Thursday Slumgullion

The B-52’s are calling it quits after 45 years of fun and otherworldly recordings and performances. Their farewell tour brings them to The Chicago Theatre tomorrow, October 7 and Saturday, October 8.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning for U2 frontman Bono’s book tour performance at The Chicago Theatre on November 8.

Bono - An Evening Of Words, Music and Some Mischief  . . . Stories Of Surrender will feature him promoting his memoir SURRENDER: 40 Songs, One Story in various entertaining ways. In an email from the official U2 website, Bono states, “I miss being on stage and the closeness of U2’s audience. In these shows I’ve got some stories to sing, and some songs to tell…” Surrender - 40 Songs, One Story will be available online and in bookstores on November 1. In addition to his written observations, Bono created 40 original drawings for the book.

The Who will bring their The Who Hits Back! Tour to the United Center in Chicago on October 12.

 

Wicked Opossum Records, a Mishawaka, Indiana independent label, will release Starstruck: A Tribute To The Kinks on December 9 on its Bandcamp page. I can’t say I’m familiar with any of the artists involved, but those who pre-order the album now get a free download of The Fatal Flaw performing “Victoria,” and it’s a worthy effort. 

Congo Square Theatre’s production of the Alesha Harris play What To Send Up When It Goes Down is running at the Lookingglass Theatre through October 16.

Reason number 58,256 why I wish flying to England was as quick and easy as taking the Metra downtown. Rolling Stones guitarist and successful artist Ronnie Wood will be exhibiting his two latest pieces and “several rarely seen recent works” at Kenwood House in London on October 14 – 16 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Admission is free.

There’s a celebratory mood in the air these days with WXRT, Jam Productions, Metro, and The Chicago Reader all reaching major milestones. WXRT has special programming coming in the next four days that will highlight the FM station’s five decades of offering Chicago’s Finest Rock. There will 12 hours of 1970s music starting at 7:00 am tomorrow, October 7th; 12 hours of 1980s on October 8th starting at 8:00 am; 12 hours of 1990s on the 9th at 9:00 am; and then 12 hours of 2000s at 10:00 am on the 10th.

Professor Moptop, an author and frequent contributor to Terri Hemmert’s Breakfast With The Beatles program on WXRT, has an presentation devoted to Paul McCartney coming up on October 9 at the Prairie Arts Center in Schaumburg. He’ll be sharing songs, videos, and stories about McCartney. Tickets are $10.

Guaranteed to break the ice at silly parties. There will soon be a Kickstarter campaign for, and you must read this out loud in an silly English accent, Monty Python’s Cocurricular Mediaeval Reenactment Programme. It’s being described as “a brand-new tabletop role playing game drawing upon the complete works of Monty Python!”

The Spindles, with special guest Rob Elvis, and The Embryos will comprise a double bill of original, well-crafted power pop at Montrose Saloon tomorrow. The music starts at 8:00 pm, admission is $10.

It looks like Kevin Lee And The Kings are building a loyal following at Madcats in Palatine. They have another gig at the venue on October 20.

Bruce Springsteen has recorded an album with 15 cover versions of classic soul songs from Motown, Stax, and other legendary sources. Only The Strong Survive will be available in CD, vinyl, and digital formats on November 11. The September issue of MOJO magazine features a cover story on Springsteen, along with a CD that offers 15 original recordings of vintage rock songs that he has covered in live performances over the years. 

The Chicago International Film Festival will hold an Opening Night Block Party for the first time in its history on October 12 from 5 to 10 pm on Southport between Waveland and Grace. An evening of film, food, and music is promised.

Singer-songwriter Regina Spektor will kick off a new tour in support of Home, before and after—her first album in six years—at The Chicago Theatre this Sunday at 7:30 pm. Selena Fragassi’s recent interview with Spektor in the Chicago Sun-Times makes a convincing case that Home, before and after is well worth checking out.

Contrary to what I posted here earlier, the two John Lennon birthday tribute shows Phil Angotti and Friends are doing this Saturday at Martyrs will not each comprise 82 songs. The two shows combined (one at 3:00 pm and one at 8:00 pm) will add up to 82 songs. The lineup will be a bit different for each show. Admission for each is $20, Martyrs’ is located at 3855 N. Lincoln Avenue. John Lennon would have turned 82 this year.

