When Black Friday Comes

The Black Friday version of Record Store Day has yet to achieve the success of the original that comes in April each year. But Val's Halla Records in Oak Park, IL is once again going all out to commemorate day-after-Thanksgiving record hunting. CAUDOG recording artist and Chicago music scene veteran Ellis Clark will be hosting a free event at the store from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with his band The Big Parade and special guest vocalist Ary Jeebie from the The Amazing Heebie Jeebies.

In addition to his solo career, Clark has performed with Epicycle, Social Act, and The Handcuffs. Other guests scheduled for the Val’s Halla bash include Country Doctors, featuring Doug Cocoran; Phoenix; Aethereal; Big Hair Trouble!, Ary Jeebie’s tribute to 1960s and ‘70s country; Phil Angotti; Rachel Drew And The Bitter Roots; Daniel Connolly; Charlie Crane; and The Dyes. Val's Halla Records will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 26. Other stores in the Chicago area will be taking part in Black Friday Record Store Day, so you might want to check in with your favorite one to see if there's anything special going on.

As for Black Friday Record Store Day itself, there is once again an amazing variety of genres involved, including classic and mainstream rock, punk, country, jazz, soul, classical, blues, heavy metal, rap, soundtracks, holiday, and techno. Here's a look at some of the records that caught my eye.

The Bangles - Ladies And Gentlemen . . . The Bangles red vinyl edition of rarities previously released in digital and CD format; The Beach Boys - Becoming The Beach Boys 19-track LP of songs from 1961–1963 on red, blue, and yellow vinyl; The Cars -seven-inch “Just What I Needed”/“I’m In Touch With Your World” picture disc; The Kinks - Sleepwalker LP on black and white swirled vinyl and three separate seven-inch EPs; The Monkees - Good Times! Plus! ten-inch EP with four tracks that weren’t on the band’s critically acclaimed CD.

The Raconteurs - “Steady As She Goes”/Store Bought Bones” on green vinyl; The Ramones - 16-track Live At The Roxy 8/12/76 LP; Rolling Stones - “Ride ‘Em On Down” on ten-inch blue vinyl; The Turtles - mono version of Golden Hits LP on colored vinyl; The Yardbirds - vinyl edition of 2003 studio album Birdland with a bonus live version of “Dream Within A Dream.”

Ex Norwegian - Glazer Hazerr

About a year ago, Ex Norwegian released Pure Gold, a masterpiece jumble of originals and cover versions that tapped into power pop, psychedelia, and indie rock. The Miami-based band’s latest effort Glazer/Hazerr isn’t quite as brilliant as its predecessor, but does succeed using a similarly eclectic blueprint. Singer-guitarist Roger Houdaille sets his unique observations to infectious melodies, and once again crafts some of rock’s most dynamic coed vocals with singer Michelle Grand.

“Father Goose” is a silly fable about birds flying without wings, and “Ice,” another one of Houdaille and Grand’s enticing duets, is a basic but effective garage rock love song. “Life,” which offers some timely advice about overcoming obstacles and disappointments, sports a harder-edged arrangement. “Pocket Dancing” sounds like a show tune, while “Aruba Moon” has a slow, majestic feel reminiscent of 1970s classic rock.

“Modern Art Brigade” delivers social satire in a very Kinks “Dedicated Follower Of Fashion” way and is backed by a fun, loping rhythm section. “Quite Contrary” follows a similar path but is more overtly psychedelic. There seems to be a definite Rubber Soul era Beatles influence on “Reverse,” a tale of unrequited love, particularly on the psychedelic guitar playing. On “Song Of Many,” Ex Norwegian creates a pure power gem, using a mix of acoustic and electric guitars, intertwined vocals, and an engaging melody.

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Renowned drummer Brad Elvis, who often tours as a member of The Romantics, has a gig next Saturday night at Quenchers Saloon with The Handcuffs, the Chicago-based band he leads with his wife Chloe F. Orwell. It’s a triple bill with Sadie And The Stark, billed as a “femme-rock, fantasy band for your soul, majoring in sci fi,” and El Gato Roboto, who describe themselves as “Bowie meets Nico, with songs about nostalgia, space and cats.” The Handcuffs have recorded three albums of catchy and inventive indie rock, and have had a number of their songs used on TV shows.

Beer and The Beatles. Ron Howard’s Beatles documentary Eight Days A Week (I posted a review this past Monday) continues its tour of Chicago area venues. It will be screened as part of The Vic’s Brew And View series, starting this Sunday night, and running through next Thursday.

