Saturday Slumgullion

Photo from Chris Hardwick Facebook page.

I’m out of my sick bed and back at the keyboard. Here are some entertainment bits, as well as a Cherish The Ladies concert review.
 
The Smithereens will be playing their own holiday songs, as well as classics from Chuck Berry, The Kinks, The Beatles,and The Ramones tomorrow night at Infinity Hall in Norfolk, NJ. They also have a New Years Eve gig at The Strand Theater in Lakewood, NJ.
 
Fleetwood Mac has announced plans for a major tour in 2013. Maybe they were inspired by Dolly Varden’s tribute to them at Martyrs’ this past Halloween weekend.
 
Chris Hardwick, superhero/founder of the very cool website The Nerdist will be spending some time in the Chicago area. He has shows at Zanies in Old Town on December 13th and 14th, and a pair of shows at Zanies in Rosemont on the 15th. Expect some clever insight into Doctor Who, sci-fi flicks, cult TV, and entertainment in general.
 
Paul McCartney will be the musical guest for Saturday Night Live’s December 15th show, with guest host Martin Short. Maybe Sir Paul will do a bit as Ed Grimley’s twin brother. 
 
Little Steven VanZandt, actor/musician/radio host is once again holding his annual best songs of the year survey. Listeners can vote for what they think is The Coolest Song In The World 2012 the via his syndicated radio program Underground Garage website. Some of the more noteworthy songs in contention include “Stay Away From Downtown” by Redd Kross, “You’re My Brian Jones” by Palmyra Delran, “I’m Shakin’” by Jack White, and “I Woke Up” by Trolley. 

Thirsty Whale, a popular hard rock club in Des Plaines from the late 1970s through the 90s, has another reunion in the works. This one will take place on the weekend of March 22nd-24th, 2013 at the Des Plaines Theatre. Bands looking to participate can contact Tony Shark at Tony.Shark@ymail.com.

The Des Plaines Theatre has been home to a wide range of entertainment, from foreign films to comedy nights. Lately, it has moved more toward hard rock. Trans Infinity Orchestra will be doing its tribute to Trans Siberian Orchestra on December 14th, and a trio of tribute bands, (Beggars Banquet, Hot Rocks and Tumblin Dice) will help celebrate Keith Richards’ birthday on December 15th. The venue is also looking to start showing cult favorite Rocky Horror Picture Show on a regular basis in 2013.
 
And now, a  review of the recent Cherish The Ladies concert in Chicago:
 
Cherish The Ladies  brought some vintage holiday fun to The Old Town School Of Folk Music this past Thursday night with their Celtic Christmas Party. At one point, flute-pennywhistle player Joannie Madden described how her family would celebrate Christmas by inviting friends over to sing carols and play instruments. Throughout the Old Town show, Cherish The Ladies recreated that festive spirit. Madden, who along with guitarist Mary Coogan, is one of the group’s founding members, always adds funny and homespun reflections to any CTL concert. The two veterans blend perfectly with newer members accordion player Mirella Murray, pianist Kathleen Boyle, and fiddle player Grainne Murphy.

Guest vocalist Don Stiffe, a singer-songwriter from Ireland, pitched in with a mix of traditional Christmas fare as well as some of his own material. A big, good-natured guy who laughed at Madden’s occasional teasing, Stiffe brought a definite taste of the Emerald Isle to the concert. At one point he noted that it was his first visit to Chicago. A coed quartet of award-winning step dancers also kept things lively, and when an additional guest vocalist (sorry, I didn’t catch his name) and musicians Liz Carrol, Pauline Conneely, and accordion player Jimmy Keane joined Cherish The Ladies on “Rise Up Shepherd” for a rousing finale, it was like being at Old Fezziwig’s shindig in A Christmas Carol. Here’s a video of a performance of “Rise Up Shepherd”  from a concert in 2010.

Slumgullion (Sort Of)

Now that I’ve added having a bad cold to a super busy schedule these past few days,  I’m too wiped out to do a full Slumgullion tonight. So here’s a start. Hopefully, I’ll add more items tomorrow, but sometimes the best laid plans - - - 

Susanna Hoffs has just put out an EP titled, From Me To You, which will only be available from iTunes, Amazon, and other online music sites. There are no plans to release it in CD or vinyl format. The three songs find Hoffs covering artists from the 1960s. At least one of them, "All I've Got To Do,"by The Beatles, was on the set list when Hoffs performed at City Winery in Chicago last month. I still think it would be a great idea for Hoffs and/or The Bangles to participate in next April's Record Store Day by offering some sort of rarity on vinyl.

