Slumgullion

On Friday, December 11, there will be a triple bill of Razorhouse, The Handcuffs, and I Lost Control at Martyrs'. Earlier in the week, Rolling Stones fans can drop by the same club on Wednesday to see the tribute musicians collective Great Moments In Vinyl presents Let It Bleed and Sticky Fingers.

EXPOse yourself to fun. One of the coolest things you can do in my sleepy town of Palatine is watch EXPO '76 perform at Mac's On Slade. The eclectic covers band will be doing just that tonight. Mac's is a small joint and EXPO '76 has a large following, so you can see why it would be wise to get there early. Mac's also serves food.

Chicago-based indie rock band Vaudevileins has a new EP Transmission available for pre-order on the its Bandcamp page. That's also where you can stream the hard-hitting but melodic first single "Chasing Time" and download it for a buck. The release party, with Veseria, Corral, and Light Aircraft On Fire, was last night at Quenchers Saloon.

An article by Garrett White on Rolling Stone's website details how Graham Nash coordinated with Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Museum curator Karen Herman in setting up the new Touching The Flame exhibit featuring some of his favorite music artifacts. White describes Nash beaming "like a kid in a candy store" while discussing the exhibit at a press preview. I have to start getting invited to these kinds of things.

Skimption, an unconventional exhibition featuring artists Diana Gabriel, Emily Hermant, Luis Sahagun, Catherine Schwalbe, and Rusty Shackleford, opened last night at the Ukrainian Institute Of Modern Art and runs through January 31. Artist/art critic Robin Dluzen is serving as curator. The Ukrainian Institute Of Modern Art is located at 2320 W. Chicago Avenue.

WXRT's ON XRT Volume 17 became available at Target stores in the Chicago area yesterday. As with past volumes, all the tracks were recorded at local venues and aired at some point on the progressive rock station. This year's edition is supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield and proceeds will benefit The City Project and the Logan Square Neighborhood Association. Only a limited number of ON XRT Volume 17 are being sold, and they're sure to go quickly.

While at Target, I noticed that you can now buy all three Austin Powers movies in a single DVD set. That way, it will be easier to see just how much the series deteriorated after the first effort.

As noted here Thursday, The Smithereens plan to release 30th Anniversary celebration of their power pop masterpiece Especially For You in January. Titled ESP3CIALLY F0R YOU, this new edition will have 47 tracks and will be available as a double CD or digital download. The group also plans to unveil a full album of new originals next Halloween.

Congratulations to Mary-Arrchie Theatre's Artistic Director Rich Cotovsky, who will receive the Seventh Annual Corona Award from Eclipse Theater on December 15 at Athenaeum Mainstage Theatre. The award is being given in recognition of his extensive involvement in the local theatre scene. Cotovsky will perform in Mary-Arrchie's production of David Mamet's American Buffalo, along with Rudy Galvan and Stephen Walker when it begins its run on January 28.

Whitewolfsonicprincess and 10 other musical acts will be making merry at a Toys For Tots benefit tonight at Red Line Tap on Chicago's north side. The lineup includes The Telepaths; Winston Gerbil; Ten Gallon Hats/5 Gallon Heads; The Myths Of Suburbia; Lady Stardust; The Revellettes go-go dancers; The Dark Room Men; Jeff Brown and The New Black; and The Rut. Meanwhile, Whitewolfsonicprinces is looking to raise money for its third release The Shadow Of The Marigold via an IndieGoGo campaign.

Milwaukee's power pop masters Trolley have a record release party for their new effort Caught In The Darkness tonight at Linneman's River West Inn in Milwaukee.

The Kooks' Hello, What's Your Name and Cold Play's A Head Full Of Dreams were among the new albums released today.

There's still time for Chicago area music acts to record a holiday greeting that could be used on the 24th Annual Local Anesthetic Holiday Special on WXRT. Host Richard Milne is very specific about what he's looking for, so be sure to read the rules before sending something to him. I've listened to this special for a number of years and they're always a lot of fun.

Especially Turns 30

There was a post on The Smithereens Facebook page today promoting the January release of ESP3CIALLY F0R You, a 30th Anniversary celebration of the album that gave the world  classic power pop songs like “Blood And Roses,” “Behind The Wall Of Sleep,” and “Strangers When We Meet.” The 47 tracks will be avaialble as a two-CD set or as a download, and will include demos, acoustic versions, and live performances.

