Let’s Go Out To The Abbie

Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins XXIII, a virtually nonstop celebration of theater, performance art, and comedy, comes to the Mary-Arrchie Theatre this weekend. I first heard of Abbie Fest, as it's more commonly known, back in 1989 via a classified ad placed by the Mary-Arrchie in The Chicago Reader. The theatre was looking for performers to take part in a 20th anniversary celebration of the original Woodstock Festival. Having just formed the Famous In The Future comedy group with Lake Sirmon, Frank Carr, and Dave Drazin earlier that year, I jumped at the opportunity.

By the time the festival arrived, our den mother Sirmon had moved to another state. We soldiered on with new cast members and did a revue of comedy skits that was haphazard at best. But we loved the camaraderie among the performers, thought Mary-Arrchie Artistic Director Rich Cotovsky was a cool dude, and happily signed on for Abbie Fest II when it rolled around in 1990. Famous In The Future returned every year after that, growing more polished in our writing and performing. I left the group in 2009, but still never miss an Abbie Fest.

Abbie Hoffman Died For Our Sins carries on the Mary-Arrchie’s mission of establishing a spirit of cooperation among Chicago’s theater community, as well as giving new groups a chance to reach a larger audience. There’s a definite party atmosphere on Friday and Saturday nights, but be sure to also check out the fest during the less hectic hours, because there’s usually something interesting going on. Tickets are $10 for a single day, $25 for the weekend.

Here are the performances for Friday, August 19th. I added comments for the acts that I've seen in the past. As far as I know, this is the latest schedule released by the Mary-Arrchie. Changes have been made (note the new day for A Red Orchid Theatre) and there are still a fair amount of TBAs. Hopefully, that means even more acts will be joining in the festivities. Mary-Arrchie Theatre is located at 735 W. Sheridan Road. Call 773-871-0442 for additional information or check out the website.

2:00 p.m. Gather at Daley Plaza/3:00 p.m. March towards Angel Island 735 W. Sheridan Rd.

Mary-Arrchie Artistic Director Richard Cotovsky has always insisted the rally and march are essential elements of the festival’s counter-culture vibe. Free spirits who enjoy a long walk are welcome to throw on some vintage hippie threads and join in the fun.

7:00 p.m. Opening Ceremonies featuring Richard Cotovsky as Abbie Hoffman Cotovsky has been impersonating the late Yippie founder for over 20 years and always gets the festival off to a rousing start. Half the fun is watching the audience react to his rants and comic observations on the current political landscape.

7:15 p.m. The Rocking Horse Winner by Gay Shark Ensemble - Gay Shark Ensemble

7:30 p.m. Kevorkian Love Affair With The Infinite by Nick Hart - Sam Houston Theatre Collective

8:00 p.m. Diary of a Madman by Nikolai Gogol - Rush Pearson One of the must-see productions at this festival. Pearson can be both heartbreaking and hilarious as he chronicles the dementia of a 19th Century Russian civil servant, in Gogol’s critically acclaimed one-man play.

9:00 p.m. Buckminster Fuller Has A Gun! by Nick Hart - Giggling Pyramid Theatre Second play by Nick Hart on this evening.

9:30 p.m. MooseHumps 2.0 - A Choose Your Own Adventure Halloween Play by R. Alex Kliner and Bobby Libby - Lights Out Theatre Company

10:05 p.m. TBA

10:40 p.m. Gas Mask 101 by Arlene Cook - Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. An Abbie Fest perennial, this comedy about Southern Illinois University students in the Viet Nam era has plenty of laughs, but some poignant moments as well. Cotovsky always nails the role of Swami, the perpetually pot-smoking professional student, while the rest of the cast changes each year.

11:30 p.m. The Factory Presents - The Factory Theater One of the better-known groups involved in the festival, The Factory Theater always has something provocative and fun up its sleeves.

12:00 p.m. Step Aside by Broad Shoulders Productions - Broad Shoulders Productions

1:00 a.m. The Pleasures of Dining Alone by Maggie O’Keefe - Tiger Lips and Rice4Dayz

1:15 a.m. Fake It! The Chicago Theatre Game Show by Roshambo Theatre

2:10 a.m. Wild Dogs by Matt Borczon - Mary-Arrchie Theatre Co. This drama/comedy is another showcase for Cotovsky’s in-your-face acting style. A deranged loner and an uptight businessman who was recently thrown out by his wife become uneasy allies after a bout of heavy drinking and fighting.

2:40 a.m. Adventure Time With Finn and Jake by Pendelton Ward and Jake Penzell - Dramageddon

3:25 a.m. TBA

4:00 a.m. TBA

5:00 a.m. Shop Talk - A Red Orchid Theatre The critically acclaimed A Red Orchid Theatre has made this time slot its home for several years at Abbie Fest, and its fans are dedicated enough to show up even at the crack of dawn.

