I was a little surprised, when I found out that Shelby Lynne will be performing at Martyr’s, 3855 N. Lincoln, on Tuesday, May 4. The Nashville Now veteran filled up the larger Park West quite well when she was here promoting her 2008 Dusty Springfield tribute Just a Little Lovin’.
Lynne’s latest, Tears, Lies and Alibis, has the Alabama native dwelling on love’s complications. “Like a Fool,” “Alibi” and “Something to Be Said” are the heart of the album. Does the Grammy winner have Swamp Ophelia? The charmingly repetitive “Loser Dreamer” recalls bits of Kermit the Frog’s “Rainbow Connection.” These intimate pieces are meant to be heard up close and personal, making Martyr’s an ideal spot to have Lynne share these tunes. Tears, Lies and Alibis is out now on Lynne’s own label Everso Records.
Lynne’s younger sister, Allison Moorer, takes to flight on Crows. Just listen to the Fleetwood Mac inspired “Goodbye to the Ground” or the radio-worthy “The Broken Girl.” But it’s on the downtempo, beautiful numbers “The Stars & I (Mama’s Song) ” and “Still This Side of Gone” where the singer-songwriter truly finds her footing. Moorer shows off her vocal chops on the pleading “Sorrow (Don’t Come Around).” Out now on Rykodisc, Crows finely balances itself between the alternative, folk and country genres.
Moorer, a new mom, also appears on the new David Byrne and Fatboy Slim collaboration, Here Lies Love.
On Wed., April 28, Ladies of the Canyon will cover the catalog of Melissa Etheridge at Fitzgerald’s, 6615 Roosevelt, Berwyn. The breast-cancer survivor is due for such an honor, considering her remarkable career highlights like “Like the Way I Do,” “Bring Me Some Water” and “I’m the Only One.” Etheridge has the new album Fearless Love due out Tuesday, April 27.
Ladies of the Canyon really is Chicago’s best-kept secret. Over the years, I have seen the outfit performing flawless tributes to great women of music, including Annie Lennox, Tori Amos, Sheryl Crow, Blondie and Pat Benatar. Now, why haven’t these gals landed a secure spot on the summer street festival circuit with our city’s fellow cover bands? For more on Ladies of the Canyon, please visit www.lotclive.com.
Are you still on a high from The Runaways movie? Cherie Currie joined Girl in a Coma, who is signed to Joan Jett’s Blackhearts Records, for a version of The Runaways’ signature “Cherry Bomb” at this year’s South by Southwest. Video clips of this have surfaced on YouTube.
Girl in a Coma will be returning to the Windy City to open for Sia Sunday, April 25, at The Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield. In 2007 Girl in a Coma debuted with Both before I’m Gone, which contains the rocking “Clumsy Sky” and “The Photographer.” The trio’s 2009 sophomore effort Trio B.C. shows how the act’s heavy tour schedule paid off, as heard on the impressive “Baby Boy” and “Joannie in the City.”
Now Girl in a Coma is releasing a series of 7″ and digital singles as part of the Adventures in Coverland. Here, the San Antonio based band redoes the likes of Selena’s “Si Una Vez,” The Beatles’ “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” David Bowie’s “As the World Falls Down” and The Velvet Underground’s “Femme Fatale.”
After leaving Shalamar, Jody Watley emerged as a solo sensation. Thanks to sleek hits like “Looking for a New Love,” Watley became a multi-platinum selling success. In 2006 she released The Makeover, which has a stripped-down take on Madonna’s “Borderline.” The Soulcast Icon Mix of her remake of Le Chic’s “I Want Your Love” is one of the best remixes of the decade. Her much anticipated follow up, Chameleon, is due out this year.
Last summer’s performance at Northalsted Market Days was a much overdue return to Chicago for the former Soul Train dancer. On Friday, April 30, Watley returns with a concert at Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 S. King. For tickets, please visit www.amusicexperience.com.
Swedes seem to have a knack for making the sweetest pop music. Roxette scored more chart-topping hits stateside than fellow Scandinavian exports ABBA and Ace of Base combined. The duo’s popularity is captured at its peak on the concert album and companion DVD, Live in Sydney 1991, recorded during The Joyride Tour.
The lovely Marie Frediksson’s voice sounds rough and abrasive as she muscles through the opener “Hotblooded.” But she is in fine form on the should have been single “Things Will Never Be the Same.” The audience goes into a hysteria upon hearing the opening guitar licks to the breakout hit “The Look.” The always dynamic “Joyride” and the massive “It Must Have Been Love” both have the obligatory sing-along moments.
This Immortal release includes the bonus track “How Do You Do,” the lead single from the band’s 1992 outing Tourism. One would figure that radio staples “Fading Like a Flower” or “Listen to Your Heart” would have found its way onto the set instead, but this is actually a track by track re-recording of the previously released Live-Ism, which is only out on VHS. Regardless, Live in Sydney 1991 is a great time capsule.
Roxette reissued remastered versions of its seven studio albums with bonus tracks last year and has new material due out soon.