It seems odd that The Smithereens wouldn’t have released this in time for the holiday, when it surely would have wound up on every power pop fan’s wishlist. In the meantime, fans will have to settle for having visions of this collection dance in their heads. They can also dream of a 2016 tour when The Smithereens will perform the original Especially For You in its entirety, plus a brand new album of originals tunes that’s coming out next Halloween.

Incoming!

Some worthy events coming up in the next few days.

Singer-guitarist Phil Angotti, who is well known in Chicago for the tribute shows he does around town, will be joining singer-songwriter Rachel Drew from the Rachel Drew And the Bitter Roots band for an evening of cover tunes and originals tomorrow night, December 3 at the Wishbone restaurant on Lincoln Avenue. They'll be performing music by The Beatles, Everly Brothers, Simon and Garfunkel, Mamas and Papas, and Buddy Holly. Angotti's most recent CDs find him taking a more introspective approach to rock while maintaining his knack for strong melodies. Drew is currently working on her first album, with help from Steve Dawson of Dolly Varden; John Mead; Alton Smith; and Gerald Dowd. The show starts tomorrow night at starting at 7:00 PM.

Vaudevileins, a Chicago-based indie rock band that formed in 2010, has a new EP Transmission  available for pre-order on its Bandcamp page. That's also where you can stream the hard-hitting but melodic first single "Chasing Time" and download it for a buck. A Transmission release party is coming this up Friday, November 4 at Quenchers Saloon in Chicago. The $8 admission also includes performances by Veseria, Corral, and Light Aircraft On Fire. Doors open at 9:00 PM.

The opening reception for the unconventional exhibition Skimption will be held at the Ukrainian Institute Of Modern Art this Friday, December 4 at 6:00 PM. Artist/art critic (and my editor when I wrote for Chicago Art Machine) Robin Dluzen will be the curator. Skimption, which features artists Diana Gabriel, Emily Hermant, Luis Sahagun, Catherine Schwalbe, and Rusty Shackleford, runs through January 31. The Ukrainian Institute Of Modern Art is located at 2320 W. Chicago Avenue.

Party Lights - I See The Lights

I See The Lights is the full-length debut from Party Lights, following a few singles and a self-titled EP in 2012. The Brooklyn-based quartet makes good on its sworn allegiance to The Go-Gos via singer-guitarist Anna Blumenthal's effervescent songs and the vocal interplay she creates with bassist-keyboards player Joan Chew. Guitarist Elliott Klein and Dave Smilow also play prominent roles in the band's successful power pop approach.

The catchy "Breakup #4, a carryover from the EP, is a prime example of how much Party Lights learned from the way The Go-Go's mix new wave with the 1960s girl group sound. "You Can't Tell Your Heart What To Do" follows in that same vein, with Chew's bass playing adding to the song's appeal. Most of these guitar-driven songs deal with relationships, from the sexy "Desire Always Takes A Toll" to the unrequited love of "A Boy Like You."

Although Blumenthal doesn't mention singer-songwriter Palmyra Delran as an influence, she exhibits a similar lack of sympathy for friends who stay in abusive relationships or wallow in self pity. On "He's Gonna Hurt You," she decides, "I'm gonna turn my back/Let you make your own mistakes," while on "Crybaby," she warns, "You can't cry your eyes out on me." That may sound harsh, but like all the songs on I See The Lights, it's set to an irresistible arrangement.

Ex Norwegian - Pure Gold

Singer-guitarist Roger Houdaille formed Ex Norwegian in 2008 and the band has established a loyal following through various incarnations between Miami and New York over the years. Its song "It's A Game," originally done by String Driven Thing (but a bigger hit for The Bay City Rollers), was recently released as part of a split single with the European band Permanent Clear Light on Fruits de Mer. That's a badge of honor for those of us who are well-acquainted with the vinyl-only UK label's high standards for garage, psychedelic, and prog music.

Having endured various band breakups and even some recent health issues, it's all the more impressive that Houdaille was able to record the consistently top notch Pure Gold with his current Ex Norwegian lineup of vocalist Michelle Grand, guitarist Lucas Queiroz, bassist Guiseppe Rodriguez, and drummer Fernando Perdomo. The new album is available for pre-order on Bandcamp and will be released on December 11 in special autographed and deluxe bonus disc CD-R editions. All proceeds will go toward helping pay Houdaille's medical bills.

