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Music with a Conscience Continues

Bill with Marie Osmond
Bill Syniar (rear) performs music weekly in the oncology playroom
at Children’s Hospital, where he encountered Marie Osmond
(photo by Linda Matlow, pixintl.com)

ArtsWarrior has partnered with our favorite charity, The Caring Arts Foundation (formerly Strike at Cancer), to bring music to cancer patients over the holidays. Steve Edwards & David Chiriboga of Guitarra Azul, Bill Syniar of R-Gang, Petar Vecenovoci & David Kav of Classical Blast and Phil Balsano of 1969 all performed holiday concerts for cancer patients at Rush University Cancer Center, University of Chicago Hospitals, and Children’s Memorial Hospital throughout December and into January. Bill Syniar ran into Marie Osmond at Children’s Hospital and the two sang a few holiday songs together for kids in the oncology unit.

Caring Arts is dedicated to providing emotional support to cancer patients and their families in Chicagoland through music, art, journaling, photography and other creative disciplines.

Caring Arts

Azul UCMC
Duo Azul performs holiday flamenco music for patients
at the Rush Cancer Center
Petar, David & Bill brought lively holiday music to the
Radiology Oncology Holiday Party at University of Chicago
Hospital. A patient, who happened to have his trumpet
with him, sat in on a rendition of Moon Dance.

 

Flashback: Chicago Rock 1975-1983

From the mid-1970s through the early 1980s, the Haymakers nightclubs in Chicago’s Northwest Suburbs were a breeding ground for international superstars Cheap Trick, Survivor, Head East, and literally hundreds of local Chicago and Midwest bands, as well as national headliners Sly Stone, the Outlaws, the Ramones, the Runaways, Queensrÿche, Joe Perry, Leon Russell, and Twisted Sister. Haymakers closed for good in 1984. A group of regular patrons, former employees, and the many local bands that performed there decided the time is right for a reunion!

Many remember a popular band from that era called Tantrum. ArtsWarrior has a long association with that band, as two of Tantrum’s founders, Phil Balsano & Bill Syniar, are now band leaders for 1969 and R-Gang. This 7-member rock group released two albums on Chicago's Ovation Records label and a third album released in Great Britian in 2005 as part of a compilation. Tantrum was composed of three female singers, Pam Bradley, Sandy Caulfield, and Barb Erber, as well as guitarist Ray Sapko, keyboardist Phil Balsano (1969), bass guitarist Bill Syniar (R-Gang), and drummer Vern Wennerstrom. Tantrum will reunite to perform for the Haymakers Reunion Event, with Mike Arturi on drums (Lovin’ Spoonful/Badfinger) and Claire Massey sitting in for Barb Erber, as well as a few special guests, including cellist Petar Kecenovici of Classical Blast. Tantrum will perform music from their 3 albums at the Haymakers event, and will be joined on stage by other Chicago bands from the same era, including Dreamer, Hounds, Bitch, Pezband All-Stars, One-Arm Bandit and MadFox. MCs will be legendary Chicago radio DJ Mitch Michaels and Dirty Dan Buck, singer of The Boyzz.

The event takes place on Sunday, Feb. 26 at Durty Nellie’s in Palatine. Proceeds benefit Little Kids Rock, part of the Fender Foundation, and The Caring Arts Foundation. (see below for ticket info)

Tantrum

Tantrum in 1979: Pam Bradley, Ray Sapko, Vern Wennerstrom,
Sandy Caulfield, Phil Balsano, Barb Erber & Bill Syniar

Haymakers


 

Music for Sale

A number of ArtsWarrior bands have CDs for sale at their live shows OR you can order many of them online or via iTunes. Try on the classic rock sound of 1969, American country rock ala Billy Croft, rockin’ blues by Grana’ Louise, or flamenco nuevo of Guitarra Azul. Click on the CD of your choice below to purchase online.

