Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • Page 5-3

CHICAGO TRIBUNE TEMPO SECTION 5 TUESDAY, JULY 15, 2008 3 Arts Entertainment MUSIC REVIEW MUSIC REVIEW Ringo Starr should play more goodies than the musty oldies Kinky caps global vibe of pumping folk festival By Mark Guarino SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE You have been there before: On your couch, 2 a.m. Sunday morning, nodding off to TV infomercials selling greatest hits collections from decades long past. In your drowsy state, all the power riffs and sitars and mullets and prayer beads start to make you feel like you're stuck in a time capsule that has been welded shut. Replace the couch with a plastic folding chair and it captures the feeling Sunday at the Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island, where Ringo Starr and the 10th installment of his All-Starr Band performed a night of oldies, only some of them actually goodies. Starr, who celebrated his 68th birthday in Chicago earlier this month, played the role he has long cherished since his Beatles days.

He strolled through the show as emcee, drummer, occasional singer and continual joker. "If you don't know this song, you're probably waiting for Sting," he said before launching into "Yellow Submarine." One-liners like that, and the occasional song, would have made a perfect night. However, as is tradition, Starr handed 12 of the 26 songs played to musicians whose collective repertoire would make a decent bill at a suburban street fair. Edgar Winter may have pioneered the synthesizer, but his Tribune file photo by Charles Osgood Ringo Starr celebrates his 68th birthday in downtown Chicago earlier this month. classic, chaotic jam "Frankenstein" sounded prehistoric.

As did the cosmic goo of Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver." But it was little surprise that those draining detours only helped Starr (playing the Beatles songs he made famous plus covers "Act Naturally," look, act and sound like the youngest kid on the block. Starr dedicated a new song, "Never Without You," to George Harrison and it borrowed from him too: melting vocal harmonies, references to Harrison's songs and the late guitarist's signature guitar inflections, this time courtesy of Billy Squier. By Benjamin Ortiz SPECIAL TO THE TRIBUNE By the time Monterrey, Mexico's, syntho-rock combo Kinky took the stage at Welles Park Sunday night, the crowd had turned over dramatically like night and day, from Lincoln Square families with baby strollers and bug repellent to Mexican emo-kids in mirror-plated shades and shamelessly skinny pants, from handmade tie-dye T-shirts to shiny tights and day-glo bandannas bearing indie-band logos. Capping off two days of 15 main-stage acts and numerous side-tent dance demos, handcrafts, family activities and funnel-cake treats, the 11th annual Chicago Roots and Folk Festival, hosted by the Old Town School of Folk Music, ended with an encore-set cover of a New Wave classic: Wall of Voodoo's "Mexican Radio," quoted with full-on immigrant irony, as Kinky boomed clubby beats to drown out rockeros catcalling in Spanish for another blow-out hit. The only thread linking the poppy Kinky to other acts throughout the festival was the sizzling display of ethnic chops on roots instruments, like the norteno accordion and bajo sexto, as the dance-rock vaquero Mods inspired slam pits and crowd surfing in hectic counterpoint to more homespun folksy vibes over the weekend.

"Does anyone here speak Spanish?" asked lead vocalist Gilberto Cerezo. The answer set off car alarms on the park's periphery, as if to say, "This park is now OURS!" It was a frenzied ending for the outdoor fest. As a celebration of rustic origins, the lineup made a valiant effort to hit all corners of Chicago's rhythmic reaches, looking toward The Mexican rock band Kinky played Sunday at the Chicago Roots and Folk Festival. the future of roots-fusion in the youth. Plenty of children's activities also had youngsters try out African drumming, urban poetry, Puerto Rican bomba and of course the pure pleasure of feeling an instrument reverberate in your own hands.

Karaoke led by Jon Langford likewise had very tiny would-be pop idols taking the microphone, backed by a live band, to tear up such standards as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" and "Yellow Submarine." As a folk fiesta, it was a chance for Chica-goans to savor the open-air communal experience of playing and singing and dancing together, as audiences did during such performances as New Orleans' Iguanas, West Africa's Dobet Gnahore, New York's Balkan-brass Slavic Soul Party and Chicago's own cumbia colombiana experts Grupo Miel. For a mostly mellow weekend of multi-culti fun in the sun, it was an abrupt switch to the raucous rave-vibe of Kinky that turned Welles into a Latin discotheque, cowboy boots and all. V3 3 Metromix Planner Monday Compiled by Fauzia Arain. For complete listings, go to metromix.com. Mi CRITIC'S PICK HOWARD REICH MOVIES IN THE PARK: 'JAWS' An outdoor screening of this classic thriller should be a fun way to spend a workday evening with friends or family.

Bring a picnic dinner-shark fin salad, anyone? and enjoy the film. Dusk; free. Rainey Park, 4350 W. 79th 312-742-7529. PuoDue-nos HARRIS aia, v- mm RECYCLE YOUR EX So, it's over between you and your partner, but you think your ex is kind of a lovable loser? Join this party for the premiere of Bravo's "Date My Ex: Jo Slade" and bring your former lover along to put on the charity auction block.

Amusingly, the event includes an open bar. 7-10 p.m.; no cover (RSVP required: recycleyour ex.com). Lumen, 839 W. Fulton Market; 312-733-2222. Dee Alexander One of the most versatile jazz singers in this city, or any other, Alexander ranges freely from standard songs to free-wheeling experimentation.

p.m.; free. Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago 312-280-2660. SON, AMBULANCE Though perhaps best known for its link to Bright Eyes, this Nebraska Saddle Creek indie group has been building up momentum and cred. This year's Mike Mogis-produced "Someone Else's Deja Vu" is the group's best yet.

With Jennifer O'Connor, Fair Herald. 9 p.m.; Schubas Tavern, 3159 N. Southport 773-525-2508. Send Planner suggestions, with date of event in subject of e-mail, to atplaytribune.com. PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE 7:00 pm 2:00 pm 7:00 pm TTckETS Mb CHILDREN (12 UNDER) $23 ADULTS Chicago Shakespeare patrons receive DISCOUNTED PARKING in Navy Pier garages Groups of 10 or more save over 20 Group Sales Hotline How to contact us Comments and questions are welcome.

Write: Tim Bannon, editor Tempo Chicago Tribune 435 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611 Call: 312-222-5412 Fax: 312-222-4479 or e-mail: ctc-tempo tribune.com ON THE WEB For entertainment information, visit the Tribune's online guide: metromix.com 312.595.5678.