6:00 a.m. through 8:00 a.m. TBA

CD Review: Various - Chicago Underground: Hits At Large

While writing yesterday’s post about the recently re-released Smirk by The Webstirs, I mentioned a various artists collection called Chicago Underground: Hits At Large. That got me thinking about the CD, which I still have. So, here’s a review I did for the Illinois Entertainer back in 1992. I also did an interview with Mike Galassini of 92 Degrees for an article in Streetwise, the Chicago paper that benefits the homeless. Unfortunately, the people at Streetwise used the jacket from my CD for the article and never returned it. Thus, I’m using this faded image I took off an eBay listing. Note: Back then, The Webstirs spelled their name as two words.

Chicago Underground: Hits At Large is a musical co-op, with six area bands joining forces to produce their own CD for Big Block Records. All of the music falls within the realm of alternative pop, although each group succeeds in exploring its own particular shade of the genre.

The catchy power pop of “Mrs. Jones” and “In Her Glow” by 92 Degrees serve as a reminder that Big Block was the indie label founded by Jim Ellison before Material Issue signed with Mercury. Crackpot Messiah checks in with the melodic rock of “Leave Her The Coins” and “Anything.”

Hushdrops offer some neo-psychedelia with the dreamy “Snow,” and crank up the energy on “Myrtle.” The hardest hitting material comes from the band Billy Pilgrim, on their two tracks, “Crayola” and “Down.” The Shanes engage in extensive jamming on the politically-minded “How The Innocent Die,” and opt for a classic 1960s arrangement on “You Keep It Going.”

The Web Stirs have harsh words for America’s educational system. - “Four years of failing and falling behind" - on their zydeco-flavored “I Turn Away,” while their sardonic and catchy “It’s Over Now” serves as a fitting closer for this impressive musical sampler.

Still Smirking After All These Years

Released in 1994, The Webstirs’ Smirk seemed inspired by the more eccentric pop music of the mid-to-late 1960s. Vocalist-guitarist Preston Pisellini and vocalist-keyboards and accordion player Mark Winkler bring their own offbeat sense of humor to the table, with lyrics that cast doubts on anyone’s ability to succeed in the modern age. On “King,” which artfully blends acoustic and electric guitars, a man wondering if his future holds promise concludes, “Not if 25 years are any indication.” Pisellini and Winkler consistently wrap these observations within catchy melodies.

Seventeen years later, The Webstirs have revisited their impressive debut, giving it new packaging and adding three bonus tracks. The canine hindquarters from the original front cover have given way to a clever parody of The Beach Boys’ legendary Smile album. “I Turn Away,” pulled from the 1992 Chicago Underground Hits At Large compilation, is an energetic power pop gem with Hollies style harmonies, while “Curio Case,” the tale of a lonely woman, has a big, 1970s sound. The remaining previously unreleased tune, “This Old Man” finds The Webstirs employing their harmonies and ringing guitars in another song about finding one’s place in the whole scheme of things.

Demo-Listen Derby

Note: These reviews originally appeared in the Around Hears section of the Illinois Entertainer.

The Rockin’ Ace’s “Hello Rock ‘N’ Roll” 45 RPM single and the comic strip it springs from are both created by musician/artist Slink Moss. A former member of The Farmers, Moss continues in a similar roots rock/1960s vein on this fun, guitar-driven party tune, as well as on the soulful and more subdued B-Side, “Light A Fire With Desire.”

Power trio Even Bigger cranks out a half dozen high energy songs that tap into The Clash and The Ramones on its In Actual D EP. “Hold Up” is a cautionary tale about robbing people with your girlfriend, especially when her itchy trigger finger points toward you, while on “Breathe,” it’s the boyfriend who has homicidal urges. Guitarist-vocalist Matt Myers, bassist-vocalist P. Matthew Hart, and drummer Ray Losch keep the adrenalin pumping, particularly on the raging “Wrong Again.”

Chicken On A Bicycle, the second effort from Hop On Pop, a duo comprised of singer-guitarist Todd Leiter-Weintraub and drummer David Kling, holds up well considering Leiter-Weintraub confesses to having “indulged every little whim and odd thought” in putting it together. There’s plenty of genre-hopping, from the harrowing acoustic tale of an abusive husband on “C’mon Angel” to the new wave silliness of “Here.” Leiter-Weintraub gravitates toward the absurd, particularly on the acoustic “Sheila Of The Worms.”

Slumgullion #74

Ooh, scary! Photo from Matthew Sweet's website.

Get Me To The World On Time. As I’m writing this, a multitude of self-professed geeks are chatting with celebrities and snapping up comic books, t shirts, and action figures at Wizard World Chicago Comic Con at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. The annual convention kicked off yesterday, and will run through Sunday. The Chicago version doesn’t pack the A-List wallop of the famous Comic Con in San Diego, but it’s always fun to see the assorted guests, rows of merchandise, and of course, all the fans dressed up as their favorite heroes. Some of the of the celebrities appearing at Wizard World Chicago Comic Con this weekend include Patrick Stewart, James Marsters, Vivica A. Fox, Tia Carrere, and Christopher Lloyd (the actor, not the producer). The Artists Alley, where indie comic creators hawk their work, is another highlight of this multi-faceted event. Be sure to bring a camera. Tickets are $35.