Tickets went on sale today for Peter Asher’s January 15 concert at The Old Town School Of Folk Music. In addition to being half of the British Invasion duo Peter And Gordon, Asher is a sought-after producer who has worked with artists like James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt. I’ve seen him perform a few times in recent years, and he spins fascinating anecdotes in between performing songs with a first-rate backing band.

The Hollies are giving fans a chance to purchase a Fender Aerodyne that has been used by current member Steve Lauri on tour. Anyone interested can contact the band via its Official Facebook page.

Lloyd Cole is also coming to The Old Town School Of Folk Music, for a gig titled The Classic Lloyd Cole Songbook 1983 – 1996 on Sunday, November 20. Hopefully, that means he’ll be performing the exquisite pop tune “Jennifer She Said” and the film noir-infused “Perfect Skin,” and “Rattlesnakes.”

Tickets also went on sale today for a Houndmouth show at Thalia Hall on December 30.

Music On Stage is presenting its production of A Christmas Story The Musical at Cutting Hall in Palatine, starting this weekend. Patrons will be able to watch those dancing lamp legs through November 27.

The Fifth Annual Chicago Book Expo takes place this Sunday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Columbia College in the south end of downtown Chicago. Expo events include a tribute to the late Roger Ebert, and a panel on Chicago music and books moderated by rock critic/radio show host Jim DeRogatis and featuring musician/comic artist Steve Krakow, Sally Timms of The Mekons.

Congratulations to Mary-Arrchie Theatre on its production of American Buffalo being nominated in four categories for the 2016 BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards. All three performers—Richard Cotovsky, Rudy Galvan, and Stephen Walker—are up for Best Actor in a Play (Resident NonEquity); and Carlo Lorenzo Garcia is in the running for Best Direction of a Play (Resident NonEquity). Mary-Arrchie was also nominated for Best Ensemble (Resident) and Best Revival of a Play (Resident NonEquity). Cotovsky is currently performing in Raven Theatre’s staging of Betrayal; and Rudy Galvan is in the Gift Threatre Company’s production of A Life Extra Ordinary.

Here he comes. Barry Sutton, who performed with the short-lived but never forgotten U.K. band The La’s, will be at Martyrs’ on Lincoln Avenue this coming Monday night. Chicago’s own mischievous Penthouse Sweets, veterans of International Pop Overthrow - Chicago, along with some friends will also be on the bill.

Later in the week at Martyrs’, there’s a triple bill of Nice Motor—who have a pair of two cool new tracks in “Devils Handcuffs” and “Duck And Cover”— along with Even Thieves, and Blood People.

I already ran this last week, but I’m including it again because it seems like a good time to promote solidarity between men and women. Bono of U2 has been chosen as one of Glamour magazine’s Women Of The Year. An Associated Press piece quotes the publication’s editor Cindi Leive’s reasoning as, “There are so many men who really are doing wonderful things for women these days. Some men get it, and Bono is one of those guys.”

The eclectic and entertaining Robyn Hitchcock will be at City Winery Chicago next Thursday night, with Emma Swift as his opening act.

I was sad to hear the news that Robert Vaughn has passed away. I vividly remember a time when he and David McCallum, as Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin respectively, seemed like the coolest guys in the world to me because of their lead roles on The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

The Vulgar Boatmen - You And Your Sister - 25th Anniversary Edition

The remastered 25th Anniversary Edition of You And Your Sister celebrates an album that never found mainstream success but is highly regarded by indie rock critics and fans. Originally released by The Vulgar Boatmen in 1989, it’s a showcase for Robert Ray and Dale Lawrence, a songwriting duo that lived miles apart and collaborated by mailing cassettes to each other. On this impressive debut, the Indiana and Florida-based band switches back and forth between ballads and rock songs, while spinning one gorgeous melody after another.

Ray and Lawrence’s descriptive lyrics set tales of romantic entanglements in picturesque backgrounds. The hard-edged “Change The World All Around” begins with the line, “Last night, I was standing in the driveway calling your name,” and the heartfelt “Decision By The Airport” has a spare but effective acoustic arrangement. The classic road song “Drive Somewhere,” which gave The Vulgar Boatmen a loyal following via extensive airplay on Chicago FM station WXRT, offers over five minutes of irresistible roots rock.

