list.in.to.chicago this week: 02.10.2002

The most interesting thing I came across in this week's efforts is that The Mutiny (on Western, just north of Fullerton) seems to be refashioning itself as a dance club. I just can't see it. If you've been there, you know what I'm talking about.

And wow, there are a lot of shows this week, and plenty of "anti-Valentine's Day" celebrations. Personally, I think the backlash against February 14th has gotten even more annoying than the original holiday was. This is not one of those relationship-driven rationalizations, either, as I'm once again emphatically single when the date rolls around. I'm just cynical about the commercialized, um, cynicism about it. Meta-cynical?

Pick of the week
The first two shows I would have picked, OK Go with The Donnas and Rooney on Thursday (Metro), and The Alejandro Escovedo String Quartet with Kelly Hogan on Friday (Old Town School of Folk Music), are both sold out, but there's still plenty to choose from. If you're into punk, you can't go wrong with the Thick Records slate at Metro on Saturday, and if you're romantic, there's a solid looking bill with a band called America's #1 Sweetheart on Valentine's Day (Double Door).

And then there are the old standbys, with EXO playing tonight at Elbo Room, and both Audium Trio (Bottom Lounge) and Two Ton Levy (Double Door) on Wednesday .

Recap
Okay, I have a confession to make. I ended up in karaoke bars both Friday and Saturday. All of sudden, I can't really come up with a good reason why you should pay any attention to what I think about music. I'm very, very sorry, and humbly beg for your forgiveness. Although I didn't sing either night, and there's something awfully entertaining about a guy in a Korn hat singing "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" that makes it almost seem alright.

The week wasn't entirely so dubious, though, as I caught a band called Blue Nova on Monday at Elbo Room that was pretty good. The acoustic Lindsie Reitz show Wednesday was well-received, if sparsely attended, but it was cold and it was the middle of the week, so I'll cut you all just a little slack. Next time, no excuses!

2.10   monday
EXO (Elbo Room)
Okay, not only is it EXO for a measly two bucks, but it's free beer from 8 to 9pm, and you get to hear lots and lots of demos from local bands up until the live set at 10:30 or so. Q101 has been co-sponsoring this deal on Monday nights for a couple of months now.

Deal's Gone Bad with Roger Miret & The Disasters (The Note)
I still say these guys recording a song for the Chicago Fire was bad karma, in that many deals, in fact, went bad during this offseason. But now the deal seems to have gone bad for New England, and we may get captain Peter Nowak back after all. Oh, and the band is good.

2.11   tuesday
Open Mike (Vaughan's)   SEE COZ LIVE!
There are nagging rumors that I may bust out a Journey tune this week. Okay, so I may have started those rumors, but come on! Journey! I just don't know if I can bring myself to sing some of those lyrics.

2.12   wednesday
Audium Trio (Bottom Lounge)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
I haven't heard how the debut went last week, but have no problems taking this one on faith until I get out to see Mssrs. Gillis, Cichosz and Sittner, hopefully this week.

Two Ton Levy, Skywind, Seven Day Run, Simple Frustration (Double Door)   FRIENDS OF COZ!
Didn't get Audioslave tickets? No problem, as Jayh Johnson and friends mine a similar vein of rock to great effect. And you can see if their drummer still has a welt where he hit his head on the overhang at Elbo Room last week.

2.13   thursday
OK Go, The Donnas and Rooney (Metro)
I'm still annoyed at The Donnas for going and getting a bunch of airplay while I was procrastinating the purchase of tickets for this one, as it sold out before I came to my senses. If you really want an OK Go fix, however, they're playing at Tower Records on Clark at 5:30 as well.

Tim Easton with Cordero and Angie Mead (The Abbey)
This recommendation comes from a friend, but Monica Kendrick slammed him in this week's Reader, so he must be pretty good.

2.14   friday
Apples in Stereo with Oranger, Young People (The Abbey)
One of the progenitors of the late nineties wave of lo-fi "orchestral pop," these guys seem to have fallen back a bit from the low levels of spotlight they enjoyed a couple of years ago, but that may just be that I'm not hanging around with as many indie rock kids these days.

Missile with The Girls, Box-o-Car, America's #1 Sweetheart (Double Door)
Still haven't seen Missile since they shared a bill with URT way back when, and I really need to remedy that situation one of these days. If you go, let me know what you think, so I can stop saying that exact same thing every time they have a show.

Thick Records OIL: CHICAGO PUNK ROCK REFINED cd release (Metro)
This bill boasts Local H, Duvall, The Tossers, The Arrivals, The Ghost, The Dishes, Check Engine, The Matics, Bitchy, AND, as if that weren't enough, special guests. As usual, punk rock gives you a lot for your entertainment dollar, and in this case, a copy of the compilation to boot. It's all-ages, so all those bands and a hard curfew means a 5:30 start.

2.15   saturday
Air Supply (Star Plaza Theatre)
Just checking to see if you're still paying attention. I'm so lost without you.

Blue Nova with Gaskit, Waste, Quiver Up, The Damnwells (Double Door)
Again, saw Blue Nova for the first time last week, and liked them. Gaskit and Waste seem to work their CD burners very hard, as I'm constantly being handed demo CDs from both of them when I'm at shows.

Dave Davies of The Kinks, Epicycle, Green (The Abbey)
You've got a rock legend in a small room in Davies, and someone I'm starting to hear good things about in Epicycle, who along with Green, will be offering acoustic sets. Also, order a Sam Adams Light in the music room and then in the front bar and let me know if they cost the same. It might have just been server error, but I've been suspicious of this for about two weeks now.

The Pretenders with All Mighty Senators (Chicago Theatre)
Speaking of rock legends...

2.16   sunday
David Thomas (of Pere Ubu) & Two Pale Boys, Puerto Muerto (Schuba's)
Pere Ubu is one of those bands I feel like I should know more about, once I figured out that they were the original artists behind "Final Solution," which is a tune Living Colour covered back in their heyday. The Cleveland art punk outfit released a new album last year on spinART, so I don't know exactly what to make of Thomas touring solo.