Rachael Yamagata Rejoins Bumpus ... To Co-Headline Benefit

Rachael Yamagata and Bumpus are playing a show next week at Logan Square Auditorium to raise money for Ryszard Basiura, the father of a friend close to both acts who has been incredibly ill and faces mounting hospital bills. Darren Spitzer of The Changes (ex- of The Changes? Are they even still "officially" together any more?) will be donating his DJ skills between and after the bands as well.

There are no announced plans for Yamagata to actually sing with Bumpus, since she hasn't appeared publicly with the band since 2002. but, c'mon, do you seriously not expect her to join the band for at least one tune? Each artist has progressed immeasurably since they were a team; Bumpus has widened their sound and explored darker lyrical themes while still keeping things danceable a la Sly Stone, and Yamagata's solo output has grown more self-assured as she's mapped out her own artistic vision. But we have to admit that the idea of seeing them belt out past floorshakers like "Some Kind Of Lonely" or (god forbid) their cover of Nine Inch Nail's "Closer" that melted pants into so many puddles on the floor.

Rachael Yamagata and Bumpus play July 9 at Logan Square Auditorium, 2539 N Kedzie, 7:30 p.m., $25 in advance / $30 at the door, 21+