Indie rock label Yep Roc Records will mark 25 years of bring the world unique artists with a concert at The Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC on October 22. The event starts at 5:00pm CDT and will feature Caitlin Cary, The Old Ceremony, Chris Stamey, Dawn Landes and others. Admission is $15.

Singer-songwriter Nora O’Connor, a member of the Chicago-based super group The Flat Five,  (and she toured with Iron and Wine) has released a fun video for “My Heart.”  It’s the title track on her new album, which is coming out tomorrow on Pravda Records.

The Hoodoo Gurus, Australia’s fabulous garage rock/power pop band, have announced the dates for their 2023 Tour. They’ll be in Chicago at City Winery on May 14. 

Push Puppets, a quartet that hails from my hometown of Palatine, will be showcasing songs from their new Allegory Grey album during a release show at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights on October 14. The band’s catchy indie rock songs have drawn comparisons to Wilco, and I also hear a bit of Paisley Underground on the tracks “Sometimes The Buds Never Flower” and “There’s No One Like Lynette.” Listeners will find elements of blues and country on other tracks. Allegory Grey is available to download on Bandcamp. 

Penn Gillette’s promotional tour for his new novel Random will bring him to the Harold Washington Chicago Public Library on November 10.

Prince: The Immersive Experience has been extended through January 1, 2023 on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago.

Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick will be at Antioch Fine Wine & Liquors in the northern Illinois village of Antioch on October 22 from noon to 3:00 pm for a Rock-N Vodka Bottle signing.

Animal lovers Ary Paloma and Ellis Clark of the local rockabilly duo Big Hair Big Trouble will perform as the Golden Paw Gala 2022 on October 15 at 3:00 pm. The event marks the 20th anniversary of the Heartland Animal Shelter. It’s located at 586 Palwaukee Drive in Wheeling.

Dragon’s Dream - The Roger Dean Experience, which is being billed as “an immersive high definition 4D audio/video experience” opens on November 12 at Gray Area in San Francisco and will run through January 2023. Dean, of course, if famous for the cover art he created for Yes, Uriah Heep, Badger, and other bands.

The CHIRP Radio Record Fair And Other Delights, possibly the coolest place for buying vinyl, CDs, and all sorts of music-related memorabilia in Chicago, will make a triumphant return to Plumbers Hall on October 22. DJs and live musicians will be on hand, as well as food and beverage vendors. General admission at 10:00 am cost $10, and there’s an early admission option available for $25. The event is a benefit for the independent radio station CHIRP. Plumbers Hall is located at 1340 W. Washington Blvd., west of downtown.

The Chicago Reader will celebrate five decades of being the city’s best-known free paper with a  50ish UnGala at Museum Of Contemporary Art on November 30. The event will take place on three floors, with four stages with live entertainment, food and beverages from the museum’s own catering service, and raffles. Guests will have the opportunity to purchase exclusive “50ish” anniversary merchandise. Tickets start at $25.

Cabaret will run through October 23 at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights.

A new Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers album titled Live At The Fillmore 1997 is coming out on November 25. It’s being offered in five versions, from the 2-CD set for $19.99 to 6-LP Uber Deluxe set for $174.98.

The Destinos International Latino Theatre Festival continues its run through October 16 at several venues around Chicago. 

Minstrel Music, which has been selling musical instruments and providing lessons in Niles for 45 years,  will hold an All-Era Reunion on October 23 at the Curragh Pub on Chicago’s northwest side. There have been successful Minstrel reunions in the past, but the event has been absent recently due to the pandemic. The event will run from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.  

The 2022 Aidan Celebration Open House Party will take place on November 19 at the Shea home at 817 S. Fairfield in Elmhurst. The Aidan Shea Foundation supports the Lurie Children’s Hospital, Northwestern Medicine’s Lefkofsky Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and the University Of Illinois Law School Aidan Shea Memorial Scholarship. Plus, two new programs will benefit from this year’s event—the Illinois-based nonprofit Foster Progress and the 2023 Celtic Irish American Academy in Galway, Ireland. The open house will feature live music by singer-guitarist Scottie Long. https://scottielong.wixsite.com/scottielong 

Halloween Song: “Stuck On Zero”

The Broken Hearted Toy tradition of posting Halloween song profiles during October continues with another rerun.