The guitar-driven “Drink More Coffee,” which was written by founding member Walter Salas Humara and vocalist Carey Crane, concerns a guy dying to meet a woman he sees while waiting in a bus station. “Margaret Says” is another interesting tale set to a catchy rock arrangement, while the ballad “Katie” features impressive harmonies. The three bonus tracks include a cover of The Monkees song “The Kind Of Girl I Could Love.”

The Vulgar Boatmen have a show coming up at Schubas in Chicago on January 7.

I’ve Got A Feeling

Ron Howard’s documentary The Beatles - Eight Days A Week - The Touring Years is being screened each night at The Gene Siskel Film Center in downtown Chicago through Thursday, November 10, and it’s also being shown at The Tivoli Theatre in Downers Grove. Packed with rare, vintage footage, it follows John, Paul, George, and Ringo through their early days of performing. The concerts, recording sessions, press conferences, backstage maneuvering, and hotel room banter vividly recapture what it must have felt like to be on one of the greatest thrill rides in recent history.

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr offer touching and informative commentary in recently filmed bits, while older clips of John Lennon and George Harrison provide their reflections on Beatlemania. Reporter Larry Kane, who reported on The Beatles while traveling on tour with them, adds a unique perspective, and Howard also taps Whoopi Goldberg, Elvis Costello, and others to share their memories. Eight Days A Week touches on the John F. Kennedy assassination, the civil rights movement, and the Vietnam War, while showing how The Beatles were affected by society, as well as how they changed it.

Gradually, The Beatles grew less astonished by their worldwide popularity, and felt more imprisoned within it. By they time they performed at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park in 1966, all four of them wanted to skip the screaming audiences and concentrate on exploring new musical territory in the studio. At the Gene Siskel Film Center, Eight Days A Week is also being shown with the 30-minute documentary The Beatles Live At Shea Stadium. Seeing Howard’s documentary helps bring a deeper understanding of The Beatles’s 1965 show in New York. While their songs burst with guitar-driven energy and harmony vocals on this vividly restored footage, it’s now easier to connect to the very human emotions behind the superstars personas.

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The Red Plastic Buddha will rock Red Line Tap tomorrow night.

One of Chicago’s best psychedelic bands, The Red Plastic Buddha, will be bending minds at The Red Line Tap tomorrow. Dark Fog and Led Pig are also on the bill; the music starts at 9:00 p.m.

The scariest thing going on around Chicago last Halloween weekend was the Cubs losing games three and four to the Cleveland Indians in the World Series. Meanwhile, entertainment venues probably had far less business than usual for the holiday, and a pall fell across the parties being held in people’s homes. All is forgiven now, as the Cubs went on to win the next three games and earn their first championship since 1608. Okay, 1908. To understand why this is so momentous, consider how many Cubs fans had not only gone their entire lives without seeing their team in a World Series, but had also watched what seemed like cruel twists of fate destroy Cubs teams during playoff games in previous years. Congratulations, Chicago Cubs. We can’t thank you enough.

Foundation Of Music’s 28th Annual Rock For Kids Auction takes place tonight at Park West in Chicago. WXRT morning drive air personality Lin Brehmer will once again serve as emcee, and former XRT Program Director Norm Winer will receive the Foundation Of Music’s Crystal Brick In The Wall award from MTV VJ Alan Hunter. Attendees will also have an opportunity to bid on rare items donated by musicians, sports figures, and other celebrities.

As noted by Adam Lukach in his Chicago Tribune column DO IT NOW, Pet Shop Boys will be performing at the Civic Opera House tomorrow night. Lukach also noted that Pet Shop Boys dropped a new album earlier this year.

HoZac10, a celebration of the Chicago-based HoZac Record label’s ten years of offering cutting-edge indie rock, takes place tomorrow night at The Double Door on Milwaukee Avenue. Ten bands, along with a pair of DJs, will be performing on two stages, starting at 8:00 p.m. WXRT air personality Richard Milne offered a fascinating preview of this event on his Local Anesthetic radio program. In addition to The Gories, Heavy Times, Mike’s Rep, The Sueves, The Yolks, DJs Erin and Jessie, Julian Leal Band, COZY, The Jeanies, 1-800-Band, and beastii, there may be special guests.

Congratulations to Bono of U2 on being chosen as one of Glamour magazine’s Women Of The Year. An Associated Press piece quotes the publication’s editor Cindi Leive’s reasoning as, “There are so many men who really are doing wonderful things for women these days. Some men get it, and Bono is one of those guys.” No joke here. I just thinks that’s really cool.

