Weekend Suggestions And Reminders

Today’s post is focused on events taking place this weekend that were previously mentioned here on Broken Hearted Toy, plus a few brand new items. This gives readers an extra day’s notice, and since the events won’t be repeated in tomorrow’s Slumgullion, helps streamline Friday’s post. Slumgullion won’t be entirely new. I’ll keep mentioning upcoming events up to and including the Thursday prior to the weekend they take place.

The 10th Annual Super Nova Ska Festival will be held this weekend at Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA. British pioneering ska act The Selecter, still led by Pauline Black, will be the main draw with its performance on the last day. Other acts include Roy Ellis with The Aggrolites; Skavoovie and the Epitones; Five Iron Frenzy; and Catbite. A total of 38 acts, from 8 countries are scheduled to appear.

Over 120 artists will display their work at the 19th Annual Lakeview Festival Of The Arts this Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm. The event will be held on Chicago’s north side between Belmont and Hawthorne on Broadway. It will also feature live music until 10:00 pm on Saturday, and until 7:00 pm on Sunday. Local power pop band The Spindles, who have a new album coming out next March, will perform at 4:30 on Sunday. See the official website for the entire schedule. 

The Chicago Underground Film Festival, which bills itself as the longest running underground film festival in the world, opened tonight and will run through the weekend, primarily at Harper Theater (5238 South Harper Avenue). Just Above The Surface Of The Earth, scheduled at 7:30 pm on Sunday at the Gene Siskel Film Center, will be the final screening of this year’s event.

 

Chicago-based, guitar-powered instrumental band Outronaut will likely include its rollicking new song “Riot Flower” during this Saturday’s performance at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn. Their gig starts at 7:00 pm.

Nick Lowe’s Indoor Safari, his first album in 11 years and another joint effort with Los Straitjackets, is coming out tomorrow. That’s when we’ll also see the release of  White Noise And Lightning: The Best Of Continental Drifters.

Even as we approach mid-September, it’s still possible to enjoy live entertainment in a picturesque outdoor setting this weekend at the Northman Riverwalk in downtown Chicago. The venue’s DJ series continues this Saturday from 3:00 to 6:00 pm as Chicago-based DJ KØRA crafts an energetic blend of house and techno. Sunday brings the smooth jazz of MarLo2da$ki from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Looking ahead to September 20 – 22, The Northman Riverwalk will kick off the first of two special Oktoberfest Weekends. 

The Sound He Appears To Make

Reviews and news regarding recordings.

Long-time Hollies fans were pleasantly surprised when the recent album The Hollies BBC Sessions 1963 - 1964 -1965 seemed to arrive without any previous notice. A vinyl-only release from the Rhythm And Blues label, this collection offers 16 previously unreleased live tracks that aired on British radio programs. The earliest recordings show a dependence on cover versions of hit singles by American recording artists, but The Hollies bring their own approach to each of them. Particularly in terms of harmony vocals and Tony Hicks’ energetic guitar playing.

“Stay” and “Searchin’” were the hit singles that first put The Hollies on the British charts (American success would come a few years later), and they covered “Mickey’s Monkey,” “Nitty Gritty” and “Something’s Got A Hold On Me” for their albums. These live versions on BBC Sessions evoke a fun, sock hop atmosphere, while “Yes I Will” and “I’m Alive” find the Hollies moving toward a more sophisticated mid-60s sound. The collection also showcases the catchy originals “We’re Through,” “You Know He Did,” and “Nobody” that band members Graham Nash, Allan Clarke, and Hicks wrote under the pseudonym L. Ransford.

When the Chicago-based power pop band The Spindles follow up their impressive 2018 effort Past And Present with a new album next March, they plan to aim for a similar mix of catchy originals and a few well-chosen covers. As a preview, The Spindles recently posted a video on Facebook that matches their cover of The Elvis Brothers rarity “Rock For It” with a montage of The Elvis Brothers themselves performing at various times in their career. Quite a nice tribute. I’ve also heard The Spindles are looking to record another Hollies song—they faithfully covered “Look Through Any Window” on Past And Present—for the upcoming album.

