Chicago area musician Scott Tipping to celebrate release of new album with show at The Venue in Aurora

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

Anyone who has seen Scott Tipping perform live knows the excitement and energy that he brings to the stage.

 

Tipping will take the stage again on Jan. 2 when he performs at The Venue in downtown Aurora as part of a CD release party for his second album, "The Fade."  The show will double as a birthday celebration for Tipping, who is turning 52.

It is fitting that the CD release party/birthday celebration will take place at The Venue.

Tipping is talent buyer for The Venue and his band Album Covers – which pays tribute to influential musicians and bands – performs at The Venue on a regular basis. He has been involved in The Venue – which is run by the nonprofit organization Fox Valley Music Foundation – since it first opened in 2019.

 

For Tipping, the release of the album represents the start of new things. He started writing the songs for "The Fade" shortly after a severe car accident in 2023, two days after Christmas. 

 

He spent his 50th birthday in a hospital room.

Chicago solo artist Phil Angotti will open the show. The show starts at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m.

Tickets are available at The Venue's website, themusicvenue.org. The Venue is located at 21 S. Broadway Ave. (Route 25) in downtown Aurora.

 

The band HOSS and friends entertain the crowd at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora while collecting toys for Hesed House

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

 

Music brings people together.

And it's even better when music brings people together for a good cause.

Such was the case when Pete Lindenmeyer and his band HOSS performed at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora on Dec. 6 as part of the band's 21st annual Hossmas holiday show and toy drive to benefit Hesed House homeless shelter in Aurora.

Joining the band on stage was the Pawnshop Horns.

Songs like Trip Shakespeare's song "Snow Days" – featuring special guest musician Dave Ramont – reminded us of how snow can be a magical thing.

 

And it wouldn't be Hossmas without the appearance of Santa HOSS, played by Wolfgang Holzl.

 

The night was also a reunion of sorts, with former HOSS drummer Jason Waggoner joining the band on stage for a couple of HOSS songs.

The night was filled with energy from beginning to end, including a blistering version of King of Leon's song "Molly's Chambers."

The energy level shot up even higher during the band's second set, when it performed The Police's album Every Breath You Take: The Singles.

 

 More videos from the night are at: https://www.youtube.com/@ericschel12/videos

Help Chicago music legend Holle Thee Maxwell as she recovers from knee surgery

By Eric Schelkopf

For decades, Chicago music legend Holle Thee Maxwell has been entertaining us with her fiery vocals and explosive stage presence.

Now we have the chance to help her after all that she has given us.

The Chicago Blues Hall of Fame inductee recently underwent major knee surgery.

"I am thankful the surgery was successful, but the recovery has been far more difficult than I expected," Maxwell said in a message. "I am in a great deal of pain, and I have been told I need extended physical therapy in order to stand, walk and regain my independence.

The challenge is that these treatments — along with my basic living expenses — are more than I can manage alone right now. I have always tried to be strong, but at this moment in my life, I must humbly ask for your help."

 

Her friends have created a GoFundMe page to support her recovery. Contributions will go toward additional physical therapy sessions, medical and mobility needs and monthly living expenses during recovery.

To give, go to gofundme.com/f/help-holle-walk-again.

Brothers Scott and Justin Collins will bring a night of high energy when they share the stage on Nov. 8 in Chicago with their respective bands

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

 

It truly will be a family affair when two Nashville bands perform at 

Lazymoon Design in Chicago on Nov. 8.

As part of double headlining bill, Scott Collins will perform with his band The Sovereignty. Sharing the stage will be his brother's band, Justin and The Cosmics.

Also on the bill is Chicago-based artist Sarah Krohn. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.

Lazymoon Design is located at 4642 North Francisco Ave., Chicago. Tickets are $33.85, available at eventbrite.com.

I had the chance to talk to Scott Collins about the upcoming show.

 

Q – Great talking to you. I guess life comes full circle because, in 2011 and 2012, I interviewed Coley Kennedy about his bands The Buddies and Welcome to Ashley. 

Of course, you were a member of The Buddies along with your then wife Kim and your brother, Justin. I know that in 2012, your wife was battling breast cancer and Coley started an online fundraiser to help with her medical and living expenses.  

Hopefully she is doing well these days.

That's very thoughtful of you to inquire. Yes, Kim has been fully recovered from that situation for over a decade now.

Q – I see Coley was also involved with the album Bravery Is Necessary, which you and your band The Sovereignty released in January. It is great that you have had a strong relationship with Coley over the years. 

 

Hopefully you will perform your song “Shittin’ Tears” from that album at your show in Chicago. Your searing guitar work on that song is amazing.

Thank you, graciously. "Shittin' Tears" is, in many ways, the linchpin song for Scott Collins and The Sovereignty; the song that started it all metaphysically for me as a solo artist and now most live shows end with it.   

 

Q – And, of course, your latest solo album, Capistrano Beach, was released on Oct. 10. What goals did you have for the album and did the end result exceed your expectations?  

 

I suppose the fact that Capistrano Beach is out and released as an official album in and of itself has exceeded any expectations. It was originally recorded as a birthday gift. 

 

It was originally intended to be heard by only one person other than myself and the studio engineer (and my best friend), Christopher Lord Byrd. All the songs were played live, in order, one time, one take...on the actual birthday which was 1 degree Aries. 

 

It felt inaccurate, unjust, and illegitimate to call this collection of songs demos, although the eight songs on Capistrano Beach do also live in different, fuller-produced versions as part of a 12-song album to be released in early 2026.

 

 

Often people hear acoustic versions of songs AFTER they hear fully-produced album versions, so I realized this was an opportunity to flip that antiquated pattern on its head. It is, without a doubt, the most intimate expression I've ever released. 

 

Chris, Claira, and I – all three couldn't stop listening to it almost daily for weeks on end, so as an exercise in vulnerability and authenticity; I said "fuck it"...[let's] put it out.

 

Q – The Chicago show will also feature your brother’s band Justin and The Cosmics. I am sure that will make the night even more special for you. Will there be any collaborating with your brother that night?

 

Affirmative; high probability of a Collins thunderstorm approaching. It is a rare storm these days. 

 

Although I did play lead guitar in The Cosmics for a few years, and on a couple of The Cosmics albums (Perf and Cool Dead), so there is a handsome cesspool to draw from.  

 

I know the duo you had with your former wife – The Smoking Flowers – is on hiatus right now. Do you see the band doing anything in the near future?

 

The future of The Smoking Flowers is not divulged in the crystal ball. I am holding space for the best scenarios and outcomes possible in the future.

 

Q – What had been the best part of working with your former wife in not only that band, but also in other bands like The Buddies?

 

Traveling, seeing and feeling the world through someone else's eyes in addition to your own can prove to be revelatory. The ocean of experience to draw upon for creativity is unrivaled. 

 

The art, the story, the work, the purpose you leave in your wake – no one can take from you. I think some loved and saw us as a singular entity, not as two separate sovereign individuals.