CD-1969
CD-GranaLouise
CD-Rgang
1969: Peace & Love
Grana Louise:
Gettin’ Kinda Rough!
R-Gang
Soul-cial Networking
CD-BillyCroft
CD-Mariposa
CD-Oasis
     
Billy Croft
Coming soon!
Guitarra Azul: Mariposa
Guitarra Azul: Oasis
     

Holiday Happenings

Here's a look at end-of-year and holiday happenings for a few ArtsWarrior bands.

Classical Blast
Classical Blast (above) rocked the Nordstrom Private Holiday event at the Michigan Ave. store while R-Gang (below) did the same at their Oak Brook store
R-Gang

R-Gang London
R-Gang kicked off the holiday season at the new London Club in Crystal Lake, while Classical Blast wowed diners there at the end of the year.

5 Alarm
Billy Croft & The 5 Alarm kept the dance floor moving at Chord on Blues in St. Charles (above), while R-Gang did the same at Tuscano’s on New Year’s Eve. (below)
R-Gang-New Years
 
 
   




Every Monday, 9pm
Grana Louise & Troublemaker @ Blue Chicago
536 N. Clark, Chicago


Thur, Feb. 2, 7pm
Guitarra Azul @ La Tasca Tapas
340 W. Armitage Ave., Arlington Hts

Fri, Feb 3, 9pm
Billy Croft & 5 Alarm @ Players Pub & Grill
1250 River Rd.
Mr. Prospect
www.playerspubandgrill.net

Fri, Feb. 3, 9pm
R-Gang @ Venuti’s
2251 W. Lake St, Addison

Fri, Feb. 3, 9pm
Guitarra Azul @ Maya del   Sol
144 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park

Fri, Feb. 10,  9pm
R-Gang @ Tavern on LaGrange
5403 South LaGrange Rd,  Countryside
www.tavernonlagrange.com

Sat, Feb 11, 9pm
Billy Croft & 5 Alarm Dan's Roadhouse
11 West John St., Plano
www.dansroadhouse.com

Fri, Feb. 17,  9pm
R-Gang @ Blue Chip Casino
Rocks Lounge
777 Blue Chip Dr, Michigan City, IN
www.bluechipcasino.com

Fri, Feb 17, 9pm
Billy Croft & 5 Alarm Alley 64
212 W. Main St., St Charles
www.alley64.com

Billy & Lucy Croft
Billy Croft & the 5 Alarm


 

 

Classical Blast
Classical Blast

Fri, Feb. 17, 9pm
Classical Blast @ Maya del   Sol
144 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park

Sat, Feb. 18, 8pm
R-Gang @ Ki’s Steakhouse
705 North Ave, Glendale Heights
www.kissteakandseafood.com

Sat, Feb. 18, 10pm
1969 @ Mullens
3080 Warrenville Rd. Lisle

Thur, Feb. 23, 6-9pm
Classical Blast Duo @ Tavern on LaGrange
5403 South LaGrange Rd, Countryside

Fri, Feb. 24, 9pm
R-Gang @ Game Pazzo
2011 63rd St., Downers Grove
http://gamepazzo.com

Sun, Feb. 26, 2-11pm
Haymakers Reunion Event
Durty Nellie’s
180 N. Smith St., Palatine
847-358-9150
Live performances by Tantrum, PezBand All-Stars, Bitch, Hounds, One-Armed Bandit, MadFox, & Dreamer
$15 advance ($25 with T-shirt); $25 at door

Tickets available at:
http://www.yourticketstand.com/

Proceeds benefit:
Little Kids Rock, part of the Fender Foundation
http://www.littlekidsrock.org/
National nonprofit that transforms children's lives by restoring and revitalizing music education in disadvantaged public schools.

Caring Arts Foundation (formerly Strike at Cancer Foundation)
http://www.strikeatcancer.org
Dedicated to providing emotional support to cancer patients and their families in Chicago through music, art, journaling, photography and other creative disciplines.

More event info at:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/events/258788497505896/
 

Contact:
Barbara Weigand
ArtsWarrior
Ph. 708.386-0285
EMAIL

 
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