Steven Delisi, a founding member of the power pop band The Thin Cherries, has a solo album coming out September 20. In the meantime, he’s released “New Valentine,” a clever and catchy single about searching for love. Delisi gets solid backing on the recording from local musicians John Abbey, Gerald Dowd, Matt Pittman, and Mike Hagler.

The October 25 release date for Burned, the fifth album from Chicago-based punk band The Effigies, will come a little over a year after we lost founding member John Kezdy in a bicycle accident. Kezdy had finished recording the album just prior to his death, and after what the official Effigies Facebook page described as “a very challenging year,” it’s ready to go. The Effigies recently released the hard-hitting single “Cede The City” as a preview on various streaming sites.

Listening to the original concept recording of Ladyship The Musical, it’s easy to understand the success of its stage production at the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts in Eureka, CA this past summer. The show, with music and lyrics composed by Linda and Laura Good, is based on the true story of how England shipped women convicts to Australia from 1789 to 1841. The heavy subject matter was a change for Linda and Laura, who started out as a folk duo called The Good Twins on the Chicago club scene. Later, they gave us catchy and inventive alt rock songs such as “Blue,” “Lucky,” and “It’s Alright” with their full band The Twigs.

Ladyship’s rollicking first track “Seven Years” establishes an accusation that resonates throughout the musical; that the only crime these women committed was that they lived in poverty. The pretty “A Way Out” strikes a more hopeful note, and the ornate “Ready To Begin” offers genuine romance. On the other hand, “Pour Another Rum” sets the lecherous urges of the ship’s crew to a sea shanty, which makes “Only The Strong Survive” more meaningful. Songs such as “The Emerald Wye” and “The Bonnie Sea” tap into traditional Celtic fare, while “I Need An Anchor” and “I’ll Find A Way” are heartfelt ballads. The accapella “Sparrow Sparrow” is another highlight. The full cast includes several Broadway veterans; including Maddie Shea Baldwin, Savannah Frazier, Lisa Karlin, Annie Sherman, Quentin Oliver Lee, Brandi Knox, and Trevor St. John-Gilbert.

Slumgullion

Note: For information on events coming up this weekend, check out yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post.

Tickets are now on sale for The Fleshtones' gig at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn on November 8. The long-time, critically acclaimed garage rockers will no doubt feature songs from their latest supernatural-influenced album Face Of The Screaming Werewolf. That evening will also feature Chicago area favorites, New Duncan Imperials (celebrating their 35th year) and The Handcuffs.

Happy Birthday to Henry Diltz, who’s been an iconic photographer of rock and roll artists for several decades now. He’s best known for his work (including album covers) with Crosby, Stills and Nash and The Doors; as well as with The Eagles, America, The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Hollies, and other bands.

On the subject of birthdays, legendary rhythm and blues vocalist Mavis Staples has an 85th Hometown Birthday Celebration coming up on December 6 at The Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago. That’s five months after her actual 85th birthday, but it’s not likely anyone will complain. The event is part of the 93XRT Fall Jam Series, and will feature special guest sets by Jackson Browne and Margo Price. The WXRT radio station promises to reveal more details this Monday morning at 10:00 am; tickets go on sale September 13.

Issues of Second Scene, the very cool, Pittsburgh-based alternative rock publication, can be purchased for $7 (plus shipping) per copy on its Bandcamp page.

Soundtrack Serenade, the self-described “Chicago-Based Eclectic Cover Band,” will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the cult classic Pulp Fiction on October 22 at Montrose Saloon on the city’s north side.

Aussie garage rockers the Hoodoo Gurus return to the U.S.A. with a concert at the House Of Blues in Houston, TX tonight. Their tour will include stops in New Orleans, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, New York, Nashville, Chicago (Thalia Hall on September 18), Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego. After treating American audiences to several albums worth of great tunes, the Hoodoo Gurus will return to their homeland for a series of shows starting on November 14.

