It might seem odd to celebrate someone’s birthday over a month late, but when the honoree is Pete Townshend and the ones celebrating are Chicago musicians Jason Narducy and Dag Juhlin, there’s no reason to complain. Besides, the event, being held this Sunday at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, has become a tradition. Narducy and Juhlin will start performing Townshend’s songs at 6:00 pm. Most of the tickets have been sold but there are still some available in the Bistro Table area.
England’s long-running hitmakers The Rolling Stones made a long-awaited return to Chicago last night with a concert at Soldier Field. It was part of their Hackney Diamonds Tour, and they’ll give us another one on Sunday. Concert-goers who drop by an event AARP and Chicago radio station WXRT are staging on Sunday at Reggies can catch a free bus ride to and from Soldier Field and have a chance to win a merch bundle. Reggies is located just south of downtown.
Ratboys, the Chicago-based indie rock band whose 2023 album The Window made quite an impression, will spend almost the rest of this year out on tour, beginning with a concert tonight in Woodstock, NY. Other stops will include Boise, Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Denver, Vancouver, and Washington, DC before Ratboys come home to Chicago for a gig at Thalia Hall on November 29.
Andy Stone, the Rhode Island singer-songwriter who released the Every Single Day and This Giant Awoke albums in 2020 and 2017 respectively, has a new 4-song EP titled Plug In that will be available on various streaming and download apps somewhere around July 7. It can also be ordered directly from Stone via his PayPal account. Based on the catchy song “Got No Clue” and its video, the new material once again taps into the power pop genre.
The Soul Brunch series at City Winery Chicago continues this Saturday at noon with PureSoul: 80’s R&B.
Squeeze has been giving the world clever and irresistibly catchy songs for decades, and had a sold-out show today at the Glastonbury Festival - Pyramid Stage in Glastonbury. That event kicks off five months of touring back and forth between the UK and USA. After a gig on the Isle Of Man on August 6, the band will fly off for a performance in Eugene OR. Other North American stops include Oakland, Costa Mesa, Phoenix, Austin, Nashville, Chicago, Toronto, Boston, New York, and Orlando. Squeeze will return to the UK in early October and continue touring through November. Tickets are now on sale for the Squeeze concert on September 5 at the Chicago Theatre. The English Beat will be the special guest for that night.
Musicians Tony Nuncio, Eric Chial, Dave Sebastian, and Mike Cohen will host Nick Nite! at Montrose Saloon on July 9. The event is a well-deserved tribute to British singer-songwriter Nick Lowe, who’s either penned or performed witty gems such as “Cruel To Be Kind,” “So It Goes,” “(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding?” and “I Knew The Bride (When She Used To Rock ’n' Roll).”
The Chicago-based, self-described new wave band Sonic45 has a Record Release Party coming up on July 13 at SPACE in Evanston for its second album Supersonic. For a limited time, a violet vinyl copy, complete with a download card with five bonus demo versions, can be ordered from the band’s label Cheap Kiss Records website for only $20. Sonic45 comprises sports broadcaster/musician/songwriter Len Kasper, along with Chicago music scene veterans Matt Spiegel (also a sportscaster); Liam Davis; Gerald Dowd; and Dag Juhlin. Sunshine Boys, the Chicago-based band that released two impressive albums (and also features Juhlin), will be the opening act for that SPACE Record Release Party.
Stevie Van Zandt: Disciple, a new documentary from HBO Documentary Films, recently had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. Interviews with several famous musicians, including Bruce Springsteen, help create a full portrait of the the E Street Band member/Sopranos actor/Underground Garage radio host. It’s now available on Max.
The Telepaths, Gunnelpumpers, and The Rut will each perform original indie rock and roll songs tomorrow night at Phyllis’s Musical Inn. The music starts at 8:30 pm; Phyllis’s Musical Inn is located at 1800 W. Division on Chicago’s north side.
FitzGerald’s has long been known for putting together an impressive schedule for its annual American Music Festival, and this year is no exception. The event, which runs July 3 – 6, will include Nikki Lane and Sierra Hull; The Jayhawks; Old 97’s; Robert Randolph Band; Marcia Ball; Joe Pug; Rhett Miller; Ike Reilly Assassination; Tributaurus; Anna Fermin’s Trigger Gospel; C.J. Chenier And The Red Hot Louisiana Band; Joel Paterson; The Waco Brothers; and Michael McDermott among the headline acts.
Cracker, with founding members Johnny Hickmans and David Lowery, will perform at SPACE in Evanston on July 5 and 7. The band is known for FM radio staples such as “Low” and “Get Off This,” as well as “Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now).”