Ex Norwegian taps into power pop, psychedelic, and indie rock on this melodic collection of originals and deep covers of songs by Paul McCartney, Melanie, The Shirts, and others. The previously mentioned first single "It's A Game" maintains the quirky charm of the original while establishing the essential role Houdaille and Grand's harmonies will play on Pure Gold. Their vocal interplay is more adventurous on "Cyclone" and "On The Sidelines," energetic songs that call to mind bands like Trona, Game Theory, and Let's Active. "Keep Under Cover" is light and whimsical while the title track features some slinky bass playing from Rodriguez. "Shadow Ships," fueled by guitarists Houdaille and Queiroz, exudes the power of catching Ex Norwegian in a local club.

Slumgullion

Here's hoping everyone had a festive Thanksgiving and productive day of Black Friday shopping, vinyl or otherwise.

Two of the better-known and most fun bands from Chicago's 1970s/80s cutting-edge club scene will be at the Tuts Reunion and Holiday Party tonight at Mayne Stage. Heavy Manners play irresistible ska songs like "Taking The Queen To Tea," "Flamin' First," and "Blue Beat," while Tutu And The Pirates, who once embraced the description 'sub urban insult rock,' revel in unsettling subject matter like mass murder and cannibalism. MC Tony Dale will also be on hand. The music starts at 9:00 PM.

A hearty Broken Hearted Toy welcome to Squeeze, which will be at Park West in Chicago tonight and tomorrow for acoustic performances featuring founding members Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford. The songs on Cradle To The Grave, the band's first full album of new material in 17 years, showcase the witty lyrics, catchy melodies, and harmony vocals fans have come to expect.

This is a rare opportunity to see Squeeze in an intimate setting, and the shows are part of WXRT's Holiday Concert For The Kids series. If you plan on going, be sure to bring a new or like new book or toy that can be passed along to a child in Chicago area hospitals during the holiday season.

Singer-songwriter (and author-model car maker) Dean Milano will be performing tonight at the Port Edward seafood restaurant in Algonquin. Milano has a classic folk vocal style, and he frequently adds a satiric edge to his original material.

LI-ON GREVIER, a collective of musicians from north of the border, has a new single called "My World Is Empty (Theme)" available for free download on Soundcloud. It's an ethereal, catchy acoustic-based number with layered vocals from the Toronto-based group, whose self-titled full-length debut came out in 2013. 

This is the last weekend to see the Music On Stage production of the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie at Cutting Hall in Palatine.

Yesterday's Holiday Shopping Guide here on BHT offered a few suggestions on where to find unique gifts for all the rock and roll fans on your list. Another great resource is The Second Disc website, which provides essential information on new boxed sets and special releases. For example, the new Chorus five-disc boxed set from the coed English shoegazer band Lush. Due out on December 4, Chorus will include all of Lush's officially recorded efforts, plus B-Sides, unreleased tracks, and other rarities.

Sopro will presents its 33rd Annual Thanksgiving All Star Blues Revue on tomorrow, November 28 at Sullivan's Pub and Eatery in Midlothian. The lineup once again features The Chicago Horns, along with Sopro regulars like guitarist-vocalist Joey Drada; keyboards player Greg Wolfman; and vocalist Deb Seitz. This year's edition will have a memorial to harmonica player Jody Noa that will include harmonica players Doug Lee, Ken Gibbons, and Ted Aliotta. The festival begins at 9:00 PM.

Whitewolfsonicprincess has invited over 10 musical acts to join in the fun of its annual Toys For Tots benefit next Saturday at Red Line Tap on Chicago's north side. Performers include The Telepaths; Winston Gerbil; Ten Gallon Hats/5 Gallon Heads; The Myths Of Suburbia; Lady Stardust; The Revellettes go-go dancers; The Dark Room Men; Jeff Brown and The New Black; and The Rut. There's also a slot on the schedule that reads The Raffle with Famous In The Future, but it's not clear if that's an actual raffle or if The Raffle is another musical offshoot of the Famous In The Future comedy group, like The Rut and Lady Stardust. Meanwhile, Whitewolfsonicprinces has been busy working on its third album.

If you missed Cliff Johnson of Off Broadway and Pezband fame performing with The Raine at The Minstrel Paloza show at Durty Nellies, you'll get another shot to see this inspired matchup on December 18 at 27 Live in Chicago.

