Four Auld Lang Synes, My Dear

Happy New Year to everyone who reads this blog, whether you’re going out to catch a live performance at a safe venue or staying home to avoid the dangers of COVID-19. Maybe celebrating NYE on your sofa was already a tradition due to the number of drunk drivers out and about on this holiday. The following is an edited version of a post that first appeared here on December 31, 2009.

One of the reasons people still get misty-eyed at the end of It’s A Wonderful Life is because all the family, friends, and neighbors singing “Auld Lang Syne” at the Bailey residence remind us of our own situation. The song has always conveyed a bittersweet ambience. A celebration of the loved ones we’ve cherished throughout our lives, and a recognition that for one reason or another, many of them have moved on. John Lennon explored a similar sentiment with The Beatles on “In My Life.”

There was a time when just about everybody thought of Guy Lombardo when it came to “Auld Lang Syne” since he and his Royal Canadians played it every New Year’s Eve for years on radio and TV. Nowadays, probably nobody under 50 even knows who he is, although his version is available on iTunes and YouTube. Somehow, it sounds particularly melancholy.

“Auld Lang Syne” continues to be covered by various musicians. The version by The Smithereens on Christmas With The Smithereens opens with the band harmonizing like a barbershop quartet before the guitars and drums kick in. From there, it morphs into a pulsating surf rock tune that’s predominantly instrumental.

Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken also tackled the song as part of group called Husky Team. This inspired and fun instrumental take, from the Hi-Fi Christmas Party Volume 2 CD, mixes “Auld Lang Syne” with the Booker T & The MG’s 1960s hit, “Green Onions.”

My favorite version of “Auld Lang Syne” comes from a New Jersey band called The Cucumbers and can be found on the Ho Ho Ho Spice CD. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a link to this song, so you’ll have to trust my description. The guitar-driven, slightly Celtic, power pop arrangement and Deena Shoskkes’s spirited vocals cast out any trace of sadness and offer instead an exhilarating sense of triumph. The journey’s over and the quest has been successful. That doesn’t quite fit 2021, which was another emotionally draining year. But we survived it, and if we all work together, can hope for happier and healthier circumstances in 2022.

Incoming

The David Bowie tribute band Sons Of The Silent Age will once again have special guests at its annual Bowie Birthday Bash at Metro in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood. This time around, actor Michael Shannon—who’s worked with SOTSA in the past— and musician Jason Narducy have put together a band that will perform a set of T. Rex songs. Tickets for the event, which takes place on January 8, are $25 in advance and $30 on the day of the show. A portion of the proceeds will benefit cancer patients at the NorthShore University HealthSystem’s Integrative Medicine Program.

Just when it looked like this New Year’s Eve would be more open and festive than the 2020 version, venues around the Chicago area have started announcing cancellations due to the spread of the Omicron strain. Before heading out this Friday, make sure the venue of your choice isn’t in lockdown, and be sure to bring proof of being vaccinated.

Requesting proof of vaccination is nothing new for several venues in the Chicago area, as FitzGerald’s in Berwyn pointed out on its website and social media. Unfortunately, the long-running and critically acclaimed club just cancelled its Lydia Loveless and Andrew Sa show scheduled for this New Year’s Eve. An Instagram post stated, “Out of an abundance of caution, we have made the difficult decision to cancel our upcoming shows at FitzGerald’s on New Year’s Eve and January 1st, 2022.” 

Montrose Saloon on Chicago’s north side will ring in the new year with the David Bowie tribute band Super Creeps; rockabilly/garage rockers Amazing Heeby Jeebies; Smithereens tribute band Green Thoughts; and David Ashdown. The music starts at 8:00 pm.

The BoDeans will be performing at The Des Plaines Theatre in suburban Des Plaines on New Year’s Eve. Two weeks later, the venue will offer The Gilmour Project - Pink Floyd Tribute.

Los Lobos have a performance coming up this Thursday at City Winery Chicago, and will be back at that same venue on the next night to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

Unfortunately, this week's flight of Poi Dog Pondering shows at SPACE in Evanston have all been cancelled due to COVID-19 complications.

The Goodman Theatre in downtown Chicago has cancelled the remaining dates for its annual presentation of A Christmas Carol due to the recent COVID-19 surge. It’s undoubtedly a major disappointment for the cast and crew of this cherished show, as well as for the ticket holders who were looking forward to seeing it. Goodman will be streaming a production on its website. Tickets for the stream are $25.

