Slim Slumgullion

Photo from Dot Dot Dot Facebook page.

Slumgullion will be delayed this week.

A coed synth rock band that blends catchy originals and well-chosen cover tunes into a party atmosphere, Dot Dot Dot  has been playing gigs around the country for a few years now. They return home for a couple of Chicago area concerts this weekend, starting with a 10:30 show at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine tonight. The Personnel is also on the bill, admission is $5.00

Tomorrow night, Dot Dot Dot will be the featured entertainment at the Kiss It Gala/Benefit in Streamwood. The $75 admission fee to this black-tie optional event will help raise funds for Cancer Kiss My Cooley, a not-for-profit organization seeking to raise awareness about pediatric brain cancer. In addition to rocking and dancing to Dot Dot Dot, there will also includes dinner, cocktails, and a live auction. 

CD Review: Andy Stone - This Giant Awoke

Listening to singer/multi-instrumentalist Andy Stone breeze through his latest release, This Giant Awoke, it’s tempting to assume this stuff just comes easily to him. Still, it must have taken some preparation to craft the indelible melodies, clever rhymes, and gorgeous layered vocals he brings to these 10 tracks. A published novelist, Stone also shows a willingness to delve into emotional situations outside the realm of standard love songs.

“The Couple Sitting Next To Me” is set in a restaurant where he's seated uncomfortably close to a man and woman who’ve reached a crisis in their relationship. Stone cleverly compares aspects of their argument to hors d’oeuvres and entrees. “I Am The Adopted Kid” has such a fun arrangement it initially seems like it's going to be spooky, similar to Nightmare Before Christmas, but develops into a thought-provoking study of a boy trying to comprehend how his birth parents could have abandoned him. Other songs, like “Understanding Me” and “This Is It” almost have a Broadway feel.

“Welcome To Your Love” and “Another Rainy Day” might be too light and peppy for some cutting-edge rock fans, but Stone also serves up the ringing power pop of “Topsy-Turvy.” “Witnessing My Reveal” is a guitar-driven song about sharing your deepest secrets with a loved one, and the 1980s flavor of the title track adds even more variety to this entertaining effort.

45 RPM Memories: “Itchycoo Park”

Back in 1967, “Itchycoo Park” was just about the most psychedelic hit single on Top 40 radio. It’s probably the best-known song by The Small Faces in America, since the band was never quite as popular here as it was in England. Written by vocalist-guitarist Steve Marriot and bassist-vocalist Ronnie Lane, “Itchycoo Park” has a seductive melody and synthesized drums that sound like rockets or jet fighters. It’s done in a call and response vocal arrangement, as a lad tries to lead his classmates astray with promises of a mystical destination.

For us kids, it was hard to decipher all the lyrics; we thought “But why the tears there?” was “But why’s the cheese there?” Still, we could certainly identify with “You can miss out school/Why go to learn the words of fools?” The repeated line, “It’s so all too beautiful” sparked visions of a hippie paradise where everyone gets high.

I bought this particular copy on Record Store Day last year at the Reckless Records in downtown Chicago. At $11.49, it was one of the pricier 45 rarities, but it is a limited edition re-issue on the Immediate label, and included a limited edition postcard. 2012 was the year that The Small Faces were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.

Record Store Day will take place on April 20th this year.

CD Review: The Mint Chicks - Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No!

Note: This review originally ran in the January, 2008 issue of the Illinois Entertainer. Editor Steve Forstneger compiled the cover story, which was 25 Songs That Make Chicago Shake. Among the honorees were “Kind Of A Drag” by The Buckinghams, “Oh What A Night” by The Dells, John Prine’s “Sam Sloane,” Material Issue’s “Valerie Loves Me,” “Come Sail Away” by Styx, Cheap Trick’s “I Want You To Want Me,” and The Impressions’ “People Get Ready.”

In addition to the main Top 25 , there were shorter lists, broken down by genre. The Top Garage Rock Songs were: 1. “I Confess” - New Colony Six 2. “Gloria” - Shadows Of Knight 3. “Bend Me Shape Me” - The American Breed 4. “Sugar & Spice” - The Cryan Shames 5. Hold On” - The Mauds.

The Mint Chicks are a quartet of wiseguys who mix punk, new wave, power pop, and bizarre lyrics in a high-speed blender. Crazy? Yes! Dumb? No! was named Best Rock Album at the 2007 New Zealand Music Awards, before the band relocated to the less exotic Portland, Oregon. Their material is consistently manic, although The Mint Chicks, for better or worse, also offer a few twists and turns.

The best surprise is the melodic and slightly mellow “Ammie,” which suddenly places the band directly in The Smiths' territory. The worst is a silly, six minute instrumental called “100 Minutes of Silence.” Along the way, The Mint Chicks serve up a nonstop barrage of energetic gems, including the androgynous pop of “You’re Just As Confused As I Am,” the party song “Real Friends,” and the punk snippet “Don’t Turn Me On Just To Turn Me Off.”

Novel Review: The Blue Kind - By Kathryn Born

Full Disclosure: I used to write for Chicago Art Magazine. Kathryn Born was the founder and editor of that online publication. She is now coeditor of The Essential New Art Examiner. 

Kathryn Born's debut novel, The Blue Kind, drops readers into a chaotic future society where pretty much everyone is morally bankrupt. Rather than offer immediate explanations of why America has degenerated into a color-coded caste system of dealers and addicts, or how her three main characters became immortal, Born instead lets us navigate this rugged terrain on our own.

Alison, the novel's hard-edged main character, appears to be a teenager, but like her untrustworthy husband Cory and their addled mutual friend Ray, she's actually centuries old. Alison drops intriguing clues as she describes the monotony of her endless existence, and the squalid lifestyle she shares with Cory and Ray in an abandoned movie theatre. They have a desperate need to use mind and body altering drugs, as well as make a living by selling them.

