list.in.to.chicago this week: 10.21.2002

Hey, it's that time again. Imagine I just wrote something horribly witty as an introduction.

Pick of the week
I've talked up The Assassins before in this space, and seeing as how I still haven't seen a complete set from them, the Abbey on Friday looks like a good bet. You should also come out to Vaughan's on Tuesday, because while my singing to an empty room may be better from a public service perspective, it's not really that fun.

Recap
The Eyes Adrift show wound up being popular enough that I had to wait about 45 minutes for Schuba's to decide if they could let more people in. They did, and I saw about half of opener The Drapes, and a full hour-plus set from the headliners. Maybe it's because the band is relatively new, but I think they're better on record than live at this point. Some of that has to do with the fact that neither Krist Novoselic nor Curt Kirkwood can actually sing, which is a bit of a problem. Then it was Los Lobos on Saturday. JAM Productions has a weekly e-mail where they offered free admission to recipients, so with that in hand, I got there ridiculously early. This seemed like a bit of a drag, given the aging WXRT demographic of many of the others there, but once the band started, it didn't seem like much of a price to pay. Los Lobos may be the most underrated rock band in the world, with the confidence and assurance that nearly 30 years of playing together brings.

10.21   monday
Lou Barlow with Earli Mart, Alaska (Abbey Pub)
This is billed as Barlow "performing songs from Folk Implosion and Sebadoh," so if you're hoping for Dinosaur Jr., you're out of luck. And if that didn't give you enough data points to figure out what you'd be in for, All-Music Guide goes so far to call Barlow one of the most prolific and influential songwriters of his generation, although it goes on to qualify that generation as lo-fi geeks with unrequited crushes.

10.22   tuesday
Open Mike (Vaughan's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
I just have to say that trying to read Elvis Costello lyrics in very, very low lighting is a recipe for disaster. You should come watch just for the train-wreck potential alone, and to see if I've been able to successfully adapt any songs from Genesis' Abacab for acoustic guitar.

10.23   wednesday
CHAT Showcase with Chris Siebold, Wes Cichosz and Jeff Vezain (Uncommon Ground)
I have no idea just what the "CHAT Showcase" entails, but Siebold and Cichosz are both impressive almost regardless of context. I'm guessing this is a bit of a mini-e-mics show.

Wesley Willis (Prodigal Son)
A co-worker of mine used to play Willis' "Cut the Mullet" about ten times a day. That was really annoying, but Chicago's favorite ranting-homeless-guy-turned-rock-star can be fun to watch on some boundary between eccentric genius and Springer-esque exploitative voyeurism.

10.24   thursday
Bob Mould with Jason Narducy (Metro)
Swearing off electric guitars hasn't really slowed Bob Mould down. I haven't heard the latest record, where he apparently adds some electronic textures to his shimmering acoustic guitars, but I would imagine it has that same traditional Mould intensity. Said intensity, along with quality songwriting, is always worth checking out. You also may recall opener Jason Narducy from Verbow, whose first couple of recorded efforts were produced by Mould.

10.25   friday
The Assassins with Imperial Teen and Archer Prewitt
The Chicago band is making waves in the industry, from what I hear, although they're just the opening act on this bill. One of Imperial Teen's original claims to fame was that they featured Faith No More keyboardist Roddy Bottum on guitar. That may have opened some doors for the band, but their sugary alterna-pop kept it ajar, at least enough to still be around six year and two or three albums later.

Little Feat with Brother John and Jack Straw (Shaw's Crab House)
On the one hand, events like the "14th Annual Royster with the Oyster Festival" probably have significant entertainment budgets. On the other, it still seems a bit Spinal Tappish for a band with the history of cajun-blues-funk-rock masters Little Feat to be playing this kind of gig.

10.26   saturday
Badly Drawn Boy (Park West)
This is one of those instances when I've heard people talk about an artist, but for the life of me, I don't know a damn thing about them. Badly Drawn Boy won the Mercury Prize for his debut album back in 2000, and if the recommendation engine on EMusic.com is to be believed, can be considered similar to band like Nick Drake, Modest Mouse and Apples in Stereo.

10.27   sunday
Yohimbe Brothers with J. Davis Trio (Double Door)
Yohimbe Brothers either includes or is comprised entirely of DJ Logic and Living Colour guitarist Vernon Reid. In both cases, it should be interesting, as Reid is one of those guys who has been pushing the six-stringed envelope for years, particularly in the electronic direction of late.