Elvis Costello’s new album The Boy Named If is available as part of an 88-page hardcover storybook written by him. In a recent Instagram post, Costello explained, “Whatever you take out of these tales, I wrote them for you and to make the life of these songs a little less lonely, if you should care to dive in a little deeper.”

Author Brian J. Kramp has a book titled This Band Has No Past: How Cheap Trick Became Cheap Trick coming out in June 2022.

 

The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre in Arlington Heights will kick off  2022 with three tribute concerts in the first month. Tara Vaughan’s She Rocks show on January 7 honors a variety of well-known women performers. A week later, the Metropolis presents A Van Morrison Party with The Soul Commitments; and on January 15, the band Marrakesh Express will play the music of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar And Grill, a tribute to Billie Holiday, opens on January 27 and will run through March 12 at The Metropolis.

The Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago will present Too Hot To Handel - The Jazz-Gospel Messiah on January 15 and 16. It’s an original concept by Marin Alsop, arranged by Bob Christianson and Gary Anderson.

The critically acclaimed alt rock/Americana band Over The Rhine recently announced on Facebook that its December 18 career-spanning concert at Memorial Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio was filmed and is now available for fans to view via a private link.

According to The Hollies Official Facebook page, the band played its first gig using that name right around this time in 1962. While it’s commonly believed the name was chosen to honor Buddy Holly, another credible explanation is that Graham Nash, Allan Clarke, etc. picked it because of the holly strung throughout the Oasis club that evening. There’s an extensive feature story about The Hollies on the Abbey Road website. Written by long-time Abbey Road employee Cameron Colbeck, it offers a detailed study of the band’s recording achievements.

I came across the Abbey Road Hollies profile after seeing a post on The Zombies Official Instagram page celebrating the fact that The Zombies had been chosen as one of Abbey Road’s A-Z of Artists who had recorded at the studio. Congratulations to Colin Blunstone, Rod Argent, and the other lads.

Congratulations to Patti Smith on being given the ceremonial Key To New York City on her birthday earlier this week.

Also, a shoutout to the Martyrs’ music venue on Lincoln Avenue for packing a semi-trailer with tons of food donations to be distributed to the victims of the recent tornadoes in Kentucky.

Christmas Dinner

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it, and best wishes to everyone for a healthy planet overflowing with peace and harmony for years to come. I’ve spent a fair amount of time these past two days scrolling through social media and reading festive messages from celebrities as well as acquaintances. If a funny or appropriate response comes to mind, I’ll make a Comment, but if not, I’ll just respond with a Like. Either way, I enjoyed and appreciated the sentiment that was posted.

There’s also something reassuring about checking in with former fellow employees from several years back. If it were physically and financially possible, I would throw an Old Fezziwig party for all the friends I made in workplaces and on creative projects over the decades. Along with all the entertainers who have given me the privilege of writing about their work. Instead, I’ll have to settle for raising a toast and saying, “Thank you, one and all.”

The Hollies recently posted a holiday greeting for their fans via a short clip on Facebook. Narrated by drummer Bobby Elliott, it was mostly about the band’s 2022 U.K. and U.S. tours. But Elliott also made a reference to he and guitarist/vocalist Tony Hicks working with Mary McCartney (Paul’s daughter) at Abbey Road Studios on an upcoming documentary. McCartney has been working on a film about the iconic recording facility, so I’m guessing that’s what Mr. Elliott meant. It would make sense that Mary McCartney would check in with The Hollies since they recorded so much great material at Abbey Road.

Speaking of The Hollies, it was 55 years ago on this day that I acquired Here! Hear!, my very first record by the band. It was a gift from one of my older brothers. I had asked for the single “Stop Stop Stop” and he reasoned correctly that if I liked one song by them I’d like 12 more, even if they were on an older album. I’ve been Hollies fan ever since.

Congratulations to WLUW DJ and longtime Chicago music supporter Di Kulka on her December 18 marriage to John Mitch Piteo. Instead of going to the chapel, the couple chose to tie the knot onstage at Montrose Saloon during a set by one of their favorite bands—The Handcuffs. 