Some readers might be disappointed that questions still remain after The Blue Kind has reached its surprise ending. I don’t think Born was interested in creating a thoroughly linear storyline. This is more of a feminist/sci-fi fable where men view their wives and girlfriends as collateral to be used while wheeling and dealing for more power and riches. I have another theory about The Blue Kind, but can’t discuss it without giving away too much of the book. What’s most important is that Alison is a three-dimensional and sympathetic character who’s willing to risk everything to achieve her freedom. 

Sunday Slumgullion

This past Friday’s Slumgullion was devoted to all things Beatle in honor of George Harrison’s upcoming 70th birthday. But there are some other happenings worth noting.

The new CD Hitmen by Big Boy Pete and The Squire is an unlikely alliance between 1960s British recording artist Pete Miller and New York-based producer/musician Christopher Zajkowski, who has recorded a number of power pop/psychedelic albums under the moniker, The Squires Of The Subterrain. Miller crafted the infectious melodies decades ago, and Zajkowski has updated the lyrics, often with an eye toward modern politics. Zajkowski played guitar, drums, and bass on the recordings, while Miller provided the quirky vocals. Billed as “A collaboration between two certified sanctified psychedolics,” Hitmen can be ordered Rocket Racket Records.  

The dates for this year’s International Pop Overthrow - Chicago haven’t been established yet, but the celebration of power pop and indie rock is likely to be staged here around the third week of April. In the meantime, this look at two of the acts scheduled for International Pop Overthrow - New York will provide prime examples of IPO founder David Bash’s knack for finding new talent. Brooklyn’s The Thigh-Highs tap into 1960s British Invasion pop for catchy songs like “Alice On The Moon” and use cool retro art for promoting their gigs. New York trio London Egg pursues a harder-edged power pop/blues sound on “Steal My Love” and go acoustic on “Fool Again.” I picked these bands because their names sounded interesting, but there’s sure to be several other worthy acts on the IPO - New York schedule. Can’t wait to see what Bash cooks up for Chicago.

Congratulations to musician/journalist/comic artist Dan Pavelich on his strip Just Say Uncle being signed  by Universal Press Syndicate for its GoComics website. Pavelich is asking people to support his efforts by subscribing to Just Say Uncle and clicking on it ever time it pops up on Facebook. You can subscribe by signing up to receive Just Say Uncle via email at GoComics.com free of charge, but there is also a paid subscription for $11.88, which allows you to subscribe to any other strips you want as well.

Singer-songwriter Phil Angotti, whose last effort was the introspective but engaging People And Places, recently noted on Facebook that he’s just about finished with the follow-up. Chloe F. Orwell, lead vocalist and guitarist for The Handcuffs, recently joined Angotti in the studio to help out. The Handcuffs  are currently working on their fourth release.

Slumgullion - George Version

Fans of George Harrison will have a variety of ways to celebrate his 70th birthday this weekend.

B4 And After,  a band comprised of veteran musicians, kicked things off with a Concert For George! at Blues Bar in Mount Prospect tonight, that covered his career from the early Beatles days on through to his solo work.

Pat DiNizio of The Smithereens will be performing Beatles songs at the Sears Corporate Center in Hoffman Estates tomorrow night as part of a fundraiser for the Hoffman Estates Loyal Parents Group. The Center is located at 3333 Beverly Road, the event kicks off at 6:00 PM.

On Breakfast With The Beatles this Sunday morning on WXRT, host Terri Hemmert will be doing a tribute to the man she affectionately calls, “the not so quiet Beatle.” Regular contributor/Beatles historian Professor Moptop will also be on hand, most likely offering behind-the-scenes looks at some of Harrison’s recordings. Listeners outside the Chicago area can stream the show through the station’s website.

Sir Frankie Crisp & Friends have recorded a digital-only charity single of “My Sweet Lord.”  I’m assuming the cover art is by Georgina Flood, since she posted a link to Amazon on her Facebook page. All proceeds from the sale of  “My Sweet Lord” will go to the AMREF Foundation, to help improve healthcare in Africa.

Flood also designed the official t shirt that will be given to the first 300 people to arrive at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York’s Times Square this Sunday when Q104.3 DJ Ken Dashow hosts a Breakfast With The Beatles celebration of Harrison’s 70th birthday. The charming Ms. Flood is flying in from Ireland to be part of the fun.

Fans can also celebrate by checking out  Enya Harrison RA’s  Happy 70th Birthday George Harrison! Facebook page where she’s been posting photos and some of her drawings.

The always informative online newsletter The Second Disc recently reported on the fifth collection of demos by artists signed to The Beatles’ Apple Publishing. All but three of the 24 tracks on 94 Baker Street Revisited  - Poptastic Sounds From The Apple Era 1967 - 1968 are previously unreleased.

Debbi and Vicki and Debbi Peterson of The Bangles were among several musicians performing Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Rubber Soul at the Wild Honey Orchestra benefit for the Autism Think Tank last Saturday in North Hollywood, CA. John Wicks from The Records and Matthew Sweet also took part. The Peterson sisters had a a sort of Paisley Underground reunion when they met up with Michael Quercio from The Three O’Clock backstage. The Three O’Clock covered “Lovely Rita Meter Maid.”

Director Ryan White has been given permission from Apple Corps to use the songs “I Saw Her Standing There,” “I Will,” “I Feel Fine,” and “Love Me Do” for his documentary about longtime Beatles Fan Club secretary Freda Kelly. Good Ol’ Freda will have its world premiere ar the SXSW Film Festival  next month in Austin, TX.