Premature Listmania
Hello, My Name is Jon
Jon Anderson
We noticed the "creep" online in 2015, and in this age of fake news and f'd up elections, we're calling for responsible reporting on year-end top album lists. A precedent had been established for "Best
Albums So Far" in June and we learned to live with it. But when London's Telegraph printed their best
album list on September 22 , we called 'em out on Twitter. Last month, the esteemed British music
paper NME released their best albums of 2016 online. November ain't over yet, bro. In this age of sudden album drops, it just not safe to release your album list until late December. Deal with it.
12•2016
Emperor's New Guitarist
In August, we reported on the sudden and tragic passing of Emperors and Elephants guitarist
Jeff Windisch. After much soul searching, the
band recently announced Tom's replacement on
guitar: Anthony Modica. The band said on their
Facebook page that "Jeff even spoke in the past
about taking Anthony on as our second guitar
player. Our recent practices have been going great
and Anthony can totally shred." The band has also
received approval by the Windisch family to
release their new CD which Jeff appeared on. The
band appears at Brauerhouse on December 3rd.
Continued on page 10
Rock In The New Year
Anthony Modica (center)
Goodbye Blues Matriarch
The international blues community mourned the passing of Marie Dixon, wife of Willie Dixon
and president of the Blues Heaven Foundation. The matriarch of the Chicago blues scene, it was
Marie that helped secure the royalties from
her husband’s famous songs, including
“Hoochie Coochie Man” and “Little Red
Rooster” from artists like Led Zeppelin so
that the Blues Heaven Foundation could be
formed to help blues musicians and promote
blues culture. Her kindness and generous
spirit touched all who knew her. The Dixon
Family released the following statement following her death on November 20th. “Jackie
and Alex Dixon, on behalf of the Dixon family, have announced the passing of their dear
mother, Marie Dixon, after a long illness.
Marie Dixon, widow of famed bluesmaster
Willie Dixon, founder of The Blues Heaven
Foundation, and much respected champion
for the music and the musicians, made her
transition this morning, November 20, surrounded by family and friends. " Mary Dixon
Willie and Mary Dixon, circa 1984
was 79.
- Rosalind Cumming Yeates
8 illinoisentertainer.com december 2016
Jon Anderson has presided over more superhero team-ups than your
average Marvel Avengers movie. No joke, The ex-Yes frontman has left, then
rejoined his classic prog-rock combo several times since its 1968 formation,
but in between he’s launched adventurous collaborations with Vangelis (Jon
and Bangelis), the Scottish Ballet Company, ABHW (Anderson, Bruford,
Wakeman, Howe), his wife Jane Luttenberger, the Froggin’ Peach Orchestra
(28 musicians based in the Frog and Peach pub in the Brit’s new hometown
of San Luis Obispo), with Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman as the duo
Anderson/Wakeman, and currently ARW, a touring trio with Wakeman and
Yes guitarist Trevor Rabin, which hopes to track an EP this winter. Not to
mention, of course, his 15-album solo career that began with Olias of
Sunhillow back in 1970, when he first left his legendary group. But this
acronymmed outfit might stick, he believes. “Because it’s just a joyful experience, and the band is really damn good,” Anderson marvels. “It’s like a
revitalized Yes, and obviously, the three of us were in Yes. So we’re more Yes
than any other band that can call themselves Yes these days!”
New Year's Eve in Chicago is a surprise every year, some venues go lowkey and others consistently bring the goods with top tier music to ring in the
New Year. A yearly NYE tradition keeps going with local jam band
Umphrey's McGee checking in at The Aragon on the 31st, while Double
Door will host pop/punk favorites Lucky Boys Confusion with Mark Rose
and Nice Motor. If classic soul vibes are your thing, Star Plaza Theater in
Merrilville hosts The O'Jays, Damon Williams and The Chi-Lites
Featuring Marshall Thompson. Blues rules the night at Rosa's with Vance
Kelly & The Backstreet Blues Band, while Kingston Mines features Larry
McCray, plus Eddie Shaw & The Wolf Gang and Joanna Connor.
Reggies is featuring former Stray Cats bassist Slim Jim Phantom with
The Krank Daddies, The Bollweevils, Green Room Rockers, Still Alive,
and All Eyes West. Legendary art and indie rock vocalist Patti Smith and
her band are at the Park West. At House of Blues alternative rock stalwarts
Better Than Ezra ring in 2017.
In the burbs, Joe's Live in Rosemont hosts Rod Tuffcurls & The
Benchpress , MT Barrels in Schamuburg features Rumor Hazit, while 7th
Heaven makes their annual appearance at the Hyatt in Rosemont.
FitzGerald's in Berwyn checks in with Expo '76 and Kelly Hogan. At Q Bar
in Darien and Glendale Heights, DJ's will welcome the new year. Rounding
out the highlights, Charlie Foxtrot returns to the Fuel Room in Libertyville
for 2016. Look for more New Year's Eve updates on our online calendar at
illinoisentertainer.com.