“Stuck On Zero” is the final track on Songs For Mara, the 2014 CD from Chicago-based psychedelia masters The Red Plastic Buddha. The band was aiming for darker themes on this effort, including “addiction, obsession and madness.” That came along with consistently inventive instrumentation, and in the case of “Stuck On Zero,” a hefty dose of gallows humor.

The song opens with a trudging arrangement that evokes images of zombies on the prowl. Lead singer-bassist Tim Ferguson opts for a yelping vocal style that’s equal parts rock star and deranged creature, spitting out quick rhymes that suggest zombie guys want pretty much the same things a lot of living guys want; an attractive mate, cool wheels, job security, and a macho image. “When I come back from the dead I ain’t messing around,” Ferguson warns at the dawn of this song. “Get on the wrong side of me I’m gonna run you down.”

He appreciates his girlfriend (“She loves me for my brains/Yeah man, she’s my world”) and doesn’t have time for the usual zombie means of getting around. “I won’t be moving slow/I’ll dig your daddy up and steal his GTO.” There’s no mention of eating people in the lyrics, but being a zombie does come across as being a full time occupation. “Won’t work no 9 to 5/My new full time gig is being un-alive.”

Incoming

Tickets go on sale this Friday morning for U2 frontman Bono’s book tour performance at The Chicago Theatre on November 8. Bono - An Evening Of Words, Music and Some Mischief  . . . Stories Of Surrender will feature him promoting his memoir SURRENDER: 40 Songs, One Story in various entertaining ways. In an email from the official U2 website, Bono states, “I miss being on stage and the closeness of U2’s audience. In these shows I’ve got some stories to sing, and some songs to tell…” SURRENDER will be available online and in bookstores on November 1.

Congratulations to U.K. rockers Wolf Alice on celebrating 10 years of performing together. Their North American tour, in support of the impressive 2021 album Blue Weekend, brings them to The Riviera Theatre in Chicago this Friday. 

The Spindles, with special guest Rob Elvis, and The Embryos will comprise a double bill of original, well-crafted power pop at Montrose Saloon this Friday. The music starts at 8:00 pm, admission is $10.

Singer-songwriter Regina Spektor will kick off a new tour in support of Home, before and after—her first album in six years—at The Chicago Theatre this Sunday at 7:30 pm. Selena Fragassi’s interview with Spektor in today’s Chicago Sun-Times makes a convincing case that Home, before and after is well worth checking out.

Contrary to what I posted here earlier, the two John Lennon birthday tribute shows Phil Angotti and Friends are doing this Saturday at Martyrs will not each comprise 82 songs. The two shows combined (one at 3:00 pm and one at 8:00 pm) will add up to 82 songs. The lineup will be a bit different for each show. Admission for each is $20, Martyrs’ is located at 3855 N. Lincoln Avenue. John Lennon would have turned 82 this year.

The Hoodoo Gurus, Australia’s fabulous garage rock/power pop band, have announced the dates for their 2023 Tour. They’ll be in Chicago at City Winery on May 14. Chariot Of The Gods, released earlier this years them at the top of their game.

Halloween Song: “Ghost On The Beach”

Another rerun as I continue to cast an orange spotlight on spooky music during the month of October. Most of these songs are on Halloween playlists I’ve created for my own entertainment. Feel free to add them to your playlist.

The Insiders were one of those Chicago area bands like Material Issue, Off Broadway, Bohemia, The Elvis Brothers, and Shoes that never achieved the lasting success they deserved. Things certainly looked promising back in 1987 when The Insiders released their debut, Ghost On The Beach, on Epic. The title track, written by John Siegle and Gary Yerkins, was not only a perfect blast of power pop with muscular guitar playing and an indelible melody, it also offered the sure-fire elements of a summer romance and a hint of the supernatural. The sexy video went into heavy rotation on MTV, and helped The Insiders land a beer commercial.

