed a colorful and imaginative poster that will be available for sale.

The Fest For Beatles Fans - Chicago website promises that additional guests will be announced soon. Tickets are $46.00 for Friday; $65.00 for Saturday or Sunday; and $169.00 for the entire weekend. I’m planning on doing a more extensive preview closer to the event.

The Rolling Stones From The Vault - L.A. Forum (Live In 1975)/From The Vault - Hampton Coliseum (Live In 1981)

Note: This review originally appeared in the Illinois Entertainer. 

Part Two

The Rolling Stones were in full hard rock mode at the Los Angeles show, concentrating on their more recent material, with only a snippet of “Get Off My Cloud” serving as a reminder of their earliest days. It was the first Stones tour for Wood, and he was particularly impressive cutting loose on “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” and “Wild Horses.” Sporting heavy makeup and wearing what looked like a red halter top under his white jacket, Jagger covered the entire stage while belting out his vocals. Fans will surely get a kick out of seeing him and this classic Rolling Stones lineup blasting through classics like “Gimme Shelter,” “Street Fighting Man,” “It’s Only Rock  ‘n’ Roll.” “Midnight Rambler.”

The band was more willing to embrace its British Invasion heritage in Hampton, VA, opening with “Under My Thumb” before seamlessly blending “Let’s Spend The Night Together” and “Time Is On My Side” with “Start Me Up,” and “Hang Fire” from its latest release Tattoo You. Making full use of a brightly colored stage that had walkways extending to the upper reaches of the Hampton Coliseum, The Rolling Stones conjured a party atmosphere with rollicking covers of “Twenty Flight Rock” and “Going To A Go-Go.” An added boost of punk energy was particularly evident on “She’s So Cold” and “Shattered,” but The Rolling Stones also delivered the hard rock goods on “Tumbling Dice,” “Honky Tonk Women,” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”

The Rolling Stones From The Vault - L.A. Forum (Live In 1975)/From The Vault - Hampton Coliseum (Live In 1981)

Note: This review originally appeared in the Illinois Entertainer. 

Part One

These concerts, performed six years apart with the same core band members, prove that Rolling Stones fans can pretty much always get what they want. Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, and Ronnie Wood, backed by noted session musicians, including  Billy Preston, Ian Stewart, Ian McLagan, and Bobby Keys, rocked for over two hours at each of these gigs. The set lists were almost completely different each time out but given this band’s extensive repertoire, it’s likely everyone went home happy. 

Judging from the liner notes on the packaging, these DVDs from Eagle Vision could be the opening salvo in a series of live concerts pulled from the official The Rolling Stones archives. The footage for both has been restored and the sound remixed. Hampton Coliseum (Live In 1981) was directed by Hal Ashby and Tom Trbovich for a pay-for-view TV event, and is the more polished of the two. L.A. Forum (Live In 1975)  was filmed by The Record Plant, and while the images are blurry from time to time, like Hampton Coliseum (Live In 1981) it offers an onstage view of one of the greatest bands in rock history.

Slumgullion

Ooh, it’s so good to see this. A two-CD tribute to Cheap Trick featuring Lannie Flowers, Lisa Mychols, The Cry!, Bill Lloyd, Jeremy Morris, and several other current power pop acts, is available for pre-order from Zero Hour Records. The Aussie indie labels promises free bonus goodies if you act now. 

The What Four, a local quartet featuring Matthew Warren, Phil Angotti, Scott Ligon, and Casey McDonough, will be performing tonight at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn.

Phil Angotti will be performing on the first three Tuesdays at The Hideout in May. His May 5th show will be a tribute to Ray Davies and The Kinks, with special guests Ellis Clark and The Ivorys.

NXNWH. The Fox And The Hounds, an alt rock/theatrical band that recently played International Pop Overthrow - Chicago, and the Who tribute band Who’s Who are among the 45 local bands scheduled to perform this weekend at Edison Park’s first North By Northwest Highway Music Fest. Emerald Isle, Edison Park Inn, Firewater Saloon, and Moretti’s are the venues around the Chicago northwest side neighborhood that will be hosting the various acts. Tickets are $10 for a day. $25 for the weekend; and $3 for an individual show.

Tomorrow is Independent Book Store Day and 12 stores in Chicago will be joining in the celebration. The official website promises special offers, author events, raffles, and refreshments, and lists the different locations that will be involved.

Congratulations to alt rock/country band Dolly Varden on their 20th Anniversary. They’ll be celebrating with a show at the Old Town School of Folk Music tomorrow night.

The Kooks are in town for a concert at The Vic tomorrow night. The English band, which has always exuded a working class charm with its catchy songs, experimented with some funkier and techno sounds on its latest effort Listen.

The Everly Hillbillies, an Everly Brothers tribute side project fronted by Mike Cohen and Jeff Janulis of the power pop band The Abbeys, will be performing tomorrow night at Salt Creek Pizza in Elk Grove.

There’s a nice big color photo of Crosby, Stills and Nash in the On The Town section of today’s Chicago Tribune, referring to their two shows next week at the Chicago Theatre. But someone should tell the person who wrote the blurb that it was Joni Mitchell who composed “Woodstock.” As noted earlier this week on BHT, Graham Nash will soon embark on a solo tour that will bring him to the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles on July 28th.

In that same section of today’s Trib, rock critic Greg Kot has an interview with Paul Natkin about the iconic photographer’s current Paul Natkin: Superstars exhibit at the Ed Paschke Art Center on Chicago’s northwest side. Admission is free, and the exhibit runs through June 14th.

Congratulations to musician/producer Jeff Lynne on getting a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame.  

Rain - A Tribute To The Beatles will run for one week in Chicago, at the Bank Of America Theatre from May 20 through the 24th.

Kate Pierson of The B-52’s has a gig coming up at City Winery Chicago on July 21st.

Chicago Zine Fest takes place next Friday, May 8th, and Saturday, May 9th, at the Plumbers’ Union Hall on Washington Blvd. Friday will be devoted to a panel discussion and readings, while on Saturday there will be a Zine Exhibition showcasing zines, self-published books, and comics.

Fans of The Bangles can bid on an autographed acoustic guitar the band has donated to help support the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. The auction ends next Tuesday, May 5th. 

Black Ensemble Theater is currently staging Sounds So Sweet, Rueben D. Echoles’ tribute to the girl groups over the decades. 

Congratulations to Heart’s Ann Wilson on her recent marraige to Dean Wetter.

Back when I was a kid, one of the coolest shows on TV, along with The Avengers, I Spy, and Mission: Impossible, was The Man From U.N.C.L.E. So it was interesting to read journalist Rebecca Keegan’s interview in last Sunday’s Chicago Tribune with the stars of director Guy Ritchie’s new film concerning agents Napoleon Solo and Illya Kurakin. Even though the movie update of The Avengers several years ago was disappointing, something about the U.N.C.L.E. update looks like it could recapture that 1960s allure.