As noted in this week’s special Fall Festival Guide issue of Streetwise, the Chicago Underground Film Festival opens next Wednesday at the Gene Siskel Film Center and Harper Theater, and will run through Sunday, September 15. Streetwise, which benefits homeless people, is available from vendors in the downtown Chicago area

Trouser Press Books, which gave us The Best Of Trouser Press Magazine - 1974 – 1984 earlier this year, will offer new editions of two previously released rock and roll books on October 15. This Ain’t No Disco combines Roman Kozak’s prose with Ebet Robert’s photography to capture the unbridled atmosphere of the CBGB rock club, and Robert Sellers and Nick Pendleton co-author a look at the famous Marquee club in swinging London. Both books will be available for pre-sale soon; see the official Trouser Press website for details. 

Chicago-based, guitar-powered instrumental band Outronaut will likely include its rollicking new song “Riot Flower” during next Saturday’s performance at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn. After that, it looks as though Outronaut will take a break for a while. Here’s hoping Steve Gerlach and the lads are back with us soon.

The 10th Annual Super Nova Ska Festival will be held next weekend at Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA. British pioneering ska act The Selecter, still led by Pauline Black, will be the main draw with its performance on the last day. Other artists include Roy Ellis with The Aggrolites; Skavoovie and the Epitones; Five Iron Frenzy; and Catbite. A total of 38 acts, from 8 countries are scheduled to appear.

Congratulations to musician/author Freda Love Smith of Blake Babies and Sunshine Boys fame on being chosen as Bloom Magazine’s Inaugural Resident. She'll be working on her novel Daughter Universe at The Hundredth Hill Artist retreat center in Bloomington, Indiana. 

Congratulations to Pop Art Sports Cards on its fifth anniversary of creating rock and roll trading cards that mimic the baseball cards many of us collected as kids. To mark the occasion, PASC is offering Limited Edition packs of 15 trading cards that include a stick of gum. Fans who order a PASC Limited Edition pack can choose each of the 15 cards, so there’s no danger of your favorite player not being included. Anyone interested in assembling their team can contact Pop Art Sports Cards at popartsportscards@gmail.com or check out the Pop Art Sports Card public Facebook page. 

Autographed copies of Neko Case's new memoir The Harder I Fight the More I Love You are available to pre-order from Premiere Collectibles. Case is a member of The New Pornographers indie rock band, as well as a successful solo artist.

Smoking Popes plan to release a Live-In-Studio 30th Anniversary vinyl edition of their second album Born To Quit on September 27. The Chicago-based alt rock band, led by vocalist-guitarist Josh Caterer, recently performed at the Troubadour in West Hollywood. The Get Up Kids will be the opening act for a tour that wraps up shows in Chicago at Metro on October 10 and 11.

Music industry veteran Dean Brownrout will have a book release party for his No Big Deal memoir at the Marble + Rye bar/lounge in New York on September 30.

A new DVD titled Taking The City By Storm - The Birth Of Milwaukee’s Punk Scene, is now available for $26. Billed as “A documentary focusing on the progression of Milwaukee’s Protopunk, Power Pop, Punk and New Wave,” it was produced by Judy Simonds and Clancy Carroll and directed and edited by Doug LaValliere. The DVD can be purchased by sending a direct message to the official Taking The City By Storm - The Birth Of Milwaukee’s Punk Scene Facebook page.

As of yesterday, V–U2, a new, immersive film featuring concert footage from U2’s extensive run at the mind-altering Sphere venue in Las Vegas will be screened exclusively at the Sphere.

 

Chicago: Home Of House, an exhibit honoring the city’s pivotal role in widespread success of house music over the past 40 years, runs through the end of October on Navy Pier, near Kilwin's (between doors 5 and 6). 

The forever-suave Roxy Music frontman and solo performer Bryan Ferry will release the 81-track Retrospective - Bryan Ferry 1973 – 2023 on October 25. Available on colored vinyl or as a 5-CD deluxe box set, it will include new and unreleased recordings, along with extensive liner notes and rare photography. It’s currently available for pre-order from his official website.