A few weeks back, I mentioned a power pop double bill of Van Go and The Valley Downs at The Gallery Cabaret, but failed to fully digest the information that was sent to me about it. The gig was one of the last we'll see by Van Go, who unfortunately are winding down their playing days. I've praised Van Go a number of times here on BHT for their live shows and CDs. They play a hard-edged brand of power pop with acerbic lyrics, and will be missed on the Chicago scene. At least we'll be able to see some of the members in other bands they're involved in, such as The Right Tidys. I also should have mentioned that The Valley Downs, another BHT favorite, have a brand new song called "The Prettiest Girl In Salem." 

The Fifth Annual Holiday Shopping Guide

Happy Thanksgiving!

The holiday season is now officially underway, so here are some rock and roll-related ideas for yourself or those special people on your gift list.

A new and exciting version of The Beatles' 1 album just came out, in which each chart-topping hit is matched with a short promotional film created by The Beatles around the same time. The 27 tracks will be in new stereo and surround-sound mixes. There's a deluxe version that comes with over 200 minutes of Beatles promotional clips and a 124-page, illustrated hardcover book.

Graham Nash is about to release This Path Tonight, his first solo effort in 14 years. The 10-song CD is available for pre-order as part of an exclusive Amazon package deal that also includes a DVD that appears to have been filmed during Nash's last solo tour. 

 

In addition to selling instruments and accessories, The Music Room in Palatine has some fun stocking stuffers. There's a variety of guitar ornaments, as well as a set of four coasters that look like vinyl records. Each coaster depicts a different rock era; the early days in Memphis, the California scene, the British Invasion, and Woodstock.

   

If you don't mind getting up cloudy and early tomorrow morning, Black Friday Record Store Day offers a wealth of limited-edition vinyl treasures across every imaginable genre for avid collectors. Talk about a unique gift. This year, the list includes vinyl from The B-52's; Charlie Parker/Dizzy Gillespie/Bud Powell/Max Roach; Phil Collins; Beck; Jeff Beck; Earth, Wind and Fire; Big Star; David Bowie; Ben Harper; John Lee Hooker; The Isley Brothers; Janis Joplin with Big Brother and The Holding Company; Les Paul and Mary Ford; Jerry Lee Lewis; The Kinks; and The Zombies. Supplies are limited and a lot of these records sell out quickly. See the official Record Store Day website for details. 

 

WXRT's Live From The Archives Volume 17, the latest in a series of CDs that feature exclusive concert performances that have aired on the FM station, will be available on Friday, December 4 at Target stores in the Chicago area. This year’s edition is supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, with proceeds benefiting The City Project and the Logan Square Neighborhood Association.  The songs include "Take Me To Church" by Hozier and "Ex's and Oh's" by Elle King, along with lesser-known but engaging tracks like Bob Mould's "If I Can't Change Your Mind," Wilco's "Box Full Of Letters," and Veruca Salt's "Seether. I still think WXRT should offer some sort of cool container for those of us who have collected the entire set.

 

The Fest For Beatles Fans annual holiday catalog has 32 pages of Fab Four inspired memorabilia, that includes cufflinks, bottle openers, lamps, socks, dice, dart boards, jigsaw puzzles, plush dolls, lunch boxes, pajamas, and umbrellas. If you’re not on the mailing list for the catalog, you can check out the Fest For Beatles Fans official website.

 

A number of new rock and roll biographies and autobiographies have been released recently, including Don't All Thank Me At Once - The Lost Pop Genius Of Scott Miller, Brett Milano's book about the Game Theory and The Loud Family singer-guitarist. For those interested in finding out all about Tom Petty, there's Petty: The Biography by Warren Zanes. Elvis Costello penned Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink; Patti Smith gave us M Train; and Chrissie Hynde looked back at her career with Reckless: My Life As A Pretender.

 

You can purchase t-shirts, buttons, magnets, holiday songs, tour books, or other special items by checking out the websites of your favorite recording artists.

 

Concert tickets are always a nice surprise as a holiday gift, but don’t neglect the local clubs. Here in Chicago, we have an especially active music community that encompasses rock, jazz, blues, hip hop, house, soul, country, and classical. Just about every group has a website where you can buy its music in various formats. Support your local bands. The same goes for Chicago’s theatre scene, which ranges from Broadway-bound productions to the in-your-face work of storefront venues.

This holiday season, give thoughtfully, and give creatively.