Blondie founding member Chris Stein’s memoir titled Under A Rock is now available from various sites. The book, which features a forward by Debbie Harry, is described by MacMillan Publishers as a “a plunge into the moments that made a giant 1980’s artistic sensation.”
Long-time Arlington Heights venue Jimmy D’s District has an outdoor music event titled Jimmy D’s Fest On The Patio coming up on July 12 and 13. It’s located at 1718 W. Northwest Highway.
The Northman Riverwalk has reopened for the season, giving visitors an opportunity to enjoy a variety of live music and food outdoors with an impressive view of downtown Chicago. This weekend brings performances by the Hip-Hop Afrobeats band The KPilla Experience tomorrow afternoon; hard rockers The Midnight Calls early tomorrow evening, and classic rock covers band Vinyl Idols on Sunday afternoon. The Northman Riverwalk is located on the Chicago River at 233 N. Riverwalk.
Steve Wynn from The Dream Syndicate has accomplished a long-time goal of writing a book, and it’s due out from Jawbone Press around August 25. Wynn describes I Wouldn't Say It If It Wasn't True as “a memoir of a life of music that begins on the streets of LA and continues along the highways and byways of rock recording and touring with The Dream Syndicate.” Autographed copies are available for pre-order on Wynn’s Bandcamp page, which also mention he has a new solo album title Make It Right coming out around the same time as his book.
Long Grove, IL will present a Blues Fest at Brothers’ Field this weekend. Tomorrow brings the main event, which starts at 1:00 pm and Sunday will offer a more laid back approach featuring various performers, starting at noon.
There will be a Catfight 20th Anniversary Reunion featuring band members Julie, Rose, Lori, and Lisa at the Backlot Bash being held this Sunday, June 30 on Chicago’s (5248 N. Clark Street) north side.
New York indie rock quartet The dB’s recently released their 1981 debut album Stands for deciBels on vinyl for the first time (along with CD and digital formats) and will launch a Reunion Tour in September. It starts with a concert at the Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, NC on September 7, and will continue with stops in Washington, DC; Philadelphia; Jersey City; St. Paul; and Chicago. That Chicago gig is at the Old Town School Of Folk Music October 12, with Vulgar Boatmen also on the bill.
As someone who’s been a fan of The Reader for most of its 50-year existence and is currently a subscriber, I’m glad to see it’s once again coming out on a weekly basis. The paper is now a nonprofit operation, and could use some assistance keeping afloat. Donations are encouraged, and contributing $5 per month enables you to become a member.
As noted on The Second Disc website, Rhino and Avenue Records will release the 50th Anniversary Collector’s Edition of The World Is a Ghetto - The Complete Sessions on July 19. The classic album by War will be remastered and include previously unreleased tracks and other bonus material. It will be available in 4 CD, 5LP box and digital formats.
Rebel Girl: My Life As A Feminist Punk, a memoir from riot-grrrl band Bikini Kill vocalist Kathleen Hanna is now available from HarperCollins Publishers on various websites and book stores.
Feathers McGraw, one of cinema’s most devious villains, will return to his wicked ways in the upcoming film Wallace And Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. The official Wallace And Gromit social media sites promise it’s coming to the BBC and Netflix sometime this winter.
Chicago: Home Of House, an exhibit honoring the city’s pivotal role in widespread success of house music, opened last week on Navy Pier, and will run through the end of October. As noted by Chicago Sun-Times reporter Erica Thompson, this year brings the 40th anniversary of the genre.
Have You Got It Yet? - The Story Of Syd Barrett And Pink Floyd will be available in DVD and Rlu-ray formats from Mercury Studios on July 19. The documentary was directed by filmmaker Roddy Bogawa and album cover artist Storm Thorgerson, and features interviews with Barrett’s bandmates David Gilmour, Nick Mason, and Roger Waters, along with musicians Pete Townshend and Graham Coxon.
An original concept recording of Ladyship The Musical has an official release date of July 12. It’s based on the true story of how England shipped women convicts to Australia from 1789 to 1841. The music and lyrics were composed by Linda Good and Laura Good. The sisters first started performing as The Good Twins on the Chicago club scene, and later formed the alt rock band The Twigs.
English musician Matt Johnson will bring his band The The to North America for the first time in 25 years to perform several concerts. An October 25 show at The Salt Shed in Chicago will be part of radio station WXRT’s Fall Jam Series. The The was particularly noteworthy for the singles “This Is The Day” and “Uncertain Smile.”
