Fireside Bowl, not quite R.I.P.

I heard on WNUR last night that the Fireside Bowl had closed, but this is not quite accurate. According to the venue's web site, "Until recently booking was handled by MPShows and due to recent developments this relationship has ended. . . The Fireside will continue to have live entertainment." For now, however, all upcoming shows have been canceled.

I have mixed feelings about the venue. The acoustics are terrible, and bands that have been terrific elsewhere just have their sound deadened there. One of my friends argued that the atmosphere more than makes up for the lousy acoustics. The first time I was there after we'd had this discussion, a cockroach moseyed along the bar as I was downing a drink. This was a little more atmosphere than I could deal with, but the band that night did sound good.

It's like the X Games for a different demographic! For those who aren't into "action sports" (which implies that all other sports entail inaction) and its accompanying soundtrack of nü-metal or thrash metal or thrash punk or whatever music is licensed for the latest Tony Hawk video game, Nike is organizing "Run Hit Wonder" in Chicago on Thursday, September 23. As the name implies, it's a race featuring performances by one-hit wonder artists along the route: Tone Loc, Tommy Tutone, A Flock of Seagulls, General Public, and Devo at the end. No word on whether the musicians will keep playing their same sole hit over and over, although Tone Loc really could alternative "Wild Thing" and "Funky Cold Medina."

In any case, the routes are only 5k and 10k, making them suitable for novice racers, and they need volunteers if you don't want to run. Advance registration is required. Details are at www.nikerunhitwonder.com.