The 19th Annual Lakeview Festival Of The Arts will be held next weekend (September 14 and 15) on Chicago’s north side. Local power pop band The Spindles, who have a new album of catchy originals and a few well-chosen covers coming out next March, are among the many live music acts scheduled to perform at the fest.

Steve Wynn from The Dream Syndicate is now also an author, with a memoir titled I Wouldn't Say It If It Wasn't True now available from Jawbone Press. Copies are available on Wynn’s Bandcamp page, which is also where you can pre-order his a new solo album Make It Right. 

Jeff Lynne’s ELO The Over And Out Tour throughout the USA is now under way and will wrap up in California with shows on October 23 and 25 at Sacramento and Inglewood respectively. Lynne will perform at the United Center in Chicago on September 27 and 28. 

Weekend Reminders

Today’s post is focused on events taking place this weekend that I’ve mentioned previously on Broken Hearted Toy. This gives readers an extra day’s additional notice, and since the events won’t be repeated in tomorrow’s Slumgullion, helps streamline my Friday post. Slumgullion won’t be entirely new. I’ll keep mentioning upcoming events up to and including the Thursday prior to the weekend they take place.

But first, Happy Birthday to Tammi Sonnen, an avid supporter of Chicago’s vibrant music scene, and someone I’ve enjoyed speaking with a few times at International Pop Overthrow showcases. Have a fun time celebrating.

The Hopscotch Music Festival opens tonight in Raleigh, NC and will run through Saturday. The extensive list of scheduled performers includes St. Vincent; The dB’s (kicking off their reunion tour); Ducks Ltd.; Guided By Voices; Chicano Batman; and Ty Segall (solo acoustic). The event will also feature comedy acts, local vendors, and VIP parties. 

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Steve Dawson will start a fall tour in support of his latest album, Ghosts, on Saturday in St. Louis, MO. He’ll perform in his home town on September 15 and nearby Arlington Heights, IL on September 28.

 

The 39th Annual Printers Row Lit Fest will take place from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm this Saturday and Sunday on south Dearborn Street, from Ida B. Wells Drive to Polk Street. Over 200 presenters and 100 exhibitors will be on hand, with six stages to accommodate various forms of entertainment. Pulitzer Prize-winning poet/U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith will be the headliner, and several familiar names from the media will appear. See the official website for thumbnail sketches of all the speakers, the full schedule, and other information. Attendees will also find vendors selling new and antique books, as well as independent writers and small publishers promoting their work. Admission is free.

Even though the first days of September seem to signal the end of summer, there are still a few more weeks to enjoy live music outdoors at the Northman Riverwalk in downtown Chicago. Tomorrow night from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, visitors can enjoy watching The Lizard Kings blend blues and psychedelic rock. The Northman Riverwalk is located on the Chicago River at 233 N. Riverwalk. 

Bandcamp Friday returns tomorrow, which means the music site waives its revenue share and allows the funds to go directly to artists & labels. It's a great way to download your songs by your favorite bands. 

Read All About It

Trouser Press Books, which gave us The Best Of Trouser Press Magazine - 1974 – 1984 earlier this year, will offer new editions of two previously released rock and roll books on October 15. This Ain’t No Disco combines Roman Kozak’s prose with Ebet Robert’s photography to capture the unbridled atmosphere of New York’s CBGB rock club, and Robert Sellers and Nick Pendleton co-author a look at one of swinging London’s most famous clubs with Marquee. Both books will be available for pre-sale soon; see the official Trouser Press website for details.

The 39th Annual Printers Row Lit Fest will take place from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm this Saturday and Sunday on south Dearborn Street, from Ida B. Wells Drive to Polk Street. Over 200 presenters and 100 exhibitors will be on hand, with six stages to accommodate various forms of entertainment. Pulitzer Prize-winning poet/U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith will be the headliner, and several familiar names from the media will appear. See the official website for thumbnail sketches of all speakers, the full schedule, and other information. Attendees will also find vendors selling new and antique books, as well as independent writers and small publishers promoting their work. Admission is free.