The well-honed lyrics describe a one-night stand on the beach beside a romantic campfire as the waves came crashing in. “Making love almost the moment we met./A soggy Romeo, a soakin’ wet Juliet.” Later, it’s almost as if the encounter never took place. “The sand is smooth like no woman ever walked there./The wind silent like no man ever spoke.” All of which leads the guy to an eerie conclusion. “As I stand under the moon/And I’ll see you, washed up, some ghost inside a bottle/Out on the beach.” 

Halloween Song: “Wolves, Lower”

R.E.M. recently celebrated the 40th Anniversary of Chronic Town by releasing its groundbreaking debut EP in CD, picture disc, cassette, and digital formats. Their website also has vintage R.E.M. t-shirts, hoodies, an enamel pin and even a skateboard for sale. Back in 1982, the blue-tinted photo of a gargoyle on the cover offered a visual clue regarding the band’s groundbreaking musical approach. Although obviously influenced by The Byrds, R.E.M. complicated things with hard-edged instrumentation from Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Bill Berry, along with Michael Stipe’s moody and difficult to understand vocals.

The opening track “Wolves, Lower,” with its unusual advice of “Suspicion yourself, suspicion yourself, don’t get caught,” took FM radio by storm. I still remember being drawn to “Wolves, Lower” the first time I heard it on WXRT in Chicago. To this day, there’s something hypnotic about the way Stipe describes a corner garden, a house in order, and wolves at the door. While there’s no references to ghosts or monsters, it’s still a solid choice for a Halloween party playlist.

The elusive spirit of Chronic Town carried over to the full-length Murmur, particularly on “Pilgrimage” and “Perfect Circle.” Eventually, R.E.M. evolved from a college radio sensation to world-wide acclaim, and influenced countless new bands. But they never lost that air of mystery, and for that, here’s a tip of the witch hat for all the years R.E.M. kept us in the dark.

Halloween Song: “There’s A Ghost In My House”

Cover art for the Last Night In Soho soundtrack

Continuing my tradition of featuring spooky songs throughout October, here’s a brand new, never-before-posted profile.

Even for those who haven’t seen the 2021 U.K. thriller Last Night In Soho, it’s well worth checking out the soundtrack. It’s packed with music from the Swinging ‘60s era, ranging from international hit singles to songs that were particular to the English charts. That’s where R. Dean Taylor’s “There’s A Ghost In My House” found success in 1974, after collecting dust since being recorded for the American label Tamla Motown in 1966. Although it was composed by the stellar writing team of Holland, Dozier, Holland, with help from Taylor, Tamla Motown didn’t see its potential. I had never heard this song before buying the Last Night In Soho soundtrack, but was immediately hooked by it.

“There’s A Ghost In My House” isn’t about a real haunting; it’s a series of clever, quick rhymes describing how much a guy misses his former girlfriend. “Where our love used to be,” Taylor sings to an arrangement that deftly melds classic soul with guitar-driven garage rock, “Only shadows from the past I see.” Taylor hears footsteps on the stairs, and feels fingertips running through his hair even though he’s all alone. He confesses, “In my mind, I know you’re gone, but my heart keeps holding on.” The song would make a perfect segue after The Electric Prunes nugget “I Had Too Much To Dream” on a Halloween party playlist.

Halloween Song: “Jacksie”

I’ve had a tradition of featuring spooky songs throughout October from when I started this blog in 2009. “Jacksie” by Over The Rhine was the first Halloween song profile I ever posted. It’s from the Cincinnati-based band’s eclectic 1992 debut album Patience, which I reviewed for the Illinois Entertainer. Led by vocalist-acoustic guitarist Karin Bergquist and bassist-keyboards player Linford Detweiler, Over The Rhine has a knack for crafting engaging Americana music that’s garnered critical acclaim over the years. They visit Chicago on a semi-regular basis and host the annual Nowhere Else Festival on their own property in Ohio.

A casual listener could easily assume “Jacksie” is a classic ghost story, especially with lyrics such as, “They laid her in the ground./She still comes around./A love that never dies takes you by surprise.” But Detweiler, who wrote the lyrics and music, was inspired by the book, A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis. He spins the author’s reflections on the loss of a loved one into a compelling and beautiful ballad. Bergquist’s ethereal vocals, set to a slow, melodic arrangement, send chills up your spine, especially the way her “la la la la la la la” echoes like you’re trying to find your way through a forest at midnight.