Christmas With The Smithereens

Reposting For The Holidays. I'm currently swamped with freelance writing, freelance assignments, and family get-togethers. So here's a blast from Christmas Past. I highly recommend this CD. The Smithereens have some holiday shows coming up, so be sure to check out their website or Facebook page for details.

The Smithereens first dabbled in Christmas music back in 1992 by recording a silly and energetic take on “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” for the Rockin’ Christmas compilation. The song later appeared on the 1995 Attack Of The Smithereens rarities collection, as well as on the Songs Of The Season compilation sponsored by Borders Books and WXRT in 2000. 

In 2007, the band, which by then featured new bassist Severo Jornacion, really showed its holiday spirit by releasing the full-length Christmas With The Smithereens. It’s a fun party from start to finish, as The Smithereens bring their engaging power pop approach to a mix of originals and cover versions. “Waking Up On Christmas Morning,” which can also be found on the Hi-Fi Christmas Party and Ho Ho Spice collections, is a catchy tune penned by guitarist Jim Babjak. The  fast-paced “Christmas Time All Over The World,” written by Babjak, singer Pat DiNizio, drummer Dennis Diken, and original bassist Mike Mesaros, celebrates hugging and kissing under the mistletoe, and compares the holiday to a big rock show. The other Smithereens original, “Christmas (I Remember)” takes a melodic look back and notes, “The kid inside my heart won’t die.”

There are also guitar-driven interpretations of Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run,” Brenda Lee’s “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree,” and The Beach Boys’ “Merry Christmas, Baby.” “Christmas,” taken from The Who’s Tommy isn’t traditional holiday fare, but the authentic arrangement here gives a preview of band’s later decision to record their own version of the entire rock opera. “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)” doesn’t have as much edge as the version by The Ramones, but it’s still a solid effort, and The Smithereens also do well with “Christmas Time Is Here Again,” one of the rare songs The Beatles recorded for their fan club members.

The Smithereens set Clement Clark Moore’s classic poem, ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas” to a jazzy percussion-led arrangement, and open “Auld Lang Syne” with acappella vocals before launching into a rollicking instrumental jam session. All in all, Christmas With The Smithereens is a date worth keeping. 

CD Reviews: The Belvederes And Rob Schulz

Photo from The Belvederes ReverbNation website.

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

The no frills, guitar-based arrangements on the self-titled debut from The Belvederes fall somewhere between punk and mainstream rock. Lead vocalist-guitarist John Michael Ford effectively conveys the ups and downs of relationships, from the romantic sentiments of the mid-tempo “My Love” to jealous rage on the revved-up “Anymore.” A streetwise sensibility runs throughout these nine melodic songs, along with a Springsteen-like vision that love can sometimes overcome adversity.

“Guantanamo Bay,” the rollicking first track on Rob Schulz’s Tragedy & Comedy CD, establishes this veteran singer-guitarist’s knack for positioning a liberal point of view within power pop arrangements. “I’m Not Going To Live In Fear” and “You Can Come Out Now” also offer biting political lyrics, but Schulz is adept at other subject matter as well. The heartfelt ballad “I Was A Fool” depicts a troubled relationship, while the title track advocates self confidence.

CD Review: Tame Impala - Lonerism

Note: This review originally ran in the Illinois Entertainer.  

The music on Tame Impala’s second full-length release, Lonerism, sounds like it’s being beamed to Earth from another galaxy. The Australian group serves up a lush though unlikely blend of indie and prog rock that’s nearly irresistible. Kevin Par Coeur (or Parker, depending on which website you believe) plays guitar, bass, and drums, but it’s his multi-tracked vocals that give Tame Impala an ethereal elegance. Or, as the band’s Facebook page puts it, epiphany pop.

On “Mind Mischief,” Tame Impala adds gorgeous Beatles-inspired vocals over a space age soundscape, while the equally dreamy “Apocalypse Dreams” has a Motown backbeat. “Elephant,” a pulsating Pink Floyd/T-Rex romp is easily Lonerism’s most fun track. “Keep On Lying” and “Sun’s Coming Up” are intriguing songs that are eventually undone by too much studio gimmickry, and the disjointed opener, “Be Above It,” with its generic synth blasts, doesn’t fully convey the magic that follows.

Tame Impala will be playing The Vic in Chicago on March 6th, 2013.