A Spooky Little Girl Like You. Rolling Stone online has a bit of a preview of Matthew Sweet’s new CD, Modern Art. The catchy and mysterious pop tune “She Walks The Night,” which Sweet told the magazine is about a female ghost, is now available for streaming.

It’s The Time Of The Season For Touring. The Zombies marked their 50th Anniversary a few months back by releasing Breathe Out, Breathe In, a CD with all new material. This Fall they’ll be on a major tour that includes dates in Canada, the U.S., and England. The Consequence Of Sound website has the full schedule, which unfortunately, doesn’t include a visit to Chicago.

Nevermind In Palatine. Durty Nellie’s will rock to the sounds of vintage grunge rock tomorrow night as The Legacy of Seattle pays homage to Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice In Chains. This is a live concert although how many bands or musicians are involved is anyone’s guess. The websites for Durty Nellie’s and Legacy Of Seattle don’t offer much information. Still, for $6, it’s worth checking out. Show time is 9:30.

Elsewhere On The Grunge Front. The Second Disc online newsletter is reporting that Columbia will be releasing a 2-CD soundtrack, complete with rarities, for Cameron Crowe’s Pearl Jam Twenty documentary. No exact date yet on when it will drop.

Vote For Mimi And He'll Set You Free. Singer-guitarist Mimi Betinis of Pezband fame is currently in a contest being held on the Facebook page for The Indie, an organization that promotes indie musicians. To vote for Betinis, find The Indie page on Facebook, give it a Like, and then click his photo.

Power Pop For Howdy Pardners. International Pop Overthrow is wrapping up a two week stay in Los Angeles, the city of its birth. There's one showcase tonight and two tomorrow at the oddly named Fais Do Do club. Tomorrow afternoon’s showcase, which kicks off at 1:00 PM, is open to All-Ages. IPO will then move on to San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, and its first ever visits to Austin and Dallas. The schedules for the Texas locations aren’t online yet, so it’s too soon to know if veteran punker Dave Rave will continue his run of being the only person other than founder David Bash to appear at every stop on the IPO tour.

Phil In An Uncommon Place. Singer-guitarist Phil Angotti will be playing songs from his impressive People And Places CD, along with some new tunes, next Thursday, August 18th at Uncommon Ground on Chicago’s north side. Tommi Zender will be his special guest.

Heart In The Hall. Ann and Nancy Wilson from Heart will drop by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland on August 23rd to be part of the museum’s Legends Series. The sisters will be interviewed by Vice President of Education and Public Programs Dr. Lauren Onkey, and then perform an acoustic set. The event, which takes place at 7:00 PM, is free with a reservation that can be secured by sending an email to edu@rockhall.org or calling 216-515-8426. Out-of-towners can stream the interview and performance live at The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame online.

CD Review: Annie Hayden - The Enemy Of Love

Note: This review previously appeared in the Illinois Entertainer in 2005.

At times on her second CD, The Enemy Of Love, Annie Hayden sounds like a singer-songwriter modeled after ‘70s artists like Jackson Browne and Carly Simon. She even weaves bits of Graham Nash’s “Our House” into “Your Carnival,” an amiable, piano-based tune. “Cara Mia” mixes guitars and percussion while “Gray,” a touching look at relationships, finds the singer taking a more delicate approach.

“Weather” and “Money Trouble” find Hayden successfully tapping into country rock, while “Hip Hurray” and “Wait For Returns” are light jazz numbers that call to mind Norah Jones. Although Hayden’s bio boasts that she’s “moved beyond” her former band Spent, the best songs here convey an indie spirit. “Anytime” and “Boos” have darker, more cutting edge arrangements, and there’s a cool cover of The Replacements’ “Swingin Party.” Maybe Hayden shouldn’t be so eager to shed her rock and roll roots.

CD Review: - Three Hour Tour - Looking For Tomorrow

Released in 2010, Looking For Tomorrow was the fourth effort from singer-guitarist Darren Cooper and his rotating corps of noted indie rock and power pop musicians. This time out, Three Hour Tour was mostly Cooper and bassist-keyboards player Adam Schmitt, with John Richardson and Brad Elvis almost evenly splitting time on drums. Paul Chastain plays bass on one of the tracks. As usual, Cooper did the bulk of the songwriting.

Looking For Tomorrow has the feel of classic power pop, but also brings to mind some of the better crafted albums of the mid-1960s. Cooper prefers to pen cryptic lyrics rather than offer the usual boy-meets-girl sentiments, but his melodies are positively alluring. The energetic tracks, like “For Now We Say Goodnight,” “All Time Low,” and “Dead Reckoning” are the most impressive, but Three Hour Tour also succeeds with mid-tempo material and the acoustic-based, and slightly optimistic title track. A thundering take on the obscure Who song, “Heaven And Hell” opens with Brad Elvis channeling Keith Moon while Cooper does a great job delivering John Entwistle’s apocalyptic lyrics.