There will be more celebrating at the north side music venue next Friday, December 31 when the David Bowie tribute band Super Creeps; rockabilly/garage rockers Amazing Heeby Jeebies; Smithereens tribute band Green Thoughts; and David Ashdown ring in 2022 with sets of live music. The music starts at 8:00 pm.

The BoDeans will be performing at The Des Plaines Theatre in suburban Des Plaines on New Year’s Eve. I hope to post a more extensive list of NYE options in the near future.

The critically acclaimed alt rock/Americana band Over The Rhine recently announced on Facebook that its December 18 career-spanning concert at Memorial Hall in Cincinnati, Ohio was filmed and is now available for fans to view via a private link. A message from Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist reads: “May these few hours of music, conversation, laughter and even a few healing tears, bring some extra joy to your holiday season.”

I’ve previously mentioned A Life In Focus by Graham Nash and Decades - The Bee Gees In The 1960s by Andrew Mon Hughes, Grant Walters, and Mark Crohan, both of which I gifted myself for Christmas. Here’s another rock and roll reading suggestion. Guitarist/vocalist Dave Davies from The Kinks has announced his new memoir Living  On A Thin Line will be published on July 7, 2022.

Posts Of Christmas Past

With Christmas just three days away, it seems like a good time to revisit some of my favorite holiday albums. The following list originally ran on Christmas Day, 2015, but I had given each of these treasures more extensive coverage in previous years. Check out December listings in the Broken Hearted Toy archives for more holiday music related posts.

In 2007, The Smithereens brought their power pop approach to a mix of originals and cover versions on Christmas With The Smithereens. “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.

Released in 2002, Hi-Fi Christmas Party was put together by vocalist-bassist Dan Pavelich to help fund research for Von Willibrand’s disease, a bleeding disorder that had stricken his daughter. This easy-going holiday compilation included contributions from several local and national power pop acts. Pavelich led his band The Bradburys through the romantic and highly energetic “I Love It When It Snows!” Other artists involved with this worthy effort included Don Dixon, The Jellybricks, Andrea Perry, The Ted Ansani Trio, Lisa Mychols, and The Spongetones.

On Hi-Fi Christmas Party Volume 2, Pavelich kept the focus on original 1960s-style power pop, although The Elvis Brothers traveled back a little further on their very fun “Rock-A-Billy Christmas.” Lisa Mychols joined The Wondermints on the Leslie Gore-influenced “Lost Winter’s Dream,” and Husky Team, which included Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken, delightfully mixed “Auld Lang Syne” with “Green Onions.” Volume 2 also featured The Grip Weeds, Jeremy, The Bradburys, Rob Paravonian, Joey Molland and The Echo Boys, The Spongetones, and The Brothers Figaro Orchestra.

Hi-Fi Christmas Party Volume Three followed in the amiable tradition of its two predecessors, with another selection of mostly original material. Sketch Middle’s “Very Very, Merry Merry” had an energetic power pop buzz, and The Jigsaw Seen’s “What About Christmas?” was another highlight. The Click Beetles, a Pavelich side project with drummer Ed James; The Yule Logs; The Sun Kings; Jamie and Steve from The Spongetones; and Jim Babjak of The Smithereens also contributed catchy holiday tunes.

Yuletunes, an ambitious collection of original Christmas songs recorded by various power pop artists, came out in 1991 on Shoes’ Black Vinyl label. In addition to the shimmering “This Christmas” by Shoes, the classic collection included Matthew Sweet's reverent “Baby Jesus,” Material Issue’s powerful “Merry Christmas Will Do,” The Idea’s wistful “It’s About That Time,” and the more introspective “A God Of My Own” by 92 Degrees. Leroy offered the comedic “Santa Stole My Baby,” Kelly Ryan captured the heartache of missing someone on the holiday with “It’s Not Christmas,” and Herb Eimerman celebrated family traditions with “You Gave Me.”

Most of the bands on A Kool Kat Kristmas Volume Two took a cheerful approach to the holiday, even when it comes under unusual circumstances. As with Volume One, a portion of the proceeds for each sale went to the Susan Giblin Foundation For Animal Wellness and Welfare. “Christmas Is Coming Again” by The Pencils (who reunited for this effort) and “Snowbirds” by The Honeymoon Stallions celebrated holiday traditions, using lush harmony vocals and ringing guitars. The Connection used playful, old time music on “Poor Boy” while proclaiming that you don’t needs loads of money to enjoy Christmas as long as you’ve got rock and roll. Shake Some Action and The Tor Guides adroitly employed mid-1960s jangle for songs about observing the Yuletide in non-freezing weather and getting cool records as gifts on “Christmas In The Sun” and “Beatles Vinyl,” respectively. Other acts on board included Split Second, Dan Kibler, The Bottle Kids, and The Genuine Fakes.