CD Review: Ken Stringfellow - Danzig In The Moonlight

Note: This review originally appeared in the Illinois Entertainer. 

Ken Stringfellow has covered a lot of ground since co-founding The Posies with Jon Auer in the late 1980s. In addition to his ongoing stint in that band, the singer-guitarist has worked with Big Star and R.E.M., as well as being the only Yank in the Norway-based garage rock band, The Disciplines. Somehow, he finds time for solo releases, with Danzig In The Moonlight being his fourth. It’s a subtle yet adventurous effort that has the feel of a concept album.

That’s particularly true when he combines a trio of melodic snippets Abbey Road style on ”4AM Birds/The End Of All Light/The Last Radio,” or adds a theatrical flourish to “Drop Your Pride.” Stringfellow also glides through the old school R&B of  “Pray,” and crafts an off-kilter Country & Western duet with Charity Rose Thielen from The Head & The Heart on “Doesn’t It Remind You Of Something.” Almost two dozen musicians were recruited from around the world for the ambitious Danzig In The Moonlight, but Stringfellow also taps into his Posies roots with the melodic pop of “Even The Forgers Were Left Fingering The Fakes.”   

Slumgullion

First, a hearty welcome to Pete Townshend and Roger Daltry as they bring their classic rock opera, Quadrophenia, to the Allstate Arena tonight. Mr. Townshend was signing copies of his book, Who I Am, at the Barnes & Noble in Old Orchard Mall this past Monday night. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it, but I know of a few Facebook friends who were understandably thrilled to meet the legendary guitarist/songwriter.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow for Tame Impala’s March 6th show at The Vic. My review of the Aussie band’s second effort, Lonerism, ran in the November issue of the Illinois Entertainer. I praised the songs as a lush though unlikely blend of indie and prog rock and noted that they sounded like they were being beamed to Earth from another galaxy. But in a good way. 

As The dB’s continue to tour in support of their critically acclaimed Falling Off The Sky CD, band member Chris Stamey is set to release a new solo effort. Lovesick Blues, which the singer-guitarist describes in a press release as “The closest I’ve ever gotten to the sound I hear in my head in the middle of the night,” is due out on Yep Roc Records February 5th. 

The Old Town School Of Folk Music has some performances coming up next week that highlight this long-running venue’s mission to present the entire spectrum of popular music. On Thursday night, Cherish The Ladies will celebrate a Celtic Christmas with traditional Irish songs. The five-woman band often brings along a few step dancers to augment their reels and gigs, while founding member/whistle and flute player Joannie Madden keeps the audience entertained between songs with her witty anecdotes and quips. Saturday night brings Over The Rhine, the Cincinnati-based band led by husband and wife Karin Bergquist and Linford Detweiller. Both sing and play various instruments on a beguiling mix of alt rock, folk, and country. On Sunday afternoon, adults as well as kids can enjoy Milly’s Holiday Spectacular, put on by by Brigid “Milly” Murphy, the untamed performer best known for her series of Milly’s Orchid Shows in Chicago nightclubs. She’s promising a more family-friendly agenda this time out, but here’s betting she won’t skimp on the wacky.

Black Ensemble Theater’s popular and probably best known production, The Other Cinderella, is back for the holidays. Now in its 36th year, this urban twist on the fairy tale runs at Black Ensemble’s new space at 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago through January 13th.

The Handcuffs, who are accustomed to hearing their fetching indie music used on TV shows, will have their “Ooh Baby Baby” on tonight’s episode of Jersey Shore. It’s a track from the band’s Waiting For The Robot CD. Now that I've mentioned Jersey Shore, maybe I'll get thousands of hits on Broken Hearted Toy.

Interstate Arts, a group dedicated to making art and creativity part of everyday life, is staging Small Change Theater Episode 1: The Woods at Popps Packing in Hamtramck, MI in four shows next Friday and Saturday evening. The hour-long tale of various animals searching for love will feature life-size masks and puppetry, plus musical guests Diane Christiansen and Steve Dawson from the band Dolly Varden, and instrumentalist Colby Maddix. There’s suggested $8.00 donation, $3 for age 10 and younger.

James Moeller and Carla Hayden, founders of the Black Forest Theater group and Whitewolfsonicprincess alt rock band, are sponsoring their annual Toys For Tots Show at the Red Line Tap on Chicago’s northside next Saturday, December 8th. Some of the artists involved include The Telepaths, Tina Teske And Quarter Casey, The Red Apples, The Rut, and Whitewolfsonicprincess.

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