Rocking for a Cure
Hello My Name Is...
Brittany
Photo Danny Clinch
Lucky Boys Confusion, Stubhy Pandav (front right)
It was a shocking announcement from one of Chicago’s most mesmerizing frontmen. Lucky Boys
Confusion's "Stubyhy" Pandav has been diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
“In late 2015, I noticed that my right leg wasn’t reacting ‘correctly’ – I was starting to have a little
‘hitch’ that progressed into me not being able to run or jump anymore," explains Pandav. "I tried chi-
ropractors, deep-tissue massage, steroid injections, physical therapy, and more blood tests than any
person should endure, but they couldn’t pinpoint a cause. I finally begged my doctor for an MRI on
my brain because I knew something wasn’t clicking. And they found lesions. Unfortunately, they
weren’t just on my brain; they had spread to my spinal cord, which made my case very dangerous.
It was a hard pill to swallow, especially since my wife was three months pregnant. But at least I final-
ly had an answer. I still have symptoms, and there is no cure, but at least - hopefully - I won’t be get-
ting worse. I am very lucky to have been diagnosed now versus in the 1970s, ‘80s, or even the ‘90s –
back when MS diagnosis meant a wheelchair or walker sentence.”
To help raise funds to fight MS, Stubhy, and LBC in conjunction with Accelerated Cure Project
(www.accleratedcure.org), are organizing two shows at Bottom Lounge on December 21. Calling it
"MS Sucks: Singing For A Cure," a noon matinee show and a 6:30 PM Acoustic show, plus a 4:30-6:30
VIP Event are planned.
“This has been difficult,” he admits. “But I want this show to be a celebration to raise awareness for
other survivors that have it much worse than I,” said Pandav. “So tell your friends, bring your rela-
12•2019
"MS Sucks: Singing For A Cure," a noon matinee show and a 6:30 PM Acoustic show, plus a 4:30-6:30
VIP Event are planned.
“This has been difficult,” he admits. “But I want this show to be a celebration to raise awareness for
other survivors that have it much worse than I,” said Pandav. “So tell your friends, bring your rela-
tives; help us make this event a successful one." For details and to donate visit BottomLounge.com
Val's Repreive
Val's Halla Records
It looked like curtains for legendary record store Val's Halla in early November when General
Manager Shayne Blakeley told patrons on Facebook that the store would be closing because of slow-
ing sales and debt that remained after owner Val Camilletti's passing in 2018. But like an episode of
Shark Tank, miracles happen for good businesses. Blakely reported two weeks later that, "Rumors of
our demise have been greatly exaggerated! Val's Halla is getting a new lease on life!"
Blakeley credits loyal customer and River Forest resident Trevor Toppen, (whose son helps out at
the store) for coming to the rescue, calling him the store's "guardian angel," according to OakPark.com.
Toppen and Blakely plan to streamline operations, reduce costs, and include more in-store perform-
ances. And of course, that means they need your business. "The onus is on the community," Blakeley
told OakPark.com. "Put your money where your mouth is." You can visit Val's Halla at 239 Harrison St.
6 illinoisentertainer.com december 2019
Alabama Shakes frontwoman Brittany Howard had seen a lot of remark-
able things in her lifetime. But nothing like this. Like what she stumbled
across on the two cross-country road trips she took two summers ago with
her wife, Jesse Lafser, in a 2000 Jeep Cherokee. “I saw a pronghorn antelope,
and an actual bison, which walked right past our car,” she says, saving the
best for last. “I saw a moose, and that moose was really startling — I did not
realize that they were so big. So he was absolutely terrifying.”
The couple now resides in New Mexico, but they had scheduled their
sojourns from their then-hometown of Nashville — one to Oregon, the other
to Los Angeles, with a tangential zip up the coast to Big Sur. But there were
more chilling moments ahead, given our divisive political climate, she shud-
ders. “Going through some of those small Trump-country towns was pretty
scary, too -- especially since I’m obviously so different from everyone else in
the town. I mean, I’m in a same-sex, interracial relationship, and we were just
walking around together. But there were times when I definitely did not feel
safe.”
Like the evening that yee-hawing locals surrounded the couple in rum-
bling, souped-up pickup trucks, and thought it would be fun to bombard
them with fireworks. “They were shouting something at us, too, but I could-
n’t hear it because the trucks were so loud — it was obviously something
hateful,” says the blues belter, who had intended the trip to be a relaxing
Continued on page 8
Aurora's Venue
Downtown Aurora has
become a destination for
music fans, thanks to Two
Brothers Roadhouse and
Ballydoyle. It’s gotten anoth-
er shot in the arm with the
opening of a brand new, inti-
mate 200-seat music space
called The Venue at 21 S.
Broadway, created and
curated by the Fox Valley
Music Foundation. So far,
the musical bookings have
been an eclectic and adven-
turous mix – including a
variety of international,
national, and local music
performers, highlighted by
roots, jazz, blues, and alt-
country acts. On Sundays
and weekdays, they’ve also
provided educational sym-
posia, workshops, and films about the music of the Fox Valley area.
Adjacent to Mundy Park in downtown Aurora, The Venue was created and
built with significant grants from the City of Aurora, Invest Aurora, and The
Community Foundation of Fox Valley, as well as numerous donations from
music lovers and businesses in the community. The retail area features pro-
motional brand swag, vintage blues posters, and a selection of music from
local artists. Musical instruments, memorabilia, unique artwork, and col-
lectibles are displayed throughout the building.
According to Fox Valley Music Foundation President Melissa Mercado, The
Venue plans to “serve as a gathering place for local musicians to meet and
share songs and ideas during daytime hours on weekends.” The Venue’s
“acoustically engineered space provides a flexible arrangement supporting
general admission shows as well as special reserved seating,” noted Mercado.
Patrons are praising the intimate seating as it gives music fans up-close-and-
personal views of performing artists. For their complete schedule and tickets,