Autographed copies of Neko Case's new memoir The Harder I Fight the More I Love You are available to pre-order from Premiere Collectibles. Case is a member of The New Pornographers indie rock band, as well as a successful solo artist.

Music industry veteran Dean Brownrout will have a book release party for his No Big Deal memoir at the Marble + Rye  bar/lounge in New York on September 30.

As for my own aspirations to get a book published, I’m currently preparing my YA rock and roll/paranormal/romance novel for a literary agent who has agreed to look at a few chapters. I’ve been this far in the process with previous agents without success, so wish me luck. I believe the changes I’m making will improve my chances for publication.

I just received the copy of Second Scene Issue 18 I ordered from the publication’s Bandcamp page, and I’m looking forward to checking it out. I discovered Second Scene when I noticed the Reckless Records store on Milwaukee Avenue here in Chicago had free copies, and seeing recent social media posts from musician Jonathan Lea mentioning it inspired to see if there was a way to subscribe. (His new impressive project Tall Poppy Syndrome is covered in the current issue.) Second Scene is based in Pittsburgh, and reminds of the alternative rock publications I’ve picked up in various cities over the decades and still have in my collection. It is not available by subscription, but individual copies can be purchased for $7 plus shipping on the Second Scene Bandcamp page. 

Even though the first days of September seem to signal the end of summer, there are still a few more weeks to enjoy live music at the Northman Riverwalk in downtown Chicago. The venue’s Wednesday live DJ series continues tomorrow from 5:00 to 8:00 pm as DJ Sean Alvarez incorporates soul, disco, house, techno, and hip-hop into his act. On Friday, The Lizard Kings will blend blues and psychedelic rock from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The Northman Riverwalk is located on the Chicago River at 233 N. Riverwalk. 

Slumgullion

Note: For information on PRAVDAFEST, Pearl Jam at Wrigley Field, Irish Days in Long Grove, The Northman Riverwalk schedule, and a few other weekend events, check out yesterday’s Weekend Reminders post.

Congratulations to Pop Art Sports Cards on its fifth anniversary of creating rock and roll trading cards that mimic the baseball cards many of us collected as kids. To mark the occasion, PASC is offering Limited Edition packs of 15 trading cards that include a stick of gum. Much like in the days when I spent my weekly allowance on baseball cards from the corner store. Fans who order a PASC Limited Edition pack can choose each of the 15 cards, so there’s no danger of your favorite player not being included.

I’ve purchased PASC sets of The Kinks; Crosby, Stills Nash and Young; The Bangles; Heart; The Hollies; Cheap Trick; and Pink Floyd in the past, but it took a while to choose the players for my 15-card package. Like a manager assembling a winning team. Finally, as you can see by my sub-amateur photography above, I decided on performers from a variety of genres and eras. Anyone interested in assembling their own team can contact Pop Art Sports Cards at popartsportscards@gmail.com or check out the Pop Art Sports Card public Facebook page. The price for a 15-card pack is $35.

Smoking Popes plan to release a Live-In-Studio 30th Anniversary vinyl edition of their second album Born To Quit on September 27. The Chicago-based alt rock band, led by vocalist-guitarist Josh Caterer, is performing at the Troubadour in West Hollywood this very night. The Get Up Kids will be the opening act for a tour that wraps up with shows in Chicago at Metro on October 10 and 11.

 

The Hopscotch Music Festival will take place on September 5-7 in Raleigh, NC, with an extensive list of performers that includes St. Vincent; The dB’s; Ducks Ltd.; Guided By Voices; Chicano Batman; and Ty Segall (solo acoustic). The event will also feature comedy acts, local vendors, and VIP parties. 

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Steve Dawson will start a fall tour on September 7 in St. Louis, MO. He’ll perform in his home town on September 15 and nearby Arlington Heights, IL on September 28.

 

Autographed copies of Neko Case's new memoir The Harder I Fight the More I Love You are available to pre-order from Premiere Collectibles. Case is a member of The New Pornographers indie rock band, as well as a successful solo artist.