Back in 1993, Christmas Time with Chris Stamey And Friends had the feel of an old-fashioned variety show. Chris Stamey, a founding member of The dB’s, played host, and kicked things off with the catchy “Christmas Time.” Stamey also teamed up with vocalist-guitarist Wes Lachot for the wistful “Christmas Is The Only Time (I Think Of You)” and joined vocalist-keyboards player Cathy Harrington on the high-charged romance of “You’re What I Want For Christmas.” Big Star checked in with an original rocking hymn called “Jesus Christ,” and founder Alex Chilton offered a positively cozy acoustic version of “The Christmas Song.” Vocalist-guitarist Peter Holsapple of The dB’s served up a simple but beautiful “O Holy Night.” Brent and Kristen Lambert, Syd Straw, The dB’s, Don Dixon, and Marshall Crenshaw also took part in the this rock and roll Christmas classic, which has been expanded a few times over the years.

Guitarist/actor/radio show host Little Steven Van Zandt morphed into a crazed Santa for the ambitious 2008 holiday compilation Christmas A Go Go. He threw in some genuine rarities, like a surf rock reinvention of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” delivered by 1950s kids show host, Soupy Sales and actor Joe Pesci's wiseguy treatment of Gene Autry’s “If It Doesn’t Snow On Christmas.” The Boss Martians gave Charles Dickens a spin with their high speed rock song, “3 Ghosts (A Modern X-mas Carol),” and The Electric Prunes created a psychedelic and slightly unsettling version of “Jingle Bells.” Other highlights included The Kinks’ funny but ultimately goodhearted “Father Christmas” and Keith Richards romping through Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run.” Darlene Love’s “All Alone On Christmas” (written by Van Zandt and featuring him and The E Street Band), and Tina Sugandh’s “White Christmas,” with its gorgeous vocals and exotic sitars and tablas arrangement, were also standout tracks.

From Down Under For Under Your Tree

If anyone can compete with Santa for dependable holiday gift delivery, it’s Aussie musician Joe Algeri. “Happy New Year Blues,” his latest release as The JAC, marks the 21st year he’s offered a musical reflection on the season via his Egomaniac Bandcamp page. It’s currently available as a free download. As the title suggests, Algeri's new effort underscores the challenge of welcoming a new year when you weren’t particularly thrilled with the previous two.

The mid-tempo song has a hint of The Rolling Stones’ “Dead Flowers,” but also sports the ringing guitar and distinctive lead vocals we’ve come to expect from Algeri. His daughter Hanna Algeri and bassist Herb Eimerman add texture with their backing vocals, while drummer Stefan Johansson, violinist Lars Brusel, and lead guitarist Andy Brinkkila provide instrumental support. “Happy New Year Blues” opens with the cryptic imagery of, “In a crumbled bridesmaid dress/I tried once again and you knew best” and continues in that mode until closing line, “I don’t understand and I won’t forever more.”

Maybe the lyrics are designed to personify time or the new year itself, but whatever the meaning, it’s another fun and catchy holiday present from Joe Algeri and his mates. 

Slumgullion

As I type this blog, I’m listening to an R.E.M. concert from 1984 on WXRT radio. The show was recorded at The Aragon Ballroom and was the largest venue the band had played in Chicago at that time. XRT has an ongoing series of vintage concerts on Friday nights. Next week’s program will be a recording of Joe Jackson at The Vic. 

Later this evening, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss will perform a song or two on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Plant and Krauss recently released Raise The Roof, the long-awaited follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2007 album Raising Sand.

Joni Mitchell will be honored as Person Of The Year at the Recording Academy MusiCares benefit gala being held on January 29. The event will feature performances by Graham Nash, Black Pumas, Brandi Carlile, Herbie Hancock, James Taylor, John Batiste, Leon Bridges, Maggie Rogers; Mickey Guyton, and Pentatonix. MusiCares supports the health and wellbeing of the music community.

I picked up a December issue of the Illinois Entertainer at The Music Room musical instruments store in Palatine earlier today. The cover story is Tom Lanham’s interview with Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, and it’s interesting that these guys have previously crossed paths. Elsewhere in the issue, long-time contributor Jeff Elbel offers his take on the 30th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition of Nirvana’s Nevermind and 40th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition of Tattoo You by The Rolling Stones. I remember from the days when I did freelance writing for IE, that writers get to keep the box sets they review. So, a nice haul for Mr. Elbel this month. 

  

Tickets are now on sale for Eddier Vedder And The Earthlings, along with Glen Hansard at the Auditorium Theatre on February 9; Manchester Orchestra, Foxling, and Michigander at the Riveria Theatre on March 9; Del Amitri with Kris Dollimore at The Vic on April 11; and Haim with Sasami at the Huntington Bank Pavilion on June 3. Congratulations to Alana Haim on being named Most Promising Performer at the 2021 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards for her role in the feature film Licorice Pizza. From what I’ve read, she’s likely to pick up more awards in the coming year.

The above info comes from the Early Warnings page in the December 9 issue of the Chicago Reader. That issue also has music critic Leor Galil’s extensive profile on Neo, the northside alternative dance club that closed in 2015 after an impressive run. The Chicago Reader is available in Chicago’s downtown and north side area, as well as by subscription.

There’s a triple bill of The Handcuffs, The Spindles, and Go Time! coming to Montrose Saloon tomorrow night. All three acts have garnered favorable albums reviews here on Broken Hearted Toy, and are well worth seeing in a live performance. The Handcuffs will kick things off a 8:00 pm; followed by The Spindles at 9:00 and Go Time! at 10:00. Montrose Saloon is located at 2933 W. Montrose Avenue.

Wilco founding member and solo artist Jeff Tweedy will be performing with a full band at Metro on Chicago’s north side next week on December 22 and 23. As noted on the venue’s Facebook page, tickets are almost all sold out for the first night.

Tickets are now available for the Chrissie Hynde and Co. Perform Bob Dylan (And Other Songs)  streaming event coming up on December 27. Hyde will performing songs from her Standing In The Doorway album, which was released earlier this year.

The Coco And Blu Cafe in Arlington Heights will be celebrating its second anniversary this Sunday night, December 19. Congratulations and best wishes for continued success.

There’s a Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters coming to Palatine, taking over the space Starbucks once occupied in the train station. My wife Pam and I have become regular customers for a number of cafes in our area, including the Conscious Cup in Barrington; CoCo and Blu and Around Cafe in Arlington Heights; Long Grove Coffee and Covered Bridge Creamery in Long Grove; Stomping Grounds in Lake Zurich; and Green Joe in Schaumburg. We enjoy supporting local businesses, getting to know the employees, and catching a caffeine buzz at lunch time.

Here’s hoping everyone enjoys the final weeks of the holiday season and keeps safe. Good luck finding those last-minute gifts, and don’t forget to help out a few worthy causes while you’re in the generous spirit.  

A Genuine Hollie Day

With Christmas only nine days off, it seems fitting to celebrate the birthday of a musician whose band chose its name in honor of a flowering plant that’s particularly popular during the festive season. Tony Hicks, lead guitarist/vocalist for The Hollies from their early days in Manchester, turned 75 today. Along with Graham Nash and Allan Clarke, he was an essential part of the innovative three-part harmonies that became the band’s trademark. Hicks has been credited with coming up with the opening riff for several of the group’s classic songs, including “Look Through Any Window,” “The Air That I Breathe,” and “Bus Stop.” Surprisingly, he didn’t create the intro for “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress”—that one came from Clarke.

Hicks and fellow December birthday boy Bobby Elliott still perform with The Hollies; the only current members who were onboard during the band’s 1960s impressive run of chart-topping hit singles. The Hollies will make a long-awaited return to America in 2022, including a Chicago stop on April 7. If you need some gift ideas for that avid Hollies fan on your list (or for yourself), Bobby Elliott recently released his autobiography It Ain't Heavy, It’s My Story - My Life In The Hollies, and Graham Nash recently released a book of photos and commentary titled A Life In Focus. And for the gift that keeps on giving, you can find some great photos by following any number of Hollies and Tony Hicks related sites on Instagram.