Van Go and Red Wigglers will be sharing the bill tomorrow night at Gallery Cabaret on Oakley Avenue in Chicago.

Tom Lounges Entertainment, LLC is presenting Rockin’ For Critters, an evening of 1950s and '60s music tomorrow night at the Memorial Opera House to help homeless animals in northwest Indiana. Lounges, a longtime Chicago area journalist, publisher, and radio personality, with co-host the event with 1960s TV and film actress Charlie Smith. The Meet The Beetles tribute band and 1950s singing group The Spaniels Forever will perform, and there will be a silent auction. Tickets are $15 and $18, with a $2 service fee for each ticket. The Memorial Opera House is located at 104 E. Indiana Avenue in Valparaiso, IN. The doors open at 5:00 p.m.

Former R.E.M. bassist-vocalist Mike Mills will be performing his own “Concerto for Violin, Rock Band and String Orchestra” with violinist Robert McDuffie at the Harris Theatre in Millennium Park this Monday night.

Tickets went on sale today for the 93XRT Goose Island Big Holiday Concert with Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats at Chicago Theatre on December 7.

Also on sale today: Del Fuegos member Dan Zanes at City Winery on December 11; Regina Spektor at Chicago Theatre on March 24; and The Zombies at Thalia Hall on April 13.

Vulgar Boatmen will be at Schubas on January 7. I’m way behind in covering albums, but I will be posting a review of the Vulgar Boatmen’s Remastered 25th Anniversary of their You And Your Sister album in the near future. The release includes three bonus tracks.

The Blue Whiskey Independent Film Festival will be holding a fundraiser  at 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night at Smith Street Station (next to Durty Nellie’s) in Palatine. Blue Whiskey, which holds an ambitious international film festival each July in the northwest suburbs, promises the fundraiser will have drinks, appetizers, raffles, a photo booth, candy bar, and a photo booth. Admission is $20.

The Beatles - Eight Days A Week - The Touring Years, Ron Howard’s Beatles documentary opened a week-long run at the Gene Siskel Film Center today with a pair of screenings. It will be at the Gene Siskel Center through Thursday, November 10. The film will be paired with 30-minute documentary The Beatles Live At Shea Stadium.

The Jigsaw Seen is enticing its most loyal fans with new compilation CD titled The Jigsaw Seen For The Discriminating Completist (Rarities And Singles 1989 – 2015). In addition to 12 tracks that have never been offered on one of the band’s albums before, the packaging includes a wallet-size photo in a resealable sleeve and a “Back To monocle” button.

The Smithereens will be performing a benefit for the Path Crisis Center at The Castle Theatre in Bloomington, IL on December 3, along with the band 7 West and comedian Marc Price. Price played Skippy on the Family Ties sitcom. You have to like the tagline for this event: They came from Jersey . . . And Now They’re Near Normal! (Illinois)

Finally, if you have Chicago friends on Facebook, check to see if they’re sharing any highlights from the World Series finale or the celebratory parade that was held downtown today. There are some amazing videos going around.

Cleveland Mayor Loses World Series Bet; Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Coming To Chicago

Strange things happen when two cities that haven’t won a baseball championship in decades meet in the World Series. Rather than the usual hometown foods most mayors put on the line, Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel and Cleveland’s Frank G. Jackson went big time with their bets. And now that the Cubs have defeated the Indians, Jackson has to turn his city’s cultural crown jewel—The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame—over to Chicago. If Emanuel had lost the bet, he would have had to find some way to ship Millennium Park off to Cleveland. Nothing has been planned just yet, but look for all those rock-related treasures and rarities to be on display in their new Windy City setting sometime in 2017.

Okay, none of the above is true. But rock and roll fans in Chicago will have a chance to not only view, but actually own some cool memorabilia when the Foundation Of Music’s 28th Annual Rock For Kids Auction takes place tomorrow night at Park West. Attendees will have an opportunity to bid on rare items donated by musicians, sports figures, and other celebrities. WXRT morning drive air personality and Cubs fanatic Lin Brehmer will once again serve as emcee, and former XRT Program Director Norm Winer will receive the Foundation Of Music’s Crystal Brick In The Wall award from MTV VJ Alan Hunter. Tickets for Rock For Kids benefit can be purchased from Park West.