As noted on various websites and social media posts, Oasis has a reunion tour titled live ’25 coming up next summer. There has also been a meme that lets people name a different reunion (Rockpile being one example) they’d rather see than Oasis.

A new DVD titled Taking The City By Storm - The Birth Of Milwaukee’s Punk Scene, is now available for $26. Billed as “A documentary focusing on the progression of Milwaukee’s Protopunk, Power Pop, Punk and New Wave,” it was produced by Judy Simonds and Clancy Carroll and directed and edited by Doug LaValliere. The DVD is available at Irving Place Records, the retail store run by long-time musician Terry Hackbarth. People who aren’t Wisconsinites can send a direct message to the official Taking The City By Storm - The Birth Of Milwaukee’s Punk Scene Facebook page.

V–U2, a new, immersive film featuring concert footage from U2’s extensive run at the mind-altering Sphere venue in Las Vegas will be screened exclusively at the Sphere starting September 5. 

Chicago: Home Of House, an exhibit honoring the city’s pivotal role in widespread success of house music over the past 40 years, runs through the end of October. 

The forever-suave Roxy Music frontman and solo performer Bryan Ferry will release the 81-track Retrospective - Bryan Ferry 1973 – 2023 on October 25. Available on colored vinyl or as a 5-CD deluxe box set, it will include new and unreleased recordings, along with extensive liner notes and rare photography. It’s currently available for pre-order from his official website.

The 19th Annual Lakeview Festival Of The Arts will be held on September 14 and 15 on Chicago’s north side. Local power pop band The Spindles, who add an occasional Hollies cover to their catchy originals, are among the many live music acts scheduled to perform at the Lakeview Festival Of The Arts. 

Steve Wynn from The Dream Syndicate has accomplished his long-time goal of writing a book, and it’s due out from Jawbone Press now. 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.” There are a few autographed copies left for sale on Wynn’s Bandcamp page, which is also where you can pre-order his a new solo album  Make It Right.  

The 10th Annual Super Nova Ska Festival will be held on the weekend of  September 13 – 15 at Fort Monroe in Hampton, VA. British pioneering ska act The Selecter, still led by Pauline Black, will be the main draw with its performance on the last day. Other acts include Roy Ellis with The Aggrolites; Skavoovie and the Epitones; Five Iron Frenzy; and Catbite. A total of 38 acts, from 8 countries are scheduled to appear.

Red Spot Rhythm Section, a Chicago-based band whose previous recordings offered covers of well-known songs reinvented with reggae and ska arrangements, has just released a new album titled Twilight. This time out, it’s a mix of covers and original material composed by band member Joshua Siegal. The title track was originally recorded by The Band, and there are also spirited renditions of Paul Simon’s “Boy In The Bubble,” Nick Lowe’s “Peace, Love And Understanding,” and Steve Goodman’s “City Of New Orleans.” Red Spot Rhythm Section also  impresses with originals such as the easy-going “Nothin,” acoustic “Never Told Her,” and the more blues-oriented “Time.” Twilight is available on Bandcamp. 

Jeff Lynne’s ELO The Over And Out Tour throughout the USA is now under way and will wrap up in California with shows on October 23 and 25 at Sacramento and Inglewood respectively. Lynne will perform at the United Center in Chicago on September 27 and 28.

Activities of Daily Living, the most recent release from Glasgow power pop/indie rock band Aerial, is now available in CD format from by the America-based label Kool Kat Musik. In a review this past May on Broken Hearted Toy, I noted, The songwriting duo of Colin Cummings and Mackie Mackintosh once again craft clever, off-kilter lyrics set to well-crafted power pop arrangements, particularly on energetic gems such as the title track, “An Encore And A Cover Song,” and “Bad Tattoo.”

When Nick Lowe releases Indoor Safari, his first album in 11 years on September 13, it will be “POWERED BY” his long-time collaborators Los Straitjackets. He’ll hit the road with them for a fall tour starting with two nights (October 10 and 11) in New York City and ending with a pair of shows (November 2 and 3) in Minneapolis. Lowe and Los Straitjackets will play Lincoln Hall in Chicago on October 29 and 30. 

T Bone Burnett now has a pair of shows lined up for The Old Town School Of Folk Music this fall. He’ll perform at the venue on October 19 and October 20.

Music industry veteran Dean Brownrout will have a book release party for his No Big Deal memoir at the Marble + Rye  bar/lounge in New York on September 30.

It’s been 60 years since The Kinks released their ground-breaking single “You Really Got Me.” The Brit Invasion band is celebrating with a 7-inch single PYE Records limited edition that’s now available for pre-order. Only 1964 copies will be created. 

Weekend Reminders

Today’s post is focused on events taking place this weekend that I’ve mentioned previously on Broken Hearted Toy. This gives readers an extra day’s additional notice, and since the events won’t be repeated in tomorrow’s Slumgullion, helps streamline my Friday post. Slumgullion won’t be entirely new. I’ll keep mentioning upcoming events up to and including the Thursday prior to the weekend they take place.

Actually, here’s a brand new item pertaining to this weekend. Tickets go on sale tomorrow morning for the Cheap Trick concert coming to the Blue Gate Theatre in Shipshewana, IN on December 11. It’s part of a winter tour that also includes stops in Nashville, Macon, Tampa, and Tulsa.

Pearl Jam will likely showcase impressive songs such as “Wreckage,” “Scared Of Fear,” “React, Respond,” and “Running” from their 2024 album Dark Matter when the Pearl Jam Dark Matter World Tour comes to Chicago for concerts tonight and Saturday nights at Wrigley Field.

PRAVDAFEST, the 40th anniversary celebration for Pravda Records, will take place this Saturday at FitzGerald’s in Berwyn, IL. The impressive lineup includes Nathan Graham; Steve Dawson; The Handcuffs; Ivan Julian with Nick Tremulis; Sunshine Boys; The Service; The Slugs; The Chamber Strings (Chloe F. Orwell, Tim Fowler, Carolyn Engelmann, Anthony Illarde, Jason Walker, and Ellis Clark paying tribute to the late Kevin Junior); Susan Voelz; Allen Hill; Brian Krumm And His Barfly Friends; and Thrift Store Halo. The doors open at noon, with entertainment scheduled across three stages. General admission is $40, and there’s a VIP option that includes a t-shirt and 40th Anniversary CD for $60.

Chicago-based, guitar-powered instrumental band Outronaut will open for garage rock/rhythm and blues specialists The Nubile Thangs this Saturday night at the north side Chicago venue Beat Kitchen. The music starts at 8:00 pm.

 

The 17th annual International Pop Overthrow - Vancouver opens tonight at the Lana Lou’s venue and will showcase power pop and indie rock acts through late Saturday night.

The Northman Riverwalk has another full weekend of live music coming up to go along with its impressive, outdoor view of downtown Chicago. Tomorrow’s show kicks off at 6:00 pm and features Chicago-bred power pop masters Dolph Chaney And The Phins. On Saturday at 3:00 pm, the trio Honey Whites will pay tribute to the ground-breaking Boston-based alt rock band Morphine. Things will get pretty strange at 6:00 pm on Saturday with the self-described “psychedelic lounge band from Dimension Zero” The Metalliques and its imaginative costuming. Sunday has two shows instead of one, probably due to the Labor Day weekend. Miss Barbara Clifford And The Shakin’ Tailfeathers will play what they want from the 1950s and 60s at 3:00 pm, and the Tex Mex Americana Roots quintet Los Gallos Band takes over at 5:00 pm. The Northman Riverwalk is located on the Chicago River at 233 N. Riverwalk. 

The annual Irish Days festival will take place this Saturday through Labor Day in Long Grove, IL. Several acts will  perform at the outdoors event, including Academy Of Irish Music; Shannon Rovers Pipe Band; the Without U2 tribute band, and the always wild and funny The Larkin And Moran Brothers. There will